NY Times new article on ebooks / Amazon Kindle - Page 3

NatCh · 09-07-2007, 11:29 AM

W00T! W00T, I say! I don't much care if it gets (transparently) converted on load to something else, if .epub managed to become the de facto standard for e-book distribution, that'd effectively end e-babel too. You'd just download the .epub and save it, and let your reader process it as needed -- heck, that's effectively what 'regular' computers do with all files anyway, and it doesn't bother anything.

Thanks for the info Nick!

Regarding extra-U.S. distribution on the Kindle, I'd think it may be more likely than some might suppose. I mean, Amazon and Mobipocket already have distribution rights for books in multiple countries, so I'm guessing that the only real questions remaining would then be network compatibility with the wireless, and who gets the concession on the wireless. Surely those can't be that difficult?

HarryT · 09-07-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

so I'm guessing that the only real questions remaining would then be network compatibility with the wireless, and who gets the concession on the wireless. Surely those can't be that difficult?

If it's standard WiFi there's no issue - that's an international standard. If it's some other "custom" wireless system, that could be an issue - radio frequency allocations are completely different in the US and Europe. Remember years back there was a Palm device with some kind of radio capability? (Palm 7?) That was only ever sold in the US because its radio frequency wasn't licenced for that purpose in Europe.

jmorton · 09-07-2007, 11:57 AM

Although plenty of us here have ereaders, I don't think any of these devices are going to really catch on until the price dips to $99. Right now, it looks like Sony will be the first one to that table. I sincerely hope that the Kindle looks nothing like the pictures of the prototype on the web. That is one ugly device.

All of these guys would do well to follow Apple's lead and offer them to students at discounts. Those poor kids have to schlep so many books. An ereader would be a great solution for Humanities class. I still get shivers when I think about that stack of books I had to purchase (many of which are now PD).

Jim

NatCh · 09-07-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

If it's standard WiFi there's no issue - that's an international standard.

That's why I think it ought to be Wi-Fi, but I think EVDO was the last thing we heard.

HarryT · 09-07-2007, 12:32 PM

Thanks - I hadn't heard about that, so I've just read about it on Wiki. Shame if they do use it. I don't believe it'll work in Europe and presumably it'll be a subscription-based service too. You're right - WiFi would be a so much better choice.

NatCh · 09-07-2007, 12:38 PM

I s'pose they could use the European equivalent of EVDO, probably just a chip or module switch to accomplish it. But WiFi would be ever so much less trouble for all concerned.

Maybe that's what they've been doing for the last year: converting it to WiFi ... and redesigning the enclosure.

Nate the great · 09-07-2007, 02:13 PM

As of 2pm eastern, there are at least 39 stories about the Kindle that cite the NYTimes article as the only source of information. I, for one, do not trust the NYTimes to get the facts straight.

http://news.google.com/news?ie=UTF-8...nG=Search+News

RalphTrickey · 09-07-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

I assume Amazon is going to buy capacity from existing cell phone providers, but I have no idea how this will be paid for (subscription, bundled in the price of the downloaded content, etcetera).

That's going to be the kicker for me. That and whether I can upload my own content as well as downloading theirs.

Studio717 · 09-07-2007, 09:27 PM

So the way that works is: I pay for EVDO so I can pay Amazon for books I can only read on their reader?

How many people would actually do that?

And, separate question: Would someone please explain to me about the Google Books thing? Quite a few Google Books in the public domain are available right now as PDF downloads. How is the link between the Kindle and Google Books different?

(Does anyone else have Doctor Who flashbacks with the name Kindle? I keep thinking of the Davison episode Kinda.)

flamaest · 09-08-2007, 12:16 AM

I wonder how well this will sell...

http://www.mercurynews.com/businessheadlines/ci_6815033

Thanks,
Fabian.

Nate the great · 09-08-2007, 12:19 AM

This is just another reprint of the NYTimes article.

NatCh · 09-08-2007, 12:37 AM

Don't those "journalists" do any actual reporting on their own any more?

NatCh · 09-08-2007, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Studio717

So the way that works is: I pay for EVDO so I can pay Amazon for books I can only read on their reader?

How many people would actually do that?

Never underestimate the capacity for human beings to do dumb stuff. Particularly in large numbers.

Seriously, though, that's not too frightfully different from any number of arrangements that lots of folks buy into now. It either is genuinely worth it to them or they never take the time to consider what it's costing them so they're in it whether it's worth it to them or not.

nekokami · 09-08-2007, 01:41 AM

I think the popularity will come down to the same three factors as usual: variety of content, price, and ease of use. The direct connection to Amazon, while limiting, could be good for ease of use, but I don't think Mobipocket has enough content yet (and right now, you don't see Mobi ebooks from the regular Amazon site -- and the Mobi site isn't so easy to use). That leaves price -- Mobi prices aren't any worse than the rest of the market (or not much worse, anyway), but not really competitive with paper books, either. The price would have to come WAY down for anyone to be willing to pay US$400-500 up front for a single-purpose device. As in, practically free. But since EVDO will have its own cost, I don't think that's going to play out.

The only way I see this working is if they get a couple of major textbook publishers on board-- at greatly reduced costs. I just paid nearly US$70 for ONE textbook. If textbooks were something like US$10-20 on the Kindle, a full-time student in the US could recover their investment in the first year. But the only way I see the textbook publishers going in that direction is if the DRM is time-limited.

HarryT · 09-08-2007, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

The price would have to come WAY down for anyone to be willing to pay US$400-500 up front for a single-purpose device.

What do you mean by "a single purpose device"? I paid a lot more than that for my Sony Reader, which is equally "single purpose"!

09-07-2007, 02:13 PM	#37
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Amazon Kindle in the news As of 2pm eastern, there are at least 39 stories about the Kindle that cite the NYTimes article as the only source of information. I, for one, do not trust the NYTimes to get the facts straight. http://news.google.com/news?ie=UTF-8...nG=Search+News

09-08-2007, 12:16 AM	#40
flamaest Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 1044459 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: prs-500	Amazon KINDLE e-book due next month I wonder how well this will sell... http://www.mercurynews.com/businessheadlines/ci_6815033 Thanks, Fabian.

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09-07-2007, 11:29 AM	#31
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	W00T! W00T, I say! I don't much care if it gets (transparently) converted on load to something else, if .epub managed to become the de facto standard for e-book distribution, that'd effectively end e-babel too. You'd just download the .epub and save it, and let your reader process it as needed -- heck, that's effectively what 'regular' computers do with all files anyway, and it doesn't bother anything. Thanks for the info Nick! Regarding extra-U.S. distribution on the Kindle, I'd think it may be more likely than some might suppose. I mean, Amazon and Mobipocket already have distribution rights for books in multiple countries, so I'm guessing that the only real questions remaining would then be network compatibility with the wireless, and who gets the concession on the wireless. Surely those can't be that difficult?

09-07-2007, 11:57 AM	#33
jmorton Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 374 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Francisco Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Although plenty of us here have ereaders, I don't think any of these devices are going to really catch on until the price dips to $99. Right now, it looks like Sony will be the first one to that table. I sincerely hope that the Kindle looks nothing like the pictures of the prototype on the web. That is one ugly device. All of these guys would do well to follow Apple's lead and offer them to students at discounts. Those poor kids have to schlep so many books. An ereader would be a great solution for Humanities class. I still get shivers when I think about that stack of books I had to purchase (many of which are now PD). Jim

09-07-2007, 12:32 PM	#35
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thanks - I hadn't heard about that, so I've just read about it on Wiki. Shame if they do use it. I don't believe it'll work in Europe and presumably it'll be a subscription-based service too. You're right - WiFi would be a so much better choice.

09-07-2007, 12:38 PM	#36
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I s'pose they could use the European equivalent of EVDO, probably just a chip or module switch to accomplish it. But WiFi would be ever so much less trouble for all concerned. Maybe that's what they've been doing for the last year: converting it to WiFi ... and redesigning the enclosure.

09-07-2007, 09:27 PM	#39
Studio717 Addict Posts: 208 Karma: 575 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: California Device: Various Kindles, iPhone, iPad, Galaxy 10.1	So the way that works is: I pay for EVDO so I can pay Amazon for books I can only read on their reader? How many people would actually do that? And, separate question: Would someone please explain to me about the Google Books thing? Quite a few Google Books in the public domain are available right now as PDF downloads. How is the link between the Kindle and Google Books different? (Does anyone else have Doctor Who flashbacks with the name Kindle? I keep thinking of the Davison episode Kinda.)

09-08-2007, 12:19 AM	#41
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	This is just another reprint of the NYTimes article.

09-08-2007, 12:37 AM	#42
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Don't those "journalists" do any actual reporting on their own any more?

09-08-2007, 01:41 AM	#44
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I think the popularity will come down to the same three factors as usual: variety of content, price, and ease of use. The direct connection to Amazon, while limiting, could be good for ease of use, but I don't think Mobipocket has enough content yet (and right now, you don't see Mobi ebooks from the regular Amazon site -- and the Mobi site isn't so easy to use). That leaves price -- Mobi prices aren't any worse than the rest of the market (or not much worse, anyway), but not really competitive with paper books, either. The price would have to come WAY down for anyone to be willing to pay US$400-500 up front for a single-purpose device. As in, practically free. But since EVDO will have its own cost, I don't think that's going to play out. The only way I see this working is if they get a couple of major textbook publishers on board-- at greatly reduced costs. I just paid nearly US$70 for ONE textbook. If textbooks were something like US$10-20 on the Kindle, a full-time student in the US could recover their investment in the first year. But the only way I see the textbook publishers going in that direction is if the DRM is time-limited.

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