
Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store
Reason one. Excuse me but why would I want something that looks like a calculator to read a book instead of a book? Can’t think of a reason why. I also think that the folks Amazon seeded these devices to wondered why too. (Although it appears they put all the positive reviews up first) If you look at their website there are 505 customer reviews and the device has barely crept above 2 and, is that a half, stars. Only 97 people give it 5 stars. That’s the people that were interested enough to beta test.
Reason two. Just because you sell books doesn’t mean you understand books. Amazon isn’t a bookstore they are a distribution center.
Reason three. Physicality matters. You can’t pass a book you read on to someone else. You can’t take it to a book trader or used bookstore. You can’t use it to hold your ticket on the train while you wait for the conductor.
Reason four. People that provide reading material call themselves content partners.
Reason five. Dumb name. Ever heard of kindling? Do you want to start a fire with an e‑book? Wrong metaphor.
Reason six. Why pay for access to things you already get for free or through your current isp?
Reason seven. A book is about its cover, paper, typeface, and illustrations — they are part of the experience. If not all books could have a black cover and be the same text face using the same illustrator.
Reason eight. How many books could you buy for 400 dollars?
Reason nine. I own my books and I have access to them indefinitely.
Reason ten. The electronic product isn’t cheaper than the physical product.
Reason eleven. The oldstyle books were wireless from the begininng and still are.
Reason twelve. UGLY.
I love good technology. I love good design. I think that the need for devices that allow the reader to change the contrast of the page and the size of the type are needed. I’m waiting for someone smarter to make a smarter device. This isn’t the device to make me an early adopter and I love the bleeding edge.
I’m going to head over to Joseph Fox Booksellers and buy a real book.
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Tags: kindle, books, reading, technology, amazon, e‑books,