4 ms·

The State of the Kindle

16 points by jmarbach 16y ago

astine 16y ago
If there existed, and I could afford, a device like the iPad (a tablet), with the Kindle software, an electronic paper screen (something like Pixel Qi), and was substantially lighter than the iPad, I would have no reason to own a Kindle over it. The only reasons I can think of to buy a Kindle in addition or instead of this device would be: 1. I couldn't afford the device, but could afford a Kindle, and read enough to justify buying one. 2. I was rich enough to wan't something like a Kindle in every room, or one in my office and another at home, so Ididin't have to worry about keeping it with me. 3. I saw the fact that the Kindle only allowed me to read books as an advantage which helped me to focus and avoid distractions.
- mattmaroon 16y ago
  The good news for Amazon is that such a device won't exist at an affordable price point for years. Color e-ink might be on its way in the relatively near future, and at reasonable pricing in the mid term, but with refresh rates fast enough to play games and watch video on (and really that's what the iPad is for) at reasonable pricing is farther away than any sane business plans for. Also when it does exist Amazon won't care, so long as you buy your books on it through them.
  - jacobolus 16y ago
    You’ll notice he said “something like Pixel Qi”. Mary Lou’s first such screens were designed for the OLPC laptops – IOW, cheap cheap cheap – and I would imagine future Pixel Qi screens will be quite cost competitive.
  - angstrom 16y ago
    Mirasol seems very close, but I haven't seen any price points yet: http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/sid-2010 http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/sid-2010 http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/publisher http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/publisher
  - patrickgzill 16y ago
    Depends on whether or not PixelQi and others are able to deliver such a display based on LCD technology. Economies of scale for LCD as found in laptops, tablets, TVs, etc. are huge, vs. the relatively tiny market for e-paper / e-ink. If (currently a big "if") a decent reader-like display can be made from LCD, the market will quickly shift to it based on cost alone.
- zalew 16y ago
  Frankly I don't get comparisons of Kindle to tablet PCs. Kindle is a replacement for publications printed on paper, not portable computers. I will buy it because I grew up to a point where I can't stand paper waste, and because it's 'books with ctrl+F'. Personally I don't want Kindle to be bloated with netbook functionality (partially because of your point 3), however an email client will be nice.
- sjs382 16y ago
  > I saw the fact that the Kindle only allowed me to read books as an advantage which helped me to focus and avoid distractions. I cant believe more people don't see this as an advantage.
dhimes 16y ago
I pre-ordered it, so I hope it's good. I disagree with Bezos on the array of devices bit: Bezo’s projects that in the future, people in society will fulfill their needs through an array of devices. + Kindle for reading, smart-phone, laptop, tablet PC I think the future will shrink the length of this array; that is, the iPad is a step in this direction, and the Kindle is behind. I'm getting it because the devices aren't up to what I want yet, and I want to reduce the physical space my books require. If the iPad was a better reader and had a better battery life, I would have gone with it.
- jokull 16y ago
  I'm not so sure. I used to think there would be one device to rule them all, but now I think that this just applies to mobile devices. "The pocket exception" I've heard somewhere. When you're not concerned with mobility you want specialized devices. I still whip out the old calculator with huge buttons for some tasks. As for a long-reading device I can definitely see the Kindle work out (esp. with it's month long battery charge). I also pre-ordered a Kindle :)
  - dhimes 16y ago
    I'm thinking along the lines of a wearable device (or some other configuration where it's not intrusive-- I think the intrusiveness is the only problem left to solve). Much like the phone (particularly the iPhone) absorbed the function of calculators, watches, and note pads (and to some extent cameras), I think this trend will continue. Now, I'll admit, the extent to which the phone solves this problem may only be so great for people who are now early teenagers (hell, I still wear a watch...), but I suspect it's coming.
dvvarf 16y ago
Why can't I rent ebooks? All I want is to pay $X to take out Y books at a time like I do with Netflix for movies. Who do I need to talk to get this done? I'd love to do it myself, but the Kindle is proprietary device.
- dhimes 16y ago
  Or even borrow, like a library?
  - jonknee 16y ago
    With DRM you're always borrowing (you can't give it to anyone).
  - coned88 16y ago
    Overdrive. I use it weekly
kyleslattery 16y ago
I love my Kindle, and I've been trying to get my mom, an avid reader, to get one as well. Her biggest issue with it though, is that you can't share books with friends, and I feel like a lot of people have the same thing holding them back. This seems like such a no brainer for Amazon to create, but clearly something's holding them back (likely the publishers).
- mattmaroon 16y ago
  Well, you can't if you bought the books through Amazon. If you get an unlocked one from the web you can :)
- angstrom 16y ago
  It's not the publishers because the Barnes and Noble Nook already allows lending on an equal platform.
  - jonknee 16y ago
    Perhaps the publishers gave B&N a different license agreement to encourage competition? That happened with Apple and the iTunes Store and it's a pretty strong parallel (one company with the bulk of sales in a whole category).
  - kyleslattery 16y ago
    Though, if I'm not mistaken, the nook's sharing rules are severely limited: you can only borrow for 2 weeks, and you can only lend the book once.

16 points by jmarbach 16y ago

If there existed, and I could afford, a device like the iPad (a tablet), with the Kindle software, an electronic paper screen (something like Pixel Qi), and was substantially lighter than the iPad, I would have no reason to own a Kindle over it. The only reasons I can think of to buy a Kindle in addition or instead of this device would be: 1. I couldn't afford the device, but could afford a Kindle, and read enough to justify buying one. 2. I was rich enough to wan't something like a Kindle in every room, or one in my office and another at home, so Ididin't have to worry about keeping it with me. 3. I saw the fact that the Kindle only allowed me to read books as an advantage which helped me to focus and avoid distractions.

mattmaroon 16y ago
The good news for Amazon is that such a device won't exist at an affordable price point for years. Color e-ink might be on its way in the relatively near future, and at reasonable pricing in the mid term, but with refresh rates fast enough to play games and watch video on (and really that's what the iPad is for) at reasonable pricing is farther away than any sane business plans for. Also when it does exist Amazon won't care, so long as you buy your books on it through them.
- jacobolus 16y ago
  You’ll notice he said “something like Pixel Qi”. Mary Lou’s first such screens were designed for the OLPC laptops – IOW, cheap cheap cheap – and I would imagine future Pixel Qi screens will be quite cost competitive.
- angstrom 16y ago
  Mirasol seems very close, but I haven't seen any price points yet: http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/sid-2010 http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/sid-2010 http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/publisher http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/publisher
- patrickgzill 16y ago
  Depends on whether or not PixelQi and others are able to deliver such a display based on LCD technology. Economies of scale for LCD as found in laptops, tablets, TVs, etc. are huge, vs. the relatively tiny market for e-paper / e-ink. If (currently a big "if") a decent reader-like display can be made from LCD, the market will quickly shift to it based on cost alone.
zalew 16y ago
Frankly I don't get comparisons of Kindle to tablet PCs. Kindle is a replacement for publications printed on paper, not portable computers. I will buy it because I grew up to a point where I can't stand paper waste, and because it's 'books with ctrl+F'. Personally I don't want Kindle to be bloated with netbook functionality (partially because of your point 3), however an email client will be nice.
sjs382 16y ago
> I saw the fact that the Kindle only allowed me to read books as an advantage which helped me to focus and avoid distractions. I cant believe more people don't see this as an advantage.

dhimes 16y ago

I pre-ordered it, so I hope it's good. I disagree with Bezos on the array of devices bit: Bezo’s projects that in the future, people in society will fulfill their needs through an array of devices. + Kindle for reading, smart-phone, laptop, tablet PC I think the future will shrink the length of this array; that is, the iPad is a step in this direction, and the Kindle is behind. I'm getting it because the devices aren't up to what I want yet, and I want to reduce the physical space my books require. If the iPad was a better reader and had a better battery life, I would have gone with it.

jokull 16y ago
I'm not so sure. I used to think there would be one device to rule them all, but now I think that this just applies to mobile devices. "The pocket exception" I've heard somewhere. When you're not concerned with mobility you want specialized devices. I still whip out the old calculator with huge buttons for some tasks. As for a long-reading device I can definitely see the Kindle work out (esp. with it's month long battery charge). I also pre-ordered a Kindle :)
- dhimes 16y ago
  I'm thinking along the lines of a wearable device (or some other configuration where it's not intrusive-- I think the intrusiveness is the only problem left to solve). Much like the phone (particularly the iPhone) absorbed the function of calculators, watches, and note pads (and to some extent cameras), I think this trend will continue. Now, I'll admit, the extent to which the phone solves this problem may only be so great for people who are now early teenagers (hell, I still wear a watch...), but I suspect it's coming.

dvvarf 16y ago

Why can't I rent ebooks? All I want is to pay $X to take out Y books at a time like I do with Netflix for movies. Who do I need to talk to get this done? I'd love to do it myself, but the Kindle is proprietary device.

dhimes 16y ago
Or even borrow, like a library?
- jonknee 16y ago
  With DRM you're always borrowing (you can't give it to anyone).
- coned88 16y ago
  Overdrive. I use it weekly

kyleslattery 16y ago

I love my Kindle, and I've been trying to get my mom, an avid reader, to get one as well. Her biggest issue with it though, is that you can't share books with friends, and I feel like a lot of people have the same thing holding them back. This seems like such a no brainer for Amazon to create, but clearly something's holding them back (likely the publishers).

mattmaroon 16y ago
Well, you can't if you bought the books through Amazon. If you get an unlocked one from the web you can :)
angstrom 16y ago
It's not the publishers because the Barnes and Noble Nook already allows lending on an equal platform.
- jonknee 16y ago
  Perhaps the publishers gave B&N a different license agreement to encourage competition? That happened with Apple and the iTunes Store and it's a pretty strong parallel (one company with the bulk of sales in a whole category).
- kyleslattery 16y ago
  Though, if I'm not mistaken, the nook's sharing rules are severely limited: you can only borrow for 2 weeks, and you can only lend the book once.