Philippe Starck calls the Kindle "a little sad"

Quite a few people have weighed in on the Kindle's retro style, and we're sure the lot of them felt a little vindicated when superstar designer Philippe Starck straight-up called the device's design "almost modern" and "a little sad." Speaking at the LeWeb 3 conference in Paris, Starck said he'd have put the minimum amount of plastic around the screen, but that it looked like Amazon's designers weren't "courageous" enough to take that step. He also harshed on the ridiculously easy-to-press page buttons, saying that the physical interface just "wasn't well done." All excellent points, we have to say -- although you'd think that a guy rocking shoulder pads like that would be down with the Kindle's totally-80s effects.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 4:24PM]

hehe

I was amused while watching this video. He basically went through exactly everything I thought to myself when I first saw the Kindle. Line for line almost.

Kind of creepy actually, GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 4:36PM]

Shoulder pads: He's wearing a motorcycle jacket.

[smcquade Posted Dec 12th 2007 4:46PM]

Kindle=ugly. Gets way more air time than it deserves. Starck likewise.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 5:13PM]

One mans trash... That sleek design with tiny buttons that are harder to press may be great for the youthful tech generation, but they're horrible ideas when you're trying to reach a generation of book readers who want a computerless e-book solution.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 5:20PM]

I will tell you that this kindle machine and sonys ebook reader are both gonna fail. Why, because in making a device that u want to replace the book, first of all it has to have the flexibility of the book from all aspects, like when you drop a book it doesn't break, u can bend a book unlike this kindle that looks like a piece of ice...etc

[jeffti3 Posted Dec 12th 2007 5:25PM]

I think you need to keep in mind that the Kindle was not made for the average Engadget reader. It is made for people that read a lot and who want a simple and satisfying buying experience. My wife loves her Kindle. She doesn't have to connect it to a PC or convert document files. It works anywhere and she can get what she wants when she wants it. Whatever design/usability issues the the Kindle has do not appear to bother my wife.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 5:38PM]

Its a very sad product. And I think good people made it But not sure.
http://www.ammunitiongroup.com/
Seems odd. Its kind of the Pontiac Aztek of electronics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Aztek

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 10:35PM]

Massive side margins certainly make it CHEAPER.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 5:51PM]

From the Engadget summary: "...superstar designer Phillipe Starck..." I've never heard of this guy until I read this post. How about the rest of you? I am doubting this guy's "superstar" status.

[Lord John Whorfin Posted Dec 12th 2007 6:58PM]

He's somewhat famous for some of his designs, like one of the ugliest and snootiest cafes in Paris (Costes), and whoring himself out to Target signing the design of very unremarkable utilitarian items. Obviously lots of people are a lot more impressed by his designs than I am, but he's no Jonathan Ives.

[John P Posted Dec 12th 2007 10:34PM]

He is pretty big in the design world and quite respected. I think he peaked about 10-20 years ago so now he just wears funny clothes and rides his Aprilia here and there.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 9:12PM]

There's a gulf between design for use and design for admiration. Like most gadget designers, Starck is concerned with the latter.

[plaka999 Posted Dec 12th 2007 7:06PM]

Starck is one of the many clothes-less Emperor designers, if no one has figured that out yet. Sure, Kindle has it's (design) flaws, but um, we didn't need him to tell us this. Good marketing for the "master" and the conference, though.

[Saad Posted Dec 12th 2007 7:17PM]

I have to agree with Philippe Starck on this one, I can't get over the fact of the next and previous buttons for being that big! Why on earth would I want, need, use such big buttons? And why is the thing more fat at one side than the other?!

Many questions but one answer: It is NOT a good product, period.

Now don't get crazy over me people, but a hand held device should come with minimal button space and more interactive space (screen); my problem about this thing is not about the awful number of buttons but it is simply about their "placement"! I mean it's like if an amateur designer was trying to show of his new skills to impress some "old" people.

The idea of the Kindle is "beautiful", it takes us to a new level of future living, which I personally love and adore, but such product design, is simply ugly and not user friendly whatsoever.

Sorry Amazon, but you have done a mistake and you'll pay a lot for it, or maybe get payed a lot from people who will just not see what is wrong about it tell they buy it. I respect the way you think, but hate they way you implemented it.

Amazon should absolutely use some help from the Zune or Apple design devisions! :)

[mullingit0ver Posted Dec 12th 2007 7:28PM]

Ebooks in general are the most worthless ideas this side of the 1800s. I supported Adobe products for a while and Ebooks were a nightmare. Only idiots used them, and then only long enough to bitterly regret it. I can't believe the tech blogs with two brain cells to rub together aren't lampooning the Kindle with extreme prejudice. It's a step back from plain old paper and ink in terms of usability and practicality.

"It's like paper and ink, but hey, we also threw in some DRM! Isn't that great!? Only $400!"

[hotpuck6 Posted Dec 12th 2007 9:01PM]

i agree.
i see no point in ebook readers, especially when i can't even see the need to carry my newspaper, a magazine, and my top 5 favorite books of all time with me at any one time.

considering paper books are still fairly cheap, and the digital copies don't offer too much savings, you have to LOVE LOVE LOVE your literature to swallow the $400 asking price for this thing.

Even if you're going on vacation, how much of a burden is two 400 page books, which you can throw almost anywhere in your luggage and not have to pack to protect the screen?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2007 10:17PM]

Easily pressed buttons are good. Any one who has tried to read a book on something like a palm pilot knows that a firm button press leads to divotitus in ones finger tip. Along with an amount of pain and agony.

[pk Posted Dec 13th 2007 12:06AM]

I really don't get it... Why does the Kindle receive so much attention? It got so much criticism, bad ergonomic designs and such... Why so much hype?? The Sony Reader is pretty much left unspoken of... even though it doesn't look ugly and all... -_-"

I think Sony fails to market its e-book reader or people just look past it.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 18th 2007 4:35PM]

I am sorry to read all those lousy comments on Starck jacket, Starck leather pants ... it is very poor comments whereas it is better to concentrate on the real subject. And FYI, his jacket is a REAL motorbike jacket (he even removed some shoulder pads), as he bikes everyday!! Let's be a bit less shallow PLEASE!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 29th 2007 12:07PM]

Given the way this Starck fellow dresses, those silly shoulder pads and pants too tight for a man his age, his comments about the design of the kindle are rather pompous and pretentious. He comes off like a bitter old q****n.