Amazon's Kindle - Any thoughts on this device?

[truebrit71]

I am toying with the idea of purchasing one at a future date, but I wanted to know if anyone here has used it, or has friends that have it and what their opinions are about it?

All I know is that it is bloody expensive, is only in black and white and has a limited (but growing) library...

[wtmusic]

1. And give up the feel of paper in your hands?

The smell, the crack of a new hardcover binding? That's half the experience.

[truebrit71]

2. I know....I am a sucker for ther physical appearance and allure of books..

...but for conveniences sake I am curious..

[wtmusic]

3. Have to admit

I am curious too. I'm such an analog stalwart it took me years to buy my first CD.

But imagine getting to the climax of a novel and the battery dies :grr:

[Jim__]

4. My boss has one and she loves it.

She said she can hold it in one hand and read the paper while she's eating with her other hand.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

5. I send my manuscripts to my agent and editor in pdf form

and after sending him my most recent book, my agent called me up two days later and said he'd read it and loved it. I was surprised he had read it so quickly and he told me, "Yeah, I just popped it into my Kindle and had it with me wherever I went."

That makes the Kindle a very convenient tool, as far as I'm concerned. :)

rgb

[ThomCat]

6. I'm thinking of the Kindle because I'm loosing

the use of my hands and it's getting difficult to hold books open. Plus, it's easier to download a book than to buy it and hault it around. So an e-book reader is an attractive practical consideration.

I've been warned to stay away from the Sony e-book readers. Apparently it is very proprietary about the format it accepts, so you can only read certain books.

A friend of mine swears to avoid all branded readers and just use a PDA because that is supposedly the most flexible way to downloadi e-books in any format.

Does anyone here have any direct exprerience comparing devices?

[MonkeyFunk]

7. I wouldn't try to do any serious reading on a PDA

And believe me, I've tried. The screens just aren't appropriate. That's the nice thing about the Kindle - the screen REALLY looks like ink on paper. You could spend hours reading on it - and I could never do that on a PDA.

[YankeyMCC]

8. Well if you enjoy Science Fiction

I saw a recent announcement from Shelia Williams that Asimov's Science Fiction (the SF Magazine where you can find high quality short fiction) will now be available on the Kindle.

That's all I can contribute :)

[MicaelS]

9. I would say wait, Kindle 2.0 is coming this fall

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/07/15/kindle-20-coming-around-october-2008/

An insider let slip that two new Amazon Kindle models will hit stores this holiday season, with the first coming as early as October.

The first is an updated version with the same sized screen, a smaller form factor, and an improved interface. The source told us that Amazon has “skipped three or four generations,” comparing the old Kindle to the 1st gen iPod and the new version to something like the sexy iPod Mini.

The second new model, which is shaped like an 8 1/2 x 11-inch piece of paper, is considerably bigger than the current model and should be available next year.

[Greyskye]

10. I haven't used the Kindle, but I have been reading eBooks for a few months now

I've been downloading them onto my Smartphone (AT&T Tilt). I never thought that I would like it, but I haven't read a paper book in a couple months now. The convenience factor is amazing - always having a library of books available on my cell phone is really a treat.

I've looked at the Kindle on display at my local Borders, and it really is easy on the eyes. The form factor is pretty big though.