Comments on: The Kindle Adds to, But Doesn’t Replace, Your Book Collection

By: jan geronimo

jan geronimo — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:53:51 +0000

Because you qualify your fascination with Kindle with the phrase “adds, but doesn’t replace book collection,” I’m fine with it. Perhaps, I’d even try it myself, after borrowing a friend’s Kindle to see what makes it tick. That you can type notes and import the same to a another device makes buying one really tempting. For now, however, I’d prefer my books on dead-tree version.

By: kellyabbott

kellyabbott — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:03:57 +0000

Two features you’ve turned me on to that I think I would like:

1. Note taking while reading. I’ve always been a big fan of marginalia – especially when it’s in other people’s books – and can see myself slowing down to record my own observations on a kindle more so than its dog-eared bretheren.

2. A better way to read PDF’s. I’m a big buyer of books on demand and really do want a better way to read them.

Clearly the Kindle will not replace my annual sojourn to my favorite out-of-town used bookstore. BUT…

Well, you get the picture.

Thanks for the post, Gina. I’m glad you took my Kindle bait!

By: Eric Bono

Eric Bono — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:28:53 +0000

So, it appears, the content you purchase for you Kindle is not yours. My concern is, if you cannot use that content on any other device, such as backing it up on your computer, then what, really are you purchasing? The right to read? I guess, since the prices are mostly much lower than buying a book outright, that this is sort of fair. Really, I love the look of the gadget and would probably enjoy using it but, I don’t think I am comfortable with the idea of paying such a high price for what amounts to rental rights. Hopefully, in the future, pricing will accommodate this in a cheaper manner, sort of like netflix.

By: phoebe

phoebe — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:34:52 +0000

I think that many book-lovers have an old-fashioned / nostalgic attachment to paper (aka “dead tree”) books but I’m sure this will change over time. Actually for working in book publishing, e-readers are fantastic. Who wants to lug around all those paper manuscripts?

By: Eric S. Mueller

Eric S. Mueller — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:14:46 +0000

I’ve never been sure why this has to be a black or white issue, but a lot of people seem to want to make it so (I don’t think Gina is). Some people love physical books so much that they claim a desire to never give those books up. Great, don’t.

Others think there is a lot of promise in devices like the Kindle and ebooks. I don’t have a Kindle yet. I’m sure I’ll end up with one someday, but for now I carry a Samsung Epix, a BlackBerry, and an iPod Touch. I’ve been using MobiPocket to read public domain books on my Epix, but the screen is kind of small and I’ve started reading them on my computer instead. My dad has a Kindle and loves it.

By: ericbono

ericbono — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:24:40 +0000

Please delete ALL of my previous questions. I hadn’t watched the video yet…

By: ericbono

ericbono — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:19:35 +0000

Forgot to ask:

If the Kindle downloads via cell signal, does it require a cell plan?

By: ericbono

ericbono — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:14:12 +0000

Can the Kindle back up downloaded content to my desktop or an external hard drive?

How many books can it store?

Are the expansion memory cards available?

By: Gina Trapani

Gina Trapani — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:03:59 +0000

Gina, why do you find that you read more books on the Kindle versus carrying around the dead tree book you’re currently reading?

It’s ease of browsing and acquisition. I find myself visiting Amazon on the Kindle and downloading sample chapters of books a lot more than I ever physically visited a library or bookstore.

By: nuncacambiare.blogspot.com/

nuncacambiare.blogspot.com/ — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:55:57 +0000

So if I dont want the wireless selling machine, I better go for the Foxit eSlick reader, much cheaper and with same greatness of eink, right?