RE: Re: "The Elusive E-book"

The iPod and Apple iTunes had DRM upon release. 
 
I don't have an iPod or use iTunes but it hasn't been until recently that Steve Jobs starting trumpeting the no DRM call. 
 
The Franklin eBookman failed because it was a horribly designed device that used a proprietary OS that ran on 3 AAA batteries. When the batteries died, everything on the device was wiped, including the OS! Who, in their right mind, would want a device like that even back then?
 
That was the problem with Palm and early Windows Mobile. Remember how big a deal it was when they all went to persistent storage? The eBookman never did and died on the gadget vine. (Although they are still selling them and they are still cheap, go figure.)
And I still contend, Average Joe Consumer doesn't lose any sleep at night over DRM. Once Average Joe Reader can get his hands on a cheap reading device that will let him read for pleasure away from a computer screen, we'll all see an upswing in our sales.
 
Apple needs to release an iReader, then all the hipsters will "discover" reading again. This will force innovation in the field where current makers will have to justify their prices and other entrepreneurs will come in to make cheaper versions.
 
And it will probably be something very much like the eBookman: smaller screen (maybe even 4 inch E ink), rechargeable battery, a number of ways to read (PDF, txt, .doc, maybe even MobiPocket, PDB), a few text size options and a simple way to transfer content, perhaps hosted "in the clouds" on some server somewhere.
Aaron J. WalkerPublisher
http://www.walkbroadpublishing.com


To: ebook-community-hHKSG33Tihig7M29m/[email protected]: [email protected]: Thu, 8 May 2008 09:55:14 -0400Subject: [ebook-community] Re: "The Elusive E-book"




> 2c. Re: "The Elusive E-book"> Posted by: "Aaron Walker" [email protected] ajwalker42> Date: Wed May 7, 2008 4:53 pm ((PDT))>> I'll stay out on my very lonely limb and say the reason e-books > haven't taken off has nothing to do with with endless rantings > against the evils of DRM or that "1 in 4 Americans didn't finish a > single book last year" but everything to do with the high cost of e- > reading devices and publishers still on the fence.I think the Kindle is a very good test case.In my opinion, the only major thing wrong with the Kindle _is_ the DRM. The _devices_ were good enough in 2000 and by all accounts the Kindle is far better.Before Kindle, the problems were: title availability, price, and DRM. Kindle has solved the first two, or, at any rate, made a quantum-leap improvement in both of them. DRM is the only problem left.I don't think for an instant that device price is the barrier. If it were, the Franklin eBookman would have succeeded. And the Apple iPod would have failed.Anyone who a) reads, and b) travels can afford a Kindle. The ability to take a week's reading with you in carry-on justifies the price. And there are enough people who fit categories a) and b) to, well, kindle the virtuous cycle of increasing sales and cheaper/better devices.I personally think DRM _is_ a problem, and it may be the Kindle deal- breaker. It certainly is for me. I am seriously considering writing to Jeff Bezos and saying that I'll buy a Kindle if Amazon will give me a gift certificate that I can use to re-purchase Kindle versions of all of the Rocket eBook titles I purchased. 100% legal, purchased, paid-for content that I own and can't read on a Kindle. 






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