Kindle Unlimited 2.0 - early assessments

[Ravensknight]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Yes, let's go back to paper. After all, books don't take up that much space.
Note: I am waiting on my friend to return my call about KU.

I have a WHOLE room that begs to differ with that little "don't take up much space" comment of yours.

Epic fantasy books are HUGE, especially when read in hardcover. Ever heard of Steven Erikson? [spelling?] He wrote 10 books that ran between 500-1100 pages. I can fit TWO of them into my bookbag. And on a vacation, they would last me 2-5 days. Not nearly enough, and not nearly enough space.

So yeah, I'll stick with my kindle and my 150 books at a time, thank you.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

I have a WHOLE room that begs to differ with that little "don't take up much space" comment of yours.

Epic fantasy books are HUGE, especially when read in hardcover. Ever heard of Steven Erikson? [spelling?] He wrote 10 books that ran between 500-1100 pages. I can fit TWO of them into my bookbag. And on a vacation, they would last me 2-5 days. Not nearly enough, and not nearly enough space.

So yeah, I'll stick with my kindle and my 150 books at a time, thank you.

Error: sarcasm detector malfunction.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

No, if you actually care enough to notice, you also care enough to google "read epub on Kindle"... and you find calibre, convert, live happily ever after, etc.

If you want to make arbitrary rules and restrictions, you can derive any conclusion you want. Doesn't mean anything.

You just don't get it. Not everyone uses Calibre. Not everyone is going to look up how to convert eBook formats. So yes, some do care about the format because they need the correct format in order to read on their Reader.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You just don't get it. Not everyone uses Calibre. Not everyone is going to look up how to convert eBook formats. So yes, some do care about the format because they need the correct format in order to read on their Reader.

...and if it's that important to them, they'll either install the Kindle app on their phone (or tablet, or laptop, or...) and read the book that way. If they really, truly, need to be able to read these books on an e-ink device, they'll have to either wait until the author makes them available in other formats, or buy a Kindle e-ink device.

Get it now?

Shari

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by shalym

...and if it's that important to them, they'll either install the Kindle app on their phone (or tablet, or laptop, or...) and read the book that way. If they really, truly, need to be able to read these books on an e-ink device, they'll have to either wait until the author makes them available in other formats, or buy a Kindle e-ink device.

Get it now?

Shari

What I get is that you don't get it.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What I get is that you don't get it.

Once again Jon, 99% of ebook readers don't care. They buy their reader. They buy their books from their readers bookstore. They don't care about DRM, most don't even know their books have DRM. They're not interested in reading somebody elses format on their reader. You're just going to have to somehow live with the fact that Amazon has a different format (that you don't like) and move on with your life.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Once again Jon, 99% of ebook readers don't care. They buy their reader. They buy their books from their readers bookstore. They don't care about DRM, most don't even know their books have DRM. They're not interested in reading somebody elses format on their reader. You're just going to have to somehow live with the fact that Amazon has a different format (that you don't like) and move on with your life.

Again someone that doesn't get it.

This is about people caring about the eBook's container/format because they have to care lest they buy eBooks that cannot be used with their Reader.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You just don't get it. Not everyone uses Calibre. Not everyone is going to look up how to convert eBook formats. So yes, some do care about the format because they need the correct format in order to read on their Reader.

And like I said in the first place, if you care enough about formats to have ever been in the position where you might be buying from two different vendors, and now you all of a sudden cannot read your books... you will google how to read your books, find calibre, and live happily ever after.

Not everyone will look it up -- but those happen to (almost always) be the same people who won't look up:

• alternative readers that aren't Kindles
• alternative bookstores that aren't built into their device
• alternative bookstores that sell DRM-free content
• what DRM is
• what an ebook file is
• what a file is

The people you are so concerned about are the stupid 1% of the population, who are blissfully happy with their current productive life and don't need your scaremongering.
Another 60-70% are perfectly capable of doing all of the above, but they don't care and they never will, and they will laugh in your face if you tell them they should make their lives more complicated than they already are by caring about such an insignificant thing.



But by all means, continue to define rig the terms by which you will accept a possible answer.
And by all means, continue to pretend that even people on MobileRead care about your EPUB-purity racism.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

And like I said in the first place, if you care enough about formats to have ever been in the position where you might be buying from two different vendors, and now you all of a sudden cannot read your books... you will google how to read your books, find calibre, and live happily ever after.

Not everyone will look it up -- but those happen to (almost always) be the same people who won't look up:

• alternative readers that aren't Kindles
• alternative bookstores that aren't built into their device
• alternative bookstores that sell DRM-free content
• what DRM is
• what an ebook file is
• what a file is

The people you are so concerned about are the stupid 1% of the population, who are blissfully happy with their current productive life and don't need your scaremongering.
Another 60-70% are perfectly capable of doing all of the above, but they don't care and they never will, and they will laugh in your face if you tell them they should make their lives more complicated than they already are by caring about such an insignificant thing.



But by all means, continue to define rig the terms by which you will accept a possible answer.
And by all means, continue to pretend that even people on MobileRead care about your EPUB-purity racism.

Again you are way off base. You think everyone is using Calibre or will be by doing an arbitrary search on Google. Why don't you just accept that you are wrong and move on?

Your 1% is way off. Calling them stupid is being insulting.

For example, if someone with a Reader is buying eBooks directly from Baen (and does not use Calibre) than that person needs to know what format to download. So don't tell me that format does not matter as it matters and the user has to buy based on format. Not everyone who owns a Reader will buy from the store associated with the Reader. Also, if the user wants to use Overdrive, the user has to know to get ePub or Kindle eBooks.

So please don't say I'm wrong because I'm not and don't say that 1% of Reader users are stupid because that's just insulting.

[Cinisajoy]

Hi. I am one of the 60% that doesn't care.
Now I do know what DRM is. I also know the difference between epub, mobi and pdfs. I know there are several places to get ebooks.
I prefer Amazon because of the ease, convenience and the customer service.
I am not worried about losing my books.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Again you are way off base. You think everyone is using Calibre or will be by doing an arbitrary search on Google. Why don't you just accept that you are wrong and move on?

Your 1% is way off. Calling them stupid is being insulting.

For example, if someone with a Reader is buying eBooks directly from Baen (and does not use Calibre) than that person needs to know what format to download. So don't tell me that format does not matter as it matters and the user has to buy based on format. Not everyone who owns a Reader will buy from the store associated with the Reader. Also, if the user wants to use Overdrive, the user has to know to get ePub or Kindle eBooks.

So please don't say I'm wrong because I'm not and don't say that 1% of Reader users are stupid because that's just insulting.

It is insulting to say that a small minority of the general population is stupid?

That isn't insulting, that is demographics.
Calling specific people stupid, now that is insulting.


I would like to observe that on the topic of insultingly undervaluing the man-on-the-street's intelligence, you are the one who says the average person won't be able to do an "arbitrary" google search (notice the emotional buzz word there). Or that the average person "has to know to get ePub or Kindle eBooks", thus implying that it is difficult or burdensome to figure out. Now, personally, I believe even the 1% can figure out how to checkout a Kindle book from OverDrive, even if file formats confuse them.


And you chose the worst of all possible examples, as Baen not only caters to a specific demographic group that tends to be more tech-savvy, and not only do they offer their books in MOBI format, they also offer a shiny button to "send this book to your Kindle"!!!!

---

I will reiterate for the third and final time, before giving up on you:

Anyone who cares enough to get upset about their EPUB books not being available on their Kindle, will care enough to do a google search on how to fix their problem, and they will then have to make a personal choice whether to put up with, um, burdensomely, downloading a free program that magically makes their EPUB books into Kindle books.



And while I'm at it, please stop hurting my delicate feelings by implying that far more than the 1% of the population won't be able to figure out how to do a google search or checkout a "Kindle Book" from the mandatory dropdown on OverDrive.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Hi. I am one of the 60% that doesn't care.
Now I do know what DRM is. I also know the difference between epub, mobi and pdfs. I know there are several places to get ebooks.
I prefer Amazon because of the ease, convenience and the customer service.
I am not worried about losing my books.

And I am very proud of you.


Now to get slightly back on topic, go get some really easy to use Kindle Unlimited books and stop worrying about other people worrying more about the DRM and the formats.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

And I am very proud of you.


Now to get slightly back on topic, go get some really easy to use Kindle Unlimited books and stop worrying about other people worrying more about the DRM and the formats.

I don't do Kindle Unlimited. I have a huge TBR without it.
I do agree with you about not worrying about what others know, do or think.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Oh, those authors care about a lot of things.
You ought to try talking to them.

Thing is, they care a lot about making a living and they don't give a darn about what may or not happen to the magical format called epub.

As for helping Amazon?
Well Amazon helps them make money which, as they point out, Apple, Kobo, and Nook don't. So it really doesn't matter if Kobo makes fine hardware or not if their website doesn't help them sell ebooks. And if they don't help them sell, why bother listing with them?

Not everybody shares your priorities.
Nor are they going to sacrifice their own interests in service of yours.

Exactly so! The eReader/eBook industry must either become competitive or it will die. That is the way of the universe. to remain competitive, it needs to

1. Attract authors, and be willing to pay them.
2. Attract readers who are willing to buy the books authors write.

It is the nature of the eReader/eBook industry to serve TWO masters. companies that can't or won't do that successfully, will simply die.

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Again someone that doesn't get it.

This is about people caring about the eBook's container/format because they have to care lest they buy eBooks that cannot be used with their Reader.

Every non-techie I've talked to has been very meh about it, to them it's just a fact. Like apps for iOS don't transfer to Android if you change phone or Playstation Games don't work on an xBox, Blu-Rays don't work on a DVD player (People were surprised when I told them DVD's would work on a Blu-Ray player). People in general (that I have spoke to at least) seem used to the idea that if you change platform you can't take your toys with you.