Ars reviews the Kindle

Brian Ambrozy 27 Nov, 2007 at 9:30am ET Article published in Tech

Dumb name, decent device, but not what the hype made it out to be. Ars gives the scoop.

Comments

28 Nov 2007 ~ 11:12am CB If my city had a good mass transit system, or if I did a lot of flying, I would want one of these.

Okay, I admit, I want one anyway, but I wouldn't use it nearly as much as I think I would... if that makes any sense.
28 Nov 2007 ~ 11:29am primesuspect I totally understand what you mean. The Japanese probably have a word for this exact feeling, but yeah... I get ya.
29 Jan 2008 ~ 1:47pm RWB I hate to resurrect dead topics, but I am currently contemplating on buying one of these. But the one thing that keeps me from buying it is all these extra features that detract from it's main use, for me that is. I don't care about the keyboard, I don't care about wireless web access, I don't care about playing music on it.... ok well I take that back I am THAT guy who plays Celtic music in the background on a very low volume don't mock me!

I would be willing to bid my time if someone came out with a version that was simply a large 7" screen, no keyboard or well hidden, and a back/forward button plus a menu for selecting which book to read. I see no reason for more than 3 buttons, some TV's use only a Menu button and the volume buttons for selecting and changing values of whatever is in the menu just fine.

Sure that dictionary feature is nice and all, but I just want to take a book outside and read it really. I like this electronic version becuase of winds vs. book. PLUS it's always that one side of the book that is just easier to read.

The other features are cool as well with the cellular like wireless for buying and downloading new books, but I'd have NO problem with using my computer for that and having a dock to sync it up or something. But the web browser? That's just a gimmick unless they can make full color epaper which I would spend twice what the kindle costs for.

My ultimate hopes for a year from now, is a full color epaper kindle in the description I made above. I'd pay $1000 for it, and love it. But currently with 90,000 books you'd think they'd also have Harry Potter in there somewhere as I am currently working my way through them all right now. And only two battletech books as well. Maybe in 2 months things will change or maybe some new info on the next version or something before I decide to buy one or not.
29 Jan 2008 ~ 2:06pm Linc I've ultimately decided the device is for someone with more disposable income than I have.
29 Jan 2008 ~ 2:36pm RWB Well here we go... just a bit more research and I would have found it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMz1iwkZFbE&feature=related