Amazon to unveil digital book, newspaper
Cory Bergman November 15th, 2007
It’s called Kindle, and it’s a handheld e-book reader that’s equipped with WiFi (that’s an early photo of the device.) So users can purchase e-books directly to the display. But more interesting to most of us, CNET reports that it will also allow you to download digital editions of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal every morning. (And you can imagine other newspapers will want to jump on this, too). CNET explains, “This marks a major launch for Amazon. According to the source, (CEO Jeff) Bezos has held this project very close, delaying it for more than a year to perfect the details. The company reportedly even studied the launch tactics Apple used for the iPod.” The price is expected to be around $399, and the announcement is scheduled for Monday. You can see a larger photo of the device from Engadget back in September here.
Now, how many Lost Remote readers would use something like this?
Adds Todd in comments: “I have an iPhone… why do I need this?”
12 Comments Add your own
1. Z | November 15th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Sorry. I’m still waiting for the flat portable screen that Dave Bowman used in 2001: A Space Odyssey
But this is close. Perhaps a lower price would sway me. $400’s too much to do something my smartphone can already do pretty well at 1/4 the cost.
2. Anonymous | November 15th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
That’s one $400 piece of ugly.
3. Charles | November 15th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Look at how 80’s that brick looks… will it work with a 286?
4. Anonymous | November 16th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Seriously, that looks like a gag photo.
5. Cory Bergman | November 16th, 2007 at 12:28 am
I’m hoping this is just an early prototype photo. But even if it is cool looking, would you read a book on it? A newspaper?
I can’t imagine reading a newspaper in an “old fashioned” layout on a digital screen — reading it online is far superior, especially now that online layout has made great strides over the last couple years.
6. Anonymous | November 16th, 2007 at 1:10 am
You’re right, I wouldn’t use it, even if Apple made the iText. “Look, a $400 iPod stripped of all functionality beyond putting words on the screen!”
7. Todd | November 16th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I have an iPhone… why do I need this?
8. David Johnson | November 16th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
in order to beat existing handhelds or tablet pcs, i think this type of thing would have to be cheaper than a laptop, lighter and rugged as hell so you could lug it everywhere.
it also has to be super simple and super good at the target activity. that thing has a lot of buttons and extra plastic in my opinion.
9. Swift Loris | November 16th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
MAN, that is ugly!
I probably wouldn’t get one anyway, since I have constant access to a computer and prefer to read books with pages. But to have to spend time looking at and handling that awful-looking thing would be incredibly depressing.
10. Tipustiger | November 16th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Is that a Speak & Spell? I call dud.
11. Tim | November 17th, 2007 at 10:01 am
1) The Asus eee PC might be a problem - same price point, PC function which obviously could include WiFi download of newspapers.
2) cell-phone pricing model, anyone? Give away a WiFi- or high-speed-cell-enabled news reader with a contract for a two year subscription (maybe three - I’m not sure what the break even point is).
12. tinac | November 17th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
I’ve been reading books and daily news for several years on my Palm PDA.
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