Does Amazon Really Expect Us To Use Kindle?

Amazon have announced their version of the ebook reader. This one is called Kindle and will hold up to 200 books for a price of $399. It comes ready for wireless downloads and uses a cellular connection rather than WiFi and can download Amazon’s version of WiFi feeds (for a charge).

There’s been a lot of buzz about it but we’re far from convinced on this one. Here’s ten reasons why we think Kindle is going to have a hard time making an impact:

• It tries to charge $9.99 for digital content which as we know is going to be a difficult business to be in. You can charge for live content, fine – a book is live content, you hold it and turn its pages and experience it live, a ebook reader is not live content, just a window.
• Appalling design. No, let’s just say it’s horrible.
• Nausea. Have you ever tired to read a screen in a taxi or train?
• Not Open Sourced. Another device that can’t be hacked, modified or made my own. A critical issue.
• Doesn’t access Google Docs or 37 Signals. Does the target market really use Word that much these days?
• Once you have an iPhone or any phone with podcasts and audiobooks, do you really need an e-book for being on the go? What sort of evolution does this represent?
• $399
• Even less control for the user: Amazon’s selection of RSSes not yours. And: Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times. Is that it?
• It’s Black & White!
• It’s got a keyboard!!
• Another thing that uses electricity. What was wrong with books and sunlight?

And bonus:

• You’re going to look a right wally taking that out on the 7.45am Brighton to London.

Kindle