So Amazon last week released Kindle, it’s mobile e-book reader.
There’s mixed impressions out there about the device. When I was working at Amazon, I got to play with a prototype for a day. My impressions:
- Love the digital ink screen! It’s very easy on the eyes. Very different from LCD and CRT screens. However, I remember if you point light directly at it, there would be a little glare, kind of like glossy paper.
- I was easily able to read a book and enjoy it for hours, just like a physical book, even better than the physical book because I can lie on a couch and orient the device however I want without worrying about holding the pages back against gravity.
- Usability sucks. It takes some getting used to. But then again, most of the time, you’re just reading using the device to read, and it does a fine job at that.
- I love the silver mercury-like strip that moves around (you have to see it, I can’t explain it properly). It’s very cool. Never seen anything like it!
- Wireless connectivity is great. I see some potential for impulse book buying!
Bottom line: Handy device to have. $399 however is way too expensive. I’d buy it for $50. Sure, that might be a low-ball, but then again, I’d be committed to make all my book purchases digitally from Amazon.
Tags: kindle