I love how everyone is saying, "Oh it's not that big of a deal. I think the Kindle is still viable. And SONY's got a new one on the way, and boy look at those Kindle eBook sales over the holidays of 09!"
I have to laugh. The public doesn't really know what to expect. The media wanted Moses to deliver a new stone-cold tablet, or iSlate. The iPhone users, who actually understand the value of the iPhone's user interface and integration with the desktop, for the most part GET IT. So we can joke about the name if we have to. We can even talk about the short comings of the hardware if you like, no camera, no flash, no phone. We could even talk about software and multitasking vs monotasking. I'm even ready to talk about the cluster of a netbook, that has been the sad bane of so many companies. Goodness, there is NO MARGIN in a $300 computer. No matter where you manufacture it.
But what I am still stupefied to understand… What did the Kindle do for you in the first place? What's cool about BLACK and WHITE? What's sexy about thin, light weight, white… when you are talking about an e-Book?
I am just like the next techno-geek. I would love to carry my bookshelf around in my pocket. I do carry a 160 gig iPod classing and a BB 8900 curve. And I'm happy with them not being integrated. Seriously. Now if Mr. Jobs and company could get a 160 gig HD in a phone… well, it'd have to have a real keyboard. I cannot stand predictive text. Nobody's predictive text works the way I want it to.
Responding to a ZDNet post called: Apple's iPad vs. Amazon's Kindle: It's not zero sum
Silly pundits: "However, it?s not that simple. After giving the iPad vs. Kindle battle some thought?I basically held my Kindle purchase to scope out the iPad? I'd argue these devices may converge at some point, but for now can coexist."
Why would they "coexist?" If you carry a phone okay. If you carry a computer, netbook, tablet okay. But WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD BUY A ONE TRICK – RONCO BOOK READER DEVICE? Even a 1/3 the price it's gonna be GAME OVER for the Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader… who ever else wants to play in the "reader-only" space.
Sorry for my shouting.
So everyone was disappointed that Steve Jobs did not do a magic trick. Why? Because the leaks did a pretty good job of setting us up for what to expect with the iPad. Well, except for the PRICE and SHIP DATE. Those are the death bells for AMAZON's idiot savant slate. No matter how pretty, or how e-inky cool it is, it's toast.
And everyone was also drooling for a iPhone-mini at one time. How about an iPhone-HUGE. Oh, got it right here, thank you very much!
http://twindle.me says everything I needed to say about the Kindle.
There you have it.
@jmacofearth
permalink: http://bit.ly/want-one
Related Story: ZDNet Buckles under the traffic load during the iPad announcement.
January 30th, 2010 at 2:42 am
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January 31st, 2010 at 6:11 pm
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