MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Is Amazon Kindle DX using the right business model?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-08-2009, 10:26 AM

I see a laptop as being much more useful overall to any student, and already being used besides. If I had a choice between using my laptop (which I already had with me) for e-books, or carrying the laptop AND an additional $500 device that wasn't even in color, for e-books... guess what I'd do?

Eyestrain is clearly in the eye (

) of the beholder. I don't get eyestrain from LCD screens, for example, especially thanks to brightness and contrast settings, and ClearType. Obviously, LCD manufacturers are listening to all the "E-Ink is better!" talk, and trying to find ways of making their screens even easier on the eyes, or adopt something new... it'll happen.

Power is probably the biggest issue for laptops during a school day. This, too, is improving, as campuses make more outlets available to students... and never underestimate the power of creative thinking (for example, bringing solar cells or multiple laptop batteries with you to school).

Bottom line, a laptop is much more suited to student use as an e-text device. Amazon would have been better off making the Kindle an accessory, and opening the Kindle store to whatever devices people already had (which I've said before).

05-08-2009, 10:26 AM	#40
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I see a laptop as being much more useful overall to any student, and already being used besides. If I had a choice between using my laptop (which I already had with me) for e-books, or carrying the laptop AND an additional $500 device that wasn't even in color, for e-books... guess what I'd do? Eyestrain is clearly in the eye () of the beholder. I don't get eyestrain from LCD screens, for example, especially thanks to brightness and contrast settings, and ClearType. Obviously, LCD manufacturers are listening to all the "E-Ink is better!" talk, and trying to find ways of making their screens even easier on the eyes, or adopt something new... it'll happen. Power is probably the biggest issue for laptops during a school day. This, too, is improving, as campuses make more outlets available to students... and never underestimate the power of creative thinking (for example, bringing solar cells or multiple laptop batteries with you to school). Bottom line, a laptop is much more suited to student use as an e-text device. Amazon would have been better off making the Kindle an accessory, and opening the Kindle store to whatever devices people already had (which I've said before).