What Will the Kindle Do for the E-Publishing Industry?
November 23, 2007 by Lillie
I’ve read a number of articles, watched the videos, and read reviews; however, I haven’t actually tried the Kindle. Several e-authors I know have ordered the device, and I’m waiting to hear their experiences.
Based on what I’ve seen, there are many things to like:
- the convenient size and light weight
- the keyboard that makes searching easier than other e-book readers
- the ability to download books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs directly to the device by wireless connection
- the apparently easy-to-read screen (I say apparently because I’ve only seen the online demo and not the actual device)
- the advertised long battery life (though I have heard reports that the battery life isn’t always as advertised)
- the ability to change the font size in a wide range (very important to me as I need a large font to read)
- the ability to read personal documents (such as Word files)
There are also some things not to like:
- the cost of the device ($399 – some reading devices are available for less than $150)
- the relatively high cost of many of the available e-books ($9.99 for bestsellers, less expensive than some other e-books from major publishers but more expensive than the $5-$6 usually charged by e-publishers)
- the cost to download content other than e-books
- the inability to transfer personal documents directly from a computer to the device and (Updated 11/26/07: I have been informed you can transfer documents directly by USB) the cost involved in e-mailing the documents to the device if they have to be converted to the right format
And there is at least one thing that I can’t decide whether to like or not:
- the lack of a backlight (this makes the screen easier to read in bright light but doesn’t allow for reading in the dark, as other e-book reading devices)
My eBookwise reader still works great though I wish it had a larger font option – the largest font is barely readable for me. I’m not in the market now, but when I’m ready for a new e-book reader, I’ll look seriously at the Kindle
For the immediate future, I’m encouraging my clients (and my publisher) to make books available in the Kindle format.
All of my likes and dislikes are subject to change when I actually try the device, but what I really like about the Kindle is the attention it is bringing to e-books. I believe that Amazon.com getting involved in the industry and Jeff Bezos personally promoting the product will have a positive impact on the future of e-publishing. No, I don’t expect e-books to replace print books soon (or ever, for that matter), but I do think many people who haven’t considered e-books will take a closer look because of all the attention the Kindle is getting.
More information and opinions on the Kindle:
Amazon Affiliates Burned at the Stake by Kindle? by Andy Beard
Amazon Kindle by Mark Shead at Productivity 501
Amazon Kindle is finally here by Raz at Eco-Libris
Amazon’s Next of Kindle: new eBook device debuts by Jeff Gomez at Print Is Dead
Amazon-sized egos? Kindle reader to shun IDPF e-book standard? And, yes, the ugly box is the FINAL design by David Rothman at Publishers Weekly
Ding, Dong the Book is Dead? by Gina Conroy at Writer Interrupted
First Look: Amazon’s Kindle Reader: The Gap Between Description and The Device by Joseph Weisenthal at PaidContent.org
The Future of Reading by Steven Levy at Newsweek (November 26th edition)
Huh? The Kindle e-reader ISN’T ugly? So says Steve Levy, author of Newsweek puff piece—in response to my Publishers Weekly blog by David Rothman at Teleread
Kindle eBook Pricing by Joe Wikert at Publishing 2020 Blog
Kindle owner’s report by David Rothman at Teleread
Ugly Is the New Cute by Ellen Hage at Tech from an E-Booker’s Viewpoint
Added 11/25/07:
Video: Benjamin Higginbotham of Technology Evangelist compares Kindle with Sony and Iliad readers
Added 11/26/07:
Video: Robert Scoble critiques the flaws of the Kindle
Related Posts:
E-Books (4 part series)
Well, it looks like a pretty functional tool (with a very ugly design – LOL). I tend not to review products unless I really see them. Of course I trust your judgment and your pertinent analysis.
I haven’t yet tried the kindle, but I like the concept. I’ll be interested to hear what others say about it.
[...] the Kindle was first introduced, I wrote a post about it: What Will the Kindle Do for the E-Publishing Industry? Since I hadn’t seen the device at that time, I based the article on information gleaned from [...]
Kindle is an excellent gadget. Recently Amazon CEO apologized for making a stupid decision of removal of certain books. They got very bad criticism and now he has promised that in the future they wont remove. What impresses me the most is the concept of wireless. Its almost using a bigger size cell phone to read. I dont have to stare at monitors any more.
Girish,
I love my Kindle, especially the wireless feature.
[...] written. Since then, I have written two posts on the device: Dream or Destiny and the Kindle What Will the Kindle Do for the E-Publishing Industry? Related Posts:What Will the Kindle Do for the E-Publishing Industry?Dream or Destiny and the [...]
[...] Answers to a Writer’s Questions, Part 2: Children’s Book on CD Answers to a Writer’s Questions, Part 3: Marketing a Children’s E-Book Dream or Destiny and the Kindle E-Books, Part 1: I read throughout a four-hour power outage(/a>E-Books, Part 2: Short Nonfiction (How-To) E-Books E-Books, Part 3: Books from Electronic or Traditional Publishers E-Books, Part 4: Electronic Reading Devices Blog Action Day: Publishing and the Environment Free E-Books for Read an E-Book Week 2009 Free E-Books for Read an E-Book Week 2010 More Free E-Books The Growing E-Book Market Read an E-Book Week Read an E-Book Week 2 Read an E-Book Week Coming Soon Read an E-Book Week Next Week Reminder: Read an E-Book Week Self-Publishing Primer: Part 13 – Do I need a Web site and should I make my book available as an e-book? Sharing E-Books What Will the Kindle Do for the E-Publishing Industry? [...]
A few years ago, I was attending to an online conference where there was this guy talking about making your own e-book, send it to amazon and that they will take cake of everything to sell it all over the internet. I was so amazed for that.
(Note: advertising link removed.) I consider the e-ink an incredible technology. On the other side, people love backlight devices, that´s why amazon has just released kindle fire. Just for those people loving lights on their pockets going everywhere. It´s just my opinion…
Abinadi,
When I wrote this, the first generation Kindle was just released. There have several updates plus the addition of the Kindle Fire since then. I’ve used the first and third generation and been happy with both. I’m not particularly interested in Kindle Fire because all I want is an ereader. I don’t have any use for the other features. Plus I like the small, light size and weight of the Kindle.
[...] knowing—or caring—about ebooks and ebook readers. Back when the Kindle was first introduced, I predicted that it would have a positive impact on the future of e-publishing. That prediction has been realized more dramatically than I could have imagined. I heard that [...]
Mig,
I didn’t really intend this to be a product review – rather a look at something that I think is an important development in the e-publishing industry. My likes and dislikes, as I said, are based on what I’ve read. My analysis of the significance of the Kindle is the level of attention and credibility it brings to e-books.
Disclosure: the links to the Kindle are affiliate links; if someone does choose to buy the product, I’ll make a few pennies in commission.
But the reason I wrote the post was to report on what seems to be an important milestone in the development of the e-publishing industry, not to sell a product.
I’ll post an update after I get reports from people who’ve actually used it.
I already had to go back and correct my post based on information I got from a couple of people who have ordered it.