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"If Amazon wants to keep the device around, it will have to transform it from a mere e-book reader to a content consumption device that matches the iPad in its
by Jun8 16y ago
"If Amazon wants to keep the device around, it will have to transform it from a mere e-book reader to a content consumption device that matches the iPad in its capabilities. Otherwise, like the Nook, it’s already dated."
Well, another avenue would be to keep it as a book reader but make the hardware so simple that it can be given away free with, say, a Amazon Prime membership.
Note that the title is a bit misleading, what he's saying is no that that the kindle device will necessarily win the war, the Kindle store will (because of superior experience and the fact that it's platform agnostic).
As he points out, Amazon's web site is its biggest asset. Even when I buy books from other retailers (I feel bad for Borders) I still first go to Amazon to read the reviews. If Amazon can somehow bring its formidable database of comments more into the picture (or add additional functionality, like ability to place a comment on a certain page) it will be even more unstoppable.
- lemming 16y agoIIRC there was an analysis done by the New York Times which showed that it was much, much cheaper for them to ship a free Kindle to subscribers than to print and ship them the physical paper for 6 months. Unfortunately the experience of reading a newspaper on the Kindle pretty much sucks. I disagree that the Kindle has to become a general content consumption device. I'd be very happy if it did its one thing well. What it's really missing (which the iPad provides) is a much higher level of interactivity - the eInk refresh kills it. I'm excited for the Notion Ink Adam just for this reason.