News flash! Barnes & Noble buys Fictionwise for $15.7 million

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by mjh215

I own a Sansa Clip myself. I also would never purchase an iPod, nor any Apple product... (To all the fanboys, more power to you, this is just how I feel) I researched my purchase at www.anythingbutipod.com

I have an iPod and a Mac. But, I am no fanboi. I get ya.

I am done buying Dell. The last 3 laptops we bought from them have had to go back for some type of repair. One had to go back twice. And one that went back they didn't even fix.

BOb

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

That may be, but the problem has nothing to do with ereader. Their DRM at least is device neutral and there is no attempts by them to use DRM to control where and how I read my books. The basic problem is that the ePub spec essentially left any details regarding DRM to the implementor. Thus the failing is ePubs.

With respect, I think most of your arguments seem to be built around the ability to remove adobe DRM from existing ePub files. The problem is that, 1. That removing DRM is illegal for most of us and 2. suggests a level of computer sophistication that most people don't have.

My main issue is that if we have the same format with multiple DRM schemes, the publishers may just decide to forgo ePub. That would not be good at all. And it would be the fault of Fictionwise.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mjh215

I own a Sansa Clip myself. I also would never purchase an iPod, nor any Apple product... (To all the fanboys, more power to you, this is just how I feel) I researched my purchase at www.anythingbutipod.com

I'd probably look at a Cowon myself if I wanted a larger player, but for what I use it for the Clip is wonderful...

-MJ

The reason I'd get a Cowon is because then I do not have to convert my music files. I can play them as they already are. No need to format shift or transcode. Plus, I like the idea of a 32GB player for less then the cost of a 16GB iPod Touch. And the battery lasts longer per charge.

[astra]

I have never understood general obsession with iPod. It is beyond me.

[Harmon]

[QUOTE=Phogg;380200 Now if Borders and Hastings will get in the game...[/QUOTE]

Borders is in the game. The Sony site is a Borders site, isn't it? If not, where does Sony get all those books, & why does Borders sell the Readers?

When I read about the B&N purchase of Fictionwise, I had just spent some time reading something called Best of TOC. It included an article by someone who had worked for Peanut Press, eventually acquired by Fictionwise. That business seemed to believe that the ebook business ought to have an open platform and cross-availability of ebooks. And that's pretty much what I see in Fictionwise, given the limitations of the playing field right now.

Now, FW is staying in its own corporate shell, so that suggests to me that they are not going to change their business plan. I think that maybe B&N is the crack in the DRM dike - that they are looking to be a multiformat open platform type of ebook retailer, and have decided that Fictionwise is their vehicle for this enterprise.

Maybe that's wishful thinking, but it strikes me that such a plan would be capable of pulling the rug out from under Amazon/Kindle and Borders/Sony if B&N has enough clout with publishers to insist on them making their books available in multiple formats. It's a kind of Bizzaro version of an open format, but it does sort of get there.

And if it works, both Amazon & Sony might have to open their platforms.

[Lemurion]

My partner's kids have iPods and that's been enough to turn me thoroughly against them.

[cerement]

Originally Posted by astra

I have never understood general obsession with iPod. It is beyond me.

Combine "Ooh, shiny!" with "Jobs is God!" (look how far Apple stock drops each time they announce Jobs gets sick) ...

[ProDigit]

Couldn't keep myself from saying:
This was not the first time fictionwise was bought as I remember.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Harmon

When I read about the B&N purchase of Fictionwise, I had just spent some time reading something called Best of TOC. It included an article by someone who had worked for Peanut Press, eventually acquired by Fictionwise. That business seemed to believe that the ebook business ought to have an open platform and cross-availability of ebooks. And that's pretty much what I see in Fictionwise, given the limitations of the playing field right now.

Now, FW is staying in its own corporate shell, so that suggests to me that they are not going to change their business plan. I think that maybe B&N is the crack in the DRM dike - that they are looking to be a multiformat open platform type of ebook retailer, and have decided that Fictionwise is their vehicle for this enterprise.

Maybe that's wishful thinking, but it strikes me that such a plan would be capable of pulling the rug out from under Amazon/Kindle and Borders/Sony if B&N has enough clout with publishers to insist on them making their books available in multiple formats. It's a kind of Bizzaro version of an open format, but it does sort of get there.

And if it works, both Amazon & Sony might have to open their platforms.

from your lips to the publishing gods' ears...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by astra

I have never understood general obsession with iPod. It is beyond me.

Have you ever used one, astra? It's beautifully engineered. It has a superb user interface. It just does the job it's designed for, and does it well. What's not to like about it?

[junkml]

I'll second what Harry said about the ipod. My wife and I each have an ipod nano (3rd gen). I've used several mp3 players, and the ipod has the best interface and design of the ones I've tried.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Have you ever used one, astra? It's beautifully engineered. It has a superb user interface. It just does the job it's designed for, and does it well. What's not to like about it?

For me it was no FM tuner (which I use a lot) and the higher cost. So I've been very happy with my 30 GB Creative Vision M that I've had for a couple years. Great sound quality, nice screen, good interface and I got it for $150.

The iTouch is pretty sweet with the web surfing etc, but the 32GB model is still too expensive as I'd not pay above $200 for such a device as I'd mainly just use it as an MP3 player anyway.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

For me it was no FM tuner (which I use a lot) and the higher cost. So I've been very happy with my Creative Vision M that I've had for a couple years.

The iTouch is pretty sweet with the web surfing etc, but the 32GB model is still too expensive as I'd not pay above $200 for such a device as I'd mainly just use it as an MP3 player anyway.

I got the iPod touch and I rarely use it for music, LOL. Although it's been languishing for a while. I use mine mostly as a PDA/web browser/game player.

[astra]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Have you ever used one, astra? It's beautifully engineered. It has a superb user interface. It just does the job it's designed for, and does it well. What's not to like about it?

I am not all that crazy about touch screens. I don't mind using buttons. I liked my iRiver 700? a lot more. Then I bought Sony Walkman. I also don't like the shape of it. And all the bitching about software and iTunes.
I prefer to use my mp3 player as I choose to do it. I want it to play MP3 files without a hiccup. No conversion, no resource demanding software.

I have not seen the latest iPods. Then again, my current mp3 player is working just fine
There is also another thing. Whenever the crowd becomes crazy about something, I feel reluctant to participate in the madness.
I am fairly sure that many people were buying it just because:

Combine "Ooh, shiny!"

It is wicked sick to have it man!

You don't own one? You have a different? Oh....

Whenever I encounter this sort of attitude I feel even less inclined to buy something

I know, I know. Weird me to say the least

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I got the iPod touch and I rarely use it for music, LOL. Although it's been languishing for a while. I use mine mostly as a PDA/web browser/game player.

Yeah, I wouldn't use that stuff much. Don't need the net on the go, just use my laptop at home and I have a Palm Pilot. Have a DS for gaming.

I also don't tend to carry my mp3 player everywhere like many do, so I wouldn't have it most of the time when I was at a Starbucks or whatever with a wifi hotspot. So the iPhone would be better for me in that regard, but the plan is too expensive and I don't want to switch from Verizon since my girlfriend and most of my friends and family are on there with the unlimited in network calling.

Originally Posted by astra

I am not all that crazy about touch screens.

Same here. Playing with my friend's iPhone, I hated trying to type on the touch screen keyboard. Much prefer typing on the nice keyboard on my LG Voyager.

That said the touch screen does work well for controlling the music player and other things on the iPhone/Touch. But for many things I prefer buttons.