Kindle 3 - this year, with larger screen, touch-enabled (rumor)

[jboardman]

I have a Kindle 1, and have decided to pass on the Kindle 2. I have been considering an Irex Iliad 2nd edition, but if Kindle were to put out the K3 with an 8" dia screen with touch and an SD card, I'm in. Now I don't know what to do. If the K3 has an 8.5 x 11 screen, I think it will be too big for what I want. For now, I'm sticking with the K1.

[MoboHobo]

I think one every 18 months is good.

[purl4peace]

Originally Posted by Alisa

I don't see how this at all obsoletes the current Kindle. It's a different market. A large format reader is much better for students, many business users, etc., but is not as nice for reading novels. It's less portable. You can't just toss it in a handbag, and it's less of a "curl up in a comfy chair" size. It likely will be quite a bit more expensive than the Kindle and it's 6" cousins. Many people will find themselves wanting both.

Many people may find themselves wanting both. However, at 350 bucks a pop, I suspect (particularly in this economy) many people will not be able to justify the expense and will have to pick the one that would meet all of their needs... particularly if you are a poor starving college student (who the larger format would supposedly target).

And as long as there seems to be standing debate on paperback vs hardcover... put me down in the hardcover column ;-)

[jboardman]

Purl4peace - I agree, but not coffee table size hardcover!

[kevindorsey]

Originally Posted by purl4peace

Many people may find themselves wanting both. However, at 350 bucks a pop, I suspect (particularly in this economy) many people will not be able to justify the expense and will have to pick the one that would meet all of their needs... particularly if you are a poor starving college student (who the larger format would supposedly target).

And as long as there seems to be standing debate on paperback vs hardcover... put me down in the hardcover column ;-)

Yea, the steep price of the unit is a roadblock for many. There are adequate ebook readers at less than half the cost.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by purl4peace

Many people may find themselves wanting both. However, at 350 bucks a pop, I suspect (particularly in this economy) many people will not be able to justify the expense and will have to pick the one that would meet all of their needs... particularly if you are a poor starving college student (who the larger format would supposedly target).

And as long as there seems to be standing debate on paperback vs hardcover... put me down in the hardcover column ;-)

True, but I don't see how that "obsoletes" the Kindle 1 and 2.

[markbot]

For Kindle 3 and Kindle DX 2, I think they will come out within 10 months. amazon doesn't' want to be a year behind in technology.

I think the DX will get a $50 price cut by December.

new features they will probably add
1) touch screen
2) folders
3) faster processor
4) slimmer
5) selling through retail

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by fugazied

They are probably aiming for the christmas season?

Don't think so. If they're going to make the christmas season they should be making it available within the next couple of weeks-and if that were the case I'd think it would be more than just a rumor now.

They might have originally aimed at christmas, but it sounds to me like they'll be too late for all but the 'last minute' shoppers. but I could also be influenced by my location (Alaska) where you start shopping for christmas in October to allow time not only to find what you want but also to have it delivered without breaking the bank.

[rcuadro]

I think that with all the new readers that are coming out Amazon is going to have to come up with something, even if it is as simple as providing PDF and ePub support for the current Kindles.

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Maybe I am weird - I've always liked hard-covers

But, in reality, the overall size of my Kindle is not that much smaller, than the overall size of the iLiad.

And while I read fine on the K2, I do find the experience of reading on the iLiad considerably more enjoyable. I don't lug any ereader in my back pocket, only when I travel, but then I cary a laptop and a few other things, so the size-difference is not an issue at all.

OK, you're weird. I prefer paperbacks for many things, but one thing I don't think they're good for is a book I want to keep for years. (And generally not just a few years, but maybe 30 or 40.) Not too many novels fall into that category, mostly technical/reference/philosophy books.

I have yet to see an eReader that has that longevity, so my eReading is mostly novels-and for that, I prefer a small format. (Some of the eBook formats will probably last that long, but I don't think the readers themselves will. Which might be like saying the books will last longer than the bookshelves-but so far it hasn't been enough of an argument to convince me to convert my 'lifetime' books to eBook format.)

Oh, and Sonist? Sorry about removing your last remark. I agree with it but couldn't make my smart*** remark work if I left it in.

[Hellmark]

I dont see them getting rid of the K2 with the international being released so recently. If anything, it'll be a refresh of the DX, with the switch to using AT&T being the big thing. I really doubt that it'll get epub support.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Just wondering: Is there any angle that they haven't photographed that girl on the beach from?

But seriously: I'm not sure there's much of a point to a student version, if it does not provide color... unless students won't have to pay for a second, color version that they will surely need for many textbooks (or if the B/W Kindle version is free).

LOL Steve, @ "girl on the beach" remark. Good point.

[Kali Yuga]

[fugazied]

Not everyone likes touch screens, especially if the screen material attracts fingerprints. I guess with the newest mobile phones and tablets all heavily pushing touch, the e-readers can only follow. I'm not sure I want or need touch on a reader, I like e-readers staying simple and cheap.
If I want a reader which does a lot of other crap I can buy a netbook.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by fugazied

I'm not sure I want or need touch on a reader, I like e-readers staying simple and cheap.

If I want a reader which does a lot of other crap I can buy a netbook.

True. I definitely like having a simple reader like my Kindle for leisure reading.

I am interested in touch/stylus readers for my work--but honestly some future tablet device that's not a dedicated reader (or as costly and bulky as current tablet/slate PCs) is more of what I'm interested in there.

Netbooks/laptops are terrible for reading and marking up documents IMO. Some A4 or so sized tablet would be great as it would be similar to reading and marking up printed out PDFs.