Ugly is the new cute

KindleAmazon’s Kindle has finally arrived and it looks just like the prototype.  Sometimes things can be so ugly and odd that they can become cute.  At the very least it will get attention.  Maybe this is Amazon’s angle:  They are concentrating on performance and function rather than aesthetics.  The reader is already for sale on Amazon’s site.  There are videos of the reader in action along with celebrity endorsements.  Engadget has an unboxing report and more if you want a different perspective. One thing that interests me is that the Kindle does offer some sort of sharing.  So as long as devices are tied to one account they can share a book.  That means my husband and I could read the same book at the same time, provided we both have a Kindle.  For people on the go, you can browse, buy, and download a book anywhere, anytime.  No need for a wireless hotspot or connection.  While this is a good idea, it doesn’t really interest me.  What would be great is if it had some sort of lighting capabilities.  I refuse to spend big money on a reader then buy a clip on light. Still for some reason I want this reader.  Even weirder is that I think this is the device that will finally put e-books on the map.  It’s just so odd and ugly that it begs for a home.

9 Responses to “Ugly is the new cute”

  • Bob Martinengo says:

    This device is designed to fail. Thats right, Bezos knows this turkey is overpriced and outmoded, but thats the point – you have to start somewhere.

    In Monty Python and the Holy Grail (source of all wisdom), remember the guy who says, I built a castle, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built another, and it sank in to the swamp, so I built a third castle, and it burned down, fell over, and then sank in to the swamp, but the fourth one stayed up!

    Thats Kindle.

  • funetiks says:

    The Kindle is calling me…

    I love my Sony PRS500, but the Kindle’s search and dictionary capabilities are important to me. I’m very curious to see whether the Kindle can handle special characters, equations, and diacritics better than the Sony. Funny, my old HiEbook still beats all the new readers in terms of function.

    I’m going to wait a bit, but I’ll probably give in and buy a Kindle in 2008. When you come down to it, I’m just a weak-willed geek who likes to read .

  • jorgen says:

    There is only one thing that’s counts: What kind of DRM is Amazon going to put on this? Not plain-vanilla Mobipocket since you can share books (to a limited extent). Remember: an ebook reader is not just for Christmas; one day you will want another reader and you will lose all your books if this is not a Kindle.

    Apart from that, I agree with Bob that this is too ugly and overpriced. $400 to get married for life (well, the life of your book) to Amazon!

  • PC nert says:

    This thing would be a smash hit if a school system used it to replace text books — maybe just high school to start. My teen would use it in a heartbeat if 30 pounds of bloated books in the backpack could be reduced to one lightweight e-book. It might even be cheaper for the school to GIVE one to each student (rather than loan or sell) so as to not have to buy, ship, store, distribute, collect, and replace text books.

    But it’s a tad too expensive to me for “fun.”

  • Ellen Hage says:

    Jorgen,
    I too wonder why Amazon doesn’t support secure Mobi. It is probably linked to the EV-DO. Why let people buy from someone else on your dime. While they may own Mobi, there must some fine print in the deal that we are not privy to. Maybe they wanted to isolate sales for a while to gauge how the Kindle is doing. No matter, I am hoping that as time goes buy they will add secure Mobi e-books functionality. I would really love it if they added Palm reader support.

    Ellen

  • Ellen Hage says:

    The Kindle is calling me…

    I love my Sony PRS500, but the Kindle’s search and dictionary capabilities are important to me. I’m very curious to see whether the Kindle can handle special characters, equations, and diacritics better than the Sony. Funny, my old HiEbook still beats all the new readers in terms of function.

    I’m going to wait a bit, but I’ll probably give in and buy a Kindle in 2008. When you come down to it, I’m just a weak-willed geek who likes to read .

    Wow, a fellow Hiebook owner! That had potential. IT is a shame that they didn’t try a bit harder. I remember the rumors that the new model would be color. The Kindle call got me and I shoould get mine on the 27th. I guess I made it within the 5.5 hours before it sold out.

    Ellen

  • funetiks says:

    Looking forward to hearing your opinion of the Kindle. The early reviews have been encouraging! I’m sure I’ll give in sooner or later (probably sooner……)

    Tom

  • Elliot says:

    Why would you get a Kindle when you can get an OLPC XO for less? :P

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