Amazon Enters Gadget Market with Kindle, an eBook Device

[Unspeaked]

I can't see myself dragging around one more rechargeable device with such a narrow use. One of these days, somebody will hit the sweet spot with one of these devices.

I think the iPhone's the closest so far; it's certainly going in the right direction.

CNET's review said the "webbrowsing" was HORRIBLE. Took like 15 pages to render front page. I love Amazon, but wish they would put this device in a sweeter price spot.....

I think at $199 these would be flying off the shelves - especially in the middle of holiday season - but as has been pointed out, this is a RevA and my feeling is the next edition will be in the $299 range, slowly creeping towards affordability...

 

[redrabbit]

DEAD IN THE WATER.

THATS WHAT THE KINDLE IS.

Can we move on?

what does it matter to you? if you don't want to talk about it, then just stop posting/reading this thread? It's pretty simple. Noone's forcing you to come in here.

Oh, and what do you mean by dead in the water? According to the amazon site, demand is so high that customers have to wait for a while to get their kindle.

 

[mcarnes]

I guess fugly is the new black.

 

[Spades]

Oh, and what do you mean by dead in the water? According to the amazon site, demand is so high that customers have to wait for a while to get their kindle.

Whether or not that's a big deal depends on what the supply is. They could have had only 20 ready to go for all we know, and 30 people bought them. I doubt it's that low but it could be something like the initial availability of the PS3. There were almost none available and it looked like there would be supply shortages. Then suddenly everybody that wanted one had theirs, and they began sitting on the shelves and it became obvious demand wasn't so hot after all.

 

[redrabbit]

Customers have to wait awhile because it hasn't be released yet...

True, but there's also
"Kindle Availability
Due to heavy customer demand, Kindle is temporarily sold out. Because we ship Kindles on a first-come, first-served basis, please ORDER NOW to reserve your place in line. See availability messaging above for estimated in-stock date."

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Did you read the article? New books and best sellers can be as high as 9.99 (which is a lot cheaper than the $24.99 most new hard backs cost) and older titles can be as low as $1.99. For example, "1984" paper back is $9.99 and "1984" for Kindle is $3.75.

And Amazon is eating much of this costs as not all the publishers are on board yet w/selling eBooks at such lower prices compared to print books.


Lethal

BFD. Show me an Engineering Textbook for $9.99. I didn't think so. I don't read the latest Jude Devereaux or Tom Clancy.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

It DOES have basic webbrowsing, buddy. It's also free, since there are no subscription costs, over a cell phone network. so next time you're at an airport with these things and you don't want to pay the laptop wireless fee, you can browse for free on this.

Really?

I don't use Sprint. I use Verizon. I don't waste my minutes and pay for an extra SMS plan and transfer plan just so I can read The New York Times or what's the latest on the NY Times Best Seller list.

I'll read a digital copy in PDF of The New York Times, on my laptop or workstation.

I don't own an iPhone because it's tied to one provider, though I could switch. I'm just not an early adopter on such technology when my current phone works well.

However, it's a no-brainer that I'd buy the iPhone and surf the web via that before I'd waste the same amount of money for this oversized Bookboy.

 

[LethalWolfe]

BFD. Show me an Engineering Textbook for $9.99. I didn't think so. I don't read the latest Jude Devereaux or Tom Clancy.

Oh god, you're right. The current lack of engineering textbook publisher support is going to doom this product and probably bring down all of Amazon.com! How could they have been so dumb!?!?



Lethal

 

[Malarkey]

Amazon's Battlestar Galactica reader device is pathetic

It looks like it's from circa 1989 and runs on (6) D batteries... Why don't I just get an Etch-A-Sketch or some gadget from the toy section in Walgreens for $8.99? Amazon should be embarrassed. But then, their "Unbox" feature was PC-only, so I already question the judgment of Bezos & co.

 

[luminosity]

It looks like it's from circa 1989 and runs on (6) D batteries... Why don't I just get an Etch-A-Sketch or some gadget from the toy section in Walgreens for $8.99? Amazon should be embarrassed. But then, their "Unbox" feature was PC-only, so I already question the judgment of Bezos & co.

*batteries not included/sold separately.

 

[jokarak]

It looks like it's from circa 1989 and runs on (6) D batteries... Why don't I just get an Etch-A-Sketch or some gadget from the toy section in Walgreens for $8.99? Amazon should be embarrassed. But then, their "Unbox" feature was PC-only, so I already question the judgment of Bezos & co.

OK, we can all agree that the Kindle is not the prettiest device on the planet. We can also agree that just because a company decides not to support Apple products does not make them objects of derision (I hope we can agree on that - i.e. unbox is something of a competitor to the video selection in iTunes, and since that is a well established platform in the Macs, it might not be totally foolish of Amazon to first focus in the Windows/Tivo front, where iTunes doesn't have a huge lead).

If the main complaint that Amazon will face is that the device is ugly, then they are in pretty good shape. I'm more concerned with the DRM in this thing and the promise to store all of your purchases in the ether. What happens when Amazon gives up on this service or when Amazon ceases to exist? Will you have to scrounge up parts to keep your Kindle running in order to read your purchases? What about the poor souls who followed Amazon's advice to erase the books to make room in memory and can no longer download them again?

The main reason why I won't by this version 1.0 is my worry with DRM. If only there could be some type of standard encryption on ebooks, then I might not be so reluctant to pony up my money to download them. That way, if Amazon ceases to make Kindles, I can still read them (if I have my ebooks backed up on hard drive) on a Sony, an Book or whatever. I understand that there has to be some type of protection on these files in order for the authors to make money, but couldn't we standardize them???

 

[maestro55]

I think Amazon may have a market share with people who enjoy eBooks and there is indeed a market for them. For people like me who does the majority of their reading online blogs and articles then the iPhone works very well for my choice of portable reading. I wouldn't buy the Kindle because I simply wouldn't use it enough to justify the cost.

What these means for Apple? Well people are wanting a tablet from Apple and perhaps they can make one that makes reading eBooks on the go an attractive thing, of course it would need a lot of other options before I would consider getting one.

 

[japanime]

How long till this device ends up on one of those "Woot" sites, priced to move at just $29.99?

 

[tkidBOSTON]

Really?

I don't use Sprint. I use Verizon. I don't waste my minutes and pay for an extra SMS plan and transfer plan just so I can read The New York Times or what's the latest on the NY Times Best Seller list.

I'll read a digital copy in PDF of The New York Times, on my laptop or workstation.

I don't own an iPhone because it's tied to one provider, though I could switch. I'm just not an early adopter on such technology when my current phone works well.

However, it's a no-brainer that I'd buy the iPhone and surf the web via that before I'd waste the same amount of money for this oversized Bookboy.

You do not need to be a customer of Sprint in order for the wireless capabilities of this device to work. No contracts no commitments, Amazon takes care of all that for you. It works in the background and for free. You can keep your cell on Verizon, no problems there.

 

[CyberBob859]

Some good, some bad

There's been enough discussion about the Kindle already, but here goes...

The Good:

Amazon came out with this - they have the online clout to drive e-book sales.

FREE wireless - available just about everyplace you can get a cellphone signal, and there are no monthly fees. And subscriptions are sent directly to the device - no syncing with a computer needed.

E-Ink - Low power, great screen, easy to read


The Bad:

$399 - way too expensive.

E-ink - yeah, I know I listed it as a positive, but it also can't be used in low-light conditions, and the screen annoyingly flashes when you turn the page.

Lack of file support - Only supports Amazon's proprietary e-book file format, and ignores PDF, Microsoft Word doc files, and the newer XML-based format. Heck, even the iPod can play the ubiquitous MP3 file format AND iTunes-favored AAC.



The Ugly

The unit itself. It doesn't have a design to sell itself like an iPhone, iPod Touch, etc.



In my opinion:

Cut the price by half, open it up to support multiple file formats, improve the screen technology a little, and use a more appealing design.

In other words- a nice try, but this device is not as revolutionary as Jeff Bezos wants it to be.

I don't know if some of these things can be corrected in the current device (is the firmware upgradeable?), but the approach Amazon should be taking is that any e-book reader needs to COMPLEMENT a computer or other consumer electronic devices.

The problem I have with the Kindle is this device is trying to lock in customers to Amazon's e-book service, instead of trying to see how consumers could fit it into their lifestyle. Reading is fundamental, so how about a device that helps me manage all my personal and professional documents, along with a convenient way to purchase new reading material? It either needs to do a lot more for its $399 price, or cut the price to $100-$200 and sell it for what it is - a proprietary Amazon product.

 

[salmon]

As someone who loves books, and is dying for a good ebook reader, I give it a big pass. It's way too proprietary for me.
For $400, you can get a OLPC (only until Nov 26th!!), which is way better technology, much more open and useful, and helps the world out at the same time.

No comparison between the two in my mind.

 

[salmon]

 

[Stella]

Kindle has sold out in just 5.5 hours.

http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2007/11/19/1/a-conversation-with-amazon-com-ceo-jeff-bezos
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7107118.stm


Review here:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,139829/article.html#

 

[Maui]

I just ordered one. Got an email from Amazon with a December 3 shipping date.

 

[Cloudane]

I'm warming to this idea. It looks a bit ugly, but if they've paid *good* attention to usability as the PCW review suggests, that can easily outweigh it.

Using the new "e-paper" style technology is a very good start. One of the prime reasons reading on a normal PDA isn't as comfortable as a book is because of the contrast, resolution and backlight requirement. This technology resolves all of that.

 

[dicklacara]

Surprise!

The Kindle is #1 on the Amazon Bestsellers in Electronics (rated 2.5 of 5 stars).

So far, Kindle hasn't inspired me... it needs something to make it click!

While eating breakfast, it came to me:

Make it the price, size, shape, color, printing (and maybe the content) of a box of cereal! That would really be something... good, and good for you... ...relatively inexpensive and fun to read!

 

[Cleverboy]

I'd hate to throw in with the crowd, but over the last few days, the possibilities opened by Kindle have grown on me. The price makes perfect sense and it seems PDF conversion isn't exactly an impossible endeavor in the slightest. It would apparently fit nicely in my attache, alongside basic note taking materials, and the power consumption is miniscule. Looking over the videos, everything seems to represent very practical and REALISTIC value. I just need to USE one to be sure. My dread is that it will come off as a bit of a tinker toy, and I'll sense that as far as usability, the scrollwheel gadget will begin to irk me over time. Amazon is missing out on that critical last "touch" test I'd need before I gave it a thumbs up.

~ CB

 

[SeaFox]

Kindle has sold out in just 5.5 hours.

Did I ever tell you about how I sold all the pies I baked for the county fair last year in only 10 minutes?

(I know I didn't tell you I only made 2 pies that year.)

 

[itcheroni]

Did I ever tell you about how I sold all the pies I baked for the county fair last year in only 10 minutes?

(I know I didn't tell you I only made 2 pies that year.)

Do you know how many kindles Amazon made?

"Sold out" buzz is great but Amazon ultimately wants the thing to succeed. It would be against their interest to have too low of an initial stock.

There are a lot of people who want to buy this. Looking at the poll numbers for this thread, 1/4 of those polled would consider buying one. That is a lot of people. I would buy one immediately if my textbooks for the spring were on kindle.

 

[SeaFox]

Do you know how many kindles Amazon made?

No, and neither do you. That's my point. The statement that Amazon sold out in five and a half hours is meaningless if you don't know how many they started with.

"Sold out" buzz is great but Amazon ultimately wants the thing to succeed. It would be against their interest to have too low of an initial stock.

The Christmas shopping season is just now beginning, there's plenty of time to restock. Meanwhile they just put out a press release that (to people who don't think) shows that their product is a huge must-have this year.

We also don't know what "sold out" really means. Did they sell out of all devices that are built, all that are packaged, or just all that are waiting the usual "fulfillment" warehouses? Amazon could have another 300,000 of these things made that need nothing more than to be put in a box, but since they aren't packaged we can't sell them, so now they've "sold out" of their stock.

If Apple hadn't been stockpiling iPhones before launch, they would have sold out of them. But they didn't. And so they have huge sales figures for that day because of it. Do you think Amazon wants people comparing their sales with the iPhones sales? Nope. And what easier way to prevent that than to artificially limit the initial supply. Now they can say "we didn't sell nearly as many because we plain ran out, not because the demand for that many wasn't there." It hits two birds with one stone for them.