Why the Amazon Kindle is MUCH More then an eBook Reader – And I Love It!

I’m not easily impressed with technology, but the Kindle stokes my fire. As far as the unit displaying eBooks, magazines, and papers I could care less. The two features that have me excited is the always connected EVDO modem and the “Ask Kindle NowNow” feature (Also, the screen is nothing short of amazing – Its really sharp and clear).
The “Ask Kindle NowNow” feature basically is an entire human powered research department at your fingertips – all for free! You can ask the Kindle research team up to three questions at a time directly from your kindle and within 10 minutes you will be a VERY detailed response to your email address. Asking a slew of sample questions I find the answers very detailed, sources cited properly basically any students dream, or a great too to settle bar bets.
With the free EVDO connection, basic web browser, and “Ask Kindle NowNow” I can quickly justify the price of this device.

link to this product, so we can look at the specs?
Here you go http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/ref=amb_link_5873612_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=1N8S5Z36F3AF0RQHJ11X&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=329252801&pf_rd_i=507846
THEN -> THAN. That kind of thing drives me nuts! If you’re going to make grammatical errors, please, at least not in the title. :-)
Ebook readers as a whole strike me as a solution in search of a problem. Regular books work quite well, and they don’t require a $400 container.
The “ask kindle” feature sounds interesting, as long as it stayed free.
Can you search a regular book for a word or phrase? Can you annotate a regular book without messing it up? Can you bookmark any pages you want without much effort? And be able to easily switch from one bookmark to the next.
Tom: I always thought ebook readers would be ideal for those in university. In an age where textbooks can easily run you over $400, the size, weight, and convenience of an e-book reader would be a dream. If universities would issue one to each student (or subsidize them) and the text be available at $20 a pop, they would really take off.
First the iPhone, then the Eee PC, now the Kindle. Is there any electronic toy you don’t buy, Dan? ;)
Obviously the hardware is hideous, unfortunately even so is the entire model. Hence even for those that have little respect for behavioral economics, this is a case of a gadget designed for a business model instead of an intelligent solution designed with the users first in mind.
Sounds like great fun! My first questions: Is the Kindle worth $400? and Are you free tonight? ;)
Seriously, I was so close to pulling the trigger but I bought Rockband today instead. I guess I’m not very intellectual. I assume that “experimental” web browser and data will not be free when it leaves the labs.
That thing is just plain ugly.
I just wanted to encourage you to support the NowNow workers by voting. Unless their answers are voted “great” they only receive 3 cents per answer. Obviously if it is a poor answer they don’t deserve the vote, but Amazon’s “research department” is a bit more comparable to an online sweatshop.
Watch out for the charges that May occur when surfing the internet on it. The TOS clearly states that the EVDO(WhisperNET) is only free for kindle store use and any use for surfing the internet will be charged.
I am sure that it is in “testing” they won’t charge you but don’t get to used to it :) .