Posted on 11/19/2007 9:40:46 AM PST by NRPM
Amazon's Jeff Bezos already built a better bookstore. Now he believes he can improve upon one of humankind's most divine creations: the book itself.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
It has an e-ink display and is always online via a cell phone data network, so you can buy books (from Amazon of course), and subscribe to certain newspapers, magazines, and even blogs.
It looks interesting, and I'd love to fool around with one, but the pricetag is pretty high at $399.
Wasn’t there a study done sometime back whenever about the significant reduction in comprehension when reading electronic books/computer stories versus reading things via paper products? I maybe wrong but I seem to recall something along those lines.
(That was a comment my own comprehension since I must have read it on the computer.)
School Systems are likely to mandate the use of a good e-book at some point. There's money to be made here, and so it will come to pass.
I would love to have everything on an e-book if it worked well.
This one is unique in that you can subscribe to newspapers and magazines and they will be automatically downloaded. Of course, among the few magazines available this way are The Nation and Salon! I sent an email to National Review suggesting they get on board so we have some balance.
It will also download certain blogs, and I was glad to see Michelle Malkin on the list.
Paper and ink will never be beat for serious reading. This e-stuff might do for Potter.
The Philosophy Prof said he wants to see our pages underlined, highlighted and marginal commented so he knows we at least opened the book. Thumb indexing is also encouraged and if there are more than three or four thumb indexes cut you are as hopeless as those who highlight 2/3 of every paragraph.
Reinventing the wheel.
If I lose a paperback book, no big deal. I lose a $25-$300 electronic notepad...big deal!.
Aside from that, Im lucky nowadays that I can still read printed text. I can’t imagine squinting and trying to read a little sh*t box. Same stupid logic as watching a movie on a 3-inch screen.
Interesting idea, but I think it will happen when cellphones get better displays that allow for easy readability of text. The Apple iPhone is almost there for such a combination electronic book/cellphone device.
Reading Domestic Enemies right now, written by Freeper Travis McGee and recommend it highly. If you haven't read Enemies Foreign and Domestic and Domestic Enemies, you're really missing out on some good stuff - very topical and scary plausible.
Just completed The Right Winger's Guide to the Radical Left, which is pretty funny - and also by a Freeper. It's a great list of the Usual Suspects and well worth reading.
I do most of my reading in bed. I don’t think that my husband would be too happy about me bringing my computer to bed.
If FreeRepublic were offered on Kindle, I’d give it a SERIOUS look.
I think you missed a couple things. The cool thing about the Kindle (also the competing Sony product) is that it uses a special “e-ink” display that does an excellent job of simulating a printed page. There is no backlighting. Unlike a laptop or PDA/Cell it can be read with minimal eye strain and also in direct sunlight. Actually, since the text size is adjustable it’s perfect for someone with bad eyesight. And of course the price will come down over time, as with all new tech.
“And of course the price will come down over time, as with all new tech.”
Does that mean author royalties will go up? Right now, they’re ripping off authors, including charging “set-up fees.” On real books alone, Amazon demands 65% off the cover price.
There may be something to that! I’ve found that I miss too much when editing on the screen, but do much better if editing on hard copy.
Amazon’s Kindle Digital Text Platform allows anybody to put a “book” up for download and set their own price. Author gets 35% of any sales and retains the rights to the work. I can envision some unknown authors developing a real following without ever printing a traditional book.
“Author gets 35% of any sales and retains the rights to the work.”
You don’t know the business. I’m betting 35% of the net. Then, of course, you’ve niched yourself into only a group of readers who can afford $399.
7 books later, I’ve seen it all.
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