Last week Amazon launched their new e-book reader, Kindle. Attached is a video about Kindle from the Wall Street Journal. I’m not sure who is going to buy the Kindle with a price tag of $399 (including wireless connectivity), plus $9.99 per e-book, but Amazon is doing a good job of creating a lot of hype about it. I’m curious to know if any of our readers have used one or purchased one? I wonder if the screen really is easier to read than other e-book readers? Is the price worth it? Who is going to splurge for a $399 e-book reader?!?
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This Kindle thing totally freaks me out. I noticed that one of the big issues with it is compatibility with media of varying formats. It doesn’t read PDFs but there is software that can convert PDFs to a format it is friendly with. Intermediary steps like that make me shy away from the technology that bottlenecks it.
I would rather be able to read e-books on my blackberry or iphone or the up-and-coming somewhat hush hush Google phone.
Yeah, I don’t like the way the Kindle can only be used with e-books purchased through Amazon.
Well, someone is buying them - last I checked they were all sold out (that was on the day that they were first put on sale). And I don’t think it’s unfair to compare it to the iPod which also went on sale for a similar price, was highly attached to a particular brand and which people didn’t really “need” until everyone had one and it revolutionized the way people listen to music.
BTW, I wouldn’t mind being the infodoodads guinea pig and trying out a Kindle (except that I don’t buy gadgets:) - it would be great on a plane!
Hannah, alright, perhaps it will be like the iPod, but if so, then I’ll plan on buying one in 4 years (I just got my first iPod this year). And, I’d really like the kindle to change the design of the reader…honestly, the white-oddly-shaped box looks like something I’d find on my gramma’s end-table.
I see the kindle staff are tracking blog posts:
http://kindlebuzz.com/2007/11/25/amazon-kindle-bloggers-keep-writing.aspx
I just asked how they are working with libraries…