Comments on: What It Would Take To Sell Me on the Amazon Kindle

By: Gene

Gene — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:22:22 +0000

Give me color, PDF compatibility, and the ability to upload PDF files, and I will pay MORE than $400 tomorrow! Here is another item for your list. The ability to trade in books for an electronic version. Limit it to hardcover only. I would clear my shelves very quickly!!!

By: Jim Treacher

Jim Treacher — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:39:36 +0000

“Wait… What are the advantages for this over a book other than playing music?”

Portability (when traveling, carrying around several books gets heavy), onscreen dictionary, saving trees, being able to look up a word you don’t recognize on Wikipedia instantly, shopping for books without having to drive around and search the stacks and wait in line, getting newspapers and magazines delivered to you wherever you are, searchable text, no paper cuts, no dirty looks because you’re reading [fill in your favorite political pundit here], saving clutter around the house, reading blogs without all the dumb ads, helping out a struggling young kid named Jeff Bezos…

But if the smell’s your thing, that’s cool too.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:31:57 +0000

Hey Jim, funny you should mention that, because my wife brought up Big too when I was talking about the Kindle.

Henrik: There are plenty of illegal places to download comics, mostly forums, torrents and using DC++.

As for the advantage over books… well it takes up less space than a shelf full of books. And it helps save the rainforests too! The physical experience of reading is obviously something it can’t quite reproduce, but in time I think people will come to accept it.

By: Henrik

Henrik — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:41:34 +0000

Wait… What are the advantages for this over a book other than playing music?

A huge part of reading the newspaper is the smell. This thing can’t recreate the distinct smell of a fresh newspaper of magazine.

I’m scared of the devolution of the world from 3D to 2D i think.

By: Henrik

Henrik — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:20:24 +0000

Where can you download comics?

By: Jim Treacher

Jim Treacher — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:15:31 +0000

You can convert documents to the .azw proprietary format for free. There are two e-mail addresses you can send files to, a 10-cents-an-upload address and a free address. If you use the free one, they send the files back to your computer and you transfer them via the USB.

I’ve been thinking a lot about trying comics on the Kindle too. (Remember Tom Hanks’ “electric comic book” idea in Big? That was, what, 20 years ago?) You’re supposed to be able to convert image files so they can be viewed on it. Can’t wait to try that.