Kindle bias on MobileRead?

MidknytOwl · 02-11-2009, 12:08 AM

Not trying to start anything, just making an observation.

Yesterday morning I thought that there seemed to be a lot on the main page news about the Kindle, but it's new, so that's to be expected. Then when I came home last night and there was even more, I thought about posting about it, but didn't get around to it. Now this morning I look and there is even more, so posting I am.

I get that the Kindle 2 is new, and that it should be reported on. Of course. I thought maybe I was thinking it was a lot because I don't really like the Kindle, but it is a big deal and should have news about it.

However, the Sony PRS 700 was released not that long ago, and I don't recall it having nearly as much press here at MR as the Kindle has had. I thought maybe it was in my head, with my own dislike for the Kindle, and was going to look last night at the old Week in Reviews to see if there was as much on when the Sony came out and I just didn't realize it.

Waking up this morning though, I know that there was nowhere near this much for the Sony. One, there was never a news blip on the top of every page that said the new Sony was out with a link on where to preorder. Nor was there a giveaway of a Sony, that I can recall. And while I'm not going back to specifically check, I'm pretty sure there weren't eight different home page news posts on it in the span of a week. We've got the release of the Kindle, better quality photos, covers you can buy, differences between the first and the second, shipping times, etc. All this and you can't even get your hands on one yet.

So is it because I am a loyal Sony girl that it seems like there has been more for the Kindle than there was for the 700, or does it seem that way for anyone else too?

daffy4u · 02-11-2009, 12:14 AM

Funny, as a Kindle owner, I feel that on an ongoing daily basis there is a lot of anti-Kindle and anti-Amazon sentiment here. It gets really frustrating.

BenG · 02-11-2009, 12:14 AM

I don't know, the Sony forums usually seem to be busier than the Kindle forums.

GlennD · 02-11-2009, 12:25 AM

The 700 was an arguable improvement over the 505 - even with fans of the Sony line, a lot of people felt (and still feel) that the difference in contrast makes the 700 a downgrade as a reader. That was kind of a buzz-kill.

On the other hand, the Kindle 2 is at this point widely regarded as a major upgrade. There's only positive press thus far.

Gideon · 02-11-2009, 12:32 AM

I don't think that is true at all.

Every gadgety site makes a lot of hay when a new product comes out. Kindle 2 is big news - it's not only big news in this community, but making big news in the rest of the media as well.

You're going to see a lot of Kindle news for a while. As long as things come out, it'll get covered. If Sony does something interesting, it'll be covered too.

In fact, I'd agree with Daffy - if anything this place is a bit hostile to the Kindle (I don't think the editorial team is, just a lot of people around here. And that's fine.)

ahintz · 02-11-2009, 01:35 AM

As a Sony owner, the Kindle coverage doesn't bother me in the slightest, and I think the Kindle 2 is a legitimate news story, especially in the world of "ereaders". Like it or not, Amazon is the 700lb guerrila in this game, and anything they do is going to have a disproportionate impact on this industry. I'm happy it is getting generally positive press - not only from gadget sites, but also from the mainstream media. Anything that pushes the concept of ebooks forward is a good thing in my book.

Donnageddon · 02-11-2009, 01:39 AM

Things are often just a matter of perception, but having been a member of MR for over 1 1/2 years, and owning both a K1 and a Sony 505 (and preferring (slightly) the 505), I can honestly say..

I perceive absolutely no bias in the moderation of MR for either Sony or Amazon.

It is the Cybook they are obviously biased toward!!

No seriously, why would they be biased toward any device? They are only interested in readership! They have nothing to gain by any bias. That would only limit their readership.

And the moderators here are a diverse group with a wide range of devices that they use.

I think you are perhaps just overcome by the recent excitement at the launch of a new device. The same intensity exists whenever a new device is released. And it is short lived.

Then we all get back to unmentionable silliness and foolish folderol.

Ervserver · 02-11-2009, 01:55 AM

It will get juicer once the Kindle people start getting their Kindle IIs

Alexander Turcic · 02-11-2009, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidknytOwl

Yesterday morning I thought that there seemed to be a lot on the main page news about the Kindle, but it's new, so that's to be expected. Then when I came home last night and there was even more, I thought about posting about it, but didn't get around to it. Now this morning I look and there is even more, so posting I am.

It's true we've been covering a lot about the new Kindle for the past few days, but isn't that to be expected?

Even sites not dedicated to e-books have continuous coverage, and I believe it's perfectly fine considering that the Kindle 2 has been rumored for so long (unlike the Sony 700) and that Amazon is the driving force on the e-book market.

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Funny, as a Kindle owner, I feel that on an ongoing daily basis there is a lot of anti-Kindle and anti-Amazon sentiment here. It gets really frustrating.

Is that still so? I genuinely believe that whatever sort of anti-Amazon sentiment there might have been, it has passed. Of course everyone here is free to express his or her own opinion, but I don't see any pattern that would go over expressing one's personal opinion.

HarryT · 02-11-2009, 04:05 AM

If some people think we are "pro Kindle" and others think we are "anti Kindle", that probably indicates that we have the balance about right.

HarryT · 02-11-2009, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

It's true we've been covering a lot about the new Kindle for the past few days, but isn't that to be expected?

Even sites not dedicated to e-books have continuous coverage, and I believe it's perfectly fine considering that the Kindle 2 has been rumored for so long (unlike the Sony 700) and that Amazon is the driving force on the e-book market.

I agree with you Alex. Perhaps, though, for those people outside the US for whom the Kindle is not available, it may all seem to be a little irrelevent?

Alexander Turcic · 02-11-2009, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I agree with you Alex. Perhaps, though, for those people outside the US for whom the Kindle is not available, it may all seem to be a little irrelevent?

You think? I would be surprised if Amazon's actions in the e-book business wouldn't also affect us Europeans in some way or the other. And regarding the Kindle not being available, that's true, today, but that was also true for most other popular e-book readers, most importantly the Sony Reader. It's still not available in Germany, although it will be next month.

HarryT · 02-11-2009, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

You think? I would be surprised if Amazon's actions in the e-book business wouldn't also affect us Europeans in some way or the other. And regarding the Kindle not being available, that's true, today, but that was also true for most other popular e-book readers, most importantly the Sony Reader. It's still not available in Germany, although it will be next month.

No, I don't think so personally. I was simply saying that perhaps some people might think "why are we dedicating so much space to a machine that we can't buy?". I agree entirely with what you say above.

Alexander Turcic · 02-11-2009, 04:29 AM

Ah, yes, I can see how that would be possible. But like you guys already mentioned, we are a very diverse bunch of e-book fans, and I don't see any reason why we should be biased towards a particular device.

mtravellerh · 02-11-2009, 05:09 AM

I, for one, would love to buy a Kindle if I only could. All those news about the Kindle make me feel jealous. I just hope the Kindle will be available here soon, too (and not K1)

02-11-2009, 12:08 AM	#1
MidknytOwl Zealot Posts: 111 Karma: 644 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kobo Aura	Kindle bias on MobileRead? Not trying to start anything, just making an observation. Yesterday morning I thought that there seemed to be a lot on the main page news about the Kindle, but it's new, so that's to be expected. Then when I came home last night and there was even more, I thought about posting about it, but didn't get around to it. Now this morning I look and there is even more, so posting I am. I get that the Kindle 2 is new, and that it should be reported on. Of course. I thought maybe I was thinking it was a lot because I don't really like the Kindle, but it is a big deal and should have news about it. However, the Sony PRS 700 was released not that long ago, and I don't recall it having nearly as much press here at MR as the Kindle has had. I thought maybe it was in my head, with my own dislike for the Kindle, and was going to look last night at the old Week in Reviews to see if there was as much on when the Sony came out and I just didn't realize it. Waking up this morning though, I know that there was nowhere near this much for the Sony. One, there was never a news blip on the top of every page that said the new Sony was out with a link on where to preorder. Nor was there a giveaway of a Sony, that I can recall. And while I'm not going back to specifically check, I'm pretty sure there weren't eight different home page news posts on it in the span of a week. We've got the release of the Kindle, better quality photos, covers you can buy, differences between the first and the second, shipping times, etc. All this and you can't even get your hands on one yet. So is it because I am a loyal Sony girl that it seems like there has been more for the Kindle than there was for the 700, or does it seem that way for anyone else too?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Is there an anti-LCD/pro-Eink bias on MobileRead?	Nate the great	Feedback	137	05-18-2010 09:13 PM
Anti-Muslim Bias to the International Kindle	luqmaninbmore	General Discussions	231	03-17-2010 04:45 PM
Moderator bias	ekaser	Astak EZReader	7	09-01-2009 07:55 AM
MobileRead on Kindle 2	Alexander Turcic	Amazon Kindle	6	02-25-2009 09:56 PM
Media bias? Sony CONNECT choices...	chuck94022	Sony Reader	9	01-27-2007 02:21 AM

02-11-2009, 12:14 AM	#2
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Funny, as a Kindle owner, I feel that on an ongoing daily basis there is a lot of anti-Kindle and anti-Amazon sentiment here. It gets really frustrating.

02-11-2009, 12:14 AM	#3
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	I don't know, the Sony forums usually seem to be busier than the Kindle forums.

02-11-2009, 12:25 AM	#4
GlennD Wizard Posts: 2,101 Karma: 17249026 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Pacific NW Device: sony PRS350, iPhone, iPad	The 700 was an arguable improvement over the 505 - even with fans of the Sony line, a lot of people felt (and still feel) that the difference in contrast makes the 700 a downgrade as a reader. That was kind of a buzz-kill. On the other hand, the Kindle 2 is at this point widely regarded as a major upgrade. There's only positive press thus far.

02-11-2009, 12:32 AM	#5
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	I don't think that is true at all. Every gadgety site makes a lot of hay when a new product comes out. Kindle 2 is big news - it's not only big news in this community, but making big news in the rest of the media as well. You're going to see a lot of Kindle news for a while. As long as things come out, it'll get covered. If Sony does something interesting, it'll be covered too. In fact, I'd agree with Daffy - if anything this place is a bit hostile to the Kindle (I don't think the editorial team is, just a lot of people around here. And that's fine.)

02-11-2009, 01:35 AM	#6
ahintz Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 322 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Device: Kindle PW/iPhone5/iPad (3)/Nook ST	As a Sony owner, the Kindle coverage doesn't bother me in the slightest, and I think the Kindle 2 is a legitimate news story, especially in the world of "ereaders". Like it or not, Amazon is the 700lb guerrila in this game, and anything they do is going to have a disproportionate impact on this industry. I'm happy it is getting generally positive press - not only from gadget sites, but also from the mainstream media. Anything that pushes the concept of ebooks forward is a good thing in my book.

02-11-2009, 01:39 AM	#7
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	Things are often just a matter of perception, but having been a member of MR for over 1 1/2 years, and owning both a K1 and a Sony 505 (and preferring (slightly) the 505), I can honestly say.. I perceive absolutely no bias in the moderation of MR for either Sony or Amazon. It is the Cybook they are obviously biased toward!! No seriously, why would they be biased toward any device? They are only interested in readership! They have nothing to gain by any bias. That would only limit their readership. And the moderators here are a diverse group with a wide range of devices that they use. I think you are perhaps just overcome by the recent excitement at the launch of a new device. The same intensity exists whenever a new device is released. And it is short lived. Then we all get back to unmentionable silliness and foolish folderol.

02-11-2009, 01:55 AM	#8
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	It will get juicer once the Kindle people start getting their Kindle IIs

02-11-2009, 04:05 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If some people think we are "pro Kindle" and others think we are "anti Kindle", that probably indicates that we have the balance about right.

02-11-2009, 04:29 AM	#14
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Ah, yes, I can see how that would be possible. But like you guys already mentioned, we are a very diverse bunch of e-book fans, and I don't see any reason why we should be biased towards a particular device.

02-11-2009, 05:09 AM	#15
mtravellerh book creator Posts: 9,635 Karma: 3856660 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Luxembourg Device: PB360°	I, for one, would love to buy a Kindle if I only could. All those news about the Kindle make me feel jealous. I just hope the Kindle will be available here soon, too (and not K1)

Advert

Advert