Kindle Fire?

[Alistair]

I didn't get too much time to play with it last night, but I liked just about everything I saw (although, no Facebook app? really?)

the one review I read described it as "80% of an iPad for 40% of the cost." that seems about right to me.

I logged onto Facebook threw the Web connect, and when I logged off there was a Facebook app on it.

Been a few days now. This thing is purely awesome.

I love mine too. I haven't missed anything that an iPad has, and I still have $300 in my pocket!

 

[NYCisME]

Yeah, I'm with you. And I always argue that Kindle is the ereader for people who love books. The electronic ink doesn't hurt your eyes and gives the closest look to a book page.

I'm a book-lover, but I've never understood that argument.

e-books are better in nearly every possible way.

they're easier to obtain, more accessible (someone who can't see well can simply increase the font size; someone who can't see at all can have the book reader speak the words), and allow authors to take their books directly to the market, circumventing the publishing houses.

I spent a week in the hospital a couple years ago, and my kindle saved my life... I was confined to my bed and had nothing else to do but read. I was plowing through books on my kindle at an ungodly pace; if I was relying on traditional paper books, I'd have been stuck with whatever 2-3 books my mom grabbed from my apartment, rather than having access to a library of millions of new books.

 

[TX-Beau]

You know, I used to say that I'd never give up my hardcopy. I've spent most of my life lugging around boxes and boxes and boxes of books - some of which I've had since I was 14 or so. Some are my old friends that I've read more times than I can count, I was really skeptical, then my Mom - who isn't much of a reader and didn't really understand, bought me a kindle for my birthday.

Yeah I was leery. But you know what, I love my kindle, It's not at all different from the hardcopy experience, and while I'm sure I'm going to hang on to those hardcopy books that I have a lot of sentimental attachment to, I don't see myself adding to those (literally) thousands of books I've accumulated over my life.

If I think that a book is going to make it into my most read and re-read category, I'll probably buy the harcopy - but then again maybe not.

The only criticism I have is that the search function for a particular page, or going back to the index or up to the TOC in Kindle then back to where you were is a little cluncky until you get used to it.

But really, this is the future - and it does free the Author. I've read a whole lot of books from people with no publishing contracts, no publicity - and a lot of the time no talent, but then I think that's a good thing.

Ebooks fucking explode the choke point between you and a world of people who you'd never have even had a chance to read. Most of them are crap, but then there are jewels in the chaff, and the sample function lets you read before you buy.

Not to mention the authors who give books and storied away for free just to get your attention.

When was the last time you saw a publishing house giving you free content just to get an audience?

(warning grandiose vision) Renaissance people! Writers writing good or bad just for the love of it!

 

[maxpowr9]

That's why I've been interested in a kindle too. However, I think I am gonna hold back on getting a Kindle Fire until a new model comes out or if it comes down to it, I may even get an ipad 3 in April.

 

[JB3]

The Fire (and the Nook Color/Tablet) are dumb tablets. But that's okay for their intended use. I have an iPad 2 and a Nook Color, and I would never in a million years read on the iPad 2. Its just painful on the eyes and too big. I do have the 3G iPad 2 though, so its a really nice thing to have on the go.

THAT being said, though, I wouldn't really use the Color for anything related to media. If I wanted to look something up quick, I'd use the web-browser. Apps and all that are nice to have on the Color (and the Fire as well), but it isn't a must-have.