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bishop · Nov 25, 2007, 10:37 am

anyone seen this?

Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store

if you ask me, this thing is destined to be a failure.. while i can understand the "need" for people to have mp3 players that hold hundreds of songs, i cannot say the same when it comes to books. i normally read 1 book a month, and at any given time, the number of books that i'd simultaneously read are 2 (one fiction, one nonfiction).

aside from the point that this product doesn't solve any existing consumer need, it's $400 and the books themselves cost about $10 a pop (note: you can't buy used electronic books here). i've been a fan of black library's 700-800 page omnibus books, and they don't even cost $10 a piece..

and, with energy prices rising across the board, the last thing i really need is some unnecessary waste of electricity.

this kindle thing is a disaster in the making. (hope nobody here owns shares of amazon.)

**Jack** · Nov 25, 2007, 11:08 am

From what I've read, the Sony Reader has suffered slow sales, no doubt for the same reasons you mention. The devices cost too much to produce, so they can't sell them at a price point that would encourage people to buy one just to see if they liked it or not. Then charging as much for an electronic version of a book, which costs nearly nothing to produce and nothing to publish, as you can get a hard copy of on Amazon is foolish. I agree that the whole concept is doomed to failure in its current form.

bishop · Nov 25, 2007, 01:11 pm

i'm sure there'll be a day when people are reading books on electronic gadgets, but to see a device solely dedicated to e-books is too deep in the niche market to be successful.

as it is, you really don't need to pay anything for books.

Google Book Search

i'll just wait for pda and notebook designs to continue to improve, as well as offer free online service. then, i might be inclined to attempt e-books (although i think it'll be a challenge to give up the real thing).

and, the kindle doesn't even support pdf formats... this severely limits its applied uses..

**Jack** · Nov 25, 2007, 01:16 pm

I can read .pdf's and digital books on either my laptop, ViewSonic PDA or my Nokia tablet. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. But the biggest advantage to them all? I already own them.

bishop · Nov 25, 2007, 02:19 pm

wo... that tablet looks pretty nifty. not sure what i'd do with it though - what do you use it for??

**Jack** · Nov 25, 2007, 03:26 pm

Checking email, quick posts to forums, RSS reading, for the most part. It saves powering up the laptop for simple things.

bishop · Nov 25, 2007, 04:00 pm

do you have to pay for internet usage? (and do you use it as a phone too?)

if i could get some sort of all-inclusive deal, including phone and unlimited internet, i'd definitely look to buy one myself.

**Jack** · Nov 25, 2007, 04:34 pm

Nope, no phone, though it does have bluetooth so if you wanted you could use a phone as a modem. It has 802.11g wireless built-in, that's how I connect (wireless network at work and home or hotspots when I'm oot and aboot (my Wisconsin imitation).

Nov 25, 2007, 10:37 am	#1 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	amazon's kindle anyone seen this? Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store if you ask me, this thing is destined to be a failure.. while i can understand the "need" for people to have mp3 players that hold hundreds of songs, i cannot say the same when it comes to books. i normally read 1 book a month, and at any given time, the number of books that i'd simultaneously read are 2 (one fiction, one nonfiction). aside from the point that this product doesn't solve any existing consumer need, it's $400 and the books themselves cost about $10 a pop (note: you can't buy used electronic books here). i've been a fan of black library's 700-800 page omnibus books, and they don't even cost $10 a piece.. and, with energy prices rising across the board, the last thing i really need is some unnecessary waste of electricity. this kindle thing is a disaster in the making. (hope nobody here owns shares of amazon.) hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Nov 25, 2007, 11:08 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,743	From what I've read, the Sony Reader has suffered slow sales, no doubt for the same reasons you mention. The devices cost too much to produce, so they can't sell them at a price point that would encourage people to buy one just to see if they liked it or not. Then charging as much for an electronic version of a book, which costs nearly nothing to produce and nothing to publish, as you can get a hard copy of on Amazon is foolish. I agree that the whole concept is doomed to failure in its current form. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Nov 25, 2007, 01:11 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	i'm sure there'll be a day when people are reading books on electronic gadgets, but to see a device solely dedicated to e-books is too deep in the niche market to be successful. as it is, you really don't need to pay anything for books. Google Book Search i'll just wait for pda and notebook designs to continue to improve, as well as offer free online service. then, i might be inclined to attempt e-books (although i think it'll be a challenge to give up the real thing). and, the kindle doesn't even support pdf formats... this severely limits its applied uses.. hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Nov 25, 2007, 01:16 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,743	I can read .pdf's and digital books on either my laptop, ViewSonic PDA or my Nokia tablet. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. But the biggest advantage to them all? I already own them. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Nov 25, 2007, 02:19 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	wo... that tablet looks pretty nifty. not sure what i'd do with it though - what do you use it for?? hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Nov 25, 2007, 03:26 pm	#6 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,743	Checking email, quick posts to forums, RSS reading, for the most part. It saves powering up the laptop for simple things. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Nov 25, 2007, 04:00 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	do you have to pay for internet usage? (and do you use it as a phone too?) if i could get some sort of all-inclusive deal, including phone and unlimited internet, i'd definitely look to buy one myself. hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Nov 25, 2007, 04:34 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,743	Nope, no phone, though it does have bluetooth so if you wanted you could use a phone as a modem. It has 802.11g wireless built-in, that's how I connect (wireless network at work and home or hotspots when I'm oot and aboot (my Wisconsin imitation). The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)