It is unsurprising that Amazon are pushing the "fact" that ebook downloads for their Kindle reading device have outsold hardback printed books on their site as they have a vested interest in selling more Kindles (Report 21 July). It is also unsurprising that they steadfastly refuse to disclose how many Kindles they have actually sold. However, purchasers of downloaded ebooks from Amazon should be in no doubt about what they are buying compared to hardbacks. If you buy a hardback from them, it is yours to keep for ever, or sell, donate or destroy as you wish. With an ebook download you are only buying a licence to read it on a specified device and Amazon can delete it remotely from your reader at any time. You cannot sell it, give it away, transfer it or (in theory at least) read it in certain parts of the world. Buyer beware, I recommend!The Guardian.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
To Kindle or Not to Kindle . . .
Professor Iain Stevenson, University College London, Centre for Publishing, offers his opinion on the merits of the Kindle:
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I love my Kindle!
ReplyDeleteSo does another friend of mine who said she particularly likes being able to adjust the font size on the Kindle. Wish it was library-friendly. I understand that the B&N Nook allows folks to check-out and read e-books from the library. I may check into that.
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