So we just snagged our Kindle, and we're unabashedly stoked to get using it. Unfortunately the device came out of box with too little juice to get on the EV-DO network, but the e-ink display looks great (as we'd expect). The selector bar on the right is really interesting; it appears to be a white, opaque thin LCD panel that polarizes and turns clear letting reflective dots peer through -- the end result is a small selection bar that looks unlike anything we've seen on a portable reader device.
The keyboard is clicky and tactile, but with keys shallow enough that they won't get too in the way when you're reading. We're a little worried that the absolutely massive page forward / back buttons might get inadvertently triggered here and there, though.
posted Nov 19th 2007 at 10:43AM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sourabh @ Nov 19th 2007 10:47AM
WOW! That was quick...
Bobs @ Nov 19th 2007 10:48AM
Well, its better than a microscopic button that is near impossible to press, like the start and select buttons on the DS
John @ Nov 19th 2007 10:50AM
I'm excited to read!
muddyh2o @ Nov 19th 2007 10:48AM
does it USB charge, or do you have to carry that charger everywhere?
-Z- @ Nov 19th 2007 10:52AM
I don't get why they couldn't backlight this. Or costs $400. Maybe if it had a bigger screen with backlight I'd pay $10 for books I already own.
Chris @ Nov 19th 2007 12:00PM
E-ink does not need a backlight darn it. Thats the whole point.
L @ Nov 19th 2007 12:03PM
I think the problem is that eInk doesn't even support backlightning - the screen itself is opaque.
I agree that this is something they should work - forget color eInk for all I care, but make the backlight-compatible...
Spyvie @ Nov 19th 2007 10:55AM
Yawn
w @ Nov 19th 2007 10:59AM
looks great.
this kind of connectivity sucks, though.
Angus Hedger @ Nov 19th 2007 11:00AM
I relay like the look of this... I see the point that you can buy books cheaper, and such, but the idea of being able to carry a few around at once, sounds good to me, after all, a few paperback books do take up quite a bit of room, compared with this.
And the idea of being able to pop on and pick up another book, quickly and easily, sounds good to me..
Shame its US only... I want something like this in the UK dammit..
Matt @ Nov 19th 2007 11:28AM
You'd really have a hard time finding books cheaper than what they're selling here, especially new releases.
Angus Hedger @ Nov 19th 2007 11:36AM
That is true that is true,
Another thing, wouldn't it be nice, if they had some kind of library service, as you know, once you have read a book, you don't really want to read it again for some time, well, i don't.
Like, you might pay some kind of monthly fee or a lifetime one of payment, and be allowed to have say, 10 books "at" at once, and when you where finished with once, just hit return or something, it gets del'ed, and you get to pick another one.
I like books, i like to read, but sometime i find that i don't have time to go buy one, or go to the liberty, if i could hope on the wireless, and pick a book, and get it sent to me, i would way something up front for that.
I know people hate DRM, but, wouldn't this be almost acceptable, when we take a book out of the library, we don't own it after all.
Gunny @ Nov 19th 2007 4:58PM
Perhaps the next version will incorporate indiglo or something similar, even if it does eat battery.
As for the library concept, if the content is DRMed anyway, and users don't have the ability to print it or get the paper copy (buy the real book, get the kindle version too for $3 more) for the bookshelf, perhaps they'll come out with something where you can 'sell' the book back for half price...
cyberdaemon @ Nov 19th 2007 11:03AM
boy that thing is ugly!~
jberger @ Nov 19th 2007 11:03AM
eInk displays cannot be backlight, thus no backlight option. They can be lit from the front, like a conventional book with a simple LED booklight.
Matt @ Nov 19th 2007 11:04AM
Quite possibly the best packaging for any electronic device ever.
js @ Nov 19th 2007 2:43PM
I have to disagree. The iPhone is much much better.
Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 19th 2007 11:04AM
Damm. And here I thought that Amazon was slowly leaving book selling business...
Todd Long @ Nov 19th 2007 11:17AM
Are you kidding? They've got to be one of the largest online book selling companies.
Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 19th 2007 11:19AM
I can't recall when last I bought from Amazon a book.
CE, PC components, etc - in amounts. Books?.. No.
bcollinstex @ Nov 19th 2007 11:59AM
80% of my book purchases are through Amazon.
I hardly buy books from local stores, except the used book stores.
Josh @ Nov 19th 2007 11:08AM
My real question is what services are ACTUALLY available via EV-DO.. I have hard email and web, but can't get confirmation on that.. If its just access to the kindle store content + wikipedia then its cool but not amazing..
ScOObyDoo @ Nov 19th 2007 11:05AM
Just ordered mine as a Christmas gift for my wife... Can't wait to see it in action!
TMM @ Nov 19th 2007 11:05AM
Wow! This is so 1989!
Yawn.
NewJohnny @ Nov 19th 2007 5:51PM
He's right, this stinks. It reminds me of 20-pound 286 Toshiba laptops back in the day being touted as 'futuristic'. Until it's paper-thin, wireless, and disposable I'm not touching it.
Wwhat @ Nov 19th 2007 11:06AM
So if I get this right the EULA says you can only look at this thing, or at least make pictures of it, under pale red/orange lights?
Oneiroi @ Nov 19th 2007 11:10AM
I still think this is a bit too big, clunky, and ugly. I mean I'm sure it's purposefully big, but I can't see anyone carrying this around in the subway or anything.
I won't even get started on their use of a single format or the expense of this thing.
Todd Long @ Nov 19th 2007 11:19AM
I'd suggest watching the video on the product page. The device is actually a lot smaller than you think. I'm quite impressed with its size though I'm sure it will get even better over time.
Bombaclaat @ Nov 19th 2007 11:11AM
will it blend?
Jagannath A @ Nov 19th 2007 11:25AM
yes
djm8 @ Nov 19th 2007 11:14AM
Does it come with a special instrument for cleaning accumulated dirt and finger gunk out of that stenciled alphabet on the back of the device? Seriously, this thing is such a model of bad industrial design, it should be taught as a case study to first-year design students.
That said, I have been waiting for a viable e-book reader for years. Every time I move house, I break my back and my wallet shifting towers of printed books. Is this $400 Tandy lookalike the grail I've been waiting for? Fuck no. But if it brings us a step closer to a sleek, user-centered, internationally usable reader many of us really want, then good.
FinancialRetard @ Nov 19th 2007 1:04PM
Have you handled it, or are you offering your expert design opinion based on some images posted on the internet? You must be from the Apple/Karim Rashid/Gehry school of ID, where marketing image is more important than usability.
nicolas @ Nov 19th 2007 12:58PM
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/910/50427451.JPG
Gordon @ Nov 19th 2007 11:16AM
Heaven help me, I bought into the hype and ordered one. :)
Jagannath A @ Nov 19th 2007 11:27AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_adopter
Flashman @ Nov 19th 2007 11:30AM
I have a Sony Reader which I will gladly replace with this for one KEY FEATURE: Newspapers! If only Sony had gone through with their 'promise' of newspapers that was never delivered. I want the NYT daily pre-formatted and yes, I am willing to pay for that.
Goldaar @ Nov 19th 2007 11:47AM
I myself am waiting to see if Sony reacts to this at all. They do have the potential and the ability to provide subscriptions services, and I wouldn't be surprised if they introduced them before or slightly after Christmas.
LarryX @ Nov 20th 2007 1:32AM
Sony *just* released the PRS505, what, a month ago? There's no chance that they're agile enough to materially react before Christmas. Next year maybe.
Flashman @ Nov 21st 2007 3:43AM
LarryX - The PRS500 has been out for over a year... the promise of 'newspapers' was made during its initial release (and it still there as a blaring claim in its manual and packaging).
Fred @ Nov 19th 2007 11:34AM
Why are you so excited? only a few weeks ago you lamented that it looked like a 1980's fax machine, and as far as I can tell, that's still true.
carpecervisi @ Nov 19th 2007 11:42AM
I'm a huge fan of the Sony PRS and all of the additional online features of the Kindle are very interesting...but that design. Damn.
The videos on Amazon's site give a great overview of the capabilities. Please check it out before you start dumping on it. And for those of you who've never seen or used an eInk device, STFU and look at one before dismissing the tech.
Now, I wonder how long it'll take for some enterprising black-hats to crack that WhisperNet thing wide open for an always on EVDO connection to the web. It'd be cool to use it as a tethered modem.
Bob @ Nov 19th 2007 11:59AM
Ryan got a personalised e-book/msg from Jeff Bezos .........niceeee
m @ Nov 19th 2007 12:00PM
i don't understand the fuzz at all. guys, if apple can produce an ipod touch for 299 $, why would anyone pay 399 $ for this thing that looks like a 1975 calculator? here's a bet: if apple really does introduce a tablet mac in early 2008, all you'll need is a proper software for ebook reading....
L @ Nov 19th 2007 12:05PM
And yet another one that doesn't get the point of eInk screens...
samirss @ Nov 29th 2007 8:29PM
How did apple come into this discussion??
m @ Nov 19th 2007 12:09PM
well then tell me: what's the point?
Sky @ Nov 19th 2007 12:34PM
It's really simple m. Eink is like paper. You shine a light on it to see the difference between light and shade. All other forms of screen produce their own light. Eink produces less eye strain because it works like normal paper.
NewJohnny @ Nov 19th 2007 5:51PM
Ya, $400 paper.
L @ Nov 19th 2007 12:01PM
I so hope this is a success - the device itself is technically nice, but too 1980-SF like in terms of design. But the whole "look ma, no PC" free data principle and newspaper/mail/blog-subscription is a great idea!
If they stop trying to have a different design at any cost, GSM-based radio service (we Europeans want that too!) and ideally a touchscreen for annotations in version 2, this could really get that whole eBook-business going (finally!)...
Kindle H8r @ Nov 19th 2007 12:05PM
What a piece of crap this is. The Kindle is not what the market needs, we need a standards compliant $99 ebook reader based on the OLPC X-O with an open source operating system and a usb power/sync port.