Comments on: U.S. State Department withdraws Kindle contract proposal http://paidcontent.org/2012/08/16/state-department-withdraws-its-amazon-kindle-deal/ The economics of digital content Thu, 23 May 2013 04:04:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Jacques http://paidcontent.org/2012/08/16/state-department-withdraws-its-amazon-kindle-deal/#comment-130779 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:39:08 +0000 http://paidcontent.org/?p=216559#comment-130779 The Amazon Kindle platform may be closed in some ways but is very open in others. The company did start the developers program that led to educational apps for the e-ink e-reader (e.g., ereviewbook, the ultimate quiz, and 24/7 tutor ).

]]> By: Elizabeth Lang http://paidcontent.org/2012/08/16/state-department-withdraws-its-amazon-kindle-deal/#comment-128460 Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:08:43 +0000 http://paidcontent.org/?p=216559#comment-128460 Yup. Kindle’s format is closed. You can read other books on it if you know how to convert it to pdf or convert other formats to Kindles, but it places a restrictive barrier against anyone who wants to buy a book from anyone else and port it over to Kindle unless you have some computer knowledge, time to research it, the ability and resources to install programs that will do this for you, which many people don’t. Thus giving Amazon a great advantage. It would have been very convenient…for Amazon. Of course they would bend backwards providing services, even for free, so that the government would help it gain more control over the ereader market. It’s the old con. Lots of flash and free stuff with one hand…but watch out for the other.

]]> By: Sam Katz http://paidcontent.org/2012/08/16/state-department-withdraws-its-amazon-kindle-deal/#comment-128350 Sat, 18 Aug 2012 01:37:06 +0000 http://paidcontent.org/?p=216559#comment-128350 You’re close here, it’s the epub format that’s open and amazon’s own format that’s closed. most ereaders (ibooks aside) uses epub with adobe drm. apple uses their own drm.

]]> By: Johnnie Lewis http://paidcontent.org/2012/08/16/state-department-withdraws-its-amazon-kindle-deal/#comment-127864 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:47:41 +0000 http://paidcontent.org/?p=216559#comment-127864 Just reading between the lines here. Looks like to me the reason that the State Dept. withdrew the contract MAY have been (speculation) to check out the “opportunities” inherent in the use of “other” breeds of digital readers. Buying Kindles would limit the users to ebooks published in epub format, wouldn’t it? Whereas, a different reader might be able to utilize ebooks published in differing formats like HTML, etc. Not sure of all of the ramifications there, but with that much money at stake, looks like the SD was prudent to bring in more digital reader vendors, too.

]]> By: JB http://paidcontent.org/2012/08/16/state-department-withdraws-its-amazon-kindle-deal/#comment-127858 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:44:13 +0000 http://paidcontent.org/?p=216559#comment-127858 Google this:

obama “eric Schmidt”

And you will know why and what tablet will be purchased

]]> By: Andrys http://paidcontent.org/2012/08/16/state-department-withdraws-its-amazon-kindle-deal/#comment-127719 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:03:41 +0000 http://paidcontent.org/?p=216559#comment-127719 rpm, you should read Laura Owen’s earlier columns on this. The contract was also for a 24/7 dedicated help desk globally for this + the cost of 3G internationally (to be paid by Amazon), the cost of logistics, free replacement of any broken Kindles even if accidental, with free shipping in both directions, and many other requirements and restrictions.

]]> By: rpm http://paidcontent.org/2012/08/16/state-department-withdraws-its-amazon-kindle-deal/#comment-127042 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 18:43:35 +0000 http://paidcontent.org/?p=216559#comment-127042 If I’m not misunderstanding the math, the State Department would be buying a maximum of 35,000 units (7,000 x 5 years) for $16.5 million. That is $471 each for a unit that retails for a little over $100. I understand it is preloaded with books but this seems like overkill and should definitely be put out to bid. Also, if the gov’t is giving these away, why can’t they use the cheaper non-touch units?

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