If Apple Made This....
The price would be just right and would be the greatest thing since sliced bread!
The price would be just right and would be the greatest thing since sliced bread!
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Amazon Launches Kindle DX eBook Reader with 9.7" Screen
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Way to expensive comes to mind first.
And no I don't want a subsidized solution. The unit does need to reflect the cost of the underlying hardware though. If the hardware is to expensive to lower the price of the unit then Amazon has the wrong solution. Simple as that.
Beyond price here are a few things to consider as negatives.
1.
Not enough flash storage! This device cries out for at least 8GB, ideally 16GB if storage. It is a question of value for the money, the more you can store in the base unit the more the price becomes less of a problem.
2.
The issue of Color comes up and in this case I'm of mixed opinion. I'd like color, even marginal color, but I have to acknowledge that few of the documents I read need it. A lot of that due to old PDFs targetted at laser printers. The reality is that that is a thing of the past and color is important going forward.
3.
For me that single task functionality is an issue. That right there has me waiting to see what Apple does. Of course that implies a full color display, even more RAM and flash. In the end I want more for my money.
4.
That keyboard adds to much bulk to the unit.
5.
Consummer friendly batteries!
Dave.
And no I don't want a subsidized solution. The unit does need to reflect the cost of the underlying hardware though. If the hardware is to expensive to lower the price of the unit then Amazon has the wrong solution. Simple as that.
Beyond price here are a few things to consider as negatives.
1.
Not enough flash storage! This device cries out for at least 8GB, ideally 16GB if storage. It is a question of value for the money, the more you can store in the base unit the more the price becomes less of a problem.
2.
The issue of Color comes up and in this case I'm of mixed opinion. I'd like color, even marginal color, but I have to acknowledge that few of the documents I read need it. A lot of that due to old PDFs targetted at laser printers. The reality is that that is a thing of the past and color is important going forward.
3.
For me that single task functionality is an issue. That right there has me waiting to see what Apple does. Of course that implies a full color display, even more RAM and flash. In the end I want more for my money.
4.
That keyboard adds to much bulk to the unit.
5.
Consummer friendly batteries!
Dave.
Until it becomes apparent otherwise, the discount for Kindle versions of academic texts to date is generally very nominal.
A text of mine is $111 in a hardback book and $89 in a Kindle version. Granted it's slightly larger than 10% discount, but if a student pays $89 for an electronic version that is non-transferrable to be read on a $500 device, versus paying $111 and being able to get at least $60 back reselling the book, I know what I would advise the student to do.
The original iPod was far from successful. Only the much cheaper and more powerful 4G version really took off.
I normally don't agree with such comments but on this occasion I agree completely. I can't figure out the market. I was excited about this announcement as a college professor but I can't for the life of me figure out the target audience. College students buy textbooks and return them at the end of the semester for 40-50% of purchase price. Will this reader allow this price on textbooks? No color for PDF's and textbooks means a no go for all of my papers for class as well as two of my textbooks. Oh well I guess people that want to pay a premium to read regular books on the go will buy this but that might be the only people.
Exactly. For that much, you should have a color OPTION, and a CRAPLOAD more storage.
Kindle would grab a lot more users at $99. I know these things are expensive, so I'm not suggesting that this makes financial sense. But my feeling is that at around $99 a LOT more people would be willing to pay for it for the convenience. $400+ is a lot. Maybe in a couple of years it will happen. Then students can have their books with them all the time with their kindle DX and lighten their backpacks. Faculty would have articles, books, etc.,... lots of potential uses.
Now the fly in the ointment to Amazon's plan is if apple or someone else comes out with a tablet netbook thingy that could do the same thing, plus email, web surfing, iTunes, etc... for the same price or less.
e-textbooks already exist on the web, and students have laptops. So this Kindle thing is vulnerable to technological advances by "all-in-one" gadgets.
Now the fly in the ointment to Amazon's plan is if apple or someone else comes out with a tablet netbook thingy that could do the same thing, plus email, web surfing, iTunes, etc... for the same price or less.
e-textbooks already exist on the web, and students have laptops. So this Kindle thing is vulnerable to technological advances by "all-in-one" gadgets.
the iphone is no reader
something I never got: How can anybody consider the iphone a ebook-reader. The screen is much to small, you can't even hold the device conveniently for half an hour. you will never loose yourself in a story that way. are there really people readin ebooks on the iphone? videos and games, all good but ebook? come on.....
something I never got: How can anybody consider the iphone a ebook-reader. The screen is much to small, you can't even hold the device conveniently for half an hour. you will never loose yourself in a story that way. are there really people readin ebooks on the iphone? videos and games, all good but ebook? come on.....
I have the Kindle 2 and love it for what it is. Not a big fan of the Kindle app on the iPhone, but only because the main advantage and allure of the Kindle for me is the electronic ink. It really does bring a book-like feel to the e-reading experience.
Kindle DX seems fine for people who mainly want to read newspapers (and have the money to spend up front), but I'm happy with what I have now.
Kindle DX seems fine for people who mainly want to read newspapers (and have the money to spend up front), but I'm happy with what I have now.
I've have a Kindle 1 & 2 (gave to mother #1when I got the Kindle 2) and love them both. I am a book reader, 2 a week and not strange to be reading 3 at a time. The Kindle DX does have a market. If you read newspapers, and yes, there are people who read them every day and not off a computer, or have large text books that you have to lug around at school or work, this is great. E-ink readers are nothing like a computer screen. It last for days without charge, not 3 hours. No color (still too expensive to make) so its great for things that normally come in black/white/gray. I expected it to be at $500 and it is, for now. Amazon is working with some media companies to get subscriptions at a discount and whispernet is part of the package. Being able to download out of the air is fantastic.
Will I get the DX, not this time around, my Kindle 2 is still too young and I don't read newspapers anywhere as much as books. I like the size of the Kindle 2 but I would have no problem with getting one if I was in school or in a job that had material that could be used on it.
Will I get the DX, not this time around, my Kindle 2 is still too young and I don't read newspapers anywhere as much as books. I like the size of the Kindle 2 but I would have no problem with getting one if I was in school or in a job that had material that could be used on it.
That's right I complain. A Mac can do much more than a Kindle. You should also ask the ad agency that makes the laptop hunters for Microsoft why they use Macs as well. Maybe they'll give you the explanation you're looking for.
I think the Kindle will be successful among those who digest paperbacks for leisure and are into the whole newspaper thing. I know people who go through 4 or 5 paperbacks a week and never look at them again. They take up room and are generally almost disposable.
For education and academia, I feel the Kindle has a long way to go to be viable.
I'm not sure I understand those clammoring for more storage. The thing already holds 3500 books. I understand that some .pdfs can be much larger in size, but really?
500 bucks? Seriously? Wow, good luck with that, Amazon. Personally I think they'd sell a lot more of the e-books (inkjet cartriges, razor blades, video games, etc.) if they dropped the price to under $250 (or even slightly above cost), but that's just me. Not only that, but cutting the price and producing as many as possible should drop manufacturing costs as well, either allowing them to sell it even cheaper, or reap larger profit margins in the future.
I would be on amazon.com ordering one right now at $200-$250 (and most likely another for my mom and another for my gf), but $500 is just crazy IMO. I don't consider myself cheap either, as I've bought many, many, many expensive gadgets over the years (Macs, stereos, tvs, cameras, phones/iPods).
I would be on amazon.com ordering one right now at $200-$250 (and most likely another for my mom and another for my gf), but $500 is just crazy IMO. I don't consider myself cheap either, as I've bought many, many, many expensive gadgets over the years (Macs, stereos, tvs, cameras, phones/iPods).
I think it's useless for academics. I've always thought a tablet was the best solution. Even more so than a notebook. The problem is that tablets are too expensive. If Apple came in at $600-$700 (maybe even less) it will be the perfect choice for students.
Agreed. I would kill to have this for university. Then I won't have 40lb's sitting on my shoulder walking around campus anymore! But, of course, Canada doesn't get this fine piece of electronics.
Still a need if News organizations can make a go of it.
Notably Yahoo is adding local coverage too. However it remains to be seen if it will be acceptable.
Long term yah paper news is dead and thankfully so. To much leftist power concentrated into these old guard news organizations.
Dave
Well covering local news still requires local reporting and editorial effort. If newspapers want to survive this is very important. For example the local traditional newspaper is suffering here but the business journal and the locally focused papers not so much. Yahoo simply isn't going to do news for Webster NY the way the local rags can. Things like local sports and business just don't generate national interest.
Notably Yahoo is adding local coverage too. However it remains to be seen if it will be acceptable.
Long term yah paper news is dead and thankfully so. To much leftist power concentrated into these old guard news organizations.
Dave
This is the first Kindle that makes some sense. The only type of books you would need to carry a whole library of are reference books, and this is the first one that will actually work with those types of books. This one might sell to professionals, especially if they can get their company to pay for it.
They're dreaming if they think students will buy this. What student is going to pay $500 for the "privilege" of being able to buy books that you can't loan to somebody or sell back at the end of the class?
They're dreaming if they think students will buy this. What student is going to pay $500 for the "privilege" of being able to buy books that you can't loan to somebody or sell back at the end of the class?