The Kindle Hype

[MBX]

What's all the hype surrounding Amazon's Kindle ebook reader?

300+ bucks for a device that requires me to buy electronic books to use it properly and has only one function? I might as well just buy a physical book instead of such a device on top of it that can't do much anything else.

I can buy an iphone or ipod touch for that price, have a great audiobook and ebook-reader (through free apps like stanza) and do 1000+ things more on it.

Leo Laporte is talking about Kindle as if it's the best thing since sliced bread. Sometimes i believe he just buys every crap gadget out there just because he can afford it and has nothing better to do.

 

[edesignuk]

So the Kindle is not for you, for others it's all they've ever dreamed of*.


*perhaps a slight exaggeration, but still.

 

[rick3000]

I know a few people that read 20+ books in a month. They think the Kindle is fantastic, but then there are plenty of people who never read at all and the Kindle is a waste of money.
It is appealing to a niche market of people that read (a lot) or just want to be high tech, and it serves that niche very well.

 

[Abstract]

300+ bucks for a device that requires me to buy electronic books to use it properly....

If I read your post correctly and you actually said.....that.......you're not the target market for this product.

....and has only one function?

Yes, reading. Well, reading books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Also, checking Wikipedia and internet browsing for books.

They have more function than old iPods ever did.

 

[brand]

300+ bucks for a device that requires me to buy electronic books to use it properly and has only one function?

What do you think the First and Second generation iPods were? $300+ devices that required you to buy music to use it properly and had only one function.

 

[MBX]

hehe

 

[gkarris]

It's expensive because if comes with free access to the 3G cellular data network.

It would be obviously cheaper if it was subsidized by a cellular provider and then you had to pay a monthly fee, but Amazon didn't want to do anything like that.

 

[NightGeometry]

It's expensive because if comes with free access to the 3G cellular data network.

It would be obviously cheaper if it was subsidized by a cellular provider and then you had to pay a monthly fee, but Amazon didn't want to do anything like that.

It's actually expensive because of the screen. If you haven't read a book on an e-ink screen it is hard to imagine why this thing would be so lusted after. It is nothing like reading on an LCD, it is very very weirdly like reading printed pages. But those screens are hellishly expensive.

I read a couple of books a week, and use a Sony PRS500. It is wonderful. If you could get / use a Kindle in the UK, I would get one in a shot. I just really hope Amazon brings them out over here.

 

[Abstract]

Well yes, but the Sony has a similar screen, and yet it costs much less than the Kindle. I agree that the 3G and the continuous service you get from it for as long as you own it is why it costs so much.

 

[SactoGuy18]

It's expensive because if comes with free access to the 3G cellular data network.

It would be obviously cheaper if it was subsidized by a cellular provider and then you had to pay a monthly fee, but Amazon didn't want to do anything like that.

I said on another message thread that Amazon should sell a version of the Kindle that lacks the EVDO modem (but can download ebooks through the USB 2.0 port), which could cut the cost of the reader by US$100 or more. I'd buy the Kindle 2 if it only costs US$200 and you have to use a desktop or laptop computer to download the ebooks into the reader.

 

[dolphin842]

It's a pretty cool device, but still a toy for folks that have extra money. Once the price comes down maybe we'll see some actual shift in how people read.

 

[DavidLeblond]

I had a Rocket eBook many many many years ago, and I loved it for reading in the bed at night. But if you wanted to read in the bath, you couldn't. If you wanted to read at the beach, you couldn't. I took it to class once and it slipped off my desk and shattered the screen which cost $75 to fix. Then Nuvomedia discontinued it and it was worthless thanks to the DRM.

Yeah, I think I'll be sticking to dead trees for awhile longer.

 

[coupdetat]

I definitely like the feeling of having "real" books in my library when it comes to pleasure reading, but if Amazon ever makes a deal with textbook companies then I will be on board!

 

[alphaod]

I said on another message thread that Amazon should sell a version of the Kindle that lacks the EVDO modem (but can download ebooks through the USB 2.0 port), which could cut the cost of the reader by US$100 or more. I'd buy the Kindle 2 if it only costs US$200 and you have to use a desktop or laptop computer to download the ebooks into the reader.

The flaw in that is how would you buy books on the go without your computer? The point of the Kindle is to be able to buy and read books without ever touching another computer. That's the beauty of the thing. Plus it's not expensive at all for those of use who read books, newspapers, magazines, etc. It's like the iPod of eBooks only it makes you more aware.

 

[SactoGuy18]

The flaw in that is how would you buy books on the go without your computer? The point of the Kindle is to be able to buy and read books without ever touching another computer. That's the beauty of the thing. Plus it's not expensive at all for those of use who read books, newspapers, magazines, etc. It's like the iPod of eBooks only it makes you more aware.

I would agree except with so many Americans now on broadband Internet access, you can easily download ebooks to your computer to upload to the reader. After all, that's how the iPod shuffle, nano and classic gets its music into the player--it's only the iPhone among Apple's portable media players that allows you to download music through a cellphone connection.

Without needing an EVDO cellular modem and the cost of supporting connecting to a cellphone network, I think Amazon could cut over US$100 from the cost of the Kindle 2. I personally think Amazon could sell the Kindle 2 for around US$200 and still make a profit with a modemless Kindle 2.

 

[talkingfuture]

I reckon its a work in progress. I think Amazon want to sell content not hardware and that the Kindle is purely to entice Sony Apple et al into the market so amazon can concentrate on providing content again.

 

[DavidLeblond]

The flaw in that is how would you buy books on the go without your computer? The point of the Kindle is to be able to buy and read books without ever touching another computer. That's the beauty of the thing. Plus it's not expensive at all for those of use who read books, newspapers, magazines, etc. It's like the iPod of eBooks only it makes you more aware.

Have it where you can download over the air but do it with Wi-Fi. If you can get a 3G connection, surely there is a hotspot around somewhere.

 

[AppleMacTheBest]

I am rooting for Kindle to be a success. What's funny is people complaining about it's price on an Apple forum.

 

[martychang]

It's Linux-based, has free Sprint EVDO access and has a full qwerty keyboard. If only it had some apps it'd be a really awesome PDA/MID.

They are magnificent screens for reading websites and PDFs, it just wouldn't have any games except MAYBE turn-based strategy, because e-ink screens are so high-latency.

 

[claimed4all]

I could see the lust. I have never handled the kindle, but I was at the store and saw the sony model and when I first walked by I thought it was a fake on display. The screen actually looked like printed material, but after I took a second look and hit a few buttons, the pages changed. That screen was so sweet.

 

[Andrew K.]

So the Kindle is not for you, for others it's all they've ever dreamed of*.


*perhaps a slight exaggeration, but still.

Thank you for making this statement, that's exactly what the whole argument of having or not having a kindle is about. Some will Love it others won't see the point. I, for one, cannot wait to get mine