NYT Kindle obit

[Ben Thornton]

A friend of mine with an ipad made the point that many ipad owners will have downloaded ibooks and bought something to try out the process - thereby inflating the initial figures. Also, it isn't clear whether free books are included in the "purchases". When Jobs quotes 5 billion downloads from the app store, I think that this includes both free apps and updates to existing apps; my point is that they, like most businesses, like quoting big numbers, but such statistics need treating with care.

In the long term, I'm sure that it's right that once screen and battery technology allow a general purpose tablet computer to work in sunlight, not get hot, last for weeks off one charge, etc. - and be reasonably cheap, then the purpose-built reader will not have a place any longer. The notion ink adam already looks like a step in this direction.

[shanghaichica]

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

A friend of mine with an ipad made the point that many ipad owners will have downloaded ibooks and bought something to try out the process - thereby inflating the initial figures. Also, it isn't clear whether free books are included in the "purchases". When Jobs quotes 5 billion downloads from the app store, I think that this includes both free apps and updates to existing apps; my point is that they, like most businesses, like quoting big numbers, but such statistics need treating with care.

In the long term, I'm sure that it's right that once screen and battery technology allow a general purpose tablet computer to work in sunlight, not get hot, last for weeks off one charge, etc. - and be reasonably cheap, then the purpose-built reader will not have a place any longer. The notion ink adam already looks like a step in this direction.

The iPad/iPhone guide book/tips is also a popular download, which would be included in those sales figures. I do think people download a book just to see how it works but without the intention of using the device for reading

[LDBoblo]

The NYT publishing an article promoting Apple? Get outta town.

[fjtorres]

He lost me right at the start:

THE Kindle from Amazon.com is designed to let us do one thing very well: read. To survive, it must excel at this, not only by jostling to stay a nose ahead of other e-readers, but also by maintaining an enormous lead over the Apple iPad and its coming competitors.

Because *he* sez so.
Riiiight.
Just like Porsches *have* to outsell Civics to survive.

[savethebutterfly]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have both an iPad and dedicated eInk reading devices, and wouldn't want to be without either.

The iPad makes an excellent reading device for reading at home. Its 10" screen is about the same size as a hardback book, and, indeed, the iPad itself is about the same weight as a hardback book. I find reading on it to be very pleasant indeed.

However, when "out and about", a 5" or 6" eInk device is a lot more convenient.

The devices are complimentary; neither is definitively "better" than the other.

Exactly. I bought a SONY PRS-505 last year and I love it. It is easy on the eyes, portable and strangers at the doctor's waiting room start up conversations with me about it. However, most of the books I read are non-fiction .pdfs and this is where the reader is somewhat lacking. So I am impatiently waiting for ADAM; the bigger screen and the dual screen option will give me a better flexibility and, hopefully, a better formatting for the .pdfs. I don't think it will fit in my handbag but then that's where the SONY comes in...

[GeoffC]

Welcome savethebutterfly to mobileread ....

[ppw]

An analogy of Kindle vs. Ipad can be made is dedicated GPS devices vs. smart phones. I believe the current state of GPS is the future state of dedicated reading device.

Another analogy is dedicated scanners vs. multifunction machines.

For a minority of people, a dedicated device is preferred. But for the majority of people, a multi-function device is suffice. Amazon's kindle hardware afters the minority while Apple' Ipad afters the mass. Amazon can not rely on the minorities to keep updating their devices as their business model because there would be no growth.

As technology advances, the gap between dedicated devices and multi-function devices will shrink. We don't know what kind of screen technology Apple will bring to the Ipad in the next few years. It could be a retina/paper/book display. If it is close to or surpass e-ink, the game is over. I Think the author's view is correct.

[rcuadro]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have both an iPad and dedicated eInk reading devices, and wouldn't want to be without either.

The iPad makes an excellent reading device for reading at home. Its 10" screen is about the same size as a hardback book, and, indeed, the iPad itself is about the same weight as a hardback book. I find reading on it to be very pleasant indeed.

However, when "out and about", a 5" or 6" eInk device is a lot more convenient.

The devices are complimentary; neither is definitively "better" than the other.

I thought about getting rid of my DX and doing just that... though I would use the Kindle app for the iPad and get the Kindle 2/3 for on the go... Still up in the air thouhg

[Logseman]

The strongest point of the article is a subtle one: Why is Amazon so friggin obscure about its sales figures?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Logseman

The strongest point of the article is a subtle one: Why is Amazon so friggin obscure about its sales figures?

Because they don't believe in doing their competition's market research for them.

To paraphrase: why are the "friggin" numbers so important?

Amazon has achieved one important thing: they've made ebooks mainstream.
There's no going back on that. The rest...? (shrug)

Why should we care what one big corporation does to another?
Do they offer an acceptable product at an acceptable price?
Do they support it and sustain it?
Then, who cares if they sell 3 million or 5 million?

Really, what difference does it make to *us*?

[Logseman]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Because they don't believe in doing their competition's market research for them.

To paraphrase: why are the "friggin" numbers so important?

Amazon has achieved one important thing: they've made ebooks mainstream.
There's no going back on that. The rest...? (shrug)

Why should we care what one big corporation does to another?
Do they offer an acceptable product at an acceptable price?
Do they support it and sustain it?
Then, who cares if they sell 3 million or 5 million?

Really, what difference does it make to *us*?

As a standard procedure, I mistrust secretive companies. In a world where value is subjective, and it is bound to the perceptions of people, such secrecy can bring a company from hero to zero in no time. Secrecy is the mother of deception, and deception is the sister of theft.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Really, what difference does it make to *us*?

Hopefully keeps the competition on their toes and gives us more than 2 or 3 producers of readers ....

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Logseman

Secrecy is the mother of deception, and deception is the sister of theft.

Very poetic.

I suppose you avoid Coka Cola like the plague, then.

[Logseman]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Very poetic.

I suppose you avoid Coka Cola like the plague, then.

I don't. I just don't drink it if I can avoid it.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Logseman

I don't. I just don't drink it if I can avoid it.

And you really shouldn't. Ever.
You literally don't know what's in the thing; their formula is the biggest secret in business.

Everybody has their own philosophy. Coca-cola, like Amazon, doesn't believe in helping their competitors. Let *them* figure out how to make money selling sweet colored water on their own. If they can.

Lots of companies rely on Trade Secrets to protect their business. Others don't even believe in IP. Fortunately, there's room for all kinds.