Now that the initial hype surrounding the release of the Amazon Kindle in Canada has come and gone, it’s time to look at what Canadians aren’t getting.
Sure, Amazon says Canada (and most other countries) has access to a library of 300,000+ eBooks, but there are many big titles we can’t buy because of copyright restrictions.
Take “Pirate Latitudes,” the posthumous novel from Michael Crichton. The eBook is readily available in the U.S. but Canadian Kindle users are out of luck. Want to read Stephen King’s latest? The same restrictions apply.
I’ve had the Kindle for about a week now and am growing increasingly frustrated by the inability to buy these and other eBooks. Chances are I was going to purchase them in print anyway, so why can’t I buy the electronic versions in Canada?
Everything else about the Kindle has wowed me so far but a stunted library does not make for an auspicious start around these parts. Canadians waited longer than most to get the Kindle; the least Amazon could do is get their copyright ducks in a row.
I was all gung ho about getting the Kindle too. Finally, a hand held tech device I actually wanted and thought I could use, unlike cell phones and iPods, which I have no use for, and have never owned. But when I checked the Kindle Store, none of the novels I’m looking forward to reading are available, and they are not even available in the U.S. either. I’m talking about Dan Brown’s latest bestseller The Lost Symbol and Edward Rutherfurd’s New York. So, sorry, amazon. As much as I was excited about the Kindle, I can’t justify purchasing it now, not until you make available the books I want to read.
I agree with Jesse Michaels. If we want to buy the book sell it to us. Service the customer. I’ve found many books I want to read on Amazon; but just as many not. Which then forces me to look elsewhere. Shortcovers, Fictionwise, eReader, Waterstones & Sony. Between them I’m usually able to purchase what I’m looking for. Geographic restrictions are just plain “stupid” in an Internet world. It seems to me if someone is willing to buy the book sell it to them. If you don’t you’re the one missing out on revenue. Simple as that. Publishers/authors/agents: WAKE UP!!! No wonder the publishing industry is collapsing. Serves them right.
Depends what you’re looking for. Amazon has all kinds of Penguin Classics that are unavailable anywhere else. What’s required is some time spent looking in their catalog; which by the way needs a Cataloging Librarian to work on it to make it truly usuable.
Agreed – Amazon needs to overhaul the entire Kindle section. There is no easy way to see new and upcoming releases and many of the sub-categories are just plain confusing.
On the hardware side, I have already noticed a dramatic increase in battery life with the new 2.3 firmware upgrade and the ability to easily move PDFs (no zoom though) to the device is handy.