Amazon launch Kindle reading device

[HEXUS]

Kindle, Amazon's wireless reading device is now available at Amazon.com. Is this the future of book reading?

Read more.

[IBM]

Just when I'm at the point in my life where I can afford to buy a gadget like this, is exactly when I no longer have the time to read for leisure. Which sucks.

[UltraMagnus]

can this only read some amazon proprietary format? or can you just shove any .txt or .pdf onto it?

and what operating system does it run? guessing some sort of linux?

[Parm]

can this only read some amazon proprietary format? or can you just shove any .txt or .pdf onto it?

It states it can view Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG).

I think it's a pretty cool device, bit steep on the cost of the device but once you've got it I believe it could be very good to use.

[UltraMagnus]

It states it can view Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG).

I think it's a pretty cool device, bit steep on the cost of the device but once you've got it I believe it could be very good to use.

great, its not ISO compliant...

[Steven W]

I don't like it at all.

It restricts what we want to read. The only books on there will be books they want us to read, I doubt they'd have the sort of books I like.

I really don't like it. In fact, I detest it.

[Parm]

I don't like it at all.

It restricts what we want to read. The only books on there will be books they want us to read, I doubt they'd have the sort of books I like.

I really don't like it. In fact, I detest it.

I'm sure they'd have some sort of erotic novels mate I kid, I kid!

[mountainmachine]

It states it can view Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG).

I think it's a pretty cool device, bit steep on the cost of the device but once you've got it I believe it could be very good to use.

Yea be interesting, i'd imagine the price will fall like a big rock, i dont see the need to buy books on the move, although getting the paper for example while semi useful seems a bit of a gimc. I'd rather it be alot cheaper and i'll sync it with my pc

[Funkstar]

The Kindle sure is fugly.

now, the new Seiko Epson proof of concept on the other hand...

Seiko Epson shows off UXGA e-paper display - Engadget

[Parm]

The Kindle sure is fugly.

Yeah, I'd go along with that too. It's not the most pleasing on the eye, in the pictures at least.

[kopite]

For that price you could buy one of the asus ultra small laptops and use that instead...

[joshwa]

Seems like it's destined to flop. Aren't books already portable, cheap, and easy to read? This makes them expensive, rely on electricity, and a fixed size.

Personally I'd rather have a device that can do the internet and numerous other things and then read books on them, eg a small laptop or perhaps the pocket-surfer... (if only it had wifi) PocketSurfer2

[pak000]

Yes it is still expensive, but it is an infant technology. For those that read a lot of books then it is an interesting concept - An ipod for books.

The suggestion that you could by a cheap laptop and use that as an alternative probably comes from someone that hasn't read a book from a laptop - it strains your eyes horrendously. E-ink avoids that issue.

With regards to battery life, I don't know what the amazon device offers, but 8000 page turns is a figure that I have seen quoted on other devices. I'm a fast and regular reader and this would last me a couple of months!

Locking down the system to read proprietory formats? Lets take a look at the ipod shall we? Yes it's annoying, but its a fact of life. This system does offer alternative more open formats, but books are unlikely to be avaliable in that format.

I personally like the look of the iRex ILliad; but this is getting more into the relm of a computer. With a linux operating system and a touch screen, you can write directly onto a page - I hate having numerous notebooks at work. The added functionality hammers the battery life down to a day which is annoying, but this is the direction i would like to see these devices head in

[b0redom]

I could do this on my iPaq in 2000. Still didn't bother, and went back to paper books instead. As Joshwa said - it takes something convenient, and makes it rely on electricity, and locks down what you can and cannot read.

Cn't see many people wanting one of these on the beach/by the pool.

[UltraMagnus]

Locking down the system to read proprietory formats? Lets take a look at the ipod shall we? Yes it's annoying, but its a fact of life. This system does offer alternative more open formats, but books are unlikely to be avaliable in that format.

*coughallintxtfilesandfreecough*

i have read a few books on my axim PDA, works quite well IMO

the E-Ink display would make things a lot easier, however the lack of ability to read PDF documents is a real pain, as a lot of technical documents tend to be supplied in that format.

and not reading ODT or TXT documents is a real PITA too.

hell, i would probably go and buy one now if it could read those formats...

[Parm]

The Kindle has now sold out at Amazon.com, seems to be proving quite popular so far.