Amazon's Kindle: $400 for spring?

After making a dramatic FCC-leaked first appearance, we've heard zilch about Amazon's Kindle e-book reader. Word on the street is that Amazon has been pre-viewing its e-reader to publishers in the US and UK for months now. More importantly, those who have used it say it's a "step up" from the Sony Reader, offering better functionality and "a first rate e-commerce option" thanks in part to the device's built-in EV-DO data capability. Publishers Weekly says that the device is expected to launch "above $400" as early as spring. Judging by The City's revived scent of reheated bodily fluids, that could be any day now.

[Via MobileRead]

[kongrit1416 @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:02AM]

Good product. I like its size and weight. I like the display. I like the prices on most of the books available. I like the seamless downloads.

[nch @ Aug 26th 2009 10:45PM]

Timberland Chukka Boots was very popular in 1960s to1980s! Chukka boots also called desert boots! It is heared that britain Army worn this Timberland chukka Boots joining the world war!

[Mike @ Apr 20th 2007 9:48AM]

You could buy an inexpensive PC for "above $400" and an inexpensive laptop for about $200 more than that so why again would you want this?

[Electromodo @ Apr 20th 2007 9:59AM]

I believe the main reason would be the Amazon's service to deliver the eBooks from the store directly to the device.

Amazon already has a service when you can read the books that you have purchased online while you are waiting for the physical book to arrive in mail. And this is for the additional price of $5-$6!

So I am afraid Amazon will provide eBook service on the same basis - you need to buy a real book and you pay extra for the eBook service. This is ridiculous for me, as I can always come and relax in Barnes&Noble while reading the same book for free, like in the library.

Let's hope there will be a discount for eBooks compared to physical books, but I do not believe in that.

P.S. And about your comment, Mike: it is much more convenient to use eBook reader instead of laptop, trust me. I was seduced on eBook side immediately after I tried it. It's almost like reading a physical book.

[LC @ Apr 20th 2007 11:35AM]

"You could buy an inexpensive PC for "above $400" and an inexpensive laptop for about $200 more than that so why again would you want this?"

Apples and oranges. E-ink gets far better battery life than an inexpensive laptop or desktop. Plus it is easier to carry around an e-ink book reader that is less than a pound than carrying around a laptop. It's like someone saying why should they get a $400 PDA phone when they can get a cheap laptop with Skype.

"I thought the point of e-ink displays was that they're cheap."

I never heard of that being the point of e-ink displays. The point of E-ink was always promoted as their almost identical look to text and their low power requirements.

[toon @ Jul 24th 2008 12:07PM]

So is Amazon going to become an MVNO or are you going to have to add your "Kindle" to your Verizon/Sprint family plan and pay out the a55 for data every month?

http://astore.amazon.com/buy.cheap.amazon.kindle.ebook.reader-20

[scaught @ Apr 20th 2007 9:53AM]

Finally!!! My dream of reading without the threat of papercuts will soon become a reality!!!

[bob the builder @ Apr 20th 2007 10:39AM]

lol

[Fitz @ Apr 20th 2007 10:11AM]

...Not to mention the fact that publishers will save BOATLOADS on printing, distribution, and warehousing - all of which are, I assume, their greatest expenses outside of marketing.

[theburren @ Dec 5th 2007 2:03PM]

Long live the trees:)

[DorianGray @ Apr 20th 2007 10:16AM]

..."Judging by The City's revived scent of reheated bodily fluids,"...

...this is why I read Engadget. Effin' good stuff!

Thanks Tom!

[pete @ Apr 20th 2007 10:31AM]

So is Amazon going to become an MVNO or are you going to have to add your "Kindle" to your Verizon/Sprint family plan and pay out the a55 for data every month?

Fishy fo sho...

[kadajawi @ Apr 20th 2007 10:36AM]

Amazon owns Mobipocket, afaik. Who sell e-books (yeah, also non-Gutenberg books). So I guess the thing will simply be compatible with that. But $400? For something that is so chunky? Why does it has a keyboard? A small touchscreen on which you can write the letters should be enough, I doubt you will sit there and write books with this device. And $400... + the price per book, which I don't expect to be much lower than the price of a normal book. So no matter how much you read, it will still be more expensive than just buying books. Where's the point?

[Mr. B @ Apr 20th 2007 11:09AM]

I thought the point of e-ink displays was that they're cheap.

[wild_fire @ Apr 20th 2007 1:04PM]

Wooh who gave you an impression that e-ink is cheap??? It is no way cheap its just a different display tehnology. And regarding comparing this to a laptop here are a few things I can help you with right off the bat:
1. Laptop bulky, ebook reader light
2. Laptop strains your eyes if using it for long periods of time, e-ink is like reading a book no light is emitted from the display so the eyes don't get strained
3. Laptop dimensions make it bulky to carry around, e-book reader can be held with a single hand and has dimensions similar to a paperback book
4. Laptop wil atmost give you 2 hours of read time, e-book reader atleast 20 hours
5. Laptop is costly e-book reader is cheaper in comparison

This is definately the future of books, I mean you can store a whole library worth of books if this has an extendible memory of some sorts.

The price tag is a bit pricey but it is definately more convenient and lets see what added services Amazon provides on this to justify the price

[Magallanes @ Apr 20th 2007 5:00PM]

Also LCD screen are usually just 96dpi while e-inks are the double or more.

Since a original paper is around 300-600dpi, the lcd technology is not a serious competitor with the paper but e-inks is a alternative.

Of course it's not for everyone, if you're a bookworm then it's a must.

[simon @ Apr 20th 2007 2:01PM]

That thing is just plain and utter ugly... Screw the price.. Why on earth would you want some thing that looks like an 80s reject?

[bobartig @ Apr 20th 2007 1:54PM]

I hope that's no a picture of the prototype hardware they're considering. too many buttons, not enough screen, beige plastic from 1989.

[theo @ Apr 21st 2007 4:38PM]

"Kindle"? More like the Amiga 5000.

Or maybe the Atari UT.

[Anthony @ Apr 20th 2007 9:34PM]

I have the Sony Reader & while it's not perfect one of the "perfect" things about is that it contains few buttons. This thing looks way too cluttered for me. My only hope is that Amazon doesn't squish the Sony Connect book store. They actually have a fair number of new releases & best sellers plus classics too (The Road by Cormac McCarthy - Pulitzer winner has been up for weeks, for example).

[JBDragon @ Apr 21st 2007 12:51AM]

Why spend $400+ on a E-Book Hardware, and then spend $5 or whatever for the E-Book? What's the point? Spend the same $5 or so and get a real Paperback book. You saved your $400 and can buy a whole lot of books.

Maybe if E-Books sold for $.99 cents each maybe it would work, but it's the same old BS. Just like Downloading Music. I think $.99 cents a song on ITUNES is just as much a rip. For downloading a DRM song in lower Quality then a CD and really not saving any money. WHY? I just don't get it. Just like the suckers paying $2.99 for a ring tone. What a joke.

I don't need to have 10 books or whatever with me at all times. I only read one at a time. When done, grab another book. I just don't see the point of this garbage. Get the Hardware down to under $50 or less and make your money selling the E-Books, kind of like what Cell Phone, Ink jet, and Game console Manufactures do, and maybe it'll catch on. But $400+, Ya right.

[Foj @ Nov 18th 2007 10:24PM]

"Beedee Beedee Beedee, WHAT is that, Buck?"

"Old Earth technology, Twiki, just something I brought with me from 1987."

[Alisha @ Nov 19th 2007 8:56PM]

You can store about 200 titles on the reader itself and then a 256mb SD card will hold about 300 more titles. Much better for the environment probably. But at a price of $399 and then the books cost approximately $5-10. Also, amazon says nothing of how they'll bill you for the books you purchase directly from your Kindle, only that there are no monthly fees and no contracts. Overall, I think it's a great idea, but a little bit out of my price range right now. BTW all of my info came directly from the amazon website. http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA/ref=kd_ln?ie=UTF8

[Nick @ Nov 19th 2007 9:35PM]

The Sony Reader and Amazon Kindle are relatively comparable on most levels. The Reader is cheaper and it doesn't charge you for RSS feeds, but some people can just pay for stuff like that. The specs are laid out here:

http://comparati.com/1125-Amazon-Kindle-vs-Sony-Reader

But... The major differentiators are (and these are very big deals):

1) The Kindle has EV-DO internet.

2) The Kindle has 4x the titles to choose from.

You just can't argue with those two facts. That's why the Sony Reader was a dud and the Kindle will pave the way for success in this market.