13 ms·

Kindle MatchBook

422 points by _pius 13y ago

dsizzle 13y ago
Nice! It always seemed odd that buying the paper version shouldn't also entitle me to the electronic version, or at least a significant discount.
- VLM 13y ago
  Buy directly from oreilly or pragmatic (or probably others) There's a different "deal" for every book, or so it seems, so I can't provide anything other than anecdotes WRT price. However both do the "radio button thing" on the main ordering page and you never pay full price for paper and ebook (at least never that I've seen) I like how Pragmatic uploads the newest edition to my Dropbox if a newer edition is printed in the future. I don't believe they promise to do it in all cases, but it does at least occasionally happen. Always makes me smile, wanna buy some more from them... Cheap and effective marketing indeed.
runn1ng 13y ago
I should dislike Amazon for closed-source software on Kindle and for its DRM, but... well, they have really nice offers.
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  Last I heard Kindle isn't closed-source, they just don't make it particularly easy to build- which was never a requirement for GPL.
  - chimeracoder 13y ago
    > which was never a requirement for GPL. Depending on your definition of "easy-to-build", the GPLv3 addresses that (partially).
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
    - smackfu 13y ago
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200203720 http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2...
      - runn1ng 13y ago
        Sorry for deleting my parent comment. See this though, it's only the very minumum they have to publish due to GPL (sort of like Apple and Darwin) http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/kindle-swindle-source-code http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/kindle-swindle-source-cod...
  - runn1ng 13y ago
    Read: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/kindle-swindle-source-code http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/kindle-swindle-source-cod... They publish the very minimum the need to publish according to GPL.
  - zhemao 13y ago
    The main issue is that the bootloader of the Kindle devices isn't particularly easy to unlock (at least, I couldn't figure it out), so even if you do get the kernel built, it would be hard to actually install it on the device itself.
- shantanubala 13y ago
  Kindles are very hackable in comparison to most devices. http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200203720 http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2... Amazon also didn't void my warranty when I installed a few hacks on my e-ink Kindle. Unfortunately they are very lenient with their devices because they know that the content is locked down completely. Once you buy Kindle books, you're unfortunately only renting them.
  - chimeracoder 13y ago
    > Once you buy Kindle books, you're unfortunately only renting them. Luckily, it is VERY easy to crack Amazon's DRM in Calibre. Not excusing the DRM - I'm just thankful it's easy to get around (all you need is the Kindle serial number, which is easy to find in the settings on your Kindle).
  - WalterSear 13y ago
    Removing DRM from azw files is trivial if you are using calibre and have the right plugin. I do it as a matter of course whenever I buy any books from Amazon.
- jmillikin 13y ago
  Whether to DRM a particular book is a decision of the publisher; some publishers allow Amazon to sell DRM-free ebooks.
nsxwolf 13y ago
I thought it was going to be a really tiny e-reader.
- DanBC 13y ago
  That might have a market. (http://www.theblogismine.com/2010/05/30/eroll-concept-unrolls-as-flexible-foldable-e-book-reader/ http://www.theblogismine.com/2010/05/30/eroll-concept-unroll...) (http://www.quora.com/eBook-Readers/Why-did-the-first-rollable-eBook-reader-fail http://www.quora.com/eBook-Readers/Why-did-the-first-rollabl...) (http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=2651 http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=2651) (http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-gadgeteer/mwc08-hands-on-with-the-readius-eink-mobile-device/871 http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-gadgeteer/mwc08-hands-on-wi...) I also remember a cylinder with a few lines of text. As you turned the cylinder the text would scroll. Not sure if that ever got beyond the CGI prototype stage.
- twistedpair 13y ago
  So much for the 1" Kindle.
- Havoc 13y ago
  In one of the recent Elon Musk articles it mentioned that he reads on his iphone, so the notion isn't that far out. Not that the iphone is exactly tiny...
  - fwr 13y ago
    Elon Musk does this? THE NEW BIG THING
    - Havoc 13y ago
      haha. No it just struck me as strange that someone clearly not constrained by finances would chose to read on an iphone.
- thebiglebrewski 13y ago
  What is this, an e-reader for ANTS?!
rickr 13y ago
This was always my biggest hold up in fully adopting a kindle. I really enjoy having books to lend out or flip through - not a very strong suit for an ebook reader. Even with all the e-reader benefits I could never really make the switch because of this. I wonder how many people felt the same way?
TomAnthony 13y ago
There are fundamental differences between a paper book and an ebook. I far prefer paper books when I'm using it as a reference, but love the convenience of ebooks when for when I'm reading through something. With technical books it is very common to read initially and reference later, or to read some sections, use others for reference etc. With that in mind it has often been a tough choice as to whether to buy a paper copy of an electronic copy of a book. This is a very welcome change, and I'd gladly pay a few bucks for the convenience of being able to switch medias.
- jmduke 13y ago
  I'm the exact opposite: I prefer paper books for 'binge reading', but eBooks for documentation or sifting through, since I'd take Ctrl+F over leafing through an index/glossary any day. Which is why I think this (and similar offerings: I know O'Reilly and leanpub do similar things) is such an exciting offer: I don't have to sit back and decide which use case I'd rather prioritize.
- jlarocco 13y ago
  I'm a little surprised anybody could prefer paper books for reference... For me, full-text search, bookmarks, and copy/paste make ebooks far superior for referencing. Not to mention I don't have a bunch of books cluttering my desk. In any case, I completely agree this is awesome. I've been considering selling most of my old physical books and buying the ebook versions, and this will save me a bunch of money.
  - gknoy 13y ago
    Sometimes, being able to flip between two sections (comparing examples) or things a couple pages apart can be useful. I remember having both PDF and hard copies of some RPG rulebooks, and it was almost always easier to find That Specific Thing in the paper book, once I was familiar enough with everything to use the contextual clues and page differences to find my way easily. Flipping between rules for {verb} and the list of valid {option} permutations is a similar case with tech books. Control-F helps, and so do bookmarks, but some things are easier with paper.
  - 13y ago
toddmorey 13y ago
That's one of the best product names I've come across in a long while.
- nostromo 13y ago
  I was thinking the opposite. They've taken the analogy too far (Kindle, Kindle Fire, Matchbook). With the historical associations that come with "burning" and "books", I've always found the analogy awkward.
  - acadien 13y ago
    We should call Kindle fanboys Fire-starters.
  - heartbreak 13y ago
    I'm pretty sure that the name "Kindle" and all of the following fire-related names are intentionally referencing book-burning.
  - 0003 13y ago
    Optimistically, the name connotes that Amazon will match, for a de minimis fee, a digital book with your physical purchase.
- sgustard 13y ago
  Clever, but the fact that "Kindle X" can now mean either a hardware product (Paperwhite) or a service feature (MatchBook) is confusing.
  - eric_the_read 13y ago
    "Kindle X" has meant both hardware and service for quite a while now. I own a few Kindle books, and have rented dozens from my library, but do not yet own a Kindle device.
  - eric_the_read 13y ago
    "Kindle X" has meant both hardware and service for quite a while now. I own a few Kindle books, and have rented dozens from my library, but do not yet own a Kindle device.
lukev 13y ago
This is a phenomenally important move; now, being an "ebook reader" or a "traditional reader" doesn't have to be an either/or proposition.
- ScottWhigham 13y ago
  I think it's an interesting move, but not a "phenomenally important move". If I like print books but not ebooks, how does this affect me? It doesn't - not in the least. If I like both, I'm sort of happy - "Uh, I guess that's cool." I'm struggling to think of the person who needs both a printed copy of a book and an ebook version. The only person I can think of is someone with a textbook/learning book - you read the print version (that's why you bought it) and you use the ebook to quickly search and have at your fingertips. But for fiction? I can't see how this helps.
  - rollo_tommasi 13y ago
    I prefer printed books, but I frequently am reading on the subway, the train, the airport, etc, and so the portability of ebooks is a huge advantage. I'm definitely excited about being able to both pick up a printed copy of a book for leisurely reading at home and have my entire library in my pocket when I have to go fly somewhere.
    - nsmartt 13y ago
      I infinitely prefer reading a physical book at home, but I love being able to access my Kindle library when I'm out and about. I want to be able to read every book on my shelf at home while I'm not there, and I'm loving this move on Amazon's part. I just hope it doesn't spell trouble in the long run.
  - eric_cc 13y ago
    > I'm struggling to think of the person who needs both a printed copy of a book and an ebook version. Technically, nobody NEEDS a printed or digital book to begin with. Maybe you're just over-thinking this? I like print books but also have an iPad. For many obvious reasons it would be nice to have all of my books on my iPad (which is almost always with me).
gdilla 13y ago
This is awesome for the consumer, absolutely. And it's only made possible by the recent DOJ trial that effectively allowed Amazon to set prices of ebooks (wholesale vs agency model). Recall that agency model, the publisher sets the price (the same as apps on the app store). But now that Amazon can set any price they want for ebooks (and take a loss on them if they want to, which they have done before), Amazon can do cool stuff like this. Amazon has already started discounting ebooks - some of the bestsellers are now cheaper on amazon in ebook form than on iBooks. That never happened before in Agency model, where price parity was a rule. There is nothing inherently wrong with Agency model pricing; indeed it has been the norm since mp3s on iTunes 10 years ago. But Amazon competes on price, and Agency was a big wrench in those plans. Now that they can do anything they want with digital pricing, they're applying the stake in all other ebook retailers hearts. Will be fun to watch. I speculate publishers will hate this. eBooks were one of the last digital media where value hasn't become completely pulvarized (see: Apps, MP3s). Though, its certainly possible physical book sales could be bolstered by this.
- AceJohnny2 13y ago
  I think Charles Stross writings on ebooks is interesting and insightful. He should know: he's a tech-savvy best-selling author. (He hangs around here too: [1]) He wrote a couple of posts a year and a half ago, they still apply. In them, he explains how Amazon is making itself a monopoly, and that isn't good for anyone but them. What's been most informative to me is how tiny publishers actually are, and how little money the author actually gets. It doesn't paint Amazon as the good guy. It's also why I buy my books hardcover now: more cash for the author. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=cstross https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=cstross [2] http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/understanding-amazons-strategy.html http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/understa... [3] http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/more-on-drm-and-ebooks.html http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/more-on-...
  - res0nat0r 13y ago
    > It's also why I buy my books hardcover now: more cash for the author. Isn't this true, Amazon or not? Hardcovers cost the customer more than paperbacks or ebooks, so the author should be getting hopefully a larger cut of the sale. I think this program (if it has enough titles that I've bought in the past) is going to be awesome. I've never bought a Kindle because paying almost the same price for the Kindle version of a book vs. the paperback cost is ridiculous. Now with this program I will buy a Kindle so I can read my past purchases via that when I'm traveling, and my paperback versions when I'm sitting around at home. Does anyone know if you can actually use this program with used book purchases? I've bought many books used (many times for only a few bucks including shipping), so I don't know if they would be eligible for this program or not.
pdenya 13y ago
I came away from this confused thinking some Kindle versions of books were now cheaper. Amazon is horrible at explaining what things are supposed to do. Every product landing page I've seen from them is confusing, especially all of their cloud services.
- StavrosK 13y ago
  What is it? I can't find an explanation.
  - mrtron 13y ago
    It appears like for physical books you buy - you will be able to get the digital version cheap or free. It is an extremely unclear landing page.
    - dpcx 13y ago
      Really? >>> For thousands of qualifying books, your past, present, and future print-edition purchases will soon allow you to buy the Kindle edition for $2.99, $1.99, $0.99, or free. That seems pretty clear to me.
      - mrtron 13y ago
        The design makes that sentence non-obvious to be the primary description. Additionally the sentence is difficult to scan.
- uptown 13y ago
  I get it - but it could be clearer. Essentially, if you've ever bought print editions of books from Amazon, many of the Kindle versions of those books you previously purchased will be offered specifically to you for free or a small charge below $3 if you're interested in adding the digital version to your collection.
- BryanB55 13y ago
  yeah, I had a hard time figuring out what it was until I read the comments here.
Shivetya 13y ago
I had always wondered when a program similar to DVD tiles would arise, where the product came with a coupon to get the electronic version free. I'll take it either way, I love hard bounds but there are many times where they are not best suited for environments the Kindle thrives in.
vertr07 13y ago
It is important to note that this appears to apply to a limited selection of books.
- keltex 13y ago
  FYI. I work with an Amazon author and he received an email asking if he wanted to "opt-in" to the program (which he did). So it's completely at the publisher's or author's discretion which I think is the right way of doing it. Also the author has the ability to set the price for the Kindle version. It's dependent on the retail price but from what I've seen if the Kindle book is >$6 the author can do $2.99, $1.99, $0.99 or free. Then as the price gets lower (>$4) the options narrow to $1.99, $0.99 or free and so on.
- bennesvig 13y ago
  It's open to self-published authors. I just opted-in to make by eBook 99 cents for anyone who buys the paperback.
arjn 13y ago
So basically if you bought a book in the past from Amazon, you may be able to get a kindle version for up to $3. Its not a bad deal for customers and additional revenue in Amazon's coffers for a minor service. I think they should make it a flat rate at $0.50 and drop the variable pricing.
- mrtron 13y ago
  You can't due to publisher relationships.
- Havoc 13y ago
  Well it sounds like they are (maybe) already making a loss on it so I'm not sure dropping the price by a further 80% is feasible.
apalmer 13y ago
I am turning on Amazon, it just feels fundamentally unfair that they destroyed the brick and mortar book industry precisely because they operate on the principal of never having to turn a profit. Its almost a monopolist abuse of the market...
- VikingCoder 13y ago
  > the principal of never having to turn a profit. There should be no barrier between a writer, and a consumer. The margin, everywhere in between, should be effectively zero. The only value adds, any more, are Discovery, and sharing Reviews. Oh, and having a decent printing process, for people who like physical books.
  - apalmer 13y ago
    Ehhhhh, honestly I am not fundamentally opposed to the concept but realistically our whole economic model that the US has run off of the last 100 years. If every job that is not directly producing a tangible good is eliminated frankly their wont be enough consumers to make producing economically viable. Beyond that, one could argue a brick and mortar provides ample oppurtunity for discovery, previewing, and discussion that amazon doesnt support as directly... and these brick and mortars are dying in part not because of true competition, but because of competition against someone who hasn't had to turn a profit for the last 15 years.
    - VikingCoder 13y ago
      You mean, it's almost as though a few humans working with machines and genetically modified crops are able to provide for most of Maslow's hierarchy of needs for all of human kind, thus making labor completely irrelevant, while the people who own the machines and the corporations that run them are profiting? And almost like the people who want to operate and maintain those machines have to take out huge student loans and gamble on being employable?
- twistedpair 13y ago
  Funny, Amazon is becoming quite like Wal-Mart, but we don't complain. When Wal-Mart comes to a town, the stampede away from the old shopping areas to the new Wal-Mart is alarmingly clear. However, with Amazon, their brick and mortar competitors are slowing fading away like apparitions as they are outmoded by new technology and trends. Further, with Amazon we don't have to notice the low paid hordes that run the machination as these Morlocks are now in some unknown warehouse out of view toiling away to mail me my case of toilet paper so that I don't have to leave work early to purchase it through direct human contact.
doublerebel 13y ago
Free or discounted ebooks to replace past paper purchases -- with the name Matchbook it rings a bit too Fahrenheit 451. Was there not a less creepy name available?
- HPLovecraft 13y ago
  how about "I sing the Novel Electric"?
- heartbreak 13y ago
  The Kindle and Kindle Fire didn't ring that bell already?
- dankoss 13y ago
  Matchbook = matching your physical book purchases with e-books.
wicknicks 13y ago
Can't wait for this feature. I am wondering if they would do the opposite: Offer paper books for a lower price to customers who own the kindle?
acowlichenbag 13y ago
I killed christopher 'aempirei' abad with my 5" dick Cowabunga, dude! And now you're going to die wearing that stupid little hat. How does it feel!? You got caught with the seat of your pants flying down and now everyone laughs at your little picopenis on a daily basis. Microchipping a fellow hacker just because you can't sniff out your own? Hilariously inept. Throwing a well-known, contributing veteran of the hack/trollscene into a mental institution just because you had a hangover and forgot to take your klonopin? Over the top. Having a wanton disregard for the history of the internet, the hackscene, trollscene and everything about humanity in general? Get a clue. Your holier-than-thou attitude can screw back off to the 1980's. Yes, folks, christopher 'ambient empire' abad has been bitchtagging and torturing anyone that walks by him just because, well, "I feel like it!" Yes, folks, christopher 'ambient empire' abad fails to understand the first rule of the U.S. system: you can always just buy people off with cash. ' We've been talking to your friends, coworkers and they've been telling us what a lazy, unappreciative little shit you are. Not to mention a sociopath of the lowest order. You won the birth lottery and coasted your way to the top of the U.S. system on a skateboard. Now it's going to be a fun ride when we push your little deck the way back down. You are nothing but a barking little dog who got caught sneaking up the backstairs into the big people's club and now you're being thrown out the window. Your last thought as you realize nothing of value will be lost when your head cracks on the floor of a 12x12 supermax prison cell: "I like to copy from my 1337 civics textbook." Sayanora, sucker! Malaclypse the Younger
smackfu 13y ago
It will be interesting to see if they also offer bundles at purchase time. "Buy the book for $12, or the book + ebook for $14."
- tjdetwiler 13y ago
  This is how AutoRip works for mp3s. One album I purchased was actually _cheaper_ to get the CD + mp3 album vs just the mp3 album.
benologist 13y ago
I really hope we see something like this for apps and not having to re-purchase stuff just because your new phone or tablet isn't the same as your old one.
alohahacker 13y ago
As an affiliate marketer, am I the only one that thought OP should of posted a amazon affiliate link and then did a case study on conversions/efficiency of having a link on the front page of HN? lol
acjohnson55 13y ago
Most of my Amazon print book purchases are from used book resellers like BetterWorldBooks. I wonder if this offer is available for all book purchases through their marketplace? If so, bravo! Finally, we're starting to get services that begin to match what our technology offers. I'm a firm believer that people pirate not because "digital=free" in their minds, but because they know that getting sold hobbled products for the same price (even though they cost far less to distribute digitally) is a bum deal. It seems like the media industries are finally starting to recalibrate themselves.
dragonfax 13y ago
Disappointed after reading the thread here. At first look, I thought it would be more along the lines of, "snapshot a few randomly chosen pages from the book with your mobile camera, to prove that you've bought the book in the past and still own/have it now, and then you automaticaly get the ebook version really cheap as a result."
- Thereasione 13y ago
  How will that prove that they bought it from Amazon? This promo will be probably tied with Amazon account and purchase history.
ezequiel-garzon 13y ago
Does anybody know if this will allow people outside the US to participate? By now I have bought books from Amazon US, UK, France and Spain. Also, will Amazon make available all the (eligible) titles I have purchased, in all the various international branches?
jalada 13y ago
Took long enough.
Aldo_MX 13y ago
At first I was excited, then I remembered that these kind of deals are not for non-US citizens :(
Thereasione 13y ago
They have been doing that with music for a while. I bought a cd from Amazon long time ago and last year got an email from them telling me it was available to download for free.
fpgeek 13y ago
Barnes and Noble should have gotten here first. Think of the difference "Would you like the ebook with that?" at checkout could have made (in terms of building Nook, incremental store memberships and so on). Instead, they bet on the agency model and focused on the wrong things.
zhemao 13y ago
Oh hey, that was my intern project this summer! Well, not all of it of course, but I worked on the accounting system that will handle the MatchBook transactions.
Tiktaalik 13y ago
That's nice, but I really want this at brick and mortar stores. I want the great, curated experience of shopping at my local independent stores, but I also want the convenience of having an ebook version. Record companies already give away MP3 download codes along with records and I find it bizarre that publishers haven't followed along with a similar idea.
_pmf_ 13y ago
Wow, I can buy the book I own a second time, but at a low price and in the known low-quality, no-human-ever-even-looked-at-it OCRed version. Great. I'm buying a lot of Kindle books, but I feel that I shouldn't because peddling such low quality shovelware is not something I feel I should encourage in any way.
laacz 13y ago
This is similar to what Oreilly is doing. They offer ebook upgrades for any paperback book you (claim to) own for USD 4.99.
WillyF 13y ago
I wonder if there will be any special treatment for gifts (I'm guessing there won't be). My mom has bought me many books. She probably has no interest in having the Kindle versions of them, but I definitely do.

422 points by _pius 13y ago

Nice! It always seemed odd that buying the paper version shouldn't also entitle me to the electronic version, or at least a significant discount.

VLM 13y ago
Buy directly from oreilly or pragmatic (or probably others) There's a different "deal" for every book, or so it seems, so I can't provide anything other than anecdotes WRT price. However both do the "radio button thing" on the main ordering page and you never pay full price for paper and ebook (at least never that I've seen) I like how Pragmatic uploads the newest edition to my Dropbox if a newer edition is printed in the future. I don't believe they promise to do it in all cases, but it does at least occasionally happen. Always makes me smile, wanna buy some more from them... Cheap and effective marketing indeed.

runn1ng 13y ago

I should dislike Amazon for closed-source software on Kindle and for its DRM, but... well, they have really nice offers.

sliverstorm 13y ago
Last I heard Kindle isn't closed-source, they just don't make it particularly easy to build- which was never a requirement for GPL.
- chimeracoder 13y ago
  > which was never a requirement for GPL. Depending on your definition of "easy-to-build", the GPLv3 addresses that (partially).
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
  - smackfu 13y ago
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200203720 http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2...
    - runn1ng 13y ago
      Sorry for deleting my parent comment. See this though, it's only the very minumum they have to publish due to GPL (sort of like Apple and Darwin) http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/kindle-swindle-source-code http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/kindle-swindle-source-cod...
- runn1ng 13y ago
  Read: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/kindle-swindle-source-code http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/kindle-swindle-source-cod... They publish the very minimum the need to publish according to GPL.
- zhemao 13y ago
  The main issue is that the bootloader of the Kindle devices isn't particularly easy to unlock (at least, I couldn't figure it out), so even if you do get the kernel built, it would be hard to actually install it on the device itself.
shantanubala 13y ago
Kindles are very hackable in comparison to most devices. http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200203720 http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2... Amazon also didn't void my warranty when I installed a few hacks on my e-ink Kindle. Unfortunately they are very lenient with their devices because they know that the content is locked down completely. Once you buy Kindle books, you're unfortunately only renting them.
- chimeracoder 13y ago
  > Once you buy Kindle books, you're unfortunately only renting them. Luckily, it is VERY easy to crack Amazon's DRM in Calibre. Not excusing the DRM - I'm just thankful it's easy to get around (all you need is the Kindle serial number, which is easy to find in the settings on your Kindle).
- WalterSear 13y ago
  Removing DRM from azw files is trivial if you are using calibre and have the right plugin. I do it as a matter of course whenever I buy any books from Amazon.
jmillikin 13y ago
Whether to DRM a particular book is a decision of the publisher; some publishers allow Amazon to sell DRM-free ebooks.

nsxwolf 13y ago

I thought it was going to be a really tiny e-reader.

DanBC 13y ago
That might have a market. (http://www.theblogismine.com/2010/05/30/eroll-concept-unrolls-as-flexible-foldable-e-book-reader/ http://www.theblogismine.com/2010/05/30/eroll-concept-unroll...) (http://www.quora.com/eBook-Readers/Why-did-the-first-rollable-eBook-reader-fail http://www.quora.com/eBook-Readers/Why-did-the-first-rollabl...) (http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=2651 http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=2651) (http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-gadgeteer/mwc08-hands-on-with-the-readius-eink-mobile-device/871 http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-gadgeteer/mwc08-hands-on-wi...) I also remember a cylinder with a few lines of text. As you turned the cylinder the text would scroll. Not sure if that ever got beyond the CGI prototype stage.
twistedpair 13y ago
So much for the 1" Kindle.
Havoc 13y ago
In one of the recent Elon Musk articles it mentioned that he reads on his iphone, so the notion isn't that far out. Not that the iphone is exactly tiny...
- fwr 13y ago
  Elon Musk does this? THE NEW BIG THING
  - Havoc 13y ago
    haha. No it just struck me as strange that someone clearly not constrained by finances would chose to read on an iphone.
thebiglebrewski 13y ago
What is this, an e-reader for ANTS?!

rickr 13y ago

This was always my biggest hold up in fully adopting a kindle. I really enjoy having books to lend out or flip through - not a very strong suit for an ebook reader. Even with all the e-reader benefits I could never really make the switch because of this. I wonder how many people felt the same way?

TomAnthony 13y ago

There are fundamental differences between a paper book and an ebook. I far prefer paper books when I'm using it as a reference, but love the convenience of ebooks when for when I'm reading through something. With technical books it is very common to read initially and reference later, or to read some sections, use others for reference etc. With that in mind it has often been a tough choice as to whether to buy a paper copy of an electronic copy of a book. This is a very welcome change, and I'd gladly pay a few bucks for the convenience of being able to switch medias.

jmduke 13y ago
I'm the exact opposite: I prefer paper books for 'binge reading', but eBooks for documentation or sifting through, since I'd take Ctrl+F over leafing through an index/glossary any day. Which is why I think this (and similar offerings: I know O'Reilly and leanpub do similar things) is such an exciting offer: I don't have to sit back and decide which use case I'd rather prioritize.
jlarocco 13y ago
I'm a little surprised anybody could prefer paper books for reference... For me, full-text search, bookmarks, and copy/paste make ebooks far superior for referencing. Not to mention I don't have a bunch of books cluttering my desk. In any case, I completely agree this is awesome. I've been considering selling most of my old physical books and buying the ebook versions, and this will save me a bunch of money.
- gknoy 13y ago
  Sometimes, being able to flip between two sections (comparing examples) or things a couple pages apart can be useful. I remember having both PDF and hard copies of some RPG rulebooks, and it was almost always easier to find That Specific Thing in the paper book, once I was familiar enough with everything to use the contextual clues and page differences to find my way easily. Flipping between rules for {verb} and the list of valid {option} permutations is a similar case with tech books. Control-F helps, and so do bookmarks, but some things are easier with paper.
- 13y ago

toddmorey 13y ago

That's one of the best product names I've come across in a long while.

nostromo 13y ago
I was thinking the opposite. They've taken the analogy too far (Kindle, Kindle Fire, Matchbook). With the historical associations that come with "burning" and "books", I've always found the analogy awkward.
- acadien 13y ago
  We should call Kindle fanboys Fire-starters.
- heartbreak 13y ago
  I'm pretty sure that the name "Kindle" and all of the following fire-related names are intentionally referencing book-burning.
- 0003 13y ago
  Optimistically, the name connotes that Amazon will match, for a de minimis fee, a digital book with your physical purchase.
sgustard 13y ago
Clever, but the fact that "Kindle X" can now mean either a hardware product (Paperwhite) or a service feature (MatchBook) is confusing.
- eric_the_read 13y ago
  "Kindle X" has meant both hardware and service for quite a while now. I own a few Kindle books, and have rented dozens from my library, but do not yet own a Kindle device.
- eric_the_read 13y ago
  "Kindle X" has meant both hardware and service for quite a while now. I own a few Kindle books, and have rented dozens from my library, but do not yet own a Kindle device.

lukev 13y ago

This is a phenomenally important move; now, being an "ebook reader" or a "traditional reader" doesn't have to be an either/or proposition.

ScottWhigham 13y ago
I think it's an interesting move, but not a "phenomenally important move". If I like print books but not ebooks, how does this affect me? It doesn't - not in the least. If I like both, I'm sort of happy - "Uh, I guess that's cool." I'm struggling to think of the person who needs both a printed copy of a book and an ebook version. The only person I can think of is someone with a textbook/learning book - you read the print version (that's why you bought it) and you use the ebook to quickly search and have at your fingertips. But for fiction? I can't see how this helps.
- rollo_tommasi 13y ago
  I prefer printed books, but I frequently am reading on the subway, the train, the airport, etc, and so the portability of ebooks is a huge advantage. I'm definitely excited about being able to both pick up a printed copy of a book for leisurely reading at home and have my entire library in my pocket when I have to go fly somewhere.
  - nsmartt 13y ago
    I infinitely prefer reading a physical book at home, but I love being able to access my Kindle library when I'm out and about. I want to be able to read every book on my shelf at home while I'm not there, and I'm loving this move on Amazon's part. I just hope it doesn't spell trouble in the long run.
- eric_cc 13y ago
  > I'm struggling to think of the person who needs both a printed copy of a book and an ebook version. Technically, nobody NEEDS a printed or digital book to begin with. Maybe you're just over-thinking this? I like print books but also have an iPad. For many obvious reasons it would be nice to have all of my books on my iPad (which is almost always with me).

gdilla 13y ago

This is awesome for the consumer, absolutely. And it's only made possible by the recent DOJ trial that effectively allowed Amazon to set prices of ebooks (wholesale vs agency model). Recall that agency model, the publisher sets the price (the same as apps on the app store). But now that Amazon can set any price they want for ebooks (and take a loss on them if they want to, which they have done before), Amazon can do cool stuff like this. Amazon has already started discounting ebooks - some of the bestsellers are now cheaper on amazon in ebook form than on iBooks. That never happened before in Agency model, where price parity was a rule. There is nothing inherently wrong with Agency model pricing; indeed it has been the norm since mp3s on iTunes 10 years ago. But Amazon competes on price, and Agency was a big wrench in those plans. Now that they can do anything they want with digital pricing, they're applying the stake in all other ebook retailers hearts. Will be fun to watch. I speculate publishers will hate this. eBooks were one of the last digital media where value hasn't become completely pulvarized (see: Apps, MP3s). Though, its certainly possible physical book sales could be bolstered by this.

AceJohnny2 13y ago
I think Charles Stross writings on ebooks is interesting and insightful. He should know: he's a tech-savvy best-selling author. (He hangs around here too: [1]) He wrote a couple of posts a year and a half ago, they still apply. In them, he explains how Amazon is making itself a monopoly, and that isn't good for anyone but them. What's been most informative to me is how tiny publishers actually are, and how little money the author actually gets. It doesn't paint Amazon as the good guy. It's also why I buy my books hardcover now: more cash for the author. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=cstross https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=cstross [2] http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/understanding-amazons-strategy.html http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/understa... [3] http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/more-on-drm-and-ebooks.html http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/04/more-on-...
- res0nat0r 13y ago
  > It's also why I buy my books hardcover now: more cash for the author. Isn't this true, Amazon or not? Hardcovers cost the customer more than paperbacks or ebooks, so the author should be getting hopefully a larger cut of the sale. I think this program (if it has enough titles that I've bought in the past) is going to be awesome. I've never bought a Kindle because paying almost the same price for the Kindle version of a book vs. the paperback cost is ridiculous. Now with this program I will buy a Kindle so I can read my past purchases via that when I'm traveling, and my paperback versions when I'm sitting around at home. Does anyone know if you can actually use this program with used book purchases? I've bought many books used (many times for only a few bucks including shipping), so I don't know if they would be eligible for this program or not.

pdenya 13y ago

I came away from this confused thinking some Kindle versions of books were now cheaper. Amazon is horrible at explaining what things are supposed to do. Every product landing page I've seen from them is confusing, especially all of their cloud services.

StavrosK 13y ago
What is it? I can't find an explanation.
- mrtron 13y ago
  It appears like for physical books you buy - you will be able to get the digital version cheap or free. It is an extremely unclear landing page.
  - dpcx 13y ago
    Really? >>> For thousands of qualifying books, your past, present, and future print-edition purchases will soon allow you to buy the Kindle edition for $2.99, $1.99, $0.99, or free. That seems pretty clear to me.
    - mrtron 13y ago
      The design makes that sentence non-obvious to be the primary description. Additionally the sentence is difficult to scan.
uptown 13y ago
I get it - but it could be clearer. Essentially, if you've ever bought print editions of books from Amazon, many of the Kindle versions of those books you previously purchased will be offered specifically to you for free or a small charge below $3 if you're interested in adding the digital version to your collection.
BryanB55 13y ago
yeah, I had a hard time figuring out what it was until I read the comments here.

Shivetya 13y ago

I had always wondered when a program similar to DVD tiles would arise, where the product came with a coupon to get the electronic version free. I'll take it either way, I love hard bounds but there are many times where they are not best suited for environments the Kindle thrives in.

vertr07 13y ago

It is important to note that this appears to apply to a limited selection of books.

keltex 13y ago
FYI. I work with an Amazon author and he received an email asking if he wanted to "opt-in" to the program (which he did). So it's completely at the publisher's or author's discretion which I think is the right way of doing it. Also the author has the ability to set the price for the Kindle version. It's dependent on the retail price but from what I've seen if the Kindle book is >$6 the author can do $2.99, $1.99, $0.99 or free. Then as the price gets lower (>$4) the options narrow to $1.99, $0.99 or free and so on.
bennesvig 13y ago
It's open to self-published authors. I just opted-in to make by eBook 99 cents for anyone who buys the paperback.

arjn 13y ago

So basically if you bought a book in the past from Amazon, you may be able to get a kindle version for up to $3. Its not a bad deal for customers and additional revenue in Amazon's coffers for a minor service. I think they should make it a flat rate at $0.50 and drop the variable pricing.

mrtron 13y ago
You can't due to publisher relationships.
Havoc 13y ago
Well it sounds like they are (maybe) already making a loss on it so I'm not sure dropping the price by a further 80% is feasible.

apalmer 13y ago

I am turning on Amazon, it just feels fundamentally unfair that they destroyed the brick and mortar book industry precisely because they operate on the principal of never having to turn a profit. Its almost a monopolist abuse of the market...

VikingCoder 13y ago
> the principal of never having to turn a profit. There should be no barrier between a writer, and a consumer. The margin, everywhere in between, should be effectively zero. The only value adds, any more, are Discovery, and sharing Reviews. Oh, and having a decent printing process, for people who like physical books.
- apalmer 13y ago
  Ehhhhh, honestly I am not fundamentally opposed to the concept but realistically our whole economic model that the US has run off of the last 100 years. If every job that is not directly producing a tangible good is eliminated frankly their wont be enough consumers to make producing economically viable. Beyond that, one could argue a brick and mortar provides ample oppurtunity for discovery, previewing, and discussion that amazon doesnt support as directly... and these brick and mortars are dying in part not because of true competition, but because of competition against someone who hasn't had to turn a profit for the last 15 years.
  - VikingCoder 13y ago
    You mean, it's almost as though a few humans working with machines and genetically modified crops are able to provide for most of Maslow's hierarchy of needs for all of human kind, thus making labor completely irrelevant, while the people who own the machines and the corporations that run them are profiting? And almost like the people who want to operate and maintain those machines have to take out huge student loans and gamble on being employable?
twistedpair 13y ago
Funny, Amazon is becoming quite like Wal-Mart, but we don't complain. When Wal-Mart comes to a town, the stampede away from the old shopping areas to the new Wal-Mart is alarmingly clear. However, with Amazon, their brick and mortar competitors are slowing fading away like apparitions as they are outmoded by new technology and trends. Further, with Amazon we don't have to notice the low paid hordes that run the machination as these Morlocks are now in some unknown warehouse out of view toiling away to mail me my case of toilet paper so that I don't have to leave work early to purchase it through direct human contact.

doublerebel 13y ago

Free or discounted ebooks to replace past paper purchases -- with the name Matchbook it rings a bit too Fahrenheit 451. Was there not a less creepy name available?

HPLovecraft 13y ago
how about "I sing the Novel Electric"?
heartbreak 13y ago
The Kindle and Kindle Fire didn't ring that bell already?
dankoss 13y ago
Matchbook = matching your physical book purchases with e-books.

wicknicks 13y ago

Can't wait for this feature. I am wondering if they would do the opposite: Offer paper books for a lower price to customers who own the kindle?

acowlichenbag 13y ago

I killed christopher 'aempirei' abad with my 5" dick Cowabunga, dude! And now you're going to die wearing that stupid little hat. How does it feel!? You got caught with the seat of your pants flying down and now everyone laughs at your little picopenis on a daily basis. Microchipping a fellow hacker just because you can't sniff out your own? Hilariously inept. Throwing a well-known, contributing veteran of the hack/trollscene into a mental institution just because you had a hangover and forgot to take your klonopin? Over the top. Having a wanton disregard for the history of the internet, the hackscene, trollscene and everything about humanity in general? Get a clue. Your holier-than-thou attitude can screw back off to the 1980's. Yes, folks, christopher 'ambient empire' abad has been bitchtagging and torturing anyone that walks by him just because, well, "I feel like it!" Yes, folks, christopher 'ambient empire' abad fails to understand the first rule of the U.S. system: you can always just buy people off with cash. ' We've been talking to your friends, coworkers and they've been telling us what a lazy, unappreciative little shit you are. Not to mention a sociopath of the lowest order. You won the birth lottery and coasted your way to the top of the U.S. system on a skateboard. Now it's going to be a fun ride when we push your little deck the way back down. You are nothing but a barking little dog who got caught sneaking up the backstairs into the big people's club and now you're being thrown out the window. Your last thought as you realize nothing of value will be lost when your head cracks on the floor of a 12x12 supermax prison cell: "I like to copy from my 1337 civics textbook." Sayanora, sucker! Malaclypse the Younger

smackfu 13y ago

It will be interesting to see if they also offer bundles at purchase time. "Buy the book for $12, or the book + ebook for $14."

tjdetwiler 13y ago
This is how AutoRip works for mp3s. One album I purchased was actually _cheaper_ to get the CD + mp3 album vs just the mp3 album.

benologist 13y ago

I really hope we see something like this for apps and not having to re-purchase stuff just because your new phone or tablet isn't the same as your old one.

alohahacker 13y ago

As an affiliate marketer, am I the only one that thought OP should of posted a amazon affiliate link and then did a case study on conversions/efficiency of having a link on the front page of HN? lol

acjohnson55 13y ago

Most of my Amazon print book purchases are from used book resellers like BetterWorldBooks. I wonder if this offer is available for all book purchases through their marketplace? If so, bravo! Finally, we're starting to get services that begin to match what our technology offers. I'm a firm believer that people pirate not because "digital=free" in their minds, but because they know that getting sold hobbled products for the same price (even though they cost far less to distribute digitally) is a bum deal. It seems like the media industries are finally starting to recalibrate themselves.

dragonfax 13y ago

Disappointed after reading the thread here. At first look, I thought it would be more along the lines of, "snapshot a few randomly chosen pages from the book with your mobile camera, to prove that you've bought the book in the past and still own/have it now, and then you automaticaly get the ebook version really cheap as a result."

Thereasione 13y ago
How will that prove that they bought it from Amazon? This promo will be probably tied with Amazon account and purchase history.

ezequiel-garzon 13y ago

Does anybody know if this will allow people outside the US to participate? By now I have bought books from Amazon US, UK, France and Spain. Also, will Amazon make available all the (eligible) titles I have purchased, in all the various international branches?

jalada 13y ago

Took long enough.

Aldo_MX 13y ago

At first I was excited, then I remembered that these kind of deals are not for non-US citizens :(

Thereasione 13y ago

They have been doing that with music for a while. I bought a cd from Amazon long time ago and last year got an email from them telling me it was available to download for free.

fpgeek 13y ago

Barnes and Noble should have gotten here first. Think of the difference "Would you like the ebook with that?" at checkout could have made (in terms of building Nook, incremental store memberships and so on). Instead, they bet on the agency model and focused on the wrong things.

zhemao 13y ago

Oh hey, that was my intern project this summer! Well, not all of it of course, but I worked on the accounting system that will handle the MatchBook transactions.

Tiktaalik 13y ago

That's nice, but I really want this at brick and mortar stores. I want the great, curated experience of shopping at my local independent stores, but I also want the convenience of having an ebook version. Record companies already give away MP3 download codes along with records and I find it bizarre that publishers haven't followed along with a similar idea.

_pmf_ 13y ago

Wow, I can buy the book I own a second time, but at a low price and in the known low-quality, no-human-ever-even-looked-at-it OCRed version. Great. I'm buying a lot of Kindle books, but I feel that I shouldn't because peddling such low quality shovelware is not something I feel I should encourage in any way.

laacz 13y ago

This is similar to what Oreilly is doing. They offer ebook upgrades for any paperback book you (claim to) own for USD 4.99.

WillyF 13y ago

I wonder if there will be any special treatment for gifts (I'm guessing there won't be). My mom has bought me many books. She probably has no interest in having the Kindle versions of them, but I definitely do.