The Kindle, Amazon’s new eBook reader that will change the world. They hope.
Hardly a new idea the Kindle is nevertheless an intriguing one. Initial impressions seem mixed, interestingly it’s the non-techies that seem to get Bezos’ vision. Most of the gadget geeks seem to fall on the side of meh. Those that use a cell phone only to make calls, a computer only to email and read the newspaper on paper every morning seem most intrigued. This is a device they can get behind.
The main innovation of the Kindle is that it is always connected. Like push email on a BlackBerry the Kindle will automatically receive the latest edition of a print newspaper such as The New York Times. Or magazine, or blog post. You can browse and buy books from Amazon’s web store from anywhere. More exciting is that there isn’t a monthly fee, at least for the wireless connection. You only pay for what you want, there’s no service fee or monthly charge. This, in and of itself, is surprising and a huge plus for the device.
It uses eInk technology, a display technology that uses small particles and electrical magic to display text in a way that has more in common with a paperback than a computer screen. It has no backlight, something that is seen as a good thing, and does not draw power unless the screen is redrawn. This means that it is no more fatiguing than reading a book, something that should appeal to a demographic that does not love LCD and CRT displays.
Much like Apple’s pushing of the $.99 price for each song Amazon has settled on a $9.99 price for new books, those in hardcover at the bookstore. Older books and classics will be less. Unlike Apple this does seem to be somewhat flexible and books could cost more (or less) depending on the publisher.
Interestingly, at least in some cases, Amazon appears to be losing money on some bestsellers since the publishers refuse to offer it for less than the cost of a printed book. A concept I, and apparently Bezos himself, think is ludicrous. Books are expensive to manufacture and ship, remove the costs of distribution (it apparently only costs $200 to creat an eBook) and the eBook should naturally cost less.
What doesn’t the Kindle have going for it? History, for one. EBook readers have been tried before, Sony currently has one that utilizes the same eInk technology as the Kindle, though most of its books cost at or near list price and it has no wireless connectivity. EBook readers and technology such as Microsoft Reader have not exactly set the world on fire, accounting for only drop-in-the-bucket type sales. At some point, I expect a device to come along that changes this, Amazon obviously hopes that time is now.
The Kindle is not cheap. At $399 (shipped, thankfully) it pushes the envelope of affordability. Assuming that each book costs $17.00 (a number I’m pulling out of the air) you’d have to buy 57 books to make up the cost of the reader. This begs the question is the convenience worth it? For frequent travelers, train/subway commuters, security “guards” and the like I’m betting yes. For older people the ability to easily change font-size, meaning all books are immediately large print, this could also be a yes. But fear of tech gadgets may and probably will outweigh this for the older generation.
Where the Kindle could shine is in the delivery of college textbooks. Big, heavy textbooks lugged around campus are a pain and the cost of each book is sky high. If the textbook publishers are to be believed, textbooks are just expensive to make, all that glossy paper and all. Discounted books available in a portable, easily read format is something I’m totally behind (plus it would justify the purchase.)
Also, in my opinion, the Kindle does not photograph well. When compared to Sony’s sleek little reader it seems out of date, an anachronism. According to Amazon this is intentional. They did not want a distracting device. The overwhelming design goal was to have the Kindle fade into the background when reading, after all the prettiest cover in the world disappears as soon as the book is open. To be fair, video of the device looks much better and I get the impression that in person it looks much better. It is incredibly thin.
What is the final word? We’ll have to wait and see. Even if the Kindle fails in the beauty department it is backed by Amazon who is first a bookstore. If anyone can do it (and someone will) Amazon can, perhaps not with their first try, but the revolution has started. People may lament the loss of paper books (trees will weep for joy) but eBooks are here to stay, sooner or later.