The Kindle is a new electronic book reader from online book purveyor Amazon. It offers the ability to wirelessly download, read, and store dozens of books and is about paperbook size. Most of my reading is currently online, in a dental journal or text, or in my daily newspaper. At this point I don’t see a Kindle in my future. However, if I were planning an extended vacation and wanted to save precious packing space—maybe. If I was a daily public transportation user I think I would have clicked buy-it-now yesterday (if it were available in Canada).
I wonder if a die-hard reader like my brother-in-law would be able to switch from paper to screen. Prediction: Highly unlikely. I suspect Bjorn enjoys the romance of page-turning and looking back at the shelf with fondness. I suspect he also believes in the futurity of books.
The device is priced at $399 US. Interestingly, this is a barrier to me, which is paradoxical because I have been more then willing to buy the similarly priced iPod and Palm Treo in the past. I can only conclude that for me this is not a must have device based on design. Perhaps in person my thoughts will change.
2 Comments
Totally not the Bjorn type of gadget. I’m wondering if it would strain the eyes? I don’t think it’s something I could use for that reason. You could always come to Denver and pick one up though if you get interested.
The Kindle is so ugly - I couldn’t buy it just on principle. I ready an interesting analysis of it that criticized its permanent keyboard as a feature not central to its primary role, yet always there taking up space. I think Amazon should’ve hired Apple to design this one. Apple makes great design look so obvious and simple, but the Kindle is proof that not just any company can produce top-notch design.