Paying for “Free”

Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired and recent author of the book “Free”, proposes that the most effective price is no price at all. Public libraries have always embraced this model. So what’s new?

Libraries are now expanding their horizons to cyberspace in its electronic variant. It is now possible for borrowers to check out an e-book, which will be made available for two to three weeks after which it expires, all taking place on the internet. Only a limited number of copies are made available therefore customers will have to wait in line for titles to become available. There are even some electronic readers, such as the Sony Reader, which are compatible with this format (Amazon’s Kindle, is not). This begs the question: “Why purchase when it can be acquired for free?”

The free model has frightened the publishing industry. There has to be a way to monetize “Free”

Filed under: Kindle

Kindle – Day 2

What! Is Steve Jobs in league with the devil? Come on Kindle designers, why can’t you create an intuitive user interface? I have never had to open my iPhone manual, so why do I find myself digging into the “Kindle User Guide” for help.

Could it be that, according to PC Mag, Amazon doesn’t really care because Apple’s looming iPad is just around the corner. Well guess what Amazon – my wallet cares.

I decided to check out a “Current Issue” download of the The New York Times (I wasn’t going for that $13.99 subscription fee). You have got to be kidding me. Where are all the sections? No Technology! There I go, trying to make sense out of nonsense.

Don’t take this as a rant. There are just some glaring examples of how this machine could have been improved.

Filed under: Kindle

Kozy’n up to the Kindle – First Day

OK, I did it. The Kindle DX is now in my possession and loving it.

This is not going to be a blow-by-blow feature entry. To start: “WHERE THE HELL IS MY TOUCH SCREEN AND ZOOMABLE PDF”. I had to get that off my chest. Amazon, your a cheeky devil. Your setting us up. I know these are the early days and everything is sought of half baked. This device is the gateway drug to the book store. Searchable books with dictionary, wikipedia and google references. Stop! I can’t take it! I’m not a huge reader (mostly reference material and non fiction), now I will be – this is what I’m talking about. Wow!

I know I sound a little excited. It’s a great first day. Stay tuned.

Filed under: Kindle, Dictionary, Google, Kindle, PDF, Wikipedia

Living in a Kindlesque World

Publishers are being forced to look inward and recognize that print will no longer be a viable revenue  source. The New York Times reported yesterday that larger Kindle-like devices should be hitting the streets soon, offering readers an alternative, or should I say replacement, to traditional print.

Print has been loosing money and, as with any period of transition, companies are not clear which direction they should take to get to the other side. The current crop of readers use energy conserving E Ink, developed at M.I.T Media Lab in 1997. By todays internet standards this technology lacks the rich immersive nature of web. I believe that we will not see a large acceptance of the current proposals until companies can provide devices that enable full color video displays.

Once again Apple is poised to come to the rescue in iPod fashion and save the day with the much rumored multi-touch portable device. I can’t wait.

Filed under: Kindle, Amazon, Kindle