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Now it's really over for Amazon's Kindle!!
- Thread starter mozartwon
- Start date
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I don't think Kindle/Amazon's end is even close to reality. It was just a matter of time before they faced real competition. First B&N and now Apple, but I still think there is enough room for Amazon to be successful, just not as successful. Also, It will take time before Apple get the library that Amazon currently has. We still have not heard any news about other big publishers on the iBookstore (i.e. Random House). Also, there is a whole community of dedicated book readers that love the Kindle and have no interest in the iPad or devices like it.
I honestly think the real losers in all of this is B&N and especially Borders. Both were late to the game in e-books and having to already compete with Amazon you now throw Apple into the mix...
I honestly think the real losers in all of this is B&N and especially Borders. Both were late to the game in e-books and having to already compete with Amazon you now throw Apple into the mix...
There's a big difference in terms of readability.
I don't think anyone will argue that text will look great on an iPad. But I can stare at my Kindle's screen for hours and not get any eye strain what so ever. It's amazingly easy to look at. Is it as "pretty" as the iPad? Nope. Can I read it in the dark? Nope. But it is very paper-like in terms of contrast.
I have the Kindle. I have pre-ordered my iPad. I'm anxious to try the Kindle app for the iPad. But I honestly don't think I'll be replacing my Kindle entirely. The big benefit here is that I can use whispersync to read on both devices and they will sync the furthest page read.
I can see a lot of people maybe getting interested in reading ebooks because of the iPad. But I really don't think we'll be seeing e-ink disappear anytime soon. It really is just that much better at being a reading device. Plus physical buttons to switch pages instead of swiping or tapping on the screen. I think a dedicated book reading device has a very large market. The iPad is certainly going to be fine for some people. But when I sit down to read I will probably grab the Kindle.
That said, the iPad will have my newspaper and web readings on it. So it's sort of going to be both ways. I think it's a fair trade off since I won't be reading as much on my desktop. It'll let me move to the couch to read the websites and news I typically read on my computer.
They both have their benefits and their fallbacks. Don't discredit one over the other. Especially since none of us here have actually seen one in person, or used one.
But don't think that the Kindle and Nook are disappearing. They have a lot of potential.
That said. I don't really understand the whole reasoning behind one product having to kill or destroy another product. Why do you want the Kindle to fail? That's what it sounds like. The device is amazingly good at what it does. Competition is a good thing. It forces companies to innovate and improve. You should be rooting for both.
I don't think anyone will argue that text will look great on an iPad. But I can stare at my Kindle's screen for hours and not get any eye strain what so ever. It's amazingly easy to look at. Is it as "pretty" as the iPad? Nope. Can I read it in the dark? Nope. But it is very paper-like in terms of contrast.
I have the Kindle. I have pre-ordered my iPad. I'm anxious to try the Kindle app for the iPad. But I honestly don't think I'll be replacing my Kindle entirely. The big benefit here is that I can use whispersync to read on both devices and they will sync the furthest page read.
I can see a lot of people maybe getting interested in reading ebooks because of the iPad. But I really don't think we'll be seeing e-ink disappear anytime soon. It really is just that much better at being a reading device. Plus physical buttons to switch pages instead of swiping or tapping on the screen. I think a dedicated book reading device has a very large market. The iPad is certainly going to be fine for some people. But when I sit down to read I will probably grab the Kindle.
That said, the iPad will have my newspaper and web readings on it. So it's sort of going to be both ways. I think it's a fair trade off since I won't be reading as much on my desktop. It'll let me move to the couch to read the websites and news I typically read on my computer.
They both have their benefits and their fallbacks. Don't discredit one over the other. Especially since none of us here have actually seen one in person, or used one.
But don't think that the Kindle and Nook are disappearing. They have a lot of potential.
That said. I don't really understand the whole reasoning behind one product having to kill or destroy another product. Why do you want the Kindle to fail? That's what it sounds like. The device is amazingly good at what it does. Competition is a good thing. It forces companies to innovate and improve. You should be rooting for both.
I highly doubt that. Again. Why must people always assume things like this before they actually see the iPad. Just astounds me.
I have maintained the same attitude. There is plenty of room in the marketplace for the iPad and ANY one device you want to name. And one device doesn't have to WIN and every other device "lose"
Some people want to see things as only black or white.
It's silly. And either naive, immature or ignorant (or pick your combination) to think in such a manner.
While the iPod dominates the market - are there not hundreds of other models selling to the public?
PCs dominate the workforce, but does that mean Macs aren't also selling well?
Is Sony the ONLY TV manufacturer?
Yadda yadda.. the list and poor analogies ramble on. Point is - The Kindle and eInk, while taking a "hit" perhaps in the marketplace are far from dead.
But if it helps you to sleeps better at night or helps you feel better about your iPad purchase to put every other device down or claim it dead - so be it.
Some people want to see things as only black or white.
It's silly. And either naive, immature or ignorant (or pick your combination) to think in such a manner.
While the iPod dominates the market - are there not hundreds of other models selling to the public?
PCs dominate the workforce, but does that mean Macs aren't also selling well?
Is Sony the ONLY TV manufacturer?
Yadda yadda.. the list and poor analogies ramble on. Point is - The Kindle and eInk, while taking a "hit" perhaps in the marketplace are far from dead.
But if it helps you to sleeps better at night or helps you feel better about your iPad purchase to put every other device down or claim it dead - so be it.
Agreed. Both Amazon and B&N plan App's for the iPad. I have a Nook and have mucho Books and e-pub material which I will have the same access to with my iPad. And a big nod to B&N, unlike the iLibrary most likely, always has discount coupons to sweeten book purchases.
In the end it's all about content. Apple has lagged in every avenue they've entered in terms of catalog size. They have enough music to be deadly, yet lack simple bands like AC/DC and the Beatles.
In the area of Books and TV Shows they have been historically WAY behind the curve.
The interesting thing to note is that Apple is lacking content, because they have an innate gift of making publishers angry. Any category of publisher ends up hating Apple in such a deep rooted way, they refuse to ever allow Apple to distribute their content. It sorta feels like a raped woman refusing to sleep with her attacker. They'd rather die than ever go back.
$1.29 tracks were supposed to fix the gaping holes in iTunes. Didn't happen. $9.99 books is just that...$9.99 books that you already had available when they used to cost more. Good books will not go for this price until they've run their course. $.99 TV episodes will remain SD versions.
Amazon will continue to win because their reader is reasonably priced, and not making outrageous claims of being something it isn't.
In the area of Books and TV Shows they have been historically WAY behind the curve.
The interesting thing to note is that Apple is lacking content, because they have an innate gift of making publishers angry. Any category of publisher ends up hating Apple in such a deep rooted way, they refuse to ever allow Apple to distribute their content. It sorta feels like a raped woman refusing to sleep with her attacker. They'd rather die than ever go back.
$1.29 tracks were supposed to fix the gaping holes in iTunes. Didn't happen. $9.99 books is just that...$9.99 books that you already had available when they used to cost more. Good books will not go for this price until they've run their course. $.99 TV episodes will remain SD versions.
Amazon will continue to win because their reader is reasonably priced, and not making outrageous claims of being something it isn't.
Not sure what you're talking about here. With a few exceptions, Kindle books are published with their paper counterparts.
I wouldn't jump to conclusions.
First of all, don't forget that the Kindle has an E-ink display which might not look as good as the iPad's but many users say it is easier on the eye because it doesn't use a backlit screen. As far as I know it has never been verified scientifically but I think it makes sense.
Second, price - why would I want to pay $500 for a device with no Internet access (beside WiFi) if all I want is an e-book reader? You can spend between $260-$490 for a Kindle and enjoy free 3g Internet with no contract almost everywhere. It won't have the iPad's cool apps but most of us already have them on our phones anyway.
First of all, don't forget that the Kindle has an E-ink display which might not look as good as the iPad's but many users say it is easier on the eye because it doesn't use a backlit screen. As far as I know it has never been verified scientifically but I think it makes sense.
Second, price - why would I want to pay $500 for a device with no Internet access (beside WiFi) if all I want is an e-book reader? You can spend between $260-$490 for a Kindle and enjoy free 3g Internet with no contract almost everywhere. It won't have the iPad's cool apps but most of us already have them on our phones anyway.
Overpriced... Maybe, but I never looked at how much e-ink cost in comparison to LCD/LED.
I wouldn't call it a waste of money. If you aren't an avid reader and have never used a e-ink reader then you can't appreciate it. I'm hoping the iPad can take over as my e-book (along with everything else it does), but am keeping my Kindle around until I am convinced that I can enjoy reading on the iPad nearly as much as I do on the Kindle.
That is simply ridiculous. As a Kindle owner, and soon to be iPad 3G owner, I will not be ditching the kindle for my reading. Eink looks like paper. I don't want to read a back-lit computer screen. I read 1 or 2 books a week. My kindle goes almost a whole month without a charge....Can't really say the same about an iPad.
Kindle is the perfect fit for someone interested in reading just books. If you want books plus more I guess iPad is a great compromise. I feel both devices would go great together though.
True but even if you did read a lot of ebooks the ipad would still be a better deal if you ask me.
Exactly
There will probably be another kindle version with the option of color, but after that, kindle as hardware will be done.
However, Kindle.app should have a bright future, especially if it is cross-platform.
There is no question that the iPad is a better value for the money. However, this thread is about ebooks and on paper (no pun intended), the Kindle may be the better reading experience.
With that said, some people will not have problem one way of the other (e-ink vs. LCD/LED). Others will prefer e-ink (generally heavy readers), but i doubt you will find many people preferring to read on LCD/LED over e-ink. Some will claim to and I won't argue that, but if you've never read a whole book on e-ink I don't think it's fair to even try to compare.
That's why they invented a charging cable. Is it really that hard to plug something in every now and then?
No not at all...but is it not nice to have a device that I can just leave in my bag and not ever really have to worry charging?
Maybe you don't view this is a plus....but if you could run an ipad for a month straight I'm sure you'd be raving.
As a big time reader, I feel that I will be going back to my Kindle. Eink offers a superior reading experience. It looks like paper and behaves like paper.
Yes - the iPad is better bang for the buck.
But there are people who JUST want an eReader OR
there are people who don't want to spend $500+ for MORE. The iPad is a luxury device even MORE SO than a Kindle is. And by Kindle I am referring to the 2, not the DX. I believe the DX is pretty much dead. Why spend 499 on a DX when you can, for the same price get an iPad.
But at $259 - people who don't want anything fancy or who are watching their wallets WILL opt for a simpler device. Just like people buy tons of mp3 payers that are much cheaper and simpler (despite not having the best UI, screen, etc) vs getting an iPod.
Some people here want to argue that the iPad is cheap and anyone can afford it. Those people need to stop projecting their financial position and attitudes onto others.
Funny. Maybe you should visit the iPhone forum and tell this to the people who complain about their battery life.
But there are people who JUST want an eReader OR
there are people who don't want to spend $500+ for MORE. The iPad is a luxury device even MORE SO than a Kindle is. And by Kindle I am referring to the 2, not the DX. I believe the DX is pretty much dead. Why spend 499 on a DX when you can, for the same price get an iPad.
But at $259 - people who don't want anything fancy or who are watching their wallets WILL opt for a simpler device. Just like people buy tons of mp3 payers that are much cheaper and simpler (despite not having the best UI, screen, etc) vs getting an iPod.
Some people here want to argue that the iPad is cheap and anyone can afford it. Those people need to stop projecting their financial position and attitudes onto others.
Funny. Maybe you should visit the iPhone forum and tell this to the people who complain about their battery life.
Really? You think so? (that's sarcasm).
That's a no brainer. Dropping and "dying" are two different matters. The Kindle isn't going anywhere soon. I know it's a tough thing to deal with - but those who are getting iPads or want iPads will just have to suffer knowing that they don't have the only device in the world that can read eBooks.