amazon sort of re-inventing reading this week
Just in time for the holidays, local online mega-retailer Amazon is re-inventing reading by unveiling a new electronic ink gizmo. In Newsweek, Steven Levy takes a look at Kindle, a rechargeable, wireless, book-downloading device
the Kindle (named to evoke the crackling ignition of knowledge) has the dimensions of a paperback, with a tapering of its width that emulates the bulge toward a book’s binding. It weighs but 10.3 ounces, and unlike a laptop computer it does not run hot or make intrusive beeps. A reading device must be sharp and durable, Bezos says, and with the use of E Ink, a breakthrough technology of several years ago that mimes the clarity of a printed book, the Kindle’s six-inch screen posts readable pages. The battery has to last for a while, he adds, since there’s nothing sadder than a book you can’t read because of electile dysfunction. [newsweek]
On the bright side, they’re selling books fairly cheaply ($1.99 to $9.99), e-ink is much nicer to look at than illuminated screens, there will be a lot of titles available (all of that “search inside” scanning pays off), and you can do all sorts of useful stuff like bookmarking, annotation, download wirelessly, and connect to the internet. On the downside, it’s going to cost around $400 — more than a similar product from Sony’s — and the pictures of it that have shown up on tech ‘blogs [gizmodo] leave a whole lot to be desired in the “austerity” department. One can only hope that the real thing looks a whole lot better on launch day. Otherwise, I don’t see it becoming a thrilling stocking stuffer.
update: the “product page” is now live [amazon], complete with video demonstrations, testimonials, and pricing details.
(via daring fireball)
The problem with e-books is the light of the computer screen. Books don’t emit light, which is why staring at the pages for hours doesn’t damage your eyes. Staring at a light source, however mild, for hours is not good for the eyes. It would probably get irritating, and this is keeping in mind the fact that many stare at computer screens all day. Screen images change, which help, and one looks away from a PC more often than one would if they were reading novel-length text.
the new e-ink books don’t require backlighting.
I’m looking forward to trying this out. Although, any enthusiasm I have is tempered by the fact that Bezos is the guy who claimed that the Segway Scooter would revolutionize transportation and entire cities would have to be redesigned to accommodate it.
I’ll give him credit, though, the guy has big ideas.
Here’s the product page at Amazon.
thanks. I updated the main post with the product link. I can’t believe how ugly the device is though. I was so sure that those pre-release/leaked images were going to turn out to be unstyled prototypes.
That said, I agree with you that it would be fun to try this out. (HINT, HINT Amazonians)
I can definitely see the benefit of being able to purchase books in this way: accessibility, saving money in the printing and also paper, and not having to store or dispose of them.
That being said it makes me a little sad and I think I will stick to the dusty tomes. Part of my joy of reading is the feel of the paper, the smell, looking at my books stacked on the shelves, giving or lending them to others and being able to mark, comment or simply !, things that strike me.
I can see that this will appeal to others, but hopefully there are enough of us who desire to keep the printed word alive, no matter how antiquated that may be.
It does seem like a great idea, and the e-Ink technology is really really nifty. Downloading a book in a minute wirelessly and inexpensively adds a big convenience factor over Sony. FWIW, it does let you add your own marginalia.
Still, I find the thought of every book being set in the same typeface unnerving. And dedicating so much of the front of the device to a keyboard has the look of being a big waste of space.
I am pretending that this post does not exist. They’ll have to pry good old paper books out of my cold, dead hands.
The Newsweek article you linked contains some pretty compelling arguments in favor of eBooks. I have always considered myself in Samantha’s court w/r/t paper books. But the inefficiency and waste of producing a paper book - from the creation of the paper to the distribution - make eBooks inevitable, I think. Especially in light of our growing environmental awareness. I don’t know if Kindle will be the device to move eBooks forward in any real way but I think it’s going to happen. Moreover, I think it should happen.
However, I’m making the assumption that book publishing actually is inefficient and wasteful from an environmental perspective. I suppose there’s a counter-argument to be made there.
I agree with Johnson (in the linked article) that it’s hard to improve on the centuries of development that have gone into the user interface of the printed book. in my opinion the trade paperback is the most optimized reading device invented to date.
Huh. Apparently you can buy a Kindle subscription to Metroblogging Seattle on Amazon.
I realize that I am often the last bastion of old-fashioned technology, what with my letter writing and typewriter and paper journals, but I find this: “And, to soothe the anxieties of print-culture stalwarts, in sleep mode the Kindle displays retro images of ancient texts, early printing presses and beloved authors like Emily Dickinson and Jane Austen” ridiculously condescending. It’s like saying, we know we want to take away the textures and the scents and the dust that are all part of your delight with the experience of reading, but–look at the pretty pictures!
Plus, I want the internet around my books all the time even less than I want it in my pocket all the time.
I think that if these kinds of things were marketed as an alternative to print, rather than a replacement for it, I’d be way less annoyed and offended and maybe more open to it. (If these technology kids would get off of my metaphorical lawn, we’d all get along a lot better.)
that’s weird/interesting that you can get metroblogging on your kindle. I wonder what they’re really selling — the packaging or the EVDO transfers — when they’re allowing ‘blog subscriptions?
(incidentally, I think that they would have done well for themselves to package a few dozen books or downloads into that $400 purchase price).
(and, I don’t think that anyone needs to worry about eBooks replacing print anytime soon. I’m not even sure that advocates think that they’re anything other than an alternative.)
Your post disappeared before I could post this response last night, so I said screw it and went to bed.
Assuming that indeed there is no backlighting and the setup is easy on the eyes, there is still an issue with the cost. People aren’t going to shell out $300-400 for one of these things and then pay a fee for every book downloaded… when they can still buy actual books for $20 or less. Any conveniences of the Kindle don’t quiet offset that or any potential bugs.
Amazon could have easily taken a loss in the short term and lowered the price to allow this to proliferate, especially if they’re going to make money off of selling e-books for the thing. And then their tech would develop to where they could pump these things out inexpensively and turn a profit per sale.
It’ll be interesting to see how the market for this thing develops.
Since last night, Amazon has a product page explaining a lot of things about Kindle. Books cost $2 to $10 and the screen is, in fact, electronic paper/ink; so no glare or backlighting. The technology is really impressive — the next time you’re at the airport or U Village, check out Sony’s reader for a demo.
But, as I mentioned above, I do agree that Amazon is making a mistake with its pricing. I’d bet that these things would sell a lot better if they include a couple hundred dollars worth of downloading credits in the price tag. Given the amount that the average consumer reads, $400 probably buys a couple years worth of books.
Gomez - Would you have predicted people wouldn’t pay $299 for an iPod only to have to buy music on top of that?
I don’t think Kindle will set the world on fire but I do think there’s a market for it. Hell, if I could get my hands on one to try it out, I might consider buying one. I think this is a first step (or second, if you credit Sony) toward the inevitable.
Bezos has noted in his presentations that Amazon is selling a service here more than the actual device.
It’s $20 book vs. $9.99 eBook.
(Pays for itself in 2 years?)
I am just thrilled that e-ink is finally in a product. That’s been one of my favorite ‘New Technologies’ for about 12 years now.
But Ryan, I’m pretty sure it was Steve Jobs who said that cities would be redesigned around the Segway, not Bezos. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/12/03/scooter.unveiling/
Maybe if one buys a ton of books in general, Frank. Many don’t. And this assumes that, among the 88,000 titles available, Amazon will have all the titles one would want. I’ll have more confidence in that as the delivery list expands.
If Bezos was focused on selling the service, he’d eat the cost to sell a more affordable platform in the short term. I don’t buy it (HA GET IT).
Yikes. Thanks for the correction, John. For years I’ve been mistakenly holding those comments over Bezo’s head. I guess I didn’t want to believe that Jobs’ could’ve been so off base.