Kindle Redux
I am going to revise some of my snarky Amazon Kindle review since part of it is in error.
It turns out that you can put your own content on it for free. You can either email a document and have the converted documented emailed back to you or you can download Mobi Converter (which might be Windows only) to do this yourself. After converted you can use a USB cable to put it on the device. If you want content wirelessly to the Kindle than a $.10 fee is charged.
Also it turns out that the Kindle does have a web browser on it so that you could use an aggregator such as Google Reader or Bloglines to read any content that you want without being charged a blog or newspaper description fee. This feature is actually quite interesting since the Kindle uses the Sprint EVDO network and this service is free with the Kindle. So this is quite interesting and maybe its best feature and one which Amazon is not advertising - probably since it costs them money instead of generating it for them. So the price of the Kindle could be more than compensated by those who would use it primarily as a internet text reader with free internet access. One caveat though is that this web browser is on the Experimental menu and so there is question as to whether Amazon could simply yank this feature at a latter date.
Though they do have some things still to fix in regards to Kindle books they sell such as the fact some of them cost more than the Hardcover version of the same book.
For some the Kindle even as a first generation device might be worthwhile just as an internet device (though the e-ink technology is not color). For me though I can buy a lot of books for the price of a Kindle and am still waiting for a text reading device that would entice me.
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I'm currently using mobi-pocket on my PDA to read books on the run. I'm interested in this device because it is tiring on the eyes to read from an LCD screen. I had anticipated buying a Kindle in the future when the price drops, so now I'm really disappointed that Amazon didn't use mobi-pocket. My expectation was that there would be tons of content since it was Amazon.
Another use that I would joyfully embrace is high school e-textbooks. It is astounding how much they cost and how much they weigh. I'm hoping that an ebook reader may alleviate both those problems.
Quote:
"It turns out that you can put your own content on it for free. You can either email a document and have the converted documented emailed back to you or you can download Mobi Converter (which might be Windows only) to do this yourself."
Well, this is better than not being able to add your own documents at all. But it would be much more convenient if they just gave the Kindle the ability to read files in a variety of formats (like HTML, PDF, Word Doc, or plain text), so that you could copy these files directly from your computer with no conversion.
Personally, I just have no desire for an electronic reader. Partly it's because I like the idea of "real" books. But mostly it's because I have concerns about the additional eye strain from reading on a screen instead of a page. I know that the newer readers are supposed to eliminate this problem, but I'm not yet convinced.
Oh, and the other major concern that I have about electronic readers is the possibility that the books would or could be in a proprietary format. What happens then if my e-reader breaks and the company goes out of business or stops manufacturing the readers? Do I lose all my books? If I can back up the books on my computer, and then read them on the computer, or on another reader (possibly from another manufacturer), then that's not so bad. But I have my doubts that most current e-readers work that way. (I'm open to correction though on this point.)
That's the other big reason why I'll be sticking with traditional books for the near future at least.