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Kindle MatchBook

amazon.com

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Re: Kindle MatchBook

#21

Post by WalterSear »

shantanubala wrote: post #7
runn1ng wrote: post #3

I should dislike Amazon for closed-source software on Kindle and for its DRM, but... well, they have really nice offers.

Kindles are very hackable in comparison to most devices. http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2... Amazon also didn't void my warranty when I installed a few hacks on my e-ink Kindle. Unfortunately they are very lenient with their devices because they know that the content is locked down completely. Once you buy Kindle books, you're unfortunately only renting them.

Removing DRM from azw files is trivial if you are using calibre and have the right plugin. I do it as a matter of course whenever I buy any books from Amazon.

Re: Kindle MatchBook

#22

Post by jlarocco »

TomAnthony wrote: post #8

There are fundamental differences between a paper book and an ebook. I far prefer paper books when I'm using it as a reference, but love the convenience of ebooks when for when I'm reading through something. With technical books it is very common to read initially and reference later, or to read some sections, use others for reference etc. With that in mind it has often been a tough choice as to whether to buy a pape…

I'm a little surprised anybody could prefer paper books for reference...

For me, full-text search, bookmarks, and copy/paste make ebooks far superior for referencing. Not to mention I don't have a bunch of books cluttering my desk.

In any case, I completely agree this is awesome. I've been considering selling most of my old physical books and buying the ebook versions, and this will save me a bunch of money.

Re: Kindle MatchBook

#23

Post by chimeracoder »

sliverstorm wrote: post #4
runn1ng wrote: post #3

I should dislike Amazon for closed-source software on Kindle and for its DRM, but... well, they have really nice offers.

Last I heard Kindle isn't closed-source, they just don't make it particularly easy to build- which was never a requirement for GPL.

> which was never a requirement for GPL.

Depending on your definition of "easy-to-build", the GPLv3 addresses that (partially).

Re: Kindle MatchBook

#24

Post by keltex »

vertr07 wrote: post #17

It is important to note that this appears to apply to a limited selection of books.

FYI. I work with an Amazon author and he received an email asking if he wanted to "opt-in" to the program (which he did). So it's completely at the publisher's or author's discretion which I think is the right way of doing it.

Also the author has the ability to set the price for the Kindle version. It's dependent on the retail price but from what I've seen if the Kindle book is >$6 the author can do $2.99, $1.99, $0.99 or free. Then as the price gets lower (>$4) the options narrow to $1.99, $0.99 or free and so on.

Re: Kindle MatchBook

#25

Post by AceJohnny2 »

gdilla wrote: post #11

This is awesome for the consumer, absolutely. And it's only made possible by the recent DOJ trial that effectively allowed Amazon to set prices of ebooks (wholesale vs agency model). Recall that agency model, the publisher sets the price (the same as apps on the app store). But now that Amazon can set any price they want for ebooks (and take a loss on them if they want to, which they have done before), Amazon can do…

I think Charles Stross writings on ebooks is interesting and insightful. He should know: he's a tech-savvy best-selling author. (He hangs around here too: [1])

He wrote a couple of posts a year and a half ago, they still apply. In them, he explains how Amazon is making itself a monopoly, and that isn't good for anyone but them.

What's been most informative to me is how tiny publishers actually are, and how little money the author actually gets. It doesn't paint Amazon as the good guy. It's also why I buy my books hardcover now: more cash for the author.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=cstross

[2] http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/understa...

[3] http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/more-on-...

Re: Kindle MatchBook

#26

Post by res0nat0r »

AceJohnny2 wrote: post #25
gdilla wrote: post #11

This is awesome for the consumer, absolutely. And it's only made possible by the recent DOJ trial that effectively allowed Amazon to set prices of ebooks (wholesale vs agency model). Recall that agency model, the publisher sets the price (the same as apps on the app store). But now that Amazon can set any price they want for ebooks (and take a loss on them if they want to, which they have done before), Amazon can do…

I think Charles Stross writings on ebooks is interesting and insightful. He should know: he's a tech-savvy best-selling author. (He hangs around here too: [1]) He wrote a couple of posts a year and a half ago, they still apply. In them, he explains how Amazon is making itself a monopoly, and that isn't good for anyone but them. What's been most informative to me is how tiny publishers actually are, and how little mon…

> It's also why I buy my books hardcover now: more cash for the author.

Isn't this true, Amazon or not? Hardcovers cost the customer more than paperbacks or ebooks, so the author should be getting hopefully a larger cut of the sale.

I think this program (if it has enough titles that I've bought in the past) is going to be awesome. I've never bought a Kindle because paying almost the same price for the Kindle version of a book vs. the paperback cost is ridiculous. Now with this program I will buy a Kindle so I can read my past purchases via that when I'm traveling, and my paperback versions when I'm sitting around at home.

Does anyone know if you can actually use this program with used book purchases? I've bought many books used (many times for only a few bucks including shipping), so I don't know if they would be eligible for this program or not.

Re: Kindle MatchBook

#28

Post by gdilla »

AceJohnny2 wrote: post #25
gdilla wrote: post #11

This is awesome for the consumer, absolutely. And it's only made possible by the recent DOJ trial that effectively allowed Amazon to set prices of ebooks (wholesale vs agency model). Recall that agency model, the publisher sets the price (the same as apps on the app store). But now that Amazon can set any price they want for ebooks (and take a loss on them if they want to, which they have done before), Amazon can do…

I think Charles Stross writings on ebooks is interesting and insightful. He should know: he's a tech-savvy best-selling author. (He hangs around here too: [1]) He wrote a couple of posts a year and a half ago, they still apply. In them, he explains how Amazon is making itself a monopoly, and that isn't good for anyone but them. What's been most informative to me is how tiny publishers actually are, and how little mon…

Yeah.. I didn't think that through. Amazon becoming more monopolistic isn't 'absolutely' awesome for the consumer. You're right. Heck, the price of physical books on amazon may start to creep up now - no one can compete with them for miles anyway.

Re: Kindle MatchBook

#29

Post by arjn »

So basically if you bought a book in the past from Amazon, you may be able to get a kindle version for up to $3. Its not a bad deal for customers and additional revenue in Amazon's coffers for a minor service. I think they should make it a flat rate at $0.50 and drop the variable pricing.

Re: Kindle MatchBook

#30

Post by gknoy »

jlarocco wrote: post #22
TomAnthony wrote: post #8

There are fundamental differences between a paper book and an ebook. I far prefer paper books when I'm using it as a reference, but love the convenience of ebooks when for when I'm reading through something. With technical books it is very common to read initially and reference later, or to read some sections, use others for reference etc. With that in mind it has often been a tough choice as to whether to buy a pape…

I'm a little surprised anybody could prefer paper books for reference... For me, full-text search, bookmarks, and copy/paste make ebooks far superior for referencing. Not to mention I don't have a bunch of books cluttering my desk. In any case, I completely agree this is awesome. I've been considering selling most of my old physical books and buying the ebook versions, and this will save me a bunch of money.

Sometimes, being able to flip between two sections (comparing examples) or things a couple pages apart can be useful.

I remember having both PDF and hard copies of some RPG rulebooks, and it was almost always easier to find That Specific Thing in the paper book, once I was familiar enough with everything to use the contextual clues and page differences to find my way easily. Flipping between rules for {verb} and the list of valid {option} permutations is a similar case with tech books. Control-F helps, and so do bookmarks, but some things are easier with paper.

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