Amazon is the king of online book sales. They're connected to the world's publishers and authors and they're really enjoying their position above everyone else.
If the way we view eBooks were to change, if eBook prices were to reflect their true costs, the entire online book industry would be shaken.... it most likely will happen, sooner or later, but Amazon (smartly) doesn't want to be the one to instigate such an upheaval that would leave them in a risky situation.
It's very likely that should such an event occur, they would adapt and remain the kings of online media sales - but it's a risk that they don't have to take - they're already at the top so it's nothing to gain and everything to lose.
They're trying to shape the emerging market by their own hands in their own way, a step at a time, to ensure that they'll always be safe.
If what collapses the current industry structure is apple's device, they'll probably come out in a decent position.
If that's what's going to happen anyway, isn't it better to lead? Especially if there's a chance of locking users in to a device with DRM. And it seems impossible that there won't be a change. The whole economics of printing is built on the realities of.. printing. How long can they keep pretending that books are being printed?
But I guess you're right. It's not 'no sense' it's 'no cojones'.
Amazon is the king of online book sales. They're connected to the world's publishers and authors and they're really enjoying their position above everyone else.
If the way we view eBooks were to change, if eBook prices were to reflect their true costs, the entire online book industry would be shaken.... it most likely will happen, sooner or later, but Amazon (smartly) doesn't want to be the one to instigate such an upheaval that would leave them in a risky situation.
It's very likely that should such an event occur, they would adapt and remain the kings of online media sales - but it's a risk that they don't have to take - they're already at the top so it's nothing to gain and everything to lose.
They're trying to shape the emerging market by their own hands in their own way, a step at a time, to ensure that they'll always be safe.