The Future of Reading

As a beta tester of this product, I can say that it's functionality, and its promise, goes far beyond any other reader out there. And there is no comparing to a PDA. This is far more readable than a PDA. I've read this for hours on end, without headaches, or my eyes tiring. The features it has are absolutely amazing, and well worth the price (which is bound to come down in time).

You really can't compare to other readers until you try it. As a beta tester of the Kindle, I know. The readability is far better than that of an LCD, and the functionality is thus far way beyond any other reader out there.

There are many devices available that serve well for ebook reading, including PDAs like the HP iPAQ 211 and 111, the Palm T/X. Plus these can be easily held in one hand and are backlit, and have color touch screens. They also double as contacts managers, have email, internet and the Office suite. They also read several formats so you're not caught with only the options of a single proprietary format. Amazon, as Don't Tread On Me pointed out on this page, has "laid off" its ebook customers before when the business model was not right for them. I'm glad they're supporting ebooks, but the device that will turn the tide once and for all will be $99 and DRM will change. RIght now, if you want service and selection on ebooks, plus many different formats and good prices, BooksOnBoard and Fictionwise seem to be the ones to watch. Plus they're small enough that they do not want to lose a single customer. They strive to take care of customers. Amazon did not mind deleting the ebook shelves of tens of thousands of customers because they figured they could buy others with their war chest. (Amazon did a similar thing again two months ago when they shut down Mobipocket's servers for ten days and no one could get to their books.) Too bad if you're the mouse run over by the elephant, eh? BooksOnBoard, FW and some of the other small ones would NOT deliberately lose a singel good customer., let alone tens of thousands....

While I appreciate this development; I fear that the author misses one point: the Kindle's infrastructure--while interwoven with the internet--is a private community that Amazon creates. I hope that this does not Balkanize further the internet...

Couldn't Apple destroy Amazon's e-Book model by offering e-Book downloads from iTunes that are viewable on the computer, iPod, and iPhone? The cost would be low and you don't need any special equipment. Do you think this is part of Steve Jobs' Master Plan? If not, it should be: http://fishtrain.com/2007/08/15/steve-jobs-master-plan/

mobile connections are some times unavailable or expensive - is the " kindle " accessible via a usb connection

I agree with the pricing and other issues raised here and elsewhere but I think another another important issue is often ignored in this debate: There's little, if any, value in simply porting the paper product to an e-device. Where e-content can shine is when it truly takes advantage of being digital. A printed book is a static, albeit effective, product. An e-device opens things up to a much more dynamic experience. Let's tap into that and create some really exciting products!

Btw, sure, you *can* read on an iPhone, but would you really *want* to, especially for hours and hours at a time?! If so you can bet optometrists everywhere will cheer all the extra business, new glasses, contacts, etc., they'll sell as we straining our eyes like never before!

Joe Wikert
Publishing 2020 Blog
www.joewikert.com

I agree with the pricing and other issues raised here and elsewhere but I think another another important issue is often ignored in this debate: There's little, if any, value in simply porting the paper product to an e-device. Where e-content can shine is when it truly takes advantage of being digital. A printed book is a static, albeit effective, product. An e-device opens things up to a much more dynamic experience. Let's tap into that and create some really exciting products!

Btw, sure, you *can* read on an iPhone, but would you really *want* to, especially for hours and hours at a time?! If so you can bet optometrists everywhere will cheer all the extra business, new glasses, contacts, etc., they'll sell as we straining our eyes like never before!

Joe Wikert
Publishing 2020 Blog
www.joewikert.com

What your article didn't mention is that Amazon has the unique position in the ebook merchant industry of being the one ebook merchant that chose to rip off every single one of their existing ebook customers by changing their policy to no longer allow access to the ebooks their customers bought. By no longer allowing customers to download their ebooks customers like myself that paid $75 or more for reference works on matters such as Bose Einstein Condensates suddenly discovered that when they upgraded their laptops they could no longer read those ebooks since Amazon wouldn't let me download the ebook onto my new laptop. Your author also didn't point out that the ability to resell ebooks protects you from those expensive turkey's you purchase. Ever bought a hard back for $22 and found by page 100 it turned into a snoozer for you? Well with ebooks you're stuck with that expensive snoozer. How long will the ebook reader last? An important question with the content bound to the device. Let's say you buy 40 ebooks for your device. Since you had to fork over $400 up front for the device, over the life of the device each ebook cost an additional $10 per ebook. So how good a deal are those $9.95 New York Times Best Sellers then??? What about trade paper backs? $8 each with a usual Amazon discount of 30% they generally sell for $5, only your Amazon ebook device each one of those is going to cost you more like $15 each when you factor in the cost of the device. What's that you say? You'll buy 80? Oh OK, that $5 trade paper back will only cost you $10, still more than the list price! Gemstar had the right idea with their ebook reader device. You paid the upfront cost for the device and over the next couple of years they gave you back the cost of the device $20 per month as store credits to buy content. If Amazon wants to revolutionize the ebook business they need to begin by examining the economics. I for one don't feel like paying $15 for a pot boiler trade paperback. So far their device looks like something that should be carried under Kitchen Utensils, right next to the other skinning tools.

Microsoft has one of these too, only much better, it uses my voice too!

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

Not even close to MSBookReader 1.0, coming soon!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

I cetainly hope the paper and glue book survives. There is little so comforting as snuggling down into a comfortable position with a pot of tea and a book. My parents read to me until I could read for myself and even beyond that. Sharing a beautifully illustrated book with a child is a precious gift for a parent or grandparent to share. Technology is not always good. Sometimes the old way is still the best. katnap

Uh huh.

Buried on page 4 (after which I stopped reading): "due to restrictive antipiracy software, you can't lend them out or resell them". Or back them up. Or move them to a different device. Or support an ecosystem of accessibility/utility tools. Or allow fair use rights. Honestly, ebook vendors make the RIAA look like a model of enlightened self-interest by comparison.

Thanks for playing; don't call us, we won't call you. Next!

Has anyone considered copyrights for authors--if someone were to go into a book and change its content, wouldn't this be a legal problem? Also, the tecchies still believe EVERYBODY can afford new technology. A free book from the library will never be replaced by a $400 device.

A marvelous concept and execution of components. The big questions are: how long will the batteries last, and will replacement be more cost effective than buying a new unit; when can we expect the second generation and what will its price be?

I'm reminded of the scene in the futuristic dystopian movie, Rollerball, in which Jonathan tries to find a book, only to realize that they no longer exist. Digital and easy-to-manipulate copies are all that remain.

I wish I had one of these that I could take to Iraq with me. Alas, I've already bought (off of Amazon) and packed (in one of my two duffel bags) my clutch of books. I'd definitely be happier without the added weight and size of these traditional books. My question is: will the book browsing, purchasing and downloading be on Amazon's dime, or mine? Will I need to somehow add this device to my cell phone plan (which, admittedly already has unlimited data transfer), or will the profits from book sales go to the company who's network I happen to be using at the time? I am surprised this isn't addressed in the article.

Why not just cheap laptop PCs with more readable fonts (not Arial and other sans serif fonts), bigger fonts, darker fonts ? Many publishers use gray font that loses visibility
What about white text on dark background to save batteries (duh !