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Amazon Enters Gadget Market with Kindle, an eBook Device
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I don't see the Kindle (at least this version of it) being all that great, but hopefully it'll be successful enough that other companies will start making devices like this and we'll get cheaper, better units in a few short years. I don't have any need to take a bazillion digital novels w/me, but I have a lot of materials (manuals, guides, trouble shooting check lists, product info, etc.,) that would be very convenient to have simple access to in a device like this.
Lethal
Lethal
Let me guess... A white Lamborghini Countach LP400s?
Here you can see one...
I loved that car back then and I still do somehow... But I don't like to have that design on a device like that...
groovebuster
I cant stop thinking of chocolate Kinder eggs!
You know, cheap chocolate but even cheaper plastic toy.
Ok, its late here, but the cheap plastic analogy works (in my world).
You know, cheap chocolate but even cheaper plastic toy.
Ok, its late here, but the cheap plastic analogy works (in my world).
My 2 cents:
$400?!? I don't even know what to say to that....
I HIGHLY doubt Apple will get into the e-book business. Apple is a HIP company. Music, Media, Computers. Not books. Come on, seriously.
$400?!? I don't even know what to say to that....
I HIGHLY doubt Apple will get into the e-book business. Apple is a HIP company. Music, Media, Computers. Not books. Come on, seriously.
I have actually seen one of these this summer.
I was on a train in scandinavia in August 20007, and some russian bloke with a hot wife had one of these.
I had wondered what it was and then figures it was a digital book, at the time I thought it must have been a "russia" thing ... now all the pieces are coming together.
At the time I thought it looked very crude like an 80's speak and spell toy and the finished design looked very cheap and tacky ... I honestly thought it was some piece of sh'yt based on what it looked like and the bloke being russian.
That will teach me a lesson for being so pre judgmental
I was on a train in scandinavia in August 20007, and some russian bloke with a hot wife had one of these.
I had wondered what it was and then figures it was a digital book, at the time I thought it must have been a "russia" thing ... now all the pieces are coming together.
At the time I thought it looked very crude like an 80's speak and spell toy and the finished design looked very cheap and tacky ... I honestly thought it was some piece of sh'yt based on what it looked like and the bloke being russian.
That will teach me a lesson for being so pre judgmental
No, you were right the first time. It is tacky. Contrary to the macrumors poll I expect this to sell very poorly. At $400, people who buy this must really know they want it. Let's see;
Last year, 1/4 Americans didn't read a single book. Of the 3/4 that did, (on average) I doubt neither of them have use for one of these.
My point; I can't wait to see this fail.
I don't think Apple would come out w/a stand-alone eBook device, but I could definitely seem them coming out w/a future all-in-one device that does eBook stuff like the Kindle too. Believe it or not there was a time, only a few short years ago, when MP3 players weren't hip, computers weren't hip, and Apple certainly wasn't hip.
Lethal
And by that you mean the ultra-portable coming out at MWSF 2008?
Even though I'm not getting one, I hope you're right. Stop and crush amazon.com in its tracks.
Might've known the eBooks would be expensive....
Just like online music, it won't be as popular as it *should* be (though with iTunes et al, online music is getting better) for one simple reason: greed.
No materials required, yet greater cost, how does that work!
Just like online music, it won't be as popular as it *should* be (though with iTunes et al, online music is getting better) for one simple reason: greed.
No materials required, yet greater cost, how does that work!
Of course. Jeff Bezos could easily collaborate with Apple on this added functionality through the iTunes Store and more.
Having billions of stock value to his name he somehow actually feels he's on Steve's level of being able to help drive the computing industry and it's many markets.
It reminds me of the Segway where Bezos and Jobs first saw it and Steve was his usually critical self [if you can't find fault in a product you have a definite winner and the closer to this should be your goal] where Bezos was definitely in the shadows.
Don't get me wrong. The guy has done wonders for the Wherehouse on-line and got people to be interested in book sales once again.
He's made an absolute fortune in this market.
Instead of collaborating with Steve on how to translate this market into a digital device and create a joint partnership he wants to be in the limelight and have his face on TIME.
Like many academics with dual degrees in electrical engineering and computer science, they should have gotten minors in Industrial design and Art.
A person either has that ability to see a problem in need of a solution or they don't but are good at being given concise task to solve.
Many developers are great and software development but fail at being software architects. They are different talents.
This is not an area he ever excelled in.
He's a billionaire who doesn't want to be known as the Man who brought us wherehouse books on-line.
Let me guess... A white Lamborghini Countach LP400s?
Here you can see one...
I loved that car back then and I still do somehow... But I don't like to have that design on a device like that...
groovebuster
LOL yeah thats exactly the car I was thinking of!
Wouldn't dream of it. I think its a safe bet that this is a topic highly related to Apple affairs, especially concerning the rumored tablet and Amazon's continued expansion into digital media offerings. This is one of the first times Amazon has really demonstrated a physical "device" with their branding (I think).
Considering the fact that iTunes has surpassed Amazon for music sales, pushback in the product space (that includes DAP functionality) is certainly an eyebrow raiser. Currently, Kindle doesn't appear to support DRM music offerings, but as Amazon's Mp3 store doesn't have DRM... that's not really a problem for anyone wanting to play music purchases back on Kindle. It would seem to be a challenge for "audiobooks" however, at least the ones from major publishers.
That said, I think the value proposition is ambitious, but significantly flawed.
People clearly want an iTablet. In February (or before), Apple will be allowing people to install a stand alone PDF viewer on the iPhone/iPod. For most people, combined with the multi-touch/tilt/zoom features... that's all they'll need for adequate eBook support in a device with other capabilities.
I've looooooong thought that Apple should outright SELL eBooks through iTunes. They're already giving digital booklets along with CDs. Holding out can easily be about focus, but if held too long, its a bit crazy. If, as one example, Marvel or DC comics allowed fans to download the latest comics through iTunes, it would really set things on fire in that sector (although again, with the retail impact its a dicey proposition).
~ CB
I know, and that's what some people may be missing as well. I can understand downloading digital text books for school and viewing them on your laptop or iPhone/cell phone in class. I can even see you downloading them to this device once it actually catches up to 2008 technology... i.e. WiFi, color screen, web surfing, multi-touch, bluetooth, other laptop features (basically a tablet PC). Once you start talking about books in the "I actually want to read that world" then you are talking about paper back and that's a fact.
Some people never got to sit with their parents or grandparents and read their favorite book. Some large paged Dr. Seuss book, or Mother Goose stories. How about picture books, pop up books, and books that you put your fingers through and control the mouth of some big farm animal dancing with his friends. Not that digital distribution won't catch on to many books, it will, just not with this limited device and most likely through what we already have as established technology. And I that newspapers are becoming extinct and moving to the web, but I guarantee you that it won't be happening tomorrow. The Wall Street Journal still makes most of its money from selling ads in their print editions, as well as the New York Times and many other large market papers.
Not to mention that you have to pull out that ugly device whenever you want to read something. And you still have to carry around your laptop for doing something that involves color or the Internet. Books wont' go too far, not even in 20 years.
Sounds like an awesome revolutionary device!
Now let Apple make one that looks better... lol
I agree. Apple could make it better, but I am sure that Apple would just give us a tablet Mac. And at that point you can't call it an eReader. And the Kindle isn't revolutionary at all. It's by far the oldest concept and one that has been redone over and over again with outstanding failure. There have been electronic Bibles, dictionaries, large screened and cheap eBook readers for under $100 that no one buys, etc. and all of them have been relegated to the "I will just buy the book" section of people's minds.
Then if you have an iPod, PDA, cell phone, laptop, desktop, bookstore like Barnes and Noble near you you have the power to buy download and read electronic books already.
My guess, add color, great design, touch technology, wi-fi, oh and Leopard ... maybe to be seen at Mac World January 2008?
If we add full colour, and if it's going to be available in 2008, then it's going to be using a backlit LCD. Can't use it in full sunlight... can't get more than a couple of hours' use out of it... No thanks.
Personally, I think E-Ink is the right direction to be headed for this sort of semi-static content. Any optometrist will tell you that you should be in a well lit area when you do any significant amount of reading anyway.
I don't want everything in one device for one very good reason, how do you upgrade?
Fine you are happy with the device when you buy it, but when technology moves on in one of the areas, e.g higher res cameras, more storage, etc you have to replace the whole device.
I prefer to have separate devices that do the job they were designed for excellently, rather than one device that compromises its ability.
You lose the 'one' device, you lose everything.
It breaks you lose everything.
Stolen - you lose everything.
The are no fees for the Wireless access it is FREE! No subscriptions, nothing.
yes, i wrote that before they released the details. unfortunately it seems not to be clear how much free internet browsing is possible.
in general there seem to be two types of responses in this thread:
the emotional ones: ugly, i want to flip paper pages.......
the pragmatic ones: cool, i can have all my books and magazines with me...
ok, and a few have technical concerns and worry about drm.
i would say the pragmatic ones are right of course. but we all know purchases are made for emotional reasons........................
That's It!!
You just made a perfect representation of what I think Apple should do for a combination e-book reader/iPhone.
Of course, I'd make it just a tad thicker to accommodate a bigger battery and a 120 or 160 GB hard drive, and the device will include built-in Bluetooth for a wireless headset, Wi-Fi (and maybe WiMax), and HSDPA support.
Remember those old Windows CE ultraportable machines? That is what this combo e-book reader/iPhone will be sized.
this is what i want please
sorry, tis a quick bodge!
You just made a perfect representation of what I think Apple should do for a combination e-book reader/iPhone.
Of course, I'd make it just a tad thicker to accommodate a bigger battery and a 120 or 160 GB hard drive, and the device will include built-in Bluetooth for a wireless headset, Wi-Fi (and maybe WiMax), and HSDPA support.
Remember those old Windows CE ultraportable machines? That is what this combo e-book reader/iPhone will be sized.
Did you read this bit?
"There are no monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments for the wireless service. "