Amazon Introduces Kindle2

[modeps]

http://evavhost.com/i/news/kindle2.png

There are several book fans on EvAv so I thought I'd let you all know that Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00154JDAI?tag=evilavatarcom-20) has announced the long awaited v2 of their eBook reader, Kindle 2. It will be coming out February 24th for the low price of $359.

Say Hello to The New Kindle
Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback

Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images

Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging

More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books

Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns

Read-to-Me: With the new Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud to you

Large Selection: Over 230,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available

Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise

My dad purchased a Kindle1, and I must say its a really cool device.

[Emabulator]

My dad purchased a Kindle1, and I must say its a really cool device.My brother has the first one too. It is a cool little gizmo and the book prices are reasonable.

His wife pre-ordered the Kindle 2 for him as a birthday present. Unfortunately she's getting his first one or I would have snagged it.

[AspectVoid]

I can't bring myself to pay that much for a book reader. Hell, the local Best Buy has a full blown laptop for $349 this week, and they expect me to pay $359 for something that just reads books? Not only that, but with prices at $10 for new books when I get get the book for free at the local library, the over all price is just too high.

[Azriel77]

I would love to get one but I agree about the price, its insane.

[Jamikazi]

I agree its a cool little device which I've been interested in, but how can they really justify that price. Ill pick one up when it drops sub $200.

[automaton]

Echoing the insane price sentiment. How that thing can cost so much is completely beyond me. It's an LCD screen, some flash memory, and a 3G modem. Wtf costs $300?

Another problem I have with Kindle... When I'm on a plane, I typically have a book to read during take off and landing since you have to turn off all electronics. Once we are in the air, I pull out my DS/Laptop/iPod. This thing invalidates that completely as the flight attendants make you turn it off. I'd have to read Sky Mall if I owned this thing!

[lost]

The geek side of me says this is a pretty cool device. The reader in me questions why I would require access to quite so many books at any one time. Most people will read maybe 3 books at the same time at the very most? Heck, I never read more than one.

It also limits your choice of literature to entirely written works. Combine this with something like Marvel's online comics service and you might have a winner.

[Butters66]

1) The prices has 3G download service for free for the lifetime of the device. People think nothing of paying $100 a month to own an iPhone, but bulk at the kindle price. If you keep the kindle for 3 years, that a lot of free downloading.

2) It is not just an LCD screen. It is a fancy b&w screen designed to make reading easy.

Despite this, I still blame Amazon for not marketing and diversifying this type of thing better. They should have make a cheaper one with the 3G that works on a service plan. They could have milked that market, much like TiVo does.

The $359 one would be equivalent of a lifetime subscription.

They also could have made one on the cheap that did not have the 3G and only downloaded via USB. You have to think they could have engineered that and still made money despite possibly introducing more support costs.

I compliment them on having the "vision thing" and sticking to it, but millions of sales are being lost by missing these market opportunities.

[Ozymandias]

1) The prices has 3G download service for free for the lifetime of the device. People think nothing of paying $100 a month to own an iPhone, but bulk at the kindle price. If you keep the kindle for 3 years, that a lot of free downloading.

2) It is not just an LCD screen. It is a fancy b&w screen designed to make reading easy.

Despite this, I still blame Amazon for not marketing and diversifying this type of thing better. They should have make a cheaper one with the 3G that works on a service plan. They could have milked that market, much like TiVo does.

The $359 one would be equivalent of a lifetime subscription.

They also could have made one on the cheap that did not have the 3G and only downloaded via USB. You have to think they could have engineered that and still made money despite possibly introducing more support costs.

I compliment them on having the "vision thing" and sticking to it, but millions of sales are being lost by missing these market opportunities.

Would you also blame Nintendo for not cutting price on the Wii yet? Same thing - both devices are selling faster than they can be manufactured. It's simple business - why leave money on the table right now? Plenty of time for a price cut later...

As to folks wondering why anyone would buy one of these over a Netbook - you A) have try it, and B) be a reader. The screen is fantastic, amazing contrast, and doesn't give you the eye fatigue regular LCD screens do.

[lost]

But why not just buy like 150 used books?

[Ozymandias]

But why not just buy like 150 used books?

It's a fair question... and one I had to answer for myself. What it came down to was that I travel for business a lot and read a ton - and guess what? I'm a speed reader on top of that. The end result is that when I do a two-week trip to Europe or somewhere I end up hauling somewhere between 8-12 books with me. I try to do old, beat up paperbacks so I can just leave them as donations, but they weigh a lot. Being able to have everything on a single tiny device is a huge win for me.

[BabyJesus]

I have one, I didn't pay for it it but its a kick ass machine. Easy to read, long battery life(with wireless off anyway), and its less than 11 ounces so I can travel with it easily. I use it daily. And alot of older books are cheap. I think I got the unedited The Stand for like $1.50. Free books all the time too. They just got Clancy and Crichton(sp?) on there too. Just finished Timeline, and loved it. I wish the selection was a bit more complete overall, but I read like 4-6 books a month now. Its a pain to carry books around all the time, but I just shove the kindle in my backpack and go.

[Evil Avatar]

As to folks wondering why anyone would buy one of these over a Netbook - you A) have try it, and B) be a reader. The screen is fantastic, amazing contrast, and doesn't give you the eye fatigue regular LCD screens do.

I would love one if the price was right. I like the idea of getting a big discount on books that I don't need to 'own'.

However, the magic price point for something like this is $99 for me. When you take into account that I'm going to have to give Amazon.com money for digital copies of the books themselves, even $99 seems expensive.

Of course, the same could be said about an iPod.

[BabyJesus]

I would love one if the price was right. I like the idea of getting a big discount on books that I don't need to 'own'.

However, the magic price point for something like this is $99 for me. When you take into account that I'm going to have to give Amazon.com money for digital copies of the books themselves, even $99 seems expensive.

Of course, the same could be said about an iPod.

Yeah they should offer a non wireless edition for cheap, but I don't think thats happening.

[Chrome Dome]

I agree its a cool little device which I've been interested in, but how can they really justify that price. Ill pick one up when it drops sub $200.

They can justify the price because instead of spending $30 for a new hardback you can get the same book for $10 new. I won't take very long for someone who really enjoys reading to make this thing pay off. If I had any spare money at all I would buy this thing.

[ElektroDragon]

Buying this is very tempting... I love the concept. But I also love my library of books, and have so many unread physical books I want to get to in my collection. So, it will have to wait.

[lost]

They can justify the price because instead of spending $30 for a new hardback you can get the same book for $10 new. I won't take very long for someone who really enjoys reading to make this thing pay off. If I had any spare money at all I would buy this thing.

$30 seems crazy for a single book.

Hardbacks over here are probably around £15.

I am eternally fascinated by how American salaries (which I understand equate to ours roughly speaking) can afford to spend the money you guys have to on stuff. Then I remember you don't get taxed like we do and thank my lucky stars I have an NHS.

[AspectVoid]

As to folks wondering why anyone would buy one of these over a Netbook - you A) have try it, and B) be a reader. The screen is fantastic, amazing contrast, and doesn't give you the eye fatigue regular LCD screens do.

Not a net book, a full blown laptop. The local Best Buy has a Toshiba laptop with a dual-core processor, 2GB of Ram, 160GB hard drive, Windows Vista, with a 15.4 screen for $350. That sounds like a hell of a better deal then the Kindle.

If they came out with it for $100, or even $150, I'd buy it in a heart beat. Likewise, if those 230,000 books were free, I'd snap it up, because then at $360, it would be worth it. If it also had an MP3 player or could surf the net on that 3G connection, that would make it worth the cost, too.

As it stands, though, it is way too expensive for what it is.

[LilAbner]

$359? No chance.

[Exodus]

I agree, the price absolutely sucks. Another thing I question is this, we are paying for a digital copy. Sounds like a gadget that if you can get cheap you would absolutely hack. like a psp and download your own books into the reader.

[kwolf]

I don't understand this device at all. How many paperbacks can you buy for $300? I must have 20,000 leagues under the sea right NOW! Or you could get an iTouch or iPhone for much cheaper. Just don't get it.

[BabyJesus]

Not a net book, a full blown laptop. The local Best Buy has a Toshiba laptop with a dual-core processor, 2GB of Ram, 160GB hard drive, Windows Vista, with a 15.4 screen for $350. That sounds like a hell of a better deal then the Kindle.

If they came out with it for $100, or even $150, I'd buy it in a heart beat. Likewise, if those 230,000 books were free, I'd snap it up, because then at $360, it would be worth it. If it also had an MP3 player or could surf the net on that 3G connection, that would make it worth the cost, too.

As it stands, though, it is way too expensive for what it is.

While I agree that it is a bit expensive, it simply does not compare to a laptop, its apples and oranges. I for one would not want to read a book on any laptop screen, at least not one more that 20 pages. My eyes would be bleeding.

This is what you are paying for..

-Paper like screen
-Portability
-Cheap Books
-Battery Life
-Free Wireless(this is probably the biggest contributor)

And as far as comparable products go the Sony readers are go for $270 to $399 and they have no wireless.

[Chrome Dome]

I agree, the price absolutely sucks. Another thing I question is this, we are paying for a digital copy. Sounds like a gadget that if you can get cheap you would absolutely hack. like a psp and download your own books into the reader.

You don't have to, you can email text files to them and they convert them to the reader's format and send it back. It really is a great device.
I would gladly buy this before I'd buy a PS3, I'd definitely get more value out of it. Saving $20 a book it would pay for itself after about 20 books.

[Chrome Dome]

I don't understand this device at all. How many paperbacks can you buy for $300? I must have 20,000 leagues under the sea right NOW! Or you could get an iTouch or iPhone for much cheaper. Just don't get it.

You could, and I did but Stanza for the iphone charges full hard copy retail price for ebooks, and it's pain to read on that tiny screen. This is clearly a better deal.

[grognard66]

Yeah, too expensive for me. Now if they supported things like Marvel digital graphic novels, etc. I might be tempted at $149 - but not at the current price.

[Butters66]

Would you also blame Nintendo for not cutting price on the Wii yet? Same thing - both devices are selling faster than they can be manufactured. It's simple business - why leave money on the table right now? Plenty of time for a price cut later...

As to folks wondering why anyone would buy one of these over a Netbook - you A) have try it, and B) be a reader. The screen is fantastic, amazing contrast, and doesn't give you the eye fatigue regular LCD screens do.

Well, it is hard to imagine something you could cut on the Wii, it is bare bones enough. :) This is exactly why I don't have one. I can't go anywhere near justifying $250 to play 2 - 3 games.

That said, you make a good point, but I wonder why Amazon hasn't ramped up production? I think they have sold around 1 million kindle 1s. That is a low number for a gadget. You have to think a cheaper version would help.

Amazon should be in the business of selling kindle content, not kindles.

Of course, there could be very good reasons for all this, it is just is going against the grain of successful devices in the past.

[Roc Ingersol]

I'm not in the habit of paying hardcover prices. I buy paperbacks at around $10 - 15. At Kindle digital copy prices I'd save maybe $2-5 a shot. With my book-and-a-half-a-month burn rate -- assuming everything I wanted to read was available and $5 cheaper -- it'd 'pay for itself' in about four years.

I'd rather have a really great consumer-centric device that supported existing popular file formats, than a single-function device crippled to meet publisher demands. Give me a multi-function tablet at those surface dimensions and I'd happily charge it nightly and bear the extra pound in weight.

[AspectVoid]

While I agree that it is a bit expensive, it simply does not compare to a laptop, its apples and oranges. I for one would not want to read a book on any laptop screen, at least not one more that 20 pages. My eyes would be bleeding.

This is what you are paying for..

-Paper like screen
-Portability
-Cheap Books
-Battery Life
-Free Wireless(this is probably the biggest contributor)

And as far as comparable products go the Sony readers are go for $270 to $399 and they have no wireless.

I do, can, and have read hundreds of pages of text on my laptop with no problems. I honestly do not see (pun intended I suppose) why people have a problem with it. As for what you are paying for...

- Paper like screen - LCD works just fine for me
- Portability - My laptop and backpack for it goes pretty much everywhere I travel.
- Cheap Books - Local public library gives you free books. They fit fine in said backpack.
- Battery Life - This one I will give you, though I can normally find a power outlet.
- Free Wireless - Everywhere I've been I've had free wireless through 802.11. When I travel, the hotels I stay at have it, the airports I travel through have it, and there is always a starbucks/McD's/etc that has free wireless for when I stop to eat. Plus, my laptop lets me surf the net, play MMOs, grab movies and music off of iTunes, etc.

So, yeah, I do not see why they're charging as much for this as a laptop costs.

[modeps]

- Paper like screen - LCD works just fine for me

Seriously, the screen on the Kindle is a thing of beauty. Its MUCH better than an LCD for reading text. I'm curious if anyone has actually seen it, or used one.

Yes, the price is high... but its cool technology. You pay for cool tech... and I'm sure the Whisper Net service (their cellular tech) is a fairly significant portion of the cost. It would be nice to see a variation of the Kindle that didn't utilize that, but instead had built in wifi.

[Ozymandias]

Well, it is hard to imagine something you could cut on the Wii, it is bare bones enough. :) This is exactly why I don't have one. I can't go anywhere near justifying $250 to play 2 - 3 games.

That said, you make a good point, but I wonder why Amazon hasn't ramped up production? I think they have sold around 1 million kindle 1s. That is a low number for a gadget. You have to think a cheaper version would help.

Amazon should be in the business of selling kindle content, not kindles.

Of course, there could be very good reasons for all this, it is just is going against the grain of successful devices in the past.

I guess I'd respectfully disagree that it's going against the grain of successful devices in the past. Every device is released at as high a price point as possible (of course, balanced against demand). Amazon is ramping production as quickly as possible... trust me there. The main problem is the time it takes.

I'll put it this way - I was astounded at how long it takes to get Xboxes to the store floor from the day you say "go!" on production. There's parts sourcing, building plants, expanding manufacturing lines (which are incredibly expensive if not running/needed - hence there's always a delicate balancing act), and then putting it all together and getting that manufacturing process going. Then you've got to test the darn little things, then pack them. Then... and this is the big one... you've got to get them to the US. Did I mention the vast majority of these sorts of electronic dohickeys are made overseas, often China? Air freight is *insanely* expensive - you do that as a last, last resort, like if you desperately have to make a launch day. Otherwise you charter ships and send containers over which takes additional weeks. Then it lands, then you start distributing to the main warehouses... then to retailer warehouses... then to the individual stores.

I know - long diatribe there - but I guess the short form is that I'm sure Amazon is ramping like crazy. My guess is they still have more demand that supply right now, so the price will stay the same. In six months or so I could see a price drop so they can keep momentum going... but I doubt these will drop below $200 for another few years.

[Ozymandias]

Seriously, the screen on the Kindle is a thing of beauty. Its MUCH better than an LCD for reading text. I'm curious if anyone has actually seen it, or used one.

Yes, the price is high... but its cool technology. You pay for cool tech... and I'm sure the Whisper Net service (their cellular tech) is a fairly significant portion of the cost. It would be nice to see a variation of the Kindle that didn't utilize that, but instead had built in wifi.

Yep - with respect to people who don't get it, you really have to use/see a Kindle in person to understand the eInk screen. Eye fatigue from monitors/LCD screens is a well-known issue for most people; this solves it nicely.

Completely agree about the WhisperNet aspect - be nice to be optional.

[zeonxavier]

How does the Kindle compare to Sony's e-book reader?

[Jadbalja]

Seriously, the screen on the Kindle is a thing of beauty. Its MUCH better than an LCD for reading text. I'm curious if anyone has actually seen it, or used one.

I don't have a Kindle, but rather a Sony Reader, and I have to say the e-Ink screen is way way easier on my eyes than an LCD. I carry it on trips and when I want to carry the Complete Works of Shakespeare around with me without permanent back strain.

[Virtuoso]

$30 seems crazy for a single book.

Hardbacks over here are probably around £15.

I am eternally fascinated by how American salaries (which I understand equate to ours roughly speaking) can afford to spend the money you guys have to on stuff. Then I remember you don't get taxed like we do and thank my lucky stars I have an NHS.

We also live in a debt economy. That allows us to pay for the horribly expensive things with money we don't have.

[Virtuoso]

2 Things

1) The device is built for a very specific demographic, one which the majority of people on these boards aren't in.

2) They are selling far more than they can make. Christmas of 07 saw them going on eBay for over 1000 bucks.

3) You can load your own (free) ebooks using a (free) file format conveter and they have an internet browser built in. It has more functionality than people typically think.

[xplics]

looks nice amazon is improving the design it seems.

[AlmostSente]

Can you read comics / manga on it too?

[BabyJesus]

Can you read comics / manga on it too?

Its not color which would put a damper on things and I have not seen anything in those genre's.

[blackgold]

I think this technology is very good.
I believe the popularity of this device will increase.
I bought this a few weeks ago and found that
NOW I'M ADDICTED....

For those of you who want go get this, here's the link:
Amazon Kindle 2 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00154JDAI?tag=evilavatarcom-20)

Hope it helps.

Cheers.