I can't get excited about the idea of Amazon's ebook reader Kindle, which is either doing really well or just okay depending on who you listen to.For me the problem is I don't want to look at any more screens. I look at one all day and part of the night. So really I'm saying enough already.It's not that I don't want my gadgets. I do. I love my iPod, my laptop, my PS3, and my Blackberry. I seriously want an Asus EEE PC. See, I'm all about the wanting. I also want to pick up a hardback book or a paperback. However, there is probably a killer app for the Kindle, but I don't think it with people who read a lot of books for pleasure. It's with students. On that level - and only on that level - it seems to make sense.
Amazon.com seems to have twigged this as well as it plans a larger-screen model of its Kindle ebook aimed at students. You know what its like you get a huge reading list that cost a fortune. These days I imagine it costs a larger fortune and puts more pressure on the strained financial resources of undergraduates.According to various reports and this Business Week post Jeff Bezos has been talking up the Kindle's potential in recent months but apparently this is just more marketing on his part. He might be talking it up after the confusion about exactly how many have been sold. Problem is Amazon won't say. TechCrunch reported a few weeks back that around 240,000 had been shifted, which seems a lot. Amazon seems to be suggesting the number is smaller. Whatever the number, so far the Kindle only exists in the US and so far no one seems to be banging on Amazon's door to get hold of one here and the retail set up still seems to have some kinks to work out.At the moment you can buy a Kindle book for anything from $5 to $10 or you can buy the paperback/hardback for $16.99. If they offered a Kindle download for free with that you could imagine more people opting for it.
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I spend about £50 a month on books from Amazon. This is not an insignificant saving. Plus there is the instant gratification. What's not to like?
I have only one request. I want to be able to use my Kindle to give or to sell copies of books which I have on it to other Kindle users, enjoying a small commission in the process.
I must have recommended Nudge to a hundred people without making a penny.
The saving is great and if you are happy with a screen to read books on then, i guess, job done, i'm just not.
Was it designed by Sinclair in the 70s?
Gordon Macmillan
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Member since: 03 Jun 2008
Last login: 23 Nov 2009
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