Oprah calls Kindle "her new favorite thing," gives everyone $50 off
By Darren Murph 
posted October 25th 2008 6:36PM
posted October 25th 2008 6:36PM
[Thanks, Chad]
posted October 25th 2008 6:36PM
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I don't have one, and could not get one here if I wanted, but to dismiss the thing like that seems silly, it's a device that has its niche, it allows amazon users to comfortably (e-ink is less eyestrain) read their electronic versions of books and buy and have them delivered almost everywhere (in the US) wirelessly and instantly.
Surely anybody can see there's a use for that, that there are a group of people for whom it is very convenient and nice.
Personally I don't like that it's so tied to the mothercompany and that you have to convert anything you want to read not bought from them through their server, but that's a more legitimate complaint than presented by ford, to say it's a 1-use device is like complaining shoes are worthless because you only use them for walking.
I much prefer the Sony Reader. Never understood why people suddenly got excited when Amazon released its in-bred version, though I realise content is the driving force. Oh, for an open source reader.
"Never understood why people suddenly got excited when Amazon released its in-bred version, though I realise content is the driving force."
As a Sony PRS-500 owner I purchased a Kindle and prefer it over the Sony. The main reason being the whispernet. The convenience of being able to purchase a book or newspaper or even basic light web browsing on the fly resulted in me never using my Sony again.
Sure the kindle is function over form, but after getting into a book I don't pay much attention to its looks.
$300 for something that can only read books?
Sorry, I'm a bit stuck on my iPhone, with it's ability to read pdfs, and a whole lot more, for less.
The iPhone's battery lasts about six hours. The Kindle's lasts two weeks, and it doesn't give you eyestrain. Unless you've seen an e-reader (whether Sony's, or Plastic Logic's, or Amazon's), it's very easy to underestimate how much better it is for reading than anything that uses an LCD screen.
Plastic Logic's E-Reader leaves the Kindle in the dust. If it ever comes out...
oh and
@Greg ...reading on the iphone kind of sucks. I wouldn't want to read books off my computer screen or my iPhone screen!
Plastic Logic E-Reader will cost $700-1000 when it is released and will be targeted to executives for the first few years until the price drops. However it will be very impressive.
The Kindle's the best thing I ever bought, but I don't blame some of you techies for not seeing what's so great about it. It can't play videos, or play music, or make calls, or send e-mail or texts, or even display pictures in color. It doesn't even have a flashy design. Then again, with literally dozens if not hundreds of other devices to do those things for you, who needs yet another multifunction device?
The choice here is simple:
- If you read, buy the Kindle.
- If you don't read, don't buy it.
For those of you who DO read, if you buy the Kindle, you'll find yourself reading MORE. I have almost a hundred books on my Kindle since I bought it six months ago, and I've read almost all of them. That's a far cry from the one or two books every six months I used to manage before I bought them. The Kindle makes book reading almost as convenient as listening to music on an iPod.
Oh, it does do one other thing pretty well: it allows you to search Wikipedia wherever you are, as long as your Kindle has a wireless signal (it has free access to Sprint's EV-DO network, so there's wireless service pretty much anywhere).
Instant book downloads + instant Wikipedia access + expandable SD slot + over 100 books = reading bliss.
The ACORN doesn't fall far from the tree.
Besides "Kindle" being Oprah's "favorite new gadget," Jeff Bezos is one of Oprah's "favorite charity benefactors."
Given that Oprah and Bezos have a long relationship, and are involved with a number of charities together, I'm sure Bezos will "somehow" make it up to Oprah.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=oprah+bezos+charity
OMG an exposé about oprah, quick; everybody find some square midle-aged women that cares ASAP!
Oops. didn't think those women read engadget, sorry :x
Yes, there is no color screen, no backlight, no OS, nor is it able to play games... oh wait.. it's an ebook reader... it's meant to not cause eyestrain though epaper and.. wow.. allow the user to read books. Novel idea I realize, but there you have it. Some of us still enjoy reading, shocking I know, but it beats the heck out of carrying around 200 of my favorite reference books at any given moment. This has been beyond it's value to me in just the ability to have a library full of reference materials at my finger tips in the weight of a paperback. If you don't like it, don't buy one. But what is the point in slamming a product simply because you are ignorant of it's intended use?
No thanks. I'm waiting for the Readius due out in December.
http://www.readius.com/
What are you talking about? Why would anyone let a "retard" on their show? How did you go to form Oprah to Palin? By your post it seems you are jealous of Oprah?
Wait, so Kindle 2.0 is definitely not coming out this holiday season? What about those spyshots showing the new version from TheBoyGenius or whatever?? I mean, I know the new version does not look much better, but I'm all for upgrades! I really want a Kindle, but I want a version that at least is more user friendly/the next iteration up.
I'll pay the $50 extra if it means I can AVOID Tom cruise jumping on my desk. That would just be priceless.
Only $50 off? That cheap bitch.
How presumptuous is that woman. I think this is a wonderful example of Oprah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQL9IKMWIWA
Was this really the way you planned on coming out of the closet? Hope it went well, asshole.
Oprah has nice tits..I liek the way her dresses fit..
Ahhh skeet skeet!!
your one freaken desperate dude,, can't you go look at someone who attually looks god\od
I thought today Flashpoint actually got high-ranked. I must have been hit on the head with a giant rubber mallet or something.
"Fusion Fuzo @ Oct 25th 2008 6:54PM
em i hate it dosent do much and FUGLY,
my eeepc has a colour screen and dose everything else the kindle dose better with more features and no oprah or mad people (cough 'tom cruise')
nobody will buy a kindle"
Of course YOU won't buy a Kindle. It's for people who read. With spelling and grammar skills like that you are obviously illiterate.
Kindle is great, if you're oprah and replacing your book collection isn't a big deal because amazon discontinues the server, or simply screws up a server.
What's wrong with her eyes ?
is it just me or has she been resembling curtis '50 cent' jackson more and more off late?
We need a caption contest for that picture!
"em i hate it dosent do much and FUGLY."
Well, I could say the same about you!
This is awsome, but make sense. Need to compete with Sony.
@High ranks make you sterile
i like your name...however, i hate your game
I looked under my chair and all I get is a lousy 50 buck coupon?!
Still way expensive, and books you can't reset or give away to someone else is just silly.
In fact with DRM you could in fact transfer books to other people in a secure way, but alas no good use seems to come out of drm.
This may sound old-time-ish, but for somebody who is encouraging going back to basics of reading books and in turn enhancing dwindling literacy in the country, endorsing such an expensive way of reading books is definitely not going to trickle down to the people she is trying to reach... or maybe she is reaching out only to the rich who inspite of their wealth are still illiterate. There's something about actual paper books that make reading more enjoyable and fruitful.
Damn you, Oprah! You're tempting me! I've sworn to wait until Kindle 2.0 releases...but a $50 savings is a very tempting thing.
However, like a previous commenter noted, this could all be a plot for Amazon to exhaust the rest of their Kindle 1.0 stock before officially unveiling 2.0. What to do, what to do?!
I was in the same boat as you... I planned on waiting, but I personally just placed my order. I honestly don't read much and I really do want to read more. I'm really excited.
If a new version comes out soon I'll survive, plus you know the new one will be back up to $400. I figure I just saved myself $100.
well, patrick, at least he's not becoming sterile like the rest of us ;)
Note to Oprah. Eat a salad.
idc what allot of people say, the kindle is quite nice and i do not care if its good looking. if i want looks i use a real computer, and seeing as the kindle is an e-reader, its not SUPPOSED to play games and have WiFi access. when you are reading, you shouldn't notice the shape or non color screen. also if you are reading a book, does one noice the cover if its ugly? NO! its facing away! as with the poster
Mike10010100 an eeepc is not good for reading for long periods of time, nor can it come CLOSE to the same battery life. you sir, obviously cannot or do not read.
is there some place where I can get to see a Kindle?
I wouldn't mind "test driving" one but I'm just not
ready to buy one yet....
does anyone here have one?
Stand up and defend your Kindle!
Who designed these things? I wanna see them give one to a total stranger and see how long it takes for them to figure it out.
oprah's favorite thing is probably much more naughty.
gotta say I really do not like Oprah. Everyone thinks that everything she says is gold...two weeks ago I bet she didn't even know what a freaking Kindle was...I mean come on!
a kindle for you, a kindle for you , a kindle for you, and a axe kick to the face for Oprah...from me.
Slate her as much as you like, she is still $6 billion richer than any of you :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3U_QQfTUmI
Does this thing or the Sony one let you read .pdf stuff that you can get from bittorrents? And does it do text only or can it display color images as well?
When will the $50 offer be available on Kindle again.
Thanx
Well this is cool, more people will know about be interested and hopefully it'll get a lot bigger a lot sooner.
Oh and that Tom Cruise joke was so funny and original! The media hasn't exhausted that topic for jokes at all!
http://www.2dayplaza.com Link >> http://www.2dayplaza.com/amazon-kindle/