Comments on: Would Kindle be able to take on ePub?

By: Gabe

Gabe — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 06:21:53 +0000

As an average customer I don’t care how a book is encoded so long as it is universal (so I can use any e-book), small (so I can fit lots of books on my device) and it is high quality (cause I don’t want fuzzy pictures/text) and the encoding mechanism doesn’t cost more.

This fight is not about which format is better for the customer–they are both equivalent. The issue all comes down to who is going to control the marketplace and the profits.

In the end it won’t matter. The wrangling just irritates customers and slows down market adoption. Just someone buy out the other one’s technology and let the customers be happy.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:55:36 +0000

I was hoping for ePUB support on the Kindle refresh, but it is not there, so I am buying a Nook or a Sony. Does anyone know when the Sony refresh is going to happen? Rumors abound around a Android based Sony reader with the new high contrast eInk display.

By: Nanookie

Nanookie — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:13:30 +0000

I decided to buy a nook rather than Kindle specifically because of its epub support. With the epub support I can download books from my public library for FREE!

Why would B&N push epub format? It doesn’t make much sense if I was B&N because of the money that they will make SELLING books. They get nothing when readers download the SAME book from the library for FREE! Seems this could be the same reason Amazon doesn’t offer it all.

It is amazing to me how many people aren’t even aware of the capability to download books for free from the public library.

By: S

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:19:15 +0000

This article completely ignores the fact that epub books are now available for free through many library web sites, so Amazon is making it so that buyers of the Kindle cannot borrow library books. I can’t support a business model that is trying to monopolize the e-book market and that, to my mind, is trying to wall libraries out of e-books. I bought a nook and I’ve happily borrowed three titles from my local library on it. I’m very happy that I didn’t buy a Kindle.

By: switch11

switch11 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:19:10 +0000

That’s a very good point – with mp3s amazon took a very different approach. Ditto with paper books.

At some point Amazon will have to open up – it will then compete on price and will probably do better than it does now.
The big danger now is advertising supported free ebooks.

Your point is very valid though – Amazon should weight the closed model carefully.

By: bernmarx

bernmarx — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:42:21 +0000

(Late to the party, but….)

I buy (paper) books from Amazon because they’re consistently cheaper than anyone else, not because I have to choose between buying books from them and buying books from anyone else.

I buy MP3s from Amazon rather than iTunes because, again, they’re consistently cheaper.

I would have bought a Kindle if I hadn’t been concerned that, if Kindle failed, I’d be stuck with a doorstop. Instead, I bought a Sony Reader, and now I have two.

Amazon built its market niche, and became the market leader, by being competitive; your argument is based on it maintaining a monopoly (in its format). I feel it’s wandered from its original selling point, and that bothers me.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:00:56 +0000

I have 2 Kindles. My Kindle 2 does not support PDF for me because I don’t use a font lower than #3 and my Kindle 1 does not support PDF because it has not been modified to do so. I have no problem converting other formats to be read on a Kindle. I am much more excited that Calibre can convert ODT files than ePub files, because that is my primary word processor. I also think the selfishness on the part of BigPub to try and either squash e-books or to proliferate the Tower of eBabel into even more formats is incredible stupidity that smacks of suicide. If we were all on one format with one DRM, then one could buy from the store that has the best price or the best service or the best convenience at the buyer’s choice. If grocery stores ran their business like this I would have to drive 35 miles to get a banana because I wouldn’t be eligible for the bananas at my local store. Do any of these outfits, including Amazon, think that if all readers could read all books that their sales would go down? In all likelihood they would go up because there are MANY people out there that won’t buy a reader at all until this stupidity is resolved.

By: Kikus

Kikus — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:22:15 +0000

My Kindle updated wirelessly last week and now supports PDF natively.

Remember that the Kindle is a kind of computer that can upgrade itself through its integrated 3G modem

I bet that in next updating release ePub will be included, allowing us to download all DRM-free books in ePub format

In fact there is already a hack in the net that allows a Kindle to recognize ePub automatically. [link removed - google it]

By: Lolla Doll

Lolla Doll — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:08:55 +0000

Maybe Amazon doesn’t find it so important to open Kindle for ePUB because their only interest is that readers will be forced to buy from them. Why should we, when having the possibility to buy books from other sellers gives us the chance to pay less for a title? Not to mention the availability: some books are not on Amazon’s catalog.

Yes, that will not work with the wireless system, but it doesn’t cost any time to load the book that you bought from another store to kindle using a usb connector. It’s the principle of freedom and respect for the consumer. Kindles sounds like a great device, but I hate the idea of having to throw out all the books I’ve already bought simply because kindle will not read them. Is that fair? I don’t think so.

And that is where Sony, BeBook, Irex, and other upcoming readers, deserve my respect for giving me the option to choose what is best for me. And still, they are all compatible. That’s what I call respectful behavior towards the consumer. So why is it so difficult for Amazon to understand that? Give me the freedom to choose the store and I will be the first in line to get a kindle.

By: switch11

switch11 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:53:29 +0000

Actually you can use the Kindle -

mobi – natively.
PDF – after conversion via Calibre or Mobipocket converter.
ePub – after conversion via Calibre.

It’s a mess – however, you can get pretty much everything on your ereader except for DRM protected books. The Kindle Store has the best range so you’re not losing out in terms of new books, and free books can be converted.