I didn't understand this part. Why would tablets usage reduce e-books sales if you can read e-books on your tablet all the same? If the author means the DRM issue, then it's not really the case, since there are many DRM free e-books sold already, and even with DRMed ones, DRM can be removed in most cases in order to access them on any device you want.
DRM can be removed in theory but most users won't make it through Calibre and the necessary scripts. In addition, in many countries, removing DRM is illegal, and in almost all countries, offering software, knowledge etc. on removing DRM even for legal purposes such as personal use is illegal. Removing DRM is therefore not an approach compatible with a mass market.
I really hate Calibre, and I can't understand why someone hasn't forked it and released a limited set of tools just for DRM stripping. Obviously this is legally difficult but certainly do-able.
> In addition, in many countries, removing DRM is illegal,
It's weird that I am committing a criminal offence if I buy a DRMd ebook and rip it to a format I can use, but I'm not committing a criminal offence if I just download a DRM-free version of the same book.
Of course that doesn't change anything legally but technically making a simple "GUI" to de-drm ebooks is something that any high-level programmer could do in a few minutes.
It's "illegal" while it shouldn't be, since it bans fair use (format/device shifting). So in practice people simply ignore nonsensical "laws" like these, since they "place unrealistic demands on reality" (the way Cory Doctorow phrased it). So removing DRM should be compatible with mass market no matter how many nonsensical laws will try to prevent it and tools to remove DRM are distributed through services hosted in countries which don't have such nonsense like DMCA 1201. It applies even to such elementary things like libdvdcss which one needs to play DVDs on Linux.
The argument hinges on the idea that people pick up tablets only so many hours of the day and then decide what to do. I think it's flimsy because using a tablet is a different act than wanting to read a book.
Assume also that you take a fixed-duration journey during which you entertain yourself with your e-reader or tablet.
Time spent reading = journey length - time spent doing things other than reading. Number of ebooks you buy = reading speed constant * time spent reading
So the relation is:
Number of ebooks you buy = reading speed constant * (journey length - time spent doing things other than reading)
Does this clarify things?
Not in my case at least. I buy e-books irregularly, only when I need one, or interested in particular one and etc. I don't buy just for the sake of buying another one. Also, if there is a sale on something, you can buy it to read in the future, just because there is a good deal. So I don't think constant buying rate for e-books which is equal to the rate of reading is a good general assumption.
I guess it depends on how long it takes you to read things, and how easily you can find things you want to read :)
No. You would buy a hard copy or a real e-reader so that you could actually read it. Tablets are just terrible for book-reading and apple killed the e-book market with the release of the tablet. Hopefully someday it will recover, but after spending so much money on a toy few are eager to buy a real e-reader.
No idea, since I never had a dedicated e-reader. I prefer a general purpose tablet which can be used as e-reader in addition and also can run free software without any DRM to begin with. What benefits does dedicated e-reader have?
Those are the only benefits I can think of. But they both make and break the e-book experience. Reading an e-book on a tablet? Wouldn't cross my mind, ever. I'd much rather buy the book. Read an e-book on a e-reader? Yes, please - I'll gladly pay more than the book costs if I have to (which I do a lot of the times).
I have several problems with this. You can't carry many books with you, and you need too much room to store them. If I really really need something that I read quite regularly, then sure, I'd buy a paper book. But in most cases I'd prefer a digital book, and I have no problems with reading it on a tablet. May be there are DRM-free hackable e-readers out there, but I didn't research this.
Yes, DRM is an issue. Personally, when paying about the same or more for a DRM-e-book than for the real thing I consider it fair game and morally acceptable for me to strip the DRM (no one can claim that I'm getting a cheaper version because of DRM when the DRM crap costs more than a physical book).
Currently this is childs play so I'm gambling somewhat on that this won't change or my e-reader won't be able to new books from certain places.
Of course, this makes me a criminal.
About "criminality" of breaking DRM, this nonsense is really annoying. More people should support campaigns like this one: http://fixthedmca.org