The new Kindle is really, really slick.
I just realized a problem with it, though: I rarely pay for books. If the library doesn’t have it, I turn to half.com. $9.99 for a book might be a great deal compared to $29.99 for the dead-tree version, but it’s a rip-off compared to $0.00 at the local library, or $2.99 on half.com.
That said, the opportunity to subscribe to newspapers and magazines wirelessly is brilliant. I always felt bad for the ailing newspaper industry. Enough so that I might be willing to pay $10/month to get a copy on a Kindle.
I’m a little confused, though, by their “Get blogs wirelessly delivered to your Kindle for as little as $.99 per month” statement. I thought you were able to browse for free. (Obviously, restricted a bit.)
What interests me is the availablity of computer eBooks. I brought home a 1,200 page MySQL tome. Seems like they have a lot, but not centered on the ones I want to buy. I can take there being more books on MS SQL and Oracle (even if MySQL is probably most populous?), but PL/SQL and SQLite? Isn’t an SQLite book like writing a manual for using the Windows calcluator? And discounting a book to $50 for the Kindle doesn’t make me want to buy it. (Psst: The Pirate Bay has a great selection… I don’t want to resort to that, though.)
All this brings up something I’ve thought for a long time: if you release a book for an e-book platform like the Kindle, and then it’s obsolete (like all the MySQL books about MySQL 4 that don’t get to the major changes in MySQL 5), can you please, please offer a heavily-discounted “update” to people who own the old version?
SQLite is the bomb.
I want a Kindle but the price point is still too high for me. When I calculate how many books I would have to buy at a lower Kindle price the number is pretty large. So while I really would like to be able to carry a bunch of books, especially when traveling, in one easy package they just don’t get me yet.
You can browse for free, and it’s not restricted. The blog delivery is just formatted in such a way that it’s easier to read than a full-blown website. 🙂
There’s tons of stuff in the public domain if you don’t want to pay for books too.
@Mr. T: For me, it’s not about saving money, it’s about replacing some gigantic books with a slim device. I have a handful of epic tomes that are handy to have around, but not quite handy enough to tote between work and home every day.
@Kyle: Well now it’s official — I need one! 😉