[wuming]

Ok, everybody loves new tech gadgets, and I do too. But the Kindle is in no way revolutionary.
And that's for a simple fact: a book is the perfect device for reading. Period.
Now, there is room for an e-book reader in the world: technical articles, news clippings, blogs, that kind of text makes sense on a Kindle like object.
As for reading Kafka, Proust or Faulkner, just forget it.
And there's a technical reason too: that Daring Fireball piece goes to great length to explain it, especially the section titled INTERPOLATION ON WHY COMPUTER DISPLAYS SUCK FOR READING (probably a typo there, it should be INTERPOLATION OR WHY COMPUTER DISPLAYS SUCK FOR READING).

[trip1ex]

Fugly and Sprint 3G is overkill. All Amazon cusomters use the pc currently to order books from Amazon and they wait days for them to arrive. And yet suddenly there's a great need to have a book in less than a minute? Coffee maybe, but a book? It's overkill and not a great need waiting to be fulfilled. The keyboard makes the device extra fugly. No reason to do more than let me download books from your website directly into the Kindle. And since it can hold 200 books (before needing a memory card) then I think I'll have plenty to read in case I'm on Safari for 6 months.
And so can the keyboard and wireless. Make the device more attractive & less costly with better battery life. Make your website recognize if the device is plugged in or if I own one and let me download from website to device. You're doing ok with content pricing, but it still needs to come down as I heard you are selling bestsellers at cost. I don't see that a permanent thing and people need digital content to be much cheaper than buying off the shelf. I can read the NYTimes for free on my pc. Why do I have to pay $14/month for it on the Kindle?

[MacTel]

Quote:

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I'm on my second Sony Reader and really like it. While I much prefer the tactile experience of a book, I travel extensively and read constantly when on the plane or waiting on line, etc. So for those of us in that situation, an E book makes good sense. I used to read on my Palm TX but as my eyes have aged it's not a fun anymore.

---

I generally agree about the tactile experience, but I believe that I read more on the web than from an actual paper books. I may be the perfect consumer for this device. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Pennywigeon]

For $399 I can buy an iPhone.
I can connect wi-fi. I can call people. GPS, get directions, Listen to audio Books, Music, watch videos, and surf the web with a real web browser.
With the SDK coming in February I bet an e-book app is designed and deployed.
File format issues.
The thing is ugly as hell.
Sorry but for the Price of the device I think the Kindle will be met with lack luster interest.
Who wants to carry around a Kindle Doorstop and a Cell Phone and an iPod? When for the same investment they can carry just one or two devices?
Also take into account people like the ease of use in syncing iPOds, the accessories such as car attachments and portable speakers for the iPod where the Kindle you don't have as many options.
If the Kindle was say $69.95-$99.95 I could see it actually seeing some success. But for $399? No. Not when it will compete with an iPod touch or iPhone in bang for buck.
It is too limited in function, accessories, design, and file formats.
It shall go the way of the DoDo Bird if they keep the retail price so high.

[JoeBlowe]

I can't believe all of the Luddites and cheapskates who are trashing this thing. You probably drive ugly cars and use ancient Macs as well.
I've ordered two. One for travel and one for my bathroom. The white color of the Kindle matches the ceramic fixtures and is easier and less painful to perch on exposed knees.

[happymac]

You've got it all wrong. Listen to Andy Inhatko's (sp?) review of this on The Tech Guy podcast (Leo Laporte). BTW: Amazon is sold out of these currently (11/27)

[v31127]

I do think the use of the word "revolutionary" may be jumping the gun, but I find Amazon's Kindle very exciting, because I think it's another step in the "Ultimate Universal eBook Reader" direction simply because of the--
* I Can't Believe It's Not Paper screens-- I hate straining my eyes from screen glare
* Free service provider for purchasing books-- Should have been done long ago
* Excellent battery time
* Hilighting capabilities
* Web-based back up of hilighting, the books, and notes
I love good ol' books, but being a student who frequently bounces between home, my place, her place, his place, and auntie's place, etc. for extended periods of time makes the carrying of multiple books difficult at best, especially since the airport is frequently involved. Any fans of Terry Pratchett's novels? Anyone know exactly how many of those are out?

I think the benefit of ebooks is also forgotten in regards to textbooks. For the struggling student, textbooks aren't cheap and neither are they featherlight-- ebooks are both. I've had to travel with four different average weight (about 5 lbs. each) textbooks on an airplane, and an extra twenty pounds in a suitcase packed for a six week stay is no joke. I've purchased e-textbooks before, and the lack of hilighting capability was a drawback, too.

I'm not saying I'm going to run out and buy a Kindle. It's butt-ugly and too expensive for its limitations, but the fact that it's a stepping stone towards my Ultimate Universal eBook Reader keeps me looking up. At the same time I wonder whether we'll eventually turn into the children from Asimov's The Fun They Had... Ha!

[reznil]

Great article. I almost regret ordering the ebookwise 1150. Almost. However, the 1150 costs $130 and has backlighting, though otherwise it is very basic. Backlighting is critical for me. However, the Kindle appears to be an incredible device.

This is my first plunge into ebooks, I will see how I like it when it arrives. I have little doubt I will ugrade someday, maybe to a second generation Kindle, if it has backlighting.

gutenberg.org has thousands of public domain classics that could keep me busy for a long time without paying a penny for ebooks.

As for some people prefering real paper books, that is not going to be a problem for me. I love books, but I have no attachment to the binding. Some people like the touch and smell of a book, but I want to read the book not make out with it. Some things I am sure I won't miss:

Wedging the book open while reading.

Relying on good lighting.

Trying to find a book locally, or waiting for one to be delivered.

Trying to find a book I already have.

Losing my bookmark.

Storing books, either in boxes or on bookshelves.

Hauling boxes of books whenever I move.

[johnz]

The Kindle and the iPhone/iTouch are completely different devices designed for different applications. I serious doubt that any serious reader will be using an iPhone or iTouch for reading books and newspapers. I have been using one for over a month now and i prefer it over paper books and newspapers. (for all the reasons already mentioned) People who own a Kindle understand what I'm talking about.

I never plan to use my iPhone as a book reader and have no desire to use my Kindle as an ipod or a telephone.

Here's a thought, before reviewing the Kindle why don't you actually try one and then tell us what you think!

[ReaderGyrl]

Why do so many people who don't want a product feel they must comment on it? The negativity is amazing considering how many people haven't even used a Kindle yet.

I think this is a great article. It actually answered a couple of questions I couldn't find answers to anywhere else. I'm anxiously waiting for my Kindle, ordered on Nov. 30 and due in January. I realize that the Kindle is a 1.0 but I don't care. It's the first one to come close to what I want. We all replace these electronic gadgets every couple of years anyway - who thinks that they'll keep an IPhone for more than two years - there will be a newer version to buy, just like with any phone. And the next version of the Kindle will be cheaper. I can't wait to get mine!

[jacksmith]

Converting complicated pdf file to kindle format which mainly consists of tables and images is quite tough as Amazon is still in experimental stage to make it perfect, but very recently, www.kindleconverion.com, I came across one website which provide ebook conversion service along with kindle ebook conversion at very affordable rates, mostly for the PDF ebook which consists of tables and images which are quite tough to convert them to ebook format such as mobipocket, kindle or MS reader, but I have found that the above ebook conversion company converts these type of ebooks in more profession and efficient way at very reasonable rate.

[jacksmith]

Converting complicated pdf file to kindle format which mainly consists of tables and images is quite tough as Amazon is still in experimental stage to make it perfect, but very recently, www.kindleconverion.com, I came across one website which provide ebook conversion service along with kindle ebook conversion at very affordable rates, mostly for the PDF ebook which consists of tables and images which are quite tough to convert them to ebook format such as mobipocket, kindle or MS reader, but I have found that the above ebook conversion company converts these type of ebooks in more profession and efficient way at very reasonable rate.

[MonaLS]

LarryV said:

Well I don't. No offense to Amazon, or to anyone who wants to make a successful ebook reader, but I like my dead trees too much. I have never liked, nor do I see myself ever coming to like, reading significant amounts of text on-screen.

No offense to trees either. I like my living trees too.

My boyfriend said the same thing last year - he had to have his "real" books. Until I got my Kindle. A week later, he has one too. :)

[nueyes]

I think everyone missed the point. This isn't a technophile product. Kindle is geared for people who love to read. Who, if you emptied out a purse or briefcase would find a novel with a bookmark halfway through the story and a library loan date of yesterday! My Fiance can rip through a book in hours!
The flexibility AND convenience afforded to AVID readers will outweigh the obvious lack of aesthetics and corporate bulls* technophiles love to jump-all-over, especially if being a Mac User.
Back-on-track.