Do We Really Want Vendor Lock-in With E-book Readers?

The Kindle e-book reader is, by almost all accounts, a great device. Amazon’s recent fumble with two George Orwell books notwithstanding, almost everyone who I’ve spoken to who has one loves it. It’s portable, it’s convenient, the books can be quite inexpensive, and the e-paper display doesn’t wear on the eyes or wash out in bright light like a laptop or cell phone display.

But Amazon is doing the same thing with the Kindle that Apple did with the iPod–it’s locking out other vendors from using the same content. Just as Apple did with the iTunes Store, before it removed its FairPlay DRM technology. Amazon requires you to use either a Kindle device or Kindle software in order to access its content.

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  Who says the world stopped reading decades ago? With CES 2010 looming ever closer, it looks as if 2010 may end up being the year of the e-book reader. Amazon’s got a few Kindles out…
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  Last we heard from Astak, it was quietly peddling some off-the-wall Mentor e-book reader based on a drab OEM model that every other no-name reader manufacturer uses. Now…
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  Sony introduced today two new e-book readers to compete with Amazon’s Kindle series. But do they really have the potential to outsell Amazon’s hot device? Have a look at the chart I have put together…

• iRex readying wireless e-reader while Plastic Logic’s own snags $299 price point
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• Amazon Kindle vs. New Sony Readers: Game On!
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• Sony to Introduce $200 E-reader
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• Full specs leak on Sony Reader PRS-300 and PRS-600
• Amazon Sued Over Kindle Censorship — Here’s What’s Next