espite being coastally challenged (currently living in Philadelphia), Josh has been an active entrepreneur and investor in the Internet industry since its commercialization. In 1992, while he was a student at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Josh co-founded Infonautics Corporation – an Internet information company. In 1996, Infonautics went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Why Kindle is a hit...
When Amazon announced their Kindle last year, I bought one. I wasn't too optimistic, as I had read a lot of bad reviews.
However, to my surprise, I've really enjoyed my Kindle experience. The screen is extremely readable -- and while the controls are somewhat limiting, it's very easy to use. And as long as I view the Kindle as a replacement for a book (rather than a replacement for a PC), it has surpassed my expectations. So I'm not surprised to see today's reports that Kindle is a hit.
More importantly, I've found that I have purchased about 3 times more books using the Kindle than I otherwise would have purchased. Surprisingly, the primary drivers of my increased purchases are due to the business model -- not the actual hardware. Specifically:
1) My bookshelves at home are filled with books that I never finish. There's nothing more frustrating than buying a book, getting 20 pages into it, and then deciding that you don't like it. Amazon's Kindle allows you to download the first few chapters of a book for free - so you can make a purchase decision after you've started to read the book. Very cool. I've avoided purchasing more than six books because I didn't like how they began.
2) The average book on the Kindle costs under $10. While it's still more you'd pay at Half.com, the instantaneous download and low price do provide a real benefit. I've downloaded books on trains, at airports and at hotels -- and have found that the experience is seamless and addictive.
The biggest drawback? Reading on planes. Use of electronic devices is prohibited during the first 20 minutes of a plane ride. It's pretty frustrating to see everyone around you reading a book/newspaper, when your Kindle needs to be holstered.
Indeed. I am glad to hear they are doing well. as I just blogged here ( http://whydoeseverythingsuck.com/2008/01/end-of-feature-phone-market-shifting.html ) I think the reviewers, mainly tech focused, really want the kindle to be a computer. I think the minimalist design is great for a book reader, and not having a great web browser doesnt make it a bad book reader.
Posted by: Hank Williams | January 31, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Is the Kindle "hot" because there was a lot of pent-up demand for a decent ebook reading device? Or is it hot because it's an interesting wi-fi-enabled tablet device with very limited availability put out by a respected .com?
Posted by: pwb | February 01, 2008 at 03:58 PM
If I still did killer gonzo biz travel - I'd definitely have one due to fit of function to need (portability, ease of use)
However, I wouldn't see Kindle as a complete replacement for books. Books (particularly old ones) are a different experience - the look, the feel, the clippings tucked away that haven't been read in 50 years, the notes in the margins. I believe (fervently hope) that hard copy books will never go away.
And then there's the thrill of long rainy afternoon ramblings through library shelves. Can't do that with neat-o little electronic device.
Posted by: Mary Schmidt | February 04, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Josh:
What about the aesthetics of the device for reading? How do you feel about not touching paper... or kicking back on the plane with a hard device instead of a soft cover?
Posted by: Aaron Cohen | February 06, 2008 at 05:12 PM
I agree with you on most points. I actually really enjoy my Kindle and have downloaded tons of books. My drawback is that I'm living in the UK and I can't even take advantage of the Whispernet functionality. Here is my review on the Kindle: http://www.nerdgirl.com/2007/12/24/kindelicious/
Oh and a hint of how to read in the bathtub: http://www.nerdgirl.com/2007/12/27/waterproof-kindle/
Posted by: Stephanie | February 13, 2008 at 05:01 AM
josh - the plane wont crash if you fire it up. some rules are made to be broken. shaving in a shvitz and this one for sure.
we love the kindle as well.
Posted by: howard lindzon | February 16, 2008 at 11:51 PM
josh - the plane wont crash if you fire it up. some rules are made to be broken. shaving in a shvitz and this one for sure.
we love the kindle as well.
Posted by: howard lindzon | February 16, 2008 at 11:51 PM
I want a Kindle as soon as they are available again! I was so excited when I saw it on the View.
Posted by: Jessica | February 25, 2008 at 07:13 PM
I want a Kindle as soon as they are available again! I was so excited when I saw it on the View.
Posted by: Jessica | February 25, 2008 at 07:13 PM
I'm with Jessica. I want a kindle as soon as they're available too. I signed up to follow a bot on twitter that checks Amazon.com regularly to see if the kindle is available. When they do become available, the bot will send me a text message saying so! http://twitter.com/kindleme
Posted by: Ryan | March 30, 2008 at 01:17 PM