Amazon Kindle: meet Amazon's e-book reader

by Ryan Block posted Sep 11th 2006 at 11:57AM

Oh, come now, like you thought the world's largest book retailer (online) -- which just started peddling digital video under the Unbox brand -- wasn't going to go head to head with Sony's Reader on an e-book device and service? Say hello to the Amazon Kindle, their take on a book reader device that comes equipped with a 6-inch 800 x 600 display (which we can only assume is e-ink), 256MB internal storage, smallish two-thumb keyboard cursor bar, scroll wheel, standard mini USB port, 3.5mm headphone jack, SD slot, and get this: EV-DO data! (Don't believe us? The spec sheet is after the break. Why do you think it was in the FCC?) The user manual also outlines the Kindle Store on Amazon (though doesn't spec out too many details), but we're a little less concerned with how we're getting these supposed e-books right now, and a little more curious about the price and launch. C'mon Amazon, we've got the dirt, now how's about you fill in the details?

Tags: amazon, e-book, e-ink, kindle

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Neutral

hasan @ Jan 31st 2008 1:39AM

This reader uses e-ink which means that it does not have light in the screen; you will need external light to see it. It uses power only when it writes on the screen then the image stay on the screen without consuming any power. This is great because the battery will last long and it feels like real paper than a computer screen. Good for your eye.

Neutral

hololo @ Mar 13th 2008 5:17AM

thank you for nice contents.

http://astore.amazon.com/amazon.kindle.amazon-20

Neutral

hololo @ Mar 13th 2008 5:16AM

thank.
http://astore.amazon.com/amazon.kindle.store-20
http://astore.amazon.com/amazon.kindle.amazon-20

Neutral

r. ball @ Mar 17th 2008 9:29PM

if the kindle is so hot why dosent amazon digital have any to ship out to consumers

Neutral

juka @ Mar 19th 2008 6:43AM

thank you for nice contents.
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http://astore.amazon.com/webkinz.for.sale-20

Neutral

kookcoo @ Apr 1st 2008 7:43AM

Neutral

kookcsa @ Apr 1st 2008 7:44AM

http://www.jumbomix.com

Neutral

Luvuyo @ Apr 18th 2008 8:13AM

wow, what a product! i bought myself one early this year from http://www.getamazonkindle.com and I have read more books in 4 months than I have in the past year!

Neutral

Melissa @ Apr 19th 2008 8:39PM

This would be great for students with the textbooks, they are big, heavy and expensive. I am a student in college and am a math major, which means the books are very expensive and heavy. If we students could get books on this it would be very nice, even if the device itself is expensive, it would lower the cost of the books and the weight. There would be no more, "I left my book in the car" or trying to figure out which book to bring to class on which day because they are all so heavy.

Neutral

Manny Burgos @ Apr 30th 2008 5:03PM

The Kindle's limited graphics ability really bothered me when I got my Kindle and moved some photos to it. I had flashbacks to the days of 2 bit graphics, which looked about as good as newspaper photos (older newspaper photos, for over 20 years even those are better than this).

I thought about it and remembered a lot of the things I used to do to prepare graphics for 2 bit, and had some limited success with photos, and GREAT success with others. I also figured out some great ways to prepare graphics for inclusion in an ebook. Lots of posting about this in the Kindle support pages, mainly about graphics being resized.

I did a lot of experimenting and was so happy with the results, I wrote a small ebook on how to prepare graphics for the Kindle using Photoshop (or another graphic editing application.

Look for it on the Amazon site under ASIN: B0018LILMO

I kept the price cheap. If I make enough for a trip for 2 to the movies I'd be happy.

I do hope to pull the book one day because of improvements to e-ink!

Neutral

Jack @ Jul 9th 2008 2:53AM

Now the generation begins for ebook, a very easy way to drag out the information you want any time, the way you want, and feed it in our brain. Ebook reading is one of them, we can convert any files format to kindle, kindle conversion, with a high resolution quality...

Neutral

AlphaTeam @ Jul 9th 2008 9:37AM

After still not seeing anyone use one (any eBook reader for that matter, except ONE--my friend's Sony), I decided to foot the bill and get it myself.

Neutral

heelio @ Aug 1st 2008 3:52PM

I found one called a BeBook, looks much better, twice the memory, not proprietary. Cost the same. Wifi coming but not available just yet.

Neutral

Green Cheap @ Sep 1st 2008 3:41PM

Amazon Kindle Reader Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device We wanted Kindle to be completely mobile and simple to use for everyone, so we made it wireless.

Neutral

Green Products @ Sep 10th 2008 7:38PM

Reading Review By http://www.greencp.com and http://www.greencp.com/kindle/

Neutral

aofzagroup @ Oct 10th 2008 8:05AM

Prototypes often lack the final "fit and finish" of a cool industrial design with top-notch materials, colors and styling, and there's surely a separate team working on how to make this product look sexy. When they put it all together you'll likely see something that makes your privates hum.

http://hdtvs-reviews.com

Neutral

aofzagroup @ Oct 28th 2008 9:46AM

Great Review !!
http://2dayplaza.com
http://2dayplaza.com/sitemap.xml

Neutral

luvuyo mdebuka @ Oct 29th 2008 3:44AM

I just got my Amazon Kindle from www.getamazonkindle.com and all I want to say is goodbye to paper!

Neutral

toneybest @ Oct 30th 2008 6:21AM

Good device It is functional and practical, recommend it. And it fits into your suitcase easily. http://www.bestbuycp.com and http://www.bestbuycp.com/amazon-kindle/ Reading Review and Buy Guide.

Neutral

aofzagroup @ Dec 8th 2008 6:41AM

I think it looks incredibly functionally beautiful. Scooter you comments suggest someone who knows little about what actually is ergonomic versus what looks ergonomic. Hands actually create right angles and flat surfaces -- ever thought why it's easy to hold a book as opposed to a football? I think it suggests a folded book form, and depending on choice of materials, I would guess the photos are probably very deceiving
http://www.cheapestbooks4u.com

Neutral

BOBBY WILLIAMS @ Dec 14th 2008 12:10PM

The KINDLE is now sold out and is out of stock. There is a waiting list for those wanting to buy.

The consumers have spoken...they don't care what the KINDLE looks like.

I have enjoyed the heck out of mine.

Neutral

GoEasy @ Jan 29th 2009 3:18PM

I bought my Amazon Kindle at rollbackcentral.com when Amazon was sold out.

Neutral

mike @ Feb 3rd 2009 9:16AM

Her eis a decent review:

http://www.helium.com/items/1275753-kindle-ebook-reader-review

Neutral

reevans.electro.services @ Feb 10th 2009 6:49PM

A while ago, I helped my son with a reading presentation for school. We found several surprising statistics:

1. about 60% of high school graduates never read another book in their lifetime.

2. about 40% of college graduates never read another book in their lifetime.

3. Most US families have not been in a bookstore in the last 5 years.

4. The average book purchased is never read beyond page 17.

What chance is there that the Kindle will be a commercial success when it can't even produce color pictures? At least magazines have color and might be a good use for a Kindle like device.

Neutral

thom @ Mar 13th 2009 4:45PM

Yea, leave it to the &*^%%$# to only have something that can only read Amazon products. What about a reader that can access free books?

Neutral

Angela @ Mar 27th 2009 11:27AM

The photo does not give the next generation Kindle justice. The new kindle is very slim and extremely easy to read. Many people do not want it as small as an iPhone. The whole idea is that it gives you the feel of reading an actual book http://www.bookbender.com

Neutral

rawat-eyo @ Apr 15th 2009 7:39AM

Best buy Cheap Kindle 2 Low Prices | kindle 2 accessories | kindle 2 skins

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Neutral

rawat-eyo @ Apr 15th 2009 7:41AM

mumi

Neutral

NTT_PUS @ May 7th 2009 11:51AM

You can find kindle 2 at http://www.coolcheapest.com/EBookReader/2095--Amazon_Kindle_2_New_Wireless_Reading_Device_E_book_Read.aspx and compare it with other e-book readers. You can find other e-book readers at http://www.coolcheapest.com/ebookreader.aspx

Highly Ranked

hesh @ Sep 11th 2006 12:04PM

This thing looks like its from the 80's and should have Texas Instruments on it.

Neutral

icetraxx @ Nov 19th 2007 11:39AM

That is insulting to Texas Instruments and my TI-83 calculator.

Neutral

Michael @ Sep 11th 2006 12:20PM

I just hope it works with content that is not from Amazon. Most of these have been crippled with DRM. I'm OK if it supports DRM, but I'd want it to also support non-DRM stuff.

Neutral

Kailie @ Dec 7th 2007 1:38PM

It doesn't. It only reads DRM signed content from amazon

Highly Ranked

Dan S @ Sep 11th 2006 12:21PM

If Amazon began offering all of their books for this reader at a significant discount (say 3 to 5 dollars - no manufacturing costs, no shipping costs) I'd buy one (or a compatible reader) as soon as they offer it.

Highly Ranked

Russ @ Sep 11th 2006 12:24PM

Who knew Tandy was still around?

Neutral

Director59 @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:51AM

Yeah, but can it play Pong?

Neutral

NYCPublisher @ Sep 11th 2006 12:30PM

Too bad Amazon doesn't have books (except for the same public domain titles everyone has)..They have publishers books. Only the smallest part of any book is the printing and binding, the same real costs of overhead and royalties (for author and agent) will still drive ebooks prices too high.

Highly Ranked

Russ @ Sep 11th 2006 12:33PM

Does it come with a deal on a dot matrix printer?

Highly Ranked

The Incredible Hulk @ Sep 11th 2006 12:48PM

Hulk love 80's!!! Hulk buy to play missile command!!

Neutral

DonGeronimo @ Sep 11th 2006 3:42PM

I think this product qualifies as "Engadget's Most Laughable Product Of The Year", it looks like something my high schools science lab would have owned about fifteen years ago. I would be embarrassed to be seen in public with this joke...........

Highly Ranked

CommanderROR @ Sep 11th 2006 1:05PM

The device looks ugly as hell, but it does have a lot of appeal...getting digital content should not be a big problem if Amazon is involved...

Neutral

Dalene @ Sep 11th 2006 1:11PM

Ditto on ugly as hell. Yuk. I'll be waiting for something a little slicker looking but it is potentially a good idea. It depends on how unlimited the ebook selection is, and the pricing of the service.

Highly Ranked

zenprime @ Sep 11th 2006 1:40PM

This is proof that someone at amazon had a camera that could take pictures from the future in the 80's, but it 80fieded whatever it saw...

Highly Ranked

Wonderboy @ Sep 11th 2006 1:32PM

Is this proof of Amazon trying to help the environment? It looks like they've recycled the plastic from ancient PCs. Then again, even if that's the case, there's still no excuse for this thing being so dang hideous.

Highly Ranked

Buh @ Sep 11th 2006 1:54PM

Youse guys are just judging a ebook reader by its cover.

Neutral

=[`] @ Sep 11th 2006 1:57PM

shenanigans.
there's no way anybody could release anything as fugly as that in this decade...

Highly Ranked

macona @ Sep 11th 2006 2:21PM

Looks like something out of Buck Rodgers (TV) or Dr. Who...

Neutral

Zach @ Sep 11th 2006 3:43PM

I can't remember ever having seen such an ugly device. I like the idea of ebooks and hence just hope that this is not the final design.

Neutral

chris @ Sep 11th 2006 3:30PM

NYCPublisher,

Amazon owns Mobipocket so they're probably looking to protect that business. There are some books on there that look to be self-published or at least from non-mainstream publishers. I'm sure part of their future plans involve becoming a publisher.

I'm guessing they make the same amount whether they sell the item electronic or physical. Since Sony's reader will lock you into their drm format Amazon need to do this to sell their drm format.

Neutral

SubGenius @ Sep 11th 2006 4:03PM

Wanna bet that Apple will unveil their own eBook a few days after Amazon releases theirs. Apple's will be all screen, no buttons, thin and integrate with iTunes eBook store. Apple's device will display any PDF, text or image file.

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