e-readers -- good? -- bad? -- ugly?

[Jwb52z]

Originally Posted by fivemack

I imagine that the choice of '1984' by the person who uploaded a book to which he did not have the rights was a deliberate one, so that it sounded Orwellian of Amazon to be removing the illegal content. Having the ability to remove content remotely is pretty much unavoidable given the ability to purchase content remotely - the machine is connected to the Net, so it's perfectly reasonable for a judge to be able to compel Amazon to use the capability they have to remove infringing content.

I have a Kindle and like it; it would be nice if I could resell the books, but I'm not sure that can be implemented without conditions that no publisher would accept.

The only way you can stop it is to never use the Kindle's wireless capability and always transfer books using the USB option. You're right it can't be implemented because there's no way to keep the number of copies of ebooks to a finite count like with a physical paper book.

[Jwb52z]

Originally Posted by axn

That argument sounds circular.

It's not.

[fivemack]

Judge: 'OK, Amazon, what are you going to do about it?'
Amazon: 'There's nothing that we can do, they've bought the content and ...'
Judge: 'Aren't all the machines connected to the internet with the ability to automatically update content'
Amazon: 'well, yes'
Judge: 'OK, you are required to update the infringing content to be blank'
Amazon: 'ok'

[axn]

Originally Posted by fivemack

Judge: 'OK, Amazon, what are you going to do about it?'
Amazon: 'There's nothing that we can do, they've bought the content and ...'
Judge: 'Aren't all the machines connected to the internet with the ability to automatically update content'
Amazon: 'well, yes'
Judge: 'OK, you are required to update the infringing content to be blank'
Amazon: 'ok'

That sounds reasonable.

Originally Posted by fivemack

Having the ability to remove content remotely is pretty much unavoidable given the ability to purchase content remotely

This doesn't. There is nothing "unavoidable" about it. Amazon could've built a machine without that ability and it'd be perfectly workable, wouldn't it?

[fivemack]

It would be theoretically workable, but you couldn't get a refund on content purchased in error, which violates quite a lot of regulations on selling objects to customers, and you couldn't offer customers updated versions of the book when typos are found.

[axn]

Originally Posted by fivemack

but you couldn't get a refund on content purchased in error

Well. You can. You just have to trust that the user will do the right thing. Which might be a bit much for a corporation

Originally Posted by fivemack

you couldn't offer customers updated versions of the book when typos are found.

Not a major selling point. But even then, you can. The user would have two copies, the old one and the new one. Here, you don't lose anything by user holding on to both copies -- you're not losing any sales. User can delete the old copy manually, if they choose.

Basically, amazon opened up a whole can of worms by having this feature. Maybe they were forced into it by "publishers" -- I don't know. Personally, I don't think it is a very ethical feature.

[Jwb52z]

Originally Posted by axn

Basically, amazon opened up a whole can of worms by having this feature. Maybe they were forced into it by "publishers" -- I don't know. Personally, I don't think it is a very ethical feature.

Amazon could have gotten in trouble if they hadn't removed the content initially because it could have been seen as a party to something illegal because the file for the book was uploaded and attempted to be sold by a party that had no authority to sell it. It would be like aiding trafficking of stolen merchandise or something similar.

[imwithid]

So far the advice on this thread has been invaluable. I, too, am in the market for an e-reader, however, I want the option of watching a movie at times. Has anyone given the Asus Eee pad or the Acer Iconia a try? I just tried the Xoom by Motorola last night and it was terrible. It did not have multi-touch zoom (needed at times to see the small print), it did not have a USB port for standard USB keys or SD/Micro SD slots (it did have a mini-B USB port, however) and the response was very sluggish. I do not want to go with the Iprat as I want full control over the unit (possibly installing some variant of Linux in the future without breaking laws by hacking the unit) and the ability to zoom in (which, oddly enough, the Xoom did not have). It was comfortable to hold, however, and I was able to lower the brightness to a comfortable level.

I ran out of time to try the new Blackberry Playbook. Has anyone tried any of these aforementioned (quasi-toys)? Perhaps if my demands are too great, I should wait for the next generation of tablets (e.g. quad-core Acer Iconia A700 series?).

[science_man_88]

Originally Posted by fivemack

It would be theoretically workable, but you couldn't get a refund on content purchased in error, which violates quite a lot of regulations on selling objects to customers, and you couldn't offer customers updated versions of the book when typos are found.

I'm no book expert, but usually on auction kings they use it in appraisals to prove it's a x-th edition because of known mess ups.

[only_human]

Speaking of digital rights, Penguin Group USA has stopped allowing library lending of new e-book titles and has instructed OverDrive to suspend the Kindle functionality of existing library e-book loans.
Penguin Group USA to No Longer Allow Library Lending of New Ebook Titles.

I have bought every Penguin Group published book of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files over the years. The last few years I bought the hardback to get them sooner, except for the most recent one that I bought first-day as an e-book. I have been rereading some of the older ones for comfort on my Kindle via the Los Angeles library Kindle e-book lending program that works through OverDrive but alas no longer.

[only_human]

Amazon’s Kindle Plays A Part In Penguin’s Library Decision is follow-on shoe drop to the previous post about Penguin Publishing's dissatisfaction with the manner and comfort that library books could be provided on the Kindle and the driving of the patrons into Amazon's point-of-sale premises in the process of checking out a library book.

Earlier in the thread I mentioned that my e-reader stopped working and Amazons's customer services sent a replacement via 2nd day shipping; that replacement has now, in turn, failed also and they have shipped another replacement to me. Both times I removed the Kindle from a front lower pocket of Khaki Cargo Pants to discover that the screen had a partial scrambled display that wouldn't clear.

I am very gentle with books and also very gentle with electronics. The Kindle, being both, naturally has been carefully handled. I am now considering that the Amazon cover might be the culprit. It has a metal clipping mechanism that securely clips into the side of the Kindle but perhaps harms something internally in the process of walking with it in a pocket. Both time the failure was noticed after putting the Kindle into a pocket, going directly to a restaurant, sitting and removing it for use.

After this 2nd failure, I've explored my sweetheart's Kindle Touch model. I don't have a cover for this one so have only used it at home as I don't wish to carry it anywhere without a cover. The Kindle Touch model is very sensitive to screen touches. I often accidentally navigate away from my current reading page. It is much lighter and more responsive and I feel that over time I will find it more enjoyable to use.

Earlier in this thread I thrashed around trying to justify an e-reader purchase on economics. Current market pricing of new e-book novels doesn't support that goal very well. Even so, in addition to mainstream published novels, I also avail myself of library e-books and spend a bit more time vetting the slushpile of non-mainstream writers and also free e-books that can be found on Amazon's website with a little extra effort.

Some library e-books can't be transferred to the Kindle. I read one such e-book recently on my desktop computer and felt exhausted in the process. Much as computer slowdowns are easier to notice than speedups, so is comfort degradation.

Yesterday, I was in a brick-and-mortar Barnes and Noble bookstore seeking immersive distraction and settled on "Hard Magic" by Larry Correia. That book was only available in a $15 trade paperback. They have touchscreen terminals in the store to help patrons check for books and authors and I learned that the book is available on the Nook e-reader and also that a sequel would be sold in April. I am not stubbornly sticking to principles greater than my convenience on rival suppliers and think that spending locally is sometimes a good thing so decided queue up to buy the dead tree trade paperback edition available in the store...

But there was a line. Then I realized that I like to hold books close to my face when I read because I prefer to read without my glasses (even though they are bifocals), and this book was a bit heavy to hold like that. Then I remembered that when I read larger books like this trade paperback, I often roll in bed as I prop the left-sided book page and then the right-sided page ad astra (in space opera). Then I remembered my desire not add to my piles of books already at home (I love books and dislike discarding them). Ultimately, I re-shelved the book and returned home. That was a good thing:

It turns out that this book and its sequel were available at Baen Books online. They have non DRM e-books in multiple formats and have for years offered select books available for free reading, download and on free CDs in hardcover books. It is a very enlightened policy, and they have been deserving of my fiscal patronage for quite some time. Both "Hard Magic" and its' sequel were available for e-book purchase at a very reasonable $6 each. I bought the first yesterday, read it, and bought the 2nd book today.