http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/new-amazon-kindle-announced-139-wifi-only-version-and-189-3g/ It'll be a long while before Skin gets ahold of one, but...
Faster processing (which means snappier navigation/page turns) better contrast, better fonts, twice the storage and with the wi-fi only model, $139 as opposed to $189-249.
Huh? This Kindle isn't out yet, and the two pre-release hands-ons Skin's seen were both positive. [-]Also, Kindle has never had a memory card option[/-]*. *Strike that, apparently the 1st-generation Kindle did have an SD card slot. Still, when it packs 4Gb of storage, coupled with a presumably much higher storage limit for archived books, why the hell do you want an SD card slot on it? Then you have to wonder where the hell they'd put a slot on it now that the thing is no longer as thick as yer average college textbook.
Again, not true. Every book you buy is archived on your Amazon account in the Kindle Store. Your machine breaks, you get it replaced for free and just redownload the books your books from backup on Amazon's server.
I want a true pocket ereader. Until they come out with one that fits in my pants pocket my old Palm T/X is still in use as my ereader.
If that's the case, then I don't see why a card would be necessary. Is this a new feature? I remember when I was looking in to getting one for my mom this was a major issue. I still think the DRM is evil enough to not buy one anyway. I think the Nook by B&N is better and the DRM is less shitty, though not enough for me to buy one. Why is the copyright on a book not sufficient?
Well, peep the side-by-side up there. Looks pants-pocket sized to Skin, and in fact even the Kindle 2 (which was 21% larger than the pictured model up there) could be pocketed in a jacket. As for books purchased on your Amazon account being archived -- yes, indeed they are. Skin's owned 2 Kindles. The first developed a display issue, Skin returned it and Amazon sent a replacement unit. Skin registered the second unit and under the "Archived" heading on the new Kindle's menu Skin found all his previously purchased books, needing nothing more than to be downloaded to the new Kindle. Easy as that.
Pocket size is like 4.10 X 3.6 or so. Readius, if it comes out should fit the bill with it's rollable display.
Guess that's a matter of personal preference and habit. Skin couldn't even guess how long it would take to read an entire book on a display that small. iPod Touch isn't really a better alternative to a Kindle, for that reason and because of the eye strain imposed by spending that much time reading a book off that small an LED display. The rollable ereader mentioned might be a good alternative, but unless and until it actually sees store shelves, it's really not a consideration.
Have an iPhone. Don't waste the battery on hours of reading, although I do have all the book apps. My Palm TX does the job. I hope to get the readius when it comes out.
My mom downloaded them thru Tigo's internet network in the backwoods of Honduras, so I'm pretty sure you can download anywhere that there's a trace of internet.
My bad. I thought this was the Kindle DX in the 9.7 inch size format. Didn't realize there was a smaller new one.
I am happy with the price point of $139. We are reaching a point where eReaders will starting dropping under $100 (while getting more advanced) and we will see sales sky rocket. We may even get to a point where they are being handed out free. Especially to kids in school. My wish is a eReader that displays a 8.5X11 size screen, a storage card slot, the ability to back up on my own computer, and has the ability to access many different file types. I don't want to be locked into a store. I love eBooks. Much more convenient then lugging the regular books around. I've got 70+ on my iPhone right now from eReader.com and a couple freebies from the Kindle app.
Oh and I know I'm rambling off posts here..... But the whole charging the full price as if it was a physical book is going to fail badly. If they want to get more people buying eBooks they need to cut out the manufacturing costs part since you're not actually physically making books you're just making a file. Sure everyone needs to make money, author and publisher but the publishers are taking eReaders for granted and it will backfire on them much like the music/movie industry is finding out.
I agree, charging $12.99 for ebooks on iBooks for the iPad and iPhone is total price gouging. They have essentially cut out the entire manufacturing and printing processes and thru the use of digital production technology you know the overhead or cost to produce an eBook can't be THAT high.
And I've seen recently after Barnes & Noble bought out the eReader.com site that the price of Star Trek books, the older ones, went from $2-3 back to full price as if you were paying for a physical copy.
As someone who has worked in the publishing industry, I can tell you that the amount of waste (i.e. really stupid things being done) is as vast as any you could find in government. Ditching the physical copy and selling an electronic version of it for the same price is equivalent to selling you a Yugo at the Ferrari price point.
I tell you it really stops me from buying a book when they do that. I've seen some books that sell for $25-$30 in the store as hardcovers and they are charging the exact same price for a e-book. Insane.
That whole fiasco with 1984 put me off the Kindles. I don't want to buy something that someone can still get into and mess with after I've bought it, without my permission even. Until there's some kind of guarantee and proof that that kind of thing can not possibly happen with the device I don't think I'll be getting one.
"Electronic books" remain a gimmick that will never catch on massively. They require electricity. Books don't.
