Career Gear Update: Amazon Kindle to Re-Kindle Reading
Posted on | November 23, 2007 | No Comments
Amazon unveiled it’s new wireless handheld reading device, the Kindle, on Monday. The device is a thin, white device no thicker than a pencil that weighs in at 10.3 ounces. The Kindle allows users to read newspapers, novels and everything in between on it’s 6-inch screen. The Kindle has a 600×800-pixel resolution with a four-level gray scale (sorry, no vibrant colors but the resolution is crisp and easy to read even with a glare). The Kindle’s sharp resolution is the closest simulation to real paper and ink that I’ve seen on any similar device. 
Thumbs up to Mr. Bezo’s for remembering us lefties. The Kindle features previous and next page buttons on both the left and right side. It also features a scroll wheel to advance the page up and down.
The Kindle features it’s own QWERTY keyboard (great for annotating pages), a built-in dictionary, wireless access to Wikipedia and, one of my favorite features, adjustable text size.
Amazon’s Bezo’s is apparently channeling his inner-Steve (Jobs) and attempting to do for e-books and newspapers what Jobs did for music. Much like iTunes for the iPod, Amazon created the Kindle Store with nearly 90,000 novels, New York Times bestsellers and newspapers available for download. Most titles are $9.99 (just like an album on iTunes).
Now, for the best part of all…search, download, all wirelessly. No computer needed (unlike iTunes). Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.
If I haven’t gotten you all hot and bothered yet, maybe the $399 price tag or the fact that the Kindle is SOLD OUT will move you. The Kindle won’t be back in stock until December 7th and there’s already a waiting list.
Who knows if Mr. Bezos will succeed in e-book market domination (or is it salvation?), or if the Kindle will be just what newspapers need to boost their sagging readership and ad sales. All I know is that I’m excited to read my next book on my very own Kindle.
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