The Kindle Post

Kindle: Amazon’s Wireless Reading Device 
 
A quick check at Amazon shows it’s sold out, as usual; but that doesn’t really mean much when you figure that Amazon.com says the same thing about Print-on-demand books that they never stock. I think what they mean is they’re saying “Sold Out” until they get enough orders to warrant building a bunch of new Kindles. Anyway, whatever you might think, Kindle is going to be a contender. Amazon is in a prime position to put an eBook reader on the market. In fact, if they don’t manage to nail a solid foothold, then something’s very wrong.
 

Wireless Reading Device

“Kindle’s” a catchy name, and that’s good because it’s sure not helped out by its descriptive subtitle. Is it just me, or does the phrase “Wireless Reading Device” sound like something a robot might come up with after about two lazy attempts. Not very imaginative or ‘user friendly’ in the name department. I know they’re trying to keep the door open to downloading newspapers and magazines, but Wireless Reading Device is never going to roll off the tongue.
 
A step or two away from the comfort level afforded by “eBook Reader,” or “eBook,” yah? Anyway, it’s clear that Amazon is giving it a major push. They’re also involved on the publishing end, doing what they can to put a camel clutch on the eBook, Print-on-demand and traditional publishing marketplace. So they’re in a hell of a position to dominate.
 
So it makes you wonder why Kindle isn’t tricked out to read pdf files. You can convert them, but it seems like a hell of an oversight. More likely it’s some kind of power play. Adobe’s probably playing hard to get or they’re making their own Reader. They’ve got the software. They just need the hardware. Anybody know more about that?
 
Kindle’s specs are interesting, no doubt. And they’re using an “electronic-paper display’ that sounds similar to the Sony product.
 
They’re selling New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases for $9.99, (unless marked otherwise), so that’s still a bit of a bite financially for a digital file, since they brag about these things downloading in less than a minute using their wireless wispernet connectivity. You just have to think about the price there. That’s the same as a paperback, minus all of the physical reasons for adding cost, shipping, storing, displaying etc. It’s a digital file that is copied. Doesn’t seem to warrant the price.
 
I mean the Kindle costs you $359 and then you have to paperback prices to read books on it…doesn’t make a lot of sense.

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