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By Joe Wikert

image The Kindle 2 Review blog posted an article comparing Amazon and Google.  It focuses on how the companies are going head-to-head, primarily in the book space.  I can’t say I agree with 100% of the article but I’ll admit there were pieces of it that made me think a bit further about the rivalry.

I’m still scratching my head over this comment about Google though:

The crucial thing here is that most people have no idea what the free services are costing them.

Come on.  I’m no Eric Schmidt fanboy (is there such a thing?!), but I get a chuckle out of conspiracy theories like this.  What exactly are these free Google services costing me?  It this is a hint that Google is to blame for the rapid decline of the newspaper industry, well, cry me a river!  I’m in the technology how-to book publishing industry and as I’ve often said, my biggest competitor isn’t another publisher—it’s Google.  But I’m not going to sit around and whine about how big, bad Google is forcing our industry to innovate.

Book biz: Really a high priority for Google?

I’m also not convinced that the book industry is a high priority for Google.  Would Google like to participate in it more?  Absolutely, but it’s not likely to become an enormous revenue generator for Google, particularly compared to the money the company rakes in from search.  Then again, wouldn’t it be interesting if Google were to come out with their own e-book reader?  Think about an open platform that encourages third-party app development and gives Amazon more than a run for its money.  Now that’s something I could get excited about!

 
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