Kindle News

I haven't done a report on new Kindle details in a while.  Today's news is quite interesting.

Today, Amazon released an INTERNATIONAL version of their Kindle ebook reader.   I had a feeling this would be coming down the pike eventually, since a number of other ereaders were coming out on the market, and the major advantage that Kindle has is the link to the Amazon store.  If that link only worked outside the US, it would be fantastic.  I'll admit though, I didn't think they were ready for it this year.  I mean, I figured the technology wasn't likely a problem, but that somehow their contract with Sprint might preclude the idea.  But then I think that shows just how US minded I am, and how I've been trained to believe in the locked into a phone vendor philosophy they brainwash us with here.

And now, if you have the International version of the reader, it will work anywhere.  Note, from what I can tell, the International version will work in the US, but if you are a US customer and go abroad and use the wireless download, you'll incur an extra fee.  And as it says that extra fee is for US customers only, I suspect they don't want it abused.

However, this presents and interesting phenomenon in that there will be two identical Kindles, one that is just US only (Now lowered to $259!)  and a International version ($279)  The bigscreen DX stays at the moment US only and still runs at $489.  I so want one, but can't possibly justify it at the moment.

I think Amazon is poised on the brink.  If they can shave off a bit more of the cost on these, I think you'll see the market for the ereaders and hence the ebooks themselves explode.  If you could have all the features of the Kindle at the $200 or under mark, I think a good number of casual readers will find these fantastic.

I still think there's a culture shift that needs to happen as so many, many people will say, again and again to me: but I just love the way a book feels, and I don't think I could enjoy a book on a screen.  I kind of get tired of hearing that argument, but I can understand where they come from.   Here's my opinion on the matter: if you haven't tried reading on the Kindle (or Sony or equivalent quality eInk reader) I think you're rushing to a judgement without taking it for a test drive.   Don't flip on the screen look at it for a second say: neat, then ignore it.  Read a story.  Read a whole story.  See what happens once you get absorbed into reading.  I think you'll be surprised to find how easy it becomes to forget about the reader itself, and get lost in the story.

What do you think?  What's your price point before you'd buy an ereader?  

Kindle News

I haven't done a report on new Kindle details in a while.  Today's news is quite interesting.

Today, Amazon released an INTERNATIONAL version of their Kindle ebook reader.   I had a feeling this would be coming down the pike eventually, since a number of other ereaders were coming out on the market, and the major advantage that Kindle has is the link to the Amazon store.  If that link only worked outside the US, it would be fantastic.  I'll admit though, I didn't think they were ready for it this year.  I mean, I figured the technology wasn't likely a problem, but that somehow their contract with Sprint might preclude the idea.  But then I think that shows just how US minded I am, and how I've been trained to believe in the locked into a phone vendor philosophy they brainwash us with here.

And now, if you have the International version of the reader, it will work anywhere.  Note, from what I can tell, the International version will work in the US, but if you are a US customer and go abroad and use the wireless download, you'll incur an extra fee.  And as it says that extra fee is for US customers only, I suspect they don't want it abused.

However, this presents and interesting phenomenon in that there will be two identical Kindles, one that is just US only (Now lowered to $259!)  and a International version ($279)  The bigscreen DX stays at the moment US only and still runs at $489.  I so want one, but can't possibly justify it at the moment.

I think Amazon is poised on the brink.  If they can shave off a bit more of the cost on these, I think you'll see the market for the ereaders and hence the ebooks themselves explode.  If you could have all the features of the Kindle at the $200 or under mark, I think a good number of casual readers will find these fantastic.

I still think there's a culture shift that needs to happen as so many, many people will say, again and again to me: but I just love the way a book feels, and I don't think I could enjoy a book on a screen.  I kind of get tired of hearing that argument, but I can understand where they come from.   Here's my opinion on the matter: if you haven't tried reading on the Kindle (or Sony or equivalent quality eInk reader) I think you're rushing to a judgement without taking it for a test drive.   Don't flip on the screen look at it for a second say: neat, then ignore it.  Read a story.  Read a whole story.  See what happens once you get absorbed into reading.  I think you'll be surprised to find how easy it becomes to forget about the reader itself, and get lost in the story.

What do you think?  What's your price point before you'd buy an ereader?