Amazon recently introduced a ‘new’ device for reading books called Kindle. The idea is that you would carry this new device around and enjoy reading your books, blogs and newspapers on the go. What struck me was that I’ve already been using a device like this for years. It’s called a laptop. The Kindle product does introduce two very itneresting technologies that have yet to make it to mainstream:
- Go anywhere, no-subscription wireless via an EVDO built in connection (Dubbed ‘whispernet’ by Amazon)
- Electronic ink that allows you to view the screen in bright sunlight with no backlight
While these new technologies are amazing the lack of a web-browser, word processor, email, 802.11 and a million other things will mean that you’ll likely need to carry this around in supliment to your laptop and cellphone. The lack of a full cataloug of books means that if a particular best seller doesn’t play ball you’ll need to get the hardcover anyway.
Behold the dancing bear. It’s not amazing because the bear dances particularly well but that it dances at all. If you could marry this device with the millions of books scanned by the folks at Google Books then you would really start to have something.
I think you’re wrong to point out that you’ll need to carry this device in addition to your laptop and mobile phone. Think of this as a book, not as a PDA — you will either also carry books around or you will leave books at home — this just turns many books into one. The carry argument is irrelevant because you also have to carry books, and this makes it simpler
I agree with you on Google Books. This thing basically is a first generation — it’s weak. Amazon could have spent more time on it and made it better, however I don’t think anyone should underestimate the importance of this product. I believe with full certainty that such devices will replace all books in the future — paper is just too impractical and costly. The only reason we still have books is because such devices are either too heavy or just too ugly and unintuitive to use. They strain your eyes and don’t offer great books.
This changes a lot — the catalogue is huge, and the e-ink technology is apparently easy on the eyes. You’re right that even more is required for this to incite the real market into using it — I think it needs color, and it definitely needs PDF support. But all this will come in the future. The first of its breed (I’m not counting earlier eBook readers from other firms.. they’re just terrible) wasn’t fantastic, but it will only get better. I’m very open to change and would even buy this device myself if I was in USA — I’m definitely looking forward to this evolving