Thoughts on the new Amazon feature
Steven Johnson in Slate argues that Amazon's new feature is not just a new way to shop for books, but also an entirely new way to manage the content you already own:
Why would Amazon want to offer a service revolving around books that by definition you don't want to buy? For one, managing the library information would be trivial, given the existing scope of Amazon's database architecture. (Plus, the users would do all the data entry pro bono.) Using Amazon's search box for my own private needs, and not just shopping, makes me in the long run more dependent on Amazon (and perhaps more likely to ditch Google for Amazon down the line, as the latter's search offerings increase). Knowing something about my existing library gives Amazon even more information about my tastes for its recommendation engine. And I wouldn't object to Amazon including a list of titles not in my library that match my search request, thereby generating some new sales even when I'm browsing through old books.
Read the whole article (link first seen at Elegant Hack)
October 24, 2003 07:03 PMMake no mistake about it; Amazon, in their own way, is aiming to take over the web.
It's coming down to Microsoft, Google and Amazon. I'm thinking Google is not going to make it; they are too idealistic. I can't say about the other two.
Pondered by Greg at October 25, 2003 07:44 PM