The problem with Kindle isn’t the device.
Even though the device will likely be obsolete within a year, given the need for color, given the need to support Web standards so blogs like this can go inside it.
The problem with Kindle is the business model.
- What’s the licensing model on the content?
- Can I loan a Kindle book, or not?
- Can I transfer it to my PC?
- Put it on the Web?
- E-mail it to my mom?
- Excerpt it in this blog post?
- Am I buying this content or just renting it?
- Does it support RSS feeds?
- If it does, then isn’t it just a Web browser tied to a proprietary network?
- If it doesn’t then aren’t you just limited to dead tree books which Amazon and the publishers choose to set a license agreement on?
- How about supporting spoken book standards like Daisy?
This is a problem endemic to all electronic book efforts. It is what
has stopped all previous efforts to make this technology work.
- If it’s to be electronic I want a discount.
- If it’s to be electronic the publisher demands DRM.
(Pictured — a Sinclair ZX-81 being used as a doorstop.)
This is a problem which remains unsettled. Buyers won’t buy e-books until the question of licensing terms are settled to their satisfaction. Sellers can’t make them buy, and won’t
settle on terms the buyers will accept.
The success of the Internet business model, and of the W3C standards, in moving data about also argues against the possible success of this.
The problem has nothing at all to do with the device. Although the name is funny.
This looks like kindling for Christmas 2008.
Bezos was on NPR this afternoon talking about this device. Funny how the reporter went so far as to mention that many other e-books have been attempted before, and failed, but she just couldn’t bring herself to mention the real sticking point, which is, as you point out, where the material comes from. Oh, and how much is available.
“It’s wireless!” he says. Like that’s going to save him. He also made sure to mention that new releases would hit the market at $9.99- without mentioning what that bought you. Can you resell the purchase? Give it away?
Smell-o-vision. That’s the ticket!
Bezos was on NPR this afternoon talking about this device. Funny how the reporter went so far as to mention that many other e-books have been attempted before, and failed, but she just couldn’t bring herself to mention the real sticking point, which is, as you point out, where the material comes from. Oh, and how much is available.
“It’s wireless!” he says. Like that’s going to save him. He also made sure to mention that new releases would hit the market at $9.99- without mentioning what that bought you. Can you resell the purchase? Give it away?
Smell-o-vision. That’s the ticket!