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Amazon Kindle Endorsed By Oprah

Posted by kdawson on from the you-could-pay-to-read-slashdot dept.

Oprah Winfrey enthused about the Amazon Kindle on her show today — it's her "new favorite thing" — and had Jeff Bezos on to announce a $50-off offer good till Nov. 1. A plug on Oprah is ordinarily a sign that a product has crossed over into the mainstream. But her show's audience has been slipping lately, and it's unclear how many cash-strapped citizens will be willing to part with $309 (after the special offer) for a new techno-gadget, for which they then have to shell out more money for DRM-encrusted content.

52 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. "DRM-encrusted content" is optional by nurb432 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You can use free tools to convert PDF ( and other formats ) into the e-book format that it eats. ( at least for the Gen1 Kindle.. )

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
    1. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by CRCulver · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Does it support non-English texts? If I want to read a PDF with heavy use of diacritics, or even completely different alphabets, will those display correctly on Kindle?

    2. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by Nyeerrmm · · Score: 3, Informative

      No, the Kindle is fairly single purpose device so its doubtful that it will. When it converts a PDF it reflows it and stores it as text, rather than simply displaying it as a bitmap; this isn't so much a failure in the software as some would make it out to be, but simply that the screen isn't big enough to make it useful. If that's what you're interested in, I think the iRex iLiad (or however its capitalized) is the best bet, even though it is more expensive.

    3. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Isn't the point of a PDF that the font is embedded (at least if it's done properly)?

    4. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by vux984 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Does it support non-English texts? If I want to read a PDF with heavy use of diacritics, or even completely different alphabets, will those display correctly on Kindle?

      I know there are french and spanish books available for Kindle, so it will support at least basic stuff like c-cedilla, n-tilde, circumflexes, accents, umlauts, thorn, etc. I read somewhere the first version only supports latin-1, but that later versions allow some sort of font embedding...

      I also couldn't say whether any current existing pdf-kindle software will be able to take advantage of that though... and I wouldn't put high hopes on doing an asian or arabic language on it.

    5. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by davester666 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, you can embed the font in the PDF. However, you need to license the font for distribution from the font designer. This may not be particularly cheap and/or easy to do.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    6. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by Threni · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I nearly got a Kindle - then I noticed it wasn't out in the UK, and you had to fuck about with emails or something to put books on it. Then I checked out the Sony one, but it's a complete pile or slow, flickery toss. Finally, I discovered that for £250 - just £50 more than the black and white Sony shite I could get a 1gig netbook with a 120 gig drive and stick Ubuntu on it (it came with some bollocks retro crippled fedora distro or other) and I've not looked back. The Acer Aspire One is not much larger than the ebook readers but not only does ebook reading better (zoom in/out easily, colour screen, multiple formats, displays any language fonts etc) but anything else a modern PC does. These book readers are not going to take off at their current price, what with the competition and the credit crunch etc.

    7. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by mikesd81 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't the netbook and the kindle try to reach to 2 different markets? A kindle is great for traveling and reading on the bus or plane or train or whatever and small to use to keep a reference book open when working on something in the field or whatever. The netbook is still a laptop, still much more bulky than the kindle, and can't be used or traveled with the same ease.

      --
      That which does not kill me only postpones the inevitable.
    8. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by macshit · · Score: 2, Informative

      Does it support non-English texts?

      It apparently has little or no support for non-latin scripts, which seems to be one reason it's not released more widely.

      I'd be surprised if simple things like diacritics weren't supported though.

      I suppose future versions will probably do better, but unfortunately the leaked designs for the kindle v2 suggests they've discarded the "funky-but-comfy" design philosophy for something completely generic.

      --
      We live, as we dream -- alone....
    9. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by hclewk · · Score: 3, Informative

      And with a netbook you can't sit in the park with the sun at your back and still see the screen.

    10. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by genik76 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I was looking for a new acoustic guitar the other day. I saw some fine instruments, producing rich, warm sounds with perfect intonation all across the fretboard. However, playing the acoustic was kind of a strain to my fingers, especially playing barre chords. Then I checked out some electric guitars, which were much more finger-friendly, but something was lacking. Finally, I discovered that for less money than an electronic guitar and amplifier, I could get an "mp3-player", listening to perfectly captured music, played by complete bands. I can't imagine anybody buying these guitar thingies, with the _serious_ lack of features and entertainment value compared to those mp3 players.

    11. Re:"DRM-encrusted content" is optional by deimtee · · Score: 2, Informative

      I can with my OLPC. :)

      --
      I'm guessing that wasn't on their radar screen...
  2. Well now I can buy one by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now that Oprah has given the go ahead for this I'll run right out and buy one!

  3. "I have no stake in the Kindle," she said. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Bit of a disingenuous statement to make when you have a book club.

  4. The Oprah show has jumped the shark by speakerbomb · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Let's face it, the Kindle is a one trick pony that needs a lot of help to ever make it mainstream (like the iPhone). It's like the Hulk, who can only punch and smash, except the Hulk is cool and the Kindle is pretty much the polar opposite of cool.

    The Oprah show does a lot of good for people (so my mother defends), but this may be the defining moment when Oprah jumped the shark.

    --
    The New Book That Could Pay You Back -100 Times Over: www.Economtricks.com
    1. Re:The Oprah show has jumped the shark by BLKMGK · · Score: 3, Informative

      Umm except it happens to do that job VERY well indeed. I have read quite a few books on my kindle and find that it is VERY nice to be able to carry around several books at once on it so that as I finish one I can start another. I just finished a business trip in fact and while sitting in the airport to LEAVE for my trip I finished a book, browsed\purchased\downloaded another, and then on the return trip having finished the first book I bought two more while sitting in the airport waiting for my flight.

      With the Kindle I'm now pretty much always reading at least one if not more books constantly! I read many books before but frankly ran out of shelf space, found it a hassle to carry more than one, and paid MORE than I do now if buying new plus I had to get off my ass to go get them! the Kindle may be a one trick pony but it's pretty good at what it does.

      P.S. You know it can be used to browse the WEB right? Play MP3?

      --
      Build it, Drive it, Improve it! Hybridz.org
    2. Re:The Oprah show has jumped the shark by Garridan · · Score: 4, Interesting

      More like, Slashdot has jumped the shark. Who the fuck cares what Oprah thinks? Is a blog post about Opera's ratings "news for nerds" now? If so, I'm turning in my N-card.

    3. Re:The Oprah show has jumped the shark by ceoyoyo · · Score: 2, Informative

      Oprah jumped the shark when she started pushing the Kindle?

      I don't know if Oprah ever helped anyone, but she's a master of scaring the hell out of innocent people with things like useless scare shows about the horrible bacteria that's EVERYWHERE!

  5. How do they do it? by Yiliar · · Score: 5, Insightful
    How does Amazon get their music distribution so right (DRM free, good tools), and their ebook distribution so wrong (DRM laden, attempts to lock ebook sales to kindle)?

    One can only scratch their heads!

    I will continue to use my N810 for ebook reading, and BAEN BOOKS and others for ebooks with no DRM at reasonable prices.

    1. Re:How do they do it? by tlhIngan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How does Amazon get their music distribution so right (DRM free, good tools), and their ebook distribution so wrong (DRM laden, attempts to lock ebook sales to kindle)?
      One can only scratch their heads!

      I will continue to use my N810 for ebook reading, and BAEN BOOKS and others for ebooks with no DRM at reasonable prices.

      Easy, actually.

      Amazon has to sell books. Publishers won't give them books to sell on Kindle unless it's got DRM.

      Let's translate this to the Amazon MP3 store... Amazon goes to labels asking for music, but mentioning it's DRM free. Labels thing it over, realizing the following:
      1) #1 portable music player is an iPod
      2) iTunes Store provides DRM'd music for an iPod
      3) Windows Media DRM does not work on an iPod
      4) Other music stores are limited to the population who doesn't have an iPod
      5) Apple holds all the keys to the iTunes Store.
      6) Apple holds the key to selling DRM'd music for the #1 portable player.
      7) Apple is near the top in music sellers
      8) Apple demands far too much - music at 99 cents, rather than "flexible pricing", other contract terms. (Apple insists on one contract for all labels)
      9) Lack of competition for music sales on iPods means labels either go without selling music on the #1 player, or agree to Apple's draconian contract terms.

      Thus, their only options is to sell Windows Media DRM on the remaining market, or see that Amazon potentially has the size and power to break the grasp that Apple has on music sales for iPods. No other company is large enough nor powerful enough to do this, except Amazon.

      So labels acquiesce to Amazon's DRM free scheme, hoping people will flock from iTunes to Amazon to buy their music. Once this happens, the labels can dictate their terms to Amazon and Apple, not Apple dictating their terms to the labels. If one doesn't want to play ball, sell on the other store (e.g., if Jobs insists on not having flexible pricing, well, walk away, and sell to Amazon since it also works on iPods). Let the stores battle it out in attracting labels.

      The iTunes store has too much power over the labels, and the labels hate when they don't have control. Amazon is the only company large enough to take on Apple, and the only way to do that is get music onto iPods via DRM-free MP3s. It's one of the reasons why the iTunes Store experiment started with "limited Mac market" as a feature!

      There's no equivalent in the book market where the publishers are being squeezed by a book seller, so publishers get to dictate terms.

      The only way the music market can continue to be as good as it is now is if both Apple and Amazon end up powerful enough to force the labels. Else we'll start to see DRM'd music in the Amazon store, and whatever else the labels want (demand-based pricing, etc) on both stores.

    2. Re:How do they do it? by bogjobber · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Wow, that was pretty convoluted. Let me give me posit a simpler theory.

      The fact that Amazon sells ebook readers. That is their main product, at least from a moneymaking perspective (following the model from Apple and others). They're selling DRM locked books to lock early adopters into always using a Kindle.

      You are right about why they sell DRM-free music. They're competing against Apple, so they need some sort of extra value, and the record labels would like to break away from Apple domination of the online music market.

    3. Re:How do they do it? by BLKMGK · · Score: 2, Informative

      You're ASSuming that $ony would accept such a partnership. the Sony reader is pretty darned nice and looks great but the selection for it sucks ass. the Kindle on the other hand looks a little crappy but functions VERY well and has a MASSIVE selection of content and a terrific distribution system. The DRM also doesn't get in your way. You know the Kindle doesn't use WiFi right? And that Apple makes WAY more off of iPod hardware than music sales? As I recall they don't make all that much at all off of iTunes - anyone got links?

      I have a PSP too and while I like it okay for movies I'd draw the line at eBooks and prefer the Kindle by far. The screen is simply too small and folks I know who bump the font WAY up on the Kindle wouldn't be able to get hardly any text on a PSP screen. Same with the iPhone, I do not see myself reading books on that anytime soon - especially since I also own a Kindle. The Kindle is really pretty good at what it does - sux ass as a WEB browser though, I've yet to try it's MP3 capabilities either.

      --
      Build it, Drive it, Improve it! Hybridz.org
    4. Re:How do they do it? by BLKMGK · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I disagree. I do not think they are making much money on the Kindle itself - however I am betting they are making a pretty good penny on the distribution of eBooks. The eBook distribution costs them VERY little even when you factor in the cell data costs - the data transfer for a purchase is minimal! Even if they only make a few bucks per book purchase and lose a little on the reader - possible - they are making a good bit of cash.

      Most folks aren't going to goto the trouble of finding alternate sources of books and converting them (I've done maybe 5) but will purchase many from Amazon, especially with their EASY method of purchase and distribution. I've bought at least 15 books from them for mine and see no end in sight.

      Certainly if someone wants to compete with Amazon for this market they can but they will have to make it cheap enough that folks won't mind having to use USB to transfer the books or Amazon's PDF service. Right now, for books, Amazon is kicking butt - I but music from them too actually. With music I might want it on more than one device but eBooks? I only have the one Kindle right now....

      --
      Build it, Drive it, Improve it! Hybridz.org
    5. Re:How do they do it? by lysergic.acid · · Score: 4, Interesting

      i'm not assuming anything. i'm suggesting that it would be a good move on the part of both companies. that doesn't mean that i think either of them will go for it. in fact, it's very unlikely that such a deal would occur. and you seem to immediately contradict yourself right after your first sentence. first you imply that Sony would not accept a partnership with Amazon's ebook distribution system without offering any kind reason for thinking so. then you go on to state that the Sony reader has a nice design, but lacks content, whereas the Kindle looks homely but has "a MASSIVE selection of content and a terrific distribution system." well isn't that exactly what Sony needs/is missing? if a lack of content and distribution system is what's preventing the Sony Reader from succeeding, then why would they not partner up with Amazon? it seems like that would be the only logical thing for them to do.

      the fact that the current Kindle doesn't use WiFi doesn't play any part in this deal. Sony Reader/PSP/Zune/iPhone users can just access the Kindle Store website. it's not like EVDO is required to purchase ebooks from the Kindle Store.

      and while Apple is currently making most of its money from selling iPods, the iTunes store is quickly dominating the music retail industry. in 2007 they became the 3rd largest music retailer in the U.S. with 10% market share. in 2008 it accounted for 70% of worldwide digital music sales. and despite the RIAA's claims to the otherwise, iTunes has revitalized the music industry and driven net profits up. our indie record label now receives over 75% of our music sales from iTunes alone.

      so while iPod sales generated $3.36 billion in revenue for Apple in 2007, the iTunes Store brought in $1.9 billion of Apple's $2.7 billion in total music-related revenue in 2007. and iPod sales appear to be tapering off while iTunes is experiencing continued growth. so it's not inconceivable that iTunes will become an even bigger revenue stream for Apple in the future.

      but i agree with you that the PSP/iPhone are not the ideal ebook reader for everyone. my Dad, for instance, simply can't read text printed on the PSP. so he can't really use his PSP as a web browser or an e-book reader. but that doesn't stop millions of young people from using their PSPs and cellphones to read books (if they can read web pages, then why not e-books?). the Japanese have even created an entire literary genre of serial literature that's distributed and consumed entirely by cellphones.

      for older users with poorer eyesight or who have to read long, dense technical materials, a dedicated ebook reader like the Kindle is definitely a must. but that's still a niche market. and for the majority of young people whom the PSP & iPhone are aimed at, being able to read e-books on their portable devices would be a huge value add--it's actually my favorite use for the PSP.

  6. Costs by Bicx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Paperback book - $10
    Amazon Kindle from Oprah - $300
    Overusing a Mastercard commericial as your template for every joke - Priceless....

    1. Re:Costs by BLKMGK · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually, if the paperback cover price is $10 then expect to pay maybe $6.99 with Kindle - max. The most expensive book I've bought so far on my Kindle was $9.99 and cheapest was maybe $2. they discount off the cover price pretty good, especially if you look at hardcover prices for new books. It's only when you look at tech manuals or perhaps some sort of texbook thing that you begin to see much higher prices. $9.99 is pretty much the most you will see ofr normal books you'd find off a bookstand rack.

      --
      Build it, Drive it, Improve it! Hybridz.org
  7. Tagged: So what? by Starteck81 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    To those who tagged this "so what?" I would like to pose a question in response. Have you seen what happens to products that get endorsed by Oprah?!?!

    They become over night best sellers, most of the time. She has a cult like following that will buy up most anything she recommends. This is why it's interesting. We will now see if something that has failed to take off for quite a number of years will now do so, just because a pop icon gave it the thumbs up.

    --
    "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed H
    1. Re:Tagged: So what? by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      To those who tagged this "so what?" I would like to pose a question in response. Have you seen what happens to products that get endorsed by Oprah?!?!

      It's things like this that make me wonder how the tagging system works. I see some tags that would get an Overrated mod if they'd been submitted as a post.

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    2. Re:Tagged: So what? by blueZ3 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Ah... I missed the point that the book publishers might want to get around Amazon. That will be something to watch for.

      I know that I do buy books from Baen online--they're DRM-free and generally an OK value (though I think they could still do better, since the online price isn't that much lower than the IRL book price).

      I guess we'll all have to stay tuned.

      --
      Interested in a Flash-based MAME front end? Visit mame.danzbb.com
  8. No drm requirement by vanyel · · Score: 4, Informative

    for which they then have to shell out more money for DRM-encrusted content.

    Nonsense. There are a ton of drm free books out there. I subscribe to Analog magazine for example, and get more drm-free books than I have time to read from fictionwise.com. If something is released only in crippled formats, then that's their loss, as it means I read one of the many other things on my list instead, or, if I *really* want to read it, as happened recently, I buy used paper. That's only happened once though, and I've been ebooking now for about 3 years (albeit my Treo and Sony Reader, but I know the Kindle supports drm free formats too).

    1. Re:No drm requirement by dwreid · · Score: 5, Informative

      Ok. Just to clear a bit of fog and confusion. Unlike most of the people responding, I own one so I'm not totally full of crap. 1. $309 seems a bit pricey but then the books don't cost as much as paper book. In fact they cost quite a bit less. Most of the books I've purchased have cost less than $3. Some less. That price also pays for lifetime access to the EVDO network which is used to deliver the content within 2 minutes of purchase to the book. Yes you can do some web browsing as well though that's a bit painful given the interface. The device also plays MP3 files for music while you read or audio books. The screen is electronic paper. No backlight. It can be read indoors or in the brightest sun. No problem. So far the price doesn't seem that bad. 2. If you buy books from Amazon they are DRM encoded. If you don't want to buy DRM books, download any of the thousands of free books available online and email them to the Kindle. That's really all there is to it. If you have PDF files then email them to the Kindle. That works too. 3. You can buy additional batteries. 4. A copy of all of your purchases is archived at Amazon and can be downloaded to a replacement device at any time. They can also be shared with anyone in your family with a Kindle on the same account. Finally, you can keep copies on an SD card that slips into the Kindle or on your PC via the USB cable. (which can also be used to load content.) 5. The battery charge lasts about 2 weeks with the radio off and about 3 days with the radio on. 6. It can do full text search across all of your content. 7. It can look up and define words and phrases. 8. You can annote the books. 9. you can clip content for use elsewhere. 10 etc. etc. etc. It's not a bad deal just because Oprah likes it anymore than it is a good deal becasue she likes it. It's just a decent device at a decent price.

  9. Saw one for the first time by HangingChad · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Got to put hands on one a couple months ago and had to admit it's pretty cool. The display is quite good, very readable. My only fear was if the battery went dead or it got old. What happens to all the books you bought?

    I could just see it in the bottom of some box five years from now, dead as a barn nail, battery shot. Then what? Can you replace the battery and recover the books? What happens when Amazon stops supporting them?

    --
    That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
    1. Re:Saw one for the first time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      The books you buy from Amazon are associated with your account and can be re-downloaded at any time. Anything you generate or convert yourself can be stored on a removable Micro-SD device (not included). The battery is replaceable, but I have no idea how much it costs, or what the availability will be in the future. Basically you're covered unless / until Amazon goes away.

    2. Re:Saw one for the first time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      I saw part of the Oprah show. According to the guy they had talking about them, once you have purchased a book from the Amazon Kindle store, you can delete it from your device (to free up space) and then re-download it again whenever you want. They did not talk about what will happen if/when Amazon goes out of business.

    3. Re:Saw one for the first time by DoctorPepper · · Score: 2, Informative

      The replacement batteries for the Kindle cost $20 U.S. from the Amazon Kindle store.

      As for the usefulness of the Kindle, my wife and I bought one each for an early Christmas present this year. We have had them for a bit over a month now (yep, very early Christmas), and we both love them. Yes, the content you get from Amazon.com is DRM'd, which sucks, but like one of the parent posters stated, what you buy stays on your account, and can be re-downloaded. In fact, my wife and I share an account, and thus can share books.

      Also, I've downloaded and used the Mobi-Pocket free ebook conversion tool, and have made two ebooks for the Kindle, one from a PDF, and one from a very large HTML file. Both worked flawlessly.

      Would I buy a Kindle again? I most certainly would. Right now I have almost a dozen books (including the two I made), and four magazines, all tucked away in that small, highly readable device. The battery life is quite good, as long as you leave the wireless turned off. I'm getting just over a week on a charge, and I'm a fairly heavy reader.

      The only down-side to the Kindle (besides the DRM'd content) would be that Amazon.com makes it too easy to purchase books, magazines and news papers. In a feeding frenzy, I had purchased seven books the very first day the Kindles arrived! When the credit card bill came in, I received a very stern talking-to from the better half! ;-)

      --

      No matter where you go... there you are.
  10. The new, reinvented Oprah by TheModelEskimo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My sister was a die-hard Oprah fan and I thought she would be so for her entire life. Lately though, she's become entirely disappointed with Oprah's use of her "new" image to sell stuff. She won't watch the show anymore. No real news here for many of us, but it's really, *really* sad to me to see yet another person use their reinvented-celebrity status just to keep raking in cash.

    To me, it's always been the same story: "Here, come watch my show so you can feel good about nice things *I'm* doing with my life, when what you really care about is 1) what gift people find under their chairs and 2) that you don't have to expend any energy to get that warm, fuzzy feeling." Sigh.

  11. I have a Kindle by SupremoMan · · Score: 2, Informative

    It's great. No need to rage about DRM, most of the files I have on it are not from Amazon. Though I'm sure they would like to fix that. You can basically email yourself any text file and it's there.

    Another great feature is the wireless internet, which is now free (through the sprint network I believe), though I doubt it will stay that way forever. But while it lasts I enjoy looking at web pages while traveling on the train for free. It does fairly decent job of converting most pages.

  12. I'm gonna cry! ;_; by B4light · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oprah also gave away a Kindle to everyone in her audience on Friday, which oddly enough, caused one woman in the crowd to tear up.

  13. where Kindle is failing to deliver on its promise by TheMCP · · Score: 2, Informative

    I liked what Amazon had to say about the Kindle when it came out; that they recognized that DRM limited what you could do with your content, so the tradeoff they were trying to make was that if you were willing to live with DRM, you could get your ebooks at a discount price. I can live with that idea. You want to make it worth my while to put up with the inconveniences of DRM? Okay.

    However, when I started looking at prices to see if the deal had held true, I found that the ebooks I was interested in (at least to start with) all seemed to have either an insignificant discount or no discount. If you want to offer me the DRM encrusted ebook version of a $5.99 paperback as a $2 ebook, great... but don't offer it to me for $5.50, or even for $6.00 . In that case I have no incentive to use the ebook instead of the paper version except convenience, and frankly, convenience isn't worth *that* much to me.

    It's rather a pity, too; the hardware is nice. (I've had one on loan for a couple days.)

  14. I want to know if Oprah warned the audience... by MattW · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Did Oprah warn her faithful viewers that if Amazon ever abandons the kindle or the content, that there's a good chance all their "book collection" will be gone forever?

    I still have books I bought 20 years ago. Who could possibly be confident your kindle and all those books would be working 20 years from now when DRM schemes are dropping like flies. Can you imagine what's going to happen when studios stop wanting to produce the "old" DVDs?

    1. Re:I want to know if Oprah warned the audience... by geekoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Since it can be used to read non DRM'es stuff, what's the point?

      At least you can back it up offsite. What happens to your books if your house burns down?

      Gee, it's like everything has a disadvantage of some kind~

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  15. Re:Wow by sortius_nod · · Score: 4, Funny

    I did want one... but now, if Oprah likes it, well... I'll pass.

  16. Re:Wow by PunkOfLinux · · Score: 4, Funny

    How the FUCK did I get rated +4 insightful? This is *not* an insightful comment! Come on, mods! Do your fucking... volunteering!

    --
    Show this to your friends and family that don't know what a real hacker is
  17. Re:Wow by guyminuslife · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If you have the first post, and you don't say "FIRST!!!", then you automatically get modded up.

    --
    I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
  18. DRM Content: its biggest long-term problem by ThousandStars · · Score: 2, Informative
    shell out more money for DRM-encrusted content.

    Although the price for the Kindle will presumably fall over time, the bigger problem is still the DRM'ed content -- and Oprah is unlikely to change that. I write a book/lit blog and discussed the implications of the Kindle here and here. It's an impressive technical achievement that lacks--and might lack for a long time--the unrestricted books needed to make it a success.

  19. In other news by CSMatt · · Score: 4, Funny

    Controversy erupts as it is found that Amazon's memoir "A Million Little Kindles" contains false material.

  20. Re:This E-Book is half the price. by jofny · · Score: 2, Informative

    The etext and battery life is the whole point of something like the kindle vs a laptop or pda. The etext is light years easier on the eyes and you can read a kindle for about 4 solid DAYS with the wireless off without recharging. And I dont mean "an hour a day for four days". Unless you are clicking a button, the kindle draws almost no power. (The screen only draws power when it changes content)

  21. Informative? No, incorrect! by MushMouth · · Score: 3, Informative

    The question was about english text. I have read Spanish, Swedish, French, and Italian on my Kindle, all of them have characters that are not available in English. I have never used eastern, or cyrillic scripts.

  22. Re:Wow by rolfwind · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I call bullshit. If you ever go to Digg, then you see Groupthink moderation. Reasoned or valid responses getting dug done to minus infinity for not fitting the mold.

    At slashdot, it may be a problem here and there, but a reasoned out response is well recieved at a much higher rate.

    (BTW, I like both sites for much different reasons. But I don't begin to take most of the threads there seriously.)

  23. Kindle = Cool? by DesScorp · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm as much of a gadget freak as anyone, but I'm old school about books. I like the tactile pleasure of actually having pages in my hand. I spend enough damned time on electronic screens during the day. I want to relax when I read a book. I couldn't stand to read anything but short texts on an electronic device. Give me a musty old library or a book store any day.

    --
    Life is hard, and the world is cruel
    1. Re:Kindle = Cool? by BLKMGK · · Score: 2, Informative

      The screen isn't like a standard LCD. If there's enough light to read a book then there's plenty of light to use the Kindle. It's nothing like reading off of a laptop screen in my extensive experience with the device. Battery life, with the modem OFF, rocks too and swapping the battery isn't a big deal.

      --
      Build it, Drive it, Improve it! Hybridz.org
  24. What would Gutenberg say? by ErrolU · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As an editor and writer who saw his first published story set in hot metal, I marvel at Amazon's Kindle reader and its role in the future of the "printed" word.

    I'm thrilled to see Oprah endorse Kindle!

    No traditional book can offer the interactive platform I've created for the Kindle edition of my novel Brazil or open the door to actively sharing the magic that goes into the making of a monumental novel.

    I've linked the e-text to an online guide with 200 images and illustrations, providing an indispensable companion on a fictional journey through five hundred years of Brazilian history. Plus my working notes and the journal kept on a 20,000-kilometer trek across that vast country.

    You can see the guide at my website: http://www.erroluys.com/

    Were Gutenberg here to see the Kindle, he would have one word to say: "Bravo!"