Re: Re: Amazon Kindle

Sandy, perhaps I haven't communicated my view well enough.

I don't have a problem selling directly to or from Amazon. [For that matter, I also don't have a problem selling myself as you suggest.]

I'm merely trying to state my discomfort at yet another attempt to go beyond just selling books to a system where a large player uses its market power to dominate the nascent ebook form.

I don't know if Amazon will be successful in this move. But I don't like the relatively small cut (35% instead of the 50% that is more or less standard), nor do I like the proprietary nature of the standard files, or the fact that the Kindle will display so few formats. And I don't like the fact that Amazon is using a proprietary identifier for ebooks (ASIN) instead of supporting wider standards like the ISBN and DOI.

On the other hand, I do like Amazon's system for allowing new ebooks to be submitted. Its so simple that I believe the number of available ebooks will rise rapidly.

Despite the things I don't like, I probably will still participate. Not participating only hurts me, not Amazon, and I think there will be various pressures on Amazon to open its system eventually, even if it becomes the dominant standard in the industry.

But I won't hesitate to complain. If anything, participating gives my voice a little more weight with Amazon, IMO.

We'll see how this all shakes out. Perhaps the Kindle will help make ebooks a significant format for books. If so, then I think we will all be clamoring for Amazon to change some of its policies.

Kent


At 9:37 AM +1000 11/27/07, Sandy Cummins wrote:
>Hi Kent,
>
>If you don't like selling directly from Amazon, make prc books yourself
>and sell them from your own website. Unencrypted mobipocket can be
>uploaded from the hard drive to the kindle through the usb port.
>
>If you look at my website you will see that I am using the kindle for
>myself (look at the front page to see what I mean)
><http://www.readerseden.com>http://www.readerseden.com
>
>On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:22:41 -0500
>"Kent S. Larsen II" <<mailto:kent%40lusobraz.com>kent-bvea5+VdNl1Wk0Htik3J/[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> Well, except that Amazon has a monopoly on this format.
>>
>> I'd agree with you Elizabeth, except that Amazon is only distributing
>> in this proprietary format. They already have the marketing vehicle
>> set up, so there isn't a lot of new marketing that needs to be done.
>>
>> Yes, if Amazon was distributing to other ebook retailers, I could see
>> the argument. But I'm skeptical because of the lack of openness about
>> the format and marketing.
>>
>> To me, it kind of feels like monopoly pricing.
>>
>> But, I have to recognize that Amazon is clearly one of the most
>> important games in town, so I don't think I have much choice. I'll
>> probably get my books on it somehow.
>>
>> Kent
>>
>
>--
>Sandy Cummins
>Readers Eden Online Bookstore "Heaven on earth for booklovers"
><http://www.readerseden.com>http://www.readerseden.com
>Writers Exchange E-Publishing
><http://www.writers-exchange.com>http://www.writers-exchange.com
>Writers Exchange Print Book Store
><http://astore.amazon.com/writers-exchange-20>http://astore.amazon.com/writers-exchange-20
>
>God loves you and will forgive your sins -
>all you have to do is believe in His Son, Jesus,
>who died for all who will accept his free gift
>
>



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