Kindle Owners’ Lending Library

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Is this only available on the device? Can't look through the list on the web site? UGH. I'll probably never use it if that's the case.

Ok, just checked it out. Very cool. I think you can only borrow 1 title at a time, though.

Oh....once a month! I hope that will change LOL

Yes , I think you actually need to own a Kindle, which makes perfect sense to me. Plus being Amazon Prime subscriber.

[Kralik]

A free subscription (trial, shared, etc) doesn't qualify you for any of the extra "paid" perks (movies, library).

[pendragginp]

Originally Posted by Kralik

A free subscription (trial, shared, etc) doesn't qualify you for any of the extra "paid" perks (movies, library).

Are you sure about that? Because on the online page at Amazon which touts this it says something like 'So start your free trial today!' I'm thinking the lending thing at least is available with the free trial - maybe the movies too. After all, the point of the free trial is to give you a taste so that you love it so much you opt to continue.

And the library with no due date! Yay and yay and yay! Although I too would wish for more than one book a month, but still -

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Are the publishers allowing this?

If you mean the BPHs, of course not.
The Price-Fix Six are obsessed with maintaining the "perceived value" of their catalogs and worried about damage to their ties to other (fruity?) retailers.

Other, smarter, retailers see it as a nice marketing move, akin to the BAEN FREE LIBRARY.

Details at Andrys Basten's Blog:
http://kindleworld.blogspot.com/2011...=Google+Reader

One interesting detail: some of the books in the library, Amazon buys copies at wholesale to lend out, to prove to the publisher it is a low volume effort that won't hurt sales.

Its a nice value add to Prime but more of an experiment to gather data on how people use it and how it might sales. Don't think many people will be buying Kindles and subscribing to Prime just to get into the library. But it might sell a couple of Kindoes to Prime customers and vice-versa.

Edit: I wonder if they'll rotate available titles or allow self-publishers to opt-in.

[djulian]

Originally Posted by basschick

i'd sure like to see a way to search the library ebooks, rather than having to go through page after page with only a few ebooks marked with prime.

I would too, but I think there's a way to do so in the Kindle Store on your Kindle.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by rcuadro

I guess it is a good thing that I have a spare Kindle sitting at home since I read on my iPhone and iPad...
this Amazon Prime thing is getting better every time

From the Kindle Owners' Lending Library page:

If you're not a Prime member, start your one month free trial today.

Hover your mouse over that url and what do you see? amazon.com/kindleprime

I see a name change coming our way soon -- Kindle Prime

[Giggleton]

It's good in theory, but I wonder why Amazon is only allowing users to "borrow" one book at a time?

It would seem better to simply allow prime members a free book each month with the possibility of more books per month if the members pay a little extra. I suppose that will come soon enough though.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

From the Kindle Owners' Lending Library page:

If you're not a Prime member, start your one month free trial today.

Hover your mouse over that url and what do you see? amazon.com/kindleprime

I see a name change coming our way soon -- Kindle Prime

My avatar says, "Hmmmmm....."

[kjk]

Making lending only available on Kindles and the Fire is a strong differentiation move on Amazon's part-curious to see what else they hold back for just their devices. (And another great reason to fork Android-easier to control which devices get which features)

[stonetools]

Dammit!

I've been trying to find reasons not to join the Bezos Collective, but maybe....
Resistance is futile...

[Joykins]

$75 for prime plus $79 for the cheapest kindle...I don't think 1 book per month to borrow is worth $150 for me, as I can get 10 at a time from the public library free. It's a decent perk for people who already own the kindle and subscribe to prime, though!

[SCION]

Originally Posted by Joykins

$75 for prime plus $79 for the cheapest kindle...I don't think 1 book per month to borrow is worth $150 for me, as I can get 10 at a time from the public library free. It's a decent perk for people who already own the kindle and subscribe to prime, though!

$39 for students. Don't know if that makes a difference to some. Also, many aren't able to check out a book on demand from their library due to consistent waitlists.

[Synergi]

Originally Posted by SCION

Probably intentionally announced before Barnes and Noble's big event on Monday. Nice move.

More like a checkmate! Your move..

Amazon seems to be playing hardball now..

Hopefully B&N doesn't fall to relying on spec hikes to compete the way Samsung does..

[Daithi]

If you buy a Kindle Fire that also comes with one month of Prime membership as well.

[whitearrow]

I'm disappointed that on the web site there's no single place to go to see all the books participating. You can do it on the device, but it's clunky and slower. I don't see why Amazon wouldn't implement this on the site itself.