Amazon Kindle 2.0 to be launched on Feb 9th?

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by TheJohnNewton

I find it pretty funny how much emphasis people put on the look of these devices. Mine is in my gym bag most of the time, in the case all of the time, and when I'm using it I'm staring at the screen. I suppose if it was screaming hot pink it might be distracting but otherwise I don't care much how it looks.

As to the announcement I have no clue. Somebody on the Amazon boards just posted something about Amazon no longer selling certain formats (MS reader and Adobe http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6631991.html) that doesn't seem to bode well for adding Adobe support to the Kindle but who knows. I'm going to guess that the annoucement is something nobody is expecting but I'm just guessing ;-) If it is a new Kindle I'm fully prepared to be underwhelmed by the update. Really what could they possibly change that would be all the different?

I think some people are looking for these things:

1) More internal Ram
2) Redesign of outward appearance
3) A virtual keyboard has been the talk lately
4) Faster processor for speedier things

I realize the looks aren't that important to you, but to some people that's a decision on whether to buy.

Actually, what I've listed is nothing new, as these things have been talked about on numerous threads here on MobileRead.

I recognize that this may be underwhelming to you, but they seem to be viable upgrades to suggest a new model.

Don

Happy-Happy-Happy

[purl4peace]

Originally Posted by TheJohnNewton

I find it pretty funny how much emphasis people put on the look of these devices. Mine is in my gym bag most of the time, in the case all of the time, and when I'm using it I'm staring at the screen. I suppose if it was screaming hot pink it might be distracting but otherwise I don't care much how it looks.

Up until recently I had 2 silver Sony's. I wound up giving one to a friend but then I succumbed to the siren song of Sangria Red. It arrived yesterday. I was really surprised to find that the red is easier to read than the silver and the red color makes the screen look "less gray". It is like the darker color provides more contrast which makes for easier reading.

So from that standpoint, it would be good if the Kindle also came in other colors.

[TheJohnNewton]

I realize people make purchasing decisions based on the look of the ereader which is why I find it funny. Then again I don't get the hype over the coolness factor of iProducts either so maybe I'm just not cool. I'm more interested in how well a tool works than in what it looks like.

Certainly the items you list are reasonable, doable updates (not sure how hot I'd be about a virtual keyboard though) and some people might be more excited by them than I but I would hope the announcement would be more interesting that just that. One other feature a lot of people (including me) would like is folders or tags but again it wouldn't make for much of an annoucement.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by purl4peace

Up until recently I had 2 silver Sony's. I wound up giving one to a friend but then I succumbed to the siren song of Sangria Red. It arrived yesterday. I was really surprised to find that the red is easier to read than the silver and the red color makes the screen look "less gray". It is like the darker color provides more contrast which makes for easier reading.

So from that standpoint, it would be good if the Kindle also came in other colors.

The Sangria Red is gorg. Kinda wish I had gotten it for my mom, but she seems inordinately pleased with her silver one.

[kpfeifle]

If it is a new Kindle I'm fully prepared to be underwhelmed by the update. Really what could they possibly change that would be all the different?

Price. I suggest that this is the biggest thing Amazon can do to increase market share. If they can half the price (or make it even less), then they will have all sorts of new customers.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by kpfeifle

Price. I suggest that this is the biggest thing Amazon can do to increase market share. If they can half the price (or make it even less), then they will have all sorts of new customers.

There is already line a mile long just waiting for their back-ordered Kindles. Wait time is 4-6 weeks! They have no incentive to lower the price by 1/2!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by kpfeifle

Price. I suggest that this is the biggest thing Amazon can do to increase market share. If they can half the price (or make it even less), then they will have all sorts of new customers.

Availability. Open it up for the European and Asian market, see how much more potential customers you'll have...

[MsAstoria]

This device reminds me of my old Palm Pilot. Seems as if the presenter was having problems with the stylus working on the very tiny icons.

Samsong E ink device
http://gottabemobile.com/2009/01/09/...s-e-ink-device

[mdibella]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

To those who don't give a fig about asthetics, why do you figure some of us bought other devices? Hint, it wasn't the price or availability for me. If the next Kindle is a bit sexier then I could be a buyer. So it isn't all about fan-boi-ism. And if you think the Kindle is more sexy than ugly then I'm willing to bet you're in the minority (and probably thought Apple's Newton was "teh sex" too).

I am completely bewildered as to why the appearance matters. This is a TOOL, not a piece of clothing. What matters is its usability and function, not its appearance.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

There is already line a mile long just waiting for their back-ordered Kindles. Wait time is 4-6 weeks! They have no incentive to lower the price by 1/2!

The backlog may be artificial if there is really an imminent announcement coming. They may have held off supply and are intending to ship the new unit if it is a replacement for the older one.

Dale

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Availability. Open it up for the European and Asian market, see how much more potential customers you'll have...

This, to me, would be tied for the most important announcement.

The other would be to make it a little larger, and able to read college text books/ tables, diagrams, etc. Of course, this would involve co-operation from the publishers of said books.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

This, to me, would be tied for the most important announcement.

The other would be to make it a little larger, and able to read college text books/ tables, diagrams, etc. Of course, this would involve co-operation from the publishers of said books.

Actually, I have a feeling the textbook market would love to do the ebook thing for Readers. When I left college, some books were available as ebooks, but often weren't bought because they weren't much cheaper and no one wanted to stare at their computer screen. If they had a ebook reading device, then it might grow. And since textbook publishers are greedy, it would cut down on the used book sales that they don't get any money for.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Actually, I have a feeling the textbook market would love to do the ebook thing for Readers. When I left college, some books were available as ebooks, but often weren't bought because they weren't much cheaper and no one wanted to stare at their computer screen. If they had a ebook reading device, then it might grow. And since textbook publishers are greedy, it would cut down on the used book sales that they don't get any money for.

Actually, I work for a schoolbook publisher, working on e-products to accompany their books. But they never mentioned turning their books in ebooks..

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Actually, I work for a schoolbook publisher, working on e-products to accompany their books. But they never mentioned turning their books in ebooks..

There weren't many. I think if we start seeing more of these devices they'll push it more.

So you work on access keys and stuff?

[Daithi]

I think eBook textbooks are a great idea!

Especially if you incorporate Open Textbooks into the idea. College professors (and/or their TAs) could get together and over the web design Open Standard eBook textbooks. This could dramitically reduce the costs of textbooks.