Kindle

Posted on May 7, 2009
Filed Under Tech | 7 Comments

There’s a really interesting post on Kindle market penetration. “On Amazon.com, 35 percent of sales of books that have a Kindle edition are sold in that format. That’s up, by the way, from 13 percent in February…” Wow.

If I didn’t do half my reading in the tub I’d seriously consider one. I’m curious as to whether Apple comes up with a competitor or simply allows Kindle software on their products (as is currently the case with the iPhone) There is a fairly substantial rumor that Apple’s answer to the netbook will be a bigger screen iPhone like device. i.e. more like the iPhone than the Mac. If so, then that is an ideal competitor to the Kindle and probably would address a lot of the Kindle flaws. However I can also see Apple not wanting to have to deal with all the publishers the way Amazon does. So it’s a big question whether Apple would expand the iTunes store with eBooks or would simply make use of Amazon.

The other big problem with eBooks (beyond where you can read them) is still the selection as well as not having used books. (Something I make use of a lot on Amazon – especially for philosophy books)

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Comments

7 Responses to “Kindle”

I keep coming *this*close* to buying a Kindle, but then the same nagging feeling comes up that hinders my early adoption of any new technology: If I wait juuuust a little longer, then this flaw or that price or this other thing will be better. How do you know when to jump in?

2 Proud Daughter of Eve on May 7th, 2009 3:09 pm

I like my Ipod. I enjoy listening to audiobooks as I do housework or exercise.

That said, I’ll stick to books that don’t need batteries, thanks. 100% portable and 100% recyclable. What’s not to love? If you have a problem with shelves of books, then you’re probably not much of a reader to begin with.

The nice thing about eBooks is that they are searchable and the index in most books is pretty poor.

4 Proud Daughter of Eve on May 7th, 2009 5:30 pm

It’s not that I don’t see how a Kindle or similar device might be useful. I can certainly see using it in conjuction with books. It’s just never going to replace books for me.

I bought my Kindle over a year ago now. I bought my one for my wife for her birthday in March. I will also purchase the new bigger Kindle and give my old one to my daughter. I could go on and on about why it is better for reading than a physical book. Of course, there are exceptions, as perhaps there always will be. However, paper publishing is going obsolete, and perhaps it should.

We take our Kindles to church and have resources to our complete library of scriptures, reference books, histories, etc. If we need/want to, we utilize whispernet to look up something in wikipedia or just surf or check out a blog. We can make a purchase at will anytime anyplace in the U.S. The books we buy are cheaper and the selection is ever-growing. Now textbooks and the like are also possibilities.

I’m sixty and have, with my wife, accumulated a substantial library over the years. As we contemplated retirement, perhaps moving, traveling, having more than one home, etc., I wondered how I could have my library with me and not worry about the hassel. Since I had plenty of time to spare, I bought a scanner (not a high-end one but not like the scanners that are so slow, either) and a guillotine paper cutter and started de-spining my books and feeding the pages through the scanner to digitize them. Some I do in black and white, some in grayscale, some in color. I make them searchable and share them on our home network.

What we want/need on our Kindles I convert to make available (a process that will now be much easier with the advent of the bigger Kindle with PDF compatibility) on them.

We can make notes, highlight, search, look up definitions, check the time of day, use its limited gps feature, play music and audio books, download conference talks, etc. and turn pages in bed without waking our spouse up. And much, much more.

I recommend it, yet, I like the I am special feeling my having one and your not having gives me. You know, pride. So help me out. Get one.

I love my Kindle and while it isn’t a necessity, it is one of my most valued items. BTW, reading in the tub is no problem. You just slip it in a ziplock bag and you’re set.

Actually I have to confess I’ve taken my iPhone in the tube to read several times.

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