Jeff Bertolucci at PC World argues that the iPhone App wont effect the $359 Kindle unit sales for Amazon. It would only bring in the millions of iPhone users as eBook readers to Amazon.
The argument is supported by the fact that the touchscreen scrolling and small screen size isnt very ergonomical and would irritate users. “A few hours of finger-dragging and screen-tapping to navigate pages and resize text is enough to drive anyone crazy.”
I cant agree more to this, while physical buttons would be much better and e-ink display is much more pleasant to the eyes only serious and very regular ebook readers would go for the Kindle. The free iPhone app would bring in casual users and drive ebook sales without the $359 investment in a Kindle that would deter the occassional users.
The iPhone has its own charm, it will bring in its own set of readers…
So what do you think?
iPhone / iPod touch downloads
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I can’t agree with the article more. For on-the-go reading, I may be okay with using iPod, but Kindle 2 is designed to be much easier to read than most backlit LCD screens so for serious and at-length reading, I would take Kindle 2 in general.
While I am very interested in Kindle, I am still waiting for these books to be DRM free. It’s just so much easier and “thought-free” when I don’t have to worry about DRM and how I use something.
Speaking of DRM-free, Amazon does have an awesome MP3 store that is DRM-free with a large selection and often good prices. It would be nice if they had the same thing with books.
On the note about Amazon, I recently came across an interesting table that details the discounts on Amazon.
It is at http://www.uberi.com
Maybe someone will find it useful too.
My biggest concern about the Kindle, aside from it’s weird, book-buring-esque name, is that it compromises the integrity of the written word. A printed book may be unwieldy, but you know that once it’s on your shelf, not one letter is going to change. Can’t say the same for the Kindle.
Also, when I spill coffee all over a book, I’ve only ruined that particular book