After seeing references to a new Kindle application for the PC, I decided to return to Amazon to see what it was all about. I found that the Kindle is now a bit cheaper than it was before, but Amazon and the other people selling the various electronic book (e-book) readers are clueless as they were the last time I looked. Although I would like to have a Kindle, I can't deal with the price they're asking for it. Not only would I have to pay what they ask for it, but I would also have to pay an additional $33.60 as an import fee to the Philippines.
Why clueless?
I thought the point to creating an e-book reader was to sell more books. The pricing of the e-book readers available so far seems to tell me that they don't care if I buy more books, or any books at all. I'm sure their collective response would be that the price is competitive. Even a Chinese company, producing a Kindle clone called "WEFOUND" (or something like that), is charging about $200 for their version.
The secret to selling more e-books would be to make the price of the e-book readers as low as possible. The video gaming industry figured that out a long time ago (well, at least most of them). The game consoles for some companies were being sold at a loss in order to stimulate the market for the video games that worked on them. Wouldn't it make sense to do the same thing with e-book readers?
I'm not Buying
Quite simply put, I will never buy an e-book reader for the prices that are being charged for them. I may buy some Kindle books for the PC application, which would be used on my netbook, not on my desktop PC, but that's about it. It sucks, however, because the netbook wouldn't last a fraction of the time on its battery as the Kindle would.
Look, I only read books when I can't get online due to either an electrical or a DSL outage. I'm not a hardcore book reader and I'm sure I can find other things to do if I can't read. I just wish the e-book reader manufacturers would get a grip and sell for a price that makes it affordable for everyone — an e-book reader isn't a computer and I know a lot of people who still don't have computers.
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This article is published as: The People Selling the E-Book Readers are Clueless
The thing that I hate, and will keep me from buying a kindle, is the fact that instead of buying a physical book, with ebooks, you are only getting the license to read the book in the format that the book comes in.. you don't own it, can't pass it on to anyone else, sell your copy.. for all those restrictions, the prices are ridiculous.. I have read some books on my Dell Axim PDA.. five years later, that technology is totally outdated. what's going to be going on ten years from now.. will Amazon even still be selling Kindles? No guarantees there.
There's also an issue with the recent deletion of a version of 1984, where Amazon went in to peoples kindles and deleted the copy after it had been purchased.. no thanks.. I'll stick to old fashioned books..
Any file format, DRM or otherwise, can be hacked. If you look around or ask around, I'm sure someone could help you move the books off the Dell in a format that works elsewhere.
Interesting comparison to the video game industry. I think they are trying to get all they can out of the readers before specialized readers are made obsolete by iphones and ipads.
You're absolutely right, the price they are asking for the kindle is high. I'm sure that after time they will go down in price. You can always look for a used kindle for sale, but that is entirely up to you….
Personally, I'd just continue to find info online and wait.
There is now a price drop on Kindle 3 and it makes it more viable to purchase. However, the Kindle prices compared to how much fun you can get out of this gadget when you're traveling, at the beach, or waiting in a queue, is next to nothing.
I can understand not wanting to spend more money then you feel you can afford but that is not a reason to knock Kindles. Everyone I know who has one really loves it. They have recently lowered some prices and you can be Kindles on sale if you go looking.