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Why Sony's Walkman will Eventually Win the players Wars...

The article is biased by the current level of technology and while Sony's device was revolutionary, it didn't win that era's wars (well, maybe the first).

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I find it interesting that people argue FOR convergence devices being the death knell for digital cameras and mp3 players but argue AGAINST them being the death knell for book reading. If people "want to have one device", it ain't going to be a book reader.

I still prefer a book to an e-book, as they're more robust, durable, lack DRM, are easy to resell and are readable in a wider range of locations. I can easily see the value in e-books for technical materials and other such time-duration or non-recreational reading, so there will be widespread usage.

Absolutely, making any prediction of this nature is opening oneself up to ridicule when future breakthroughs render it obsolete. But the comparison isn't with the hardware technology of the Kindle, as with the Walkman, but the benefits of transferability, ease of use, and brand trust. All are less vulnerable (especially the last one) to a competitor's breakthrough.

The kindle's transferability, ease of use, and Amazon's brand trust are almost compelling.

But what about openness? http://news.cnet.com/o-reilly-amazon-must-open-the-kindle/

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