Amazon's Kindle

irishrose · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:53 pm Post subject: Amazon's Kindle

Has anyone given any thought to the Kindle? It’s Amazon’s new electronic reading device. Kind of like an ipod for books. When I first heard about it, I dismissed it. But I know a techie who’s made me reconsider its usefulness. You can actually make margin notes that are saved and can be transferred to a computer writing program. How awesome is that? Then you could take quotes from the book, along with your notes, and compile them into one document. That would make keep a reading journal so much less time consuming, at least for me it would.

I first dismissed the Kindle because I thought it unlikely that it would access many of the books that I read. But, even if you only compile most of the classics into such a compact format, it could really be useful. And, at less than the weight of a book, you would always have those texts at your fingertips. I don’t know, on second thought, it’s not so easily dismissed.

Chris OConnor · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject:

I've taken a look at the Kindle too and I do think it would be pretty handy. The price is a bit high, but prices are always higher at the launch of a new product. And being a few weeks before Christmas they are trying to milk the market for every penny. I suspect in January the price will drop significantly, much as did the Apple iPhone.

irishrose · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:38 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I wouldn't even think of buying one until nearer to next Christmas, Chris. By then the price will have dropped substantially, and we'll also have more reports on what people generally think about the product. But I probably won't be buying any kind of widely read books between now and when I finally decide whether to get one.

jales4 · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject:

I don't think I'll ever make the transition from books to electronic devices. I can buy a book, underline in it, make notes in the margins, etc., and to back to it for the next thirty years. My fear with the electronic devices is that they will evolve as quickly as other digital media, meaning that you have to constantly upgrade.

Just look at the progression in music - records, 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs, and now MP3s.

I want to buy a book and have it for as long as I want it.

LanDroid · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject:

I'm interested in the concept, but haven't tried it. Heh, too much of a cheapskate. I like the look of the Sony Reader more than the Kindle for what that's worth.

One benefit I could imagine is if you were interested a specific area say the U.S. Civil War, the Iraq war, or a scientific discipline - you could download 10 or 20 books on that subject. Then if you wanted to research a person's name, a specific event, or hypothesis you could collate details from those books quickly. That would be a significant advantage over paper. Otherwise, just for reading, dunno if I'd spring for it...

irishrose · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:50 am Post subject:

Hey, LanDroid, good to see you around again.

One advantage I noticed to the Kindle over the Reader is that it has internet connection which allows you to read periodicals. I think that would be useful to those that travel often. Also the connection allows you to get books directly from the Kindle rather than having to download first to your computer, as the Reader requires.

I also like that the Kindle has a page turner on each side of the machine. At first, this might sound trivial but think how you hold books in one hand or the other for long periods of time, and sometimes for very specific reasons (e.g. in your right hand leaning away from a person on your left who’s taking up way more than her share of space on the train/plane, etc.). It’d be nice not to have to reach across your body in those situations in order to change the page.

But I agree, the Reader has a sleeker look than the Kindle. None of that really matters much though, because they’ll both be onto their second or third models before I decide to get one.

My guess is whatever device pushes away from the rest of the pack will be the first to devise a way that allows borrowing from libraries' electronic sources. That’s how students are going to want to use it anyway, I’d imagine.

MadArchitect · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:21 am Post subject:

Whether or not I ever bother with an electronic reader probably depends on lot on whether or not they'll work out some deal whereby, once I've bought a hard copy of the book, I can also access the digital version. I'm a bit like that with MP3s, too. I like the convenience of having an iPod, but I'd rather not buy all my music online, nor have my primary copy of a CD stored on my computer. With books, I'm likely to want an even sharper distinction. Presumably, with an MP3 player, the sound is the same -- it's stored in the same digital format and pushed through the same sort of speakers. Only the storage medium has changed. But there's always going to be a difference between looking at a sheet of paper and looking at an electronic screen, and I don't want to be stuck with the electronic screen, no matter how much they reduce eye strain.

So while I like the idea that I could travel with just an electronic reader rather than a stack of 3 or 4 books, I wouldn't want to read the electronic version of those books when I'm back at home and it's just as convenient to snag an actual, physical book from the shelf. Make it so that when I buy the paper and print version of the book I'm also buying the rights to access the same book online, and you'll have my attention. Until then, I think I'll take a pass.

irishrose · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:24 am Post subject:

Good point, Mad. I love my MP3 player too, but hardly ever buy music online. I’d rather have the physical product than a folder in my computer. It seems more secure that way. And that's a route I don't see these devices taking.

jales4 · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Mad,

Your idea is great - and it would lead me to buy an electronic book device. I'd even pay a few dollars extra, if the print book came with an electronic copy.

Let's hope the publishers have the same idea!

Jan.

MadArchitect · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:38 am Post subject:

No, better yet! Let's hope they don't have the same idea and have to buy it from me! A round for the house on me when the check clears at the bank!

Niall001 · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:09 am Post subject:

I very much doubt that book publishers will make electronic copies of texts available along with a printed text for the simple reason that this would make the pirating of a book much easier.

Of course, if readers of this sort become popular, then we will probably find ourselves in a situation where it will become easier to find pirated copies of a book online anyway so, I'll probably wait and see.

MadArchitect · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:46 pm Post subject:

I don't see how it would make it any easier than simply making an electronic version available online, regardless of whether or not it's available to people who have bought the online version.

lemme think · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject:

Just received my Kindle today, Happy Birthday to me! (though it was a bit late since Amazon can't keep these things in stock)

My interest in this little gadget really surprised my husband. I'm not really a "gadget" person, and pretty conservative when it comes to spending money, but for some reason this really caught my eye.

I like the fact I can get a sample of a book before committing to buy, without having to go to Barnes and Noble! I'm reading a sample of Susan Jacoby's book right now, haven't decided whether I'll commit to purchasing yet . . .

This is great for those that have difficulty committing! Rolling Eyes

Q · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject:

Recently Penguin Books have announced that they will make an electronic copy of their paper printed books, simultaneously I understand. I think other publishers will follow. Amazon is a distributor, these are publishers, I think that's significant.

Other news, Amazon have now got their own Print on Demand set up (and they have warned that they will stop making rival POD books available through their net - shame on you Mr Bezos!). So technically Amazon are getting into the publishing business too: with the digital link that's the basis of POD.

And yet another, there is some research into making thin flexible displays - sheets about the thickness of heavy cardboard that show print and picture much like printed paper does.

The huge difference I think is that these displays (Kindle, Sony Reader) are showing their content in reflected light and a monitor display does so by blocking off transmitted light.

Kindle works on the Sprint network for now. I don't know if it also makes content available through the standard IP internet protocol, but overall I suspect that:

#The 'readers' will become really cheap, not more expensive than hardcover books and may have only a few features.

#They will be distributed over global networks, the world wide web.

#Publishers and distributors will tend to merge.

#Some form of filtering out junk, the job editors do at publishers (as distinct from self published) will emerge. Perhaps editors that 'brand' the downloads with their name and reputation - something recognizable to the reader as guaranteeing some quality.

Whatever, it all goes together with the demise of the small bookstores and the present situation of the Big Publishers taking on well known published authors, even as in the case of Stephen king and J.K. Rowling, deriving the better part of their income from a single (or just a few) authors.

'nuff said.

Laughing

Q

President Camacho · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:28 pm Post subject: kindle

400?

Wow. Keep it!

I'm sorry that I don't have anything more intelligent to add to this conversation. It's just that, 400?!?!? You gotta be kidding me!!! They're trying to duplicate a paper page? Why? For what? Noooooooo, this is an item that has yet to see its time come. Paper is far more respectable.

This really makes me wonder. While wealthy readers nab these things up, those without a lot of money will continue buying books made the old fashioned way. Then, in the future, everyone will shift to the more cost effective electronic books and only those with money will be able to afford books made from earth materials.

Enjoy the printed word on paper.

Besides, half the fun is building a book collection. What are you going to show friends? Your megabytes???


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