*SIGH* Amazon...

jaxx6166 · 07-08-2009, 11:05 PM

Is it just me or is anyone else starting to get a little - annoyed at the stranglehold that Amazon has on the ebook market?

It's been this way since they launched the Kindle, but now I'm just - bothered.

Patient Zero
Mistborn
Malazan

All for the most part, Kindle exclusives.

I could go on and on with the list. But you guys know how it is.
I just felt like whining. Going on a plane tomorrow for like a forever flight and was kind of jonesin' for something fun.

Guess I should just read the other 50+ that I have on backlist. But really. Argh.

I don't want to pull the trigger and get a kindle, especially when I bought some yucky DRM'd books from the Sony store. But I wish the content output would increase. But with rumours swirling around and all that, it's getting kind of scary out here for me.

And I own (3) Sonys!

doreenjoy · 07-08-2009, 11:13 PM

I think content is increasing for the Sony, but they don't have the exclusives that Amazon has because they aren't doing the TOPAZ thing.

I have over 300 books stockpiled so I'm quite jealous of your 50. I'm starting to feel stressed out by my TBR pile!

jaxx6166 · 07-08-2009, 11:20 PM

I think I have more than 50. I'm terrified of logging onto the library to see what my unread pile is. But, I have to anyway.

The Patient Zero thing really bothered me (I'm starting to hate Macmillan) I don't want to pay the $3- markup to get the Waterstones version, even though I know if it ever comes out on our shores in ebook it will be twice as expensive..I also don't want to pay the foreign transaction rate my credit card will charge me (read: arm/leg)

daffy4u · 07-08-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

I think content is increasing for the Sony, but they don't have the exclusives that Amazon has because they aren't doing the TOPAZ thing.

I think the reason Amazon has been able to build a bigger ebook store is because Amazon *is* a book store first and already had the contacts and relationship with publishers. Sony did not have that advantage.

You know Sony's LRX format (sold in the Sony store) is equal to Topaz since they are both unbreakable at the moment. The Sony sells way more LRX books than Amazon sells Topaz.

doreenjoy · 07-08-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I think the reason Amazon has been able to build a bigger ebook store is because Amazon *is* a book store first and already had the contacts and relationship with publishers. Sony did not have that advantage.

You know Sony's LRX format (sold in the Sony store) is equal to Topaz since they are both unbreakable at the moment. The Sony sells way more LRX books than Amazon sells Topaz.

Yes, I know both have DRM. I meant that Amazon creates their own books to sell in Topaz format (apparently by scanning paper books). As far as I know, Sony is not creating their own books, they are relying on publishers to provide them with electronic files which Sony then converts.

jaxx6166 · 07-08-2009, 11:41 PM

Sony -had- a book store at one point...But it seems like their partnership with Borders has broke down (especially with them having their own e-reader now.

doreenjoy · 07-08-2009, 11:45 PM

I'll put my money on Sony over Borders any day of the week. Borders is not well managed IMO.

Teyrnon · 07-09-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxx6166

Sony -had- a book store at one point...But it seems like their partnership with Borders has broke down (especially with them having their own e-reader now.

Borders has their own e-reader? The Borders website suggests their still pushing the Sony reader. What did I miss?

Gideon · 07-09-2009, 12:41 AM

It's hardly Amazon's stranglehold, it's more Sony sucking. Take it up with Sony and the publishers... not Amazon's fault that they have a good store.

As far as I know, Amazon isn't engaging in any anticompetitive practices they're just doing what Sony hardly ever does - make an effort.

kelly1010 · 07-09-2009, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxx6166

Is it just me or is anyone else starting to get a little - annoyed at the stranglehold that Amazon has on the ebook market?

It's been this way since they launched the Kindle, but now I'm just - bothered.

Patient Zero
Mistborn
Malazan

All for the most part, Kindle exclusives.

I could go on and on with the list. But you guys know how it is.
I just felt like whining. Going on a plane tomorrow for like a forever flight and was kind of jonesin' for something fun.

Guess I should just read the other 50+ that I have on backlist. But really. Argh.

I don't want to pull the trigger and get a kindle, especially when I bought some yucky DRM'd books from the Sony store. But I wish the content output would increase. But with rumours swirling around and all that, it's getting kind of scary out here for me.

And I own (3) Sonys!

Yep....thus, the reason I DO NOT own a Kindle.

Ea · 07-09-2009, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxx6166

Is it just me or is anyone else starting to get a little - annoyed at the stranglehold that Amazon has on the ebook market?
...

I don't even bother checking - it'll just make me annoyed because I can't buy neither kindle nor books. (not that I really want a kindle)

Andybaby · 07-09-2009, 06:36 AM

I don't mind to be honest.

go pirate if you want to but cant buy their book and want to read it.

I wish the kindle bookstore was open. but I do have an Itouch so I can buy it and dedrm it.

netseeker · 07-09-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

As far as I know, Amazon isn't engaging in any anticompetitive practices they're just doing what Sony hardly ever does - make an effort.

The pionieer of electronic reading devices which are suitable for the mass doesn't make an effort? Of course not! Sony is active in the ebook market for many years and in many countries - not only in the US. Isn't that an effort?

Amazons effort is outstanding - at least in the US. But it's also true that Amazon is using a closed business model for the Kindle(s).

kacir · 07-09-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxx6166

Sony -had- a book store at one point...But it seems like their partnership with Borders has broke down (especially with them having their own e-reader now.

Sony also HAD an e-book store when they released Sony Librié - the first ever e-ink reader in Japan.
Their store turned out to be a spectacular fiasco, because their DRM was so draconian that even Japanese market wouldn't go for it.
With Sony Librié your "purchased" books expired in 90 days and THE ONLY content you were allowed to put on your reader was content purchased in Sony E-book Store (Japan). Later on Sony published program that allowed you to put you your own content [Gasp!] on your own device, but it was only after some clever hackers did it first and it was waaaaay too late anyway. The only nice thing that could be said about the Librié is that it was the first e-ink reader, way ahead of the rest of the world and that the prices in their e-book ... aehm ... store (a library, really) were significantly lower than printed books.
For their store Sony partnered with big and influential publishers from Japan.

AshW · 07-09-2009, 08:43 AM

The Malazan books are avaliable in the UK, so they're definitely not Amazon exclusives. A lot of this stuff is just all over the place though and it can be frustrating.

I think things are slowly changing for the better rather than the worse though. The "content output" is and has been increasing steadily. Fingers crossed that at some point in the future this just isn't an issue.

07-08-2009, 11:05 PM	#1
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	SIGH Amazon... Is it just me or is anyone else starting to get a little - annoyed at the stranglehold that Amazon has on the ebook market? It's been this way since they launched the Kindle, but now I'm just - bothered. Patient Zero Mistborn Malazan All for the most part, Kindle exclusives. I could go on and on with the list. But you guys know how it is. I just felt like whining. Going on a plane tomorrow for like a forever flight and was kind of jonesin' for something fun. Guess I should just read the other 50+ that I have on backlist. But really. Argh. I don't want to pull the trigger and get a kindle, especially when I bought some yucky DRM'd books from the Sony store. But I wish the content output would increase. But with rumours swirling around and all that, it's getting kind of scary out here for me. And I own (3) Sonys!

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07-08-2009, 11:13 PM	#2
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I think content is increasing for the Sony, but they don't have the exclusives that Amazon has because they aren't doing the TOPAZ thing. I have over 300 books stockpiled so I'm quite jealous of your 50. I'm starting to feel stressed out by my TBR pile!

07-08-2009, 11:20 PM	#3
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	I think I have more than 50. I'm terrified of logging onto the library to see what my unread pile is. But, I have to anyway. The Patient Zero thing really bothered me (I'm starting to hate Macmillan) I don't want to pay the $3- markup to get the Waterstones version, even though I know if it ever comes out on our shores in ebook it will be twice as expensive..I also don't want to pay the foreign transaction rate my credit card will charge me (read: arm/leg)

07-08-2009, 11:41 PM	#6
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Sony -had- a book store at one point...But it seems like their partnership with Borders has broke down (especially with them having their own e-reader now.

07-08-2009, 11:45 PM	#7
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I'll put my money on Sony over Borders any day of the week. Borders is not well managed IMO.

07-09-2009, 12:41 AM	#9
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	It's hardly Amazon's stranglehold, it's more Sony sucking. Take it up with Sony and the publishers... not Amazon's fault that they have a good store. As far as I know, Amazon isn't engaging in any anticompetitive practices they're just doing what Sony hardly ever does - make an effort.

07-09-2009, 06:36 AM	#12
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	I don't mind to be honest. go pirate if you want to but cant buy their book and want to read it. I wish the kindle bookstore was open. but I do have an Itouch so I can buy it and dedrm it.

07-09-2009, 08:43 AM	#15
AshW Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 148 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Narnia Device: Sony Reader	The Malazan books are avaliable in the UK, so they're definitely not Amazon exclusives. A lot of this stuff is just all over the place though and it can be frustrating. I think things are slowly changing for the better rather than the worse though. The "content output" is and has been increasing steadily. Fingers crossed that at some point in the future this just isn't an issue.

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