Anyone else excited about a Kindle Fire?

[megabyteme]

For $200 you get full color, multiple formats, it's portable- even compared to a netbook. I'm more excited about that than I have been about any other product in the past 2 years.

I would be less excited if I had to pay for all the books I would read, but we're pirates. Arggg! Bring on the books, magazines, heck, even audio books play on the thing. It'll even play basic games like Angry Birds.


Thoughts? A similar item that is better?

[Skiz]

I'm planning to buy the gf one for Christmas so I'll be eager to play with it. She's avoided buying a Kindle thus far because she likes to browse the bookstore and find new books, but I think she'll take to it once she has one in her hands. If not, I know someone who'll use it.

[megabyteme]

My wife is very resistant to the idea of "abandoning" books. She has a thing for the way they feel, and the way old, enjoyed books become worn. It didn't seem to phase her that I could grab more books in a single night than she could read in the rest of her lifetime.

I think the gradual way in is to grab magazines that would be of interest to them. Once they find that the technology itself isn't evil, it will be only a matter of time before they will take to them... that and loading it up with popular games.

For me, it seems sooo practical.

[IdolEyes787]

Once they find that the technology itself isn't evil, it will be only a matter of time before they will take to them...

Convenient isn't always better.Everything just fades to background noise if no effort is involved.
If you can honestly tell me that you would have as much attachment for whatever book happens to be your favourite if you stole it off the internet and read it on the glowing LED of an E-reader then colour me mistaken.

[megabyteme]

The thing is, books don't need to become obsolete simply because we can browse through them on an e-reader. If something is deemed worthy of print, there is no reason why it should not be purchased, and saved. I have all of my textbooks with exception of freshman and sophomore years- nothing of true reference, ftmp.

I can say that I would love to have all of the same textbooks in my library available in a single folder, or perhaps organized by subject/program. I am certain I would reference them more often- no digging, or hunting through years of school.

I will consider your question over the next few days, and will try to examine it fairly. So far, convenience is outweighing attachment. I may think of some book that me re-evaluate, though.

EDIT- My wife did mention worn-out, loved children's books as being special, and irreplaceable. I can see her point, but still see no reason why the vast majority of reading material can be replaced with "digital ink".

[username-]

Would this be a decent alternative to the ipad? My girl wants a tablet but I'm hesitant to spend $500 on something I don't think she'll use as much as she thinks she will.
She doesn't read a whole lot.
I'm at their amazon page now and it looks like it'd fit her needs but my question is, what does the ipad offer that this doesn't?

edit: Just saw this:http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/tech/g...pad/index.html
Looks good, It's smaller and only has 8gb storage but that's not too big of an issue.

I think I'll get her this. Thanks for the heads up. =)

[megabyteme]

That's really cool, username- ! Very glad I could help with your Christmas shopping. Hope she enjoys it.

FURTHER THOUGHTS...

I have to wonder how many people got up in arms against the printing press when it first came out. Who would not cherish the loving attention, and detail of a hand-copied book? Doesn't a book lose something when it is mass-produced via cold, lifeless machines? How can block print ever have the same meaning as a hand-scribed quill pen manuscript? How can a book even be considered special if the masses can obtain it?

And what of the movement from scrolls to books. Think there were some resistors during that time, as well?

Aren't you, to a certain degree, making these kinds of resistance to change arguments, Idol?

[Funkin']

This is what I've been waiting on. A full color Kindle, so I'll definitely be getting one.

[mjmacky]

FURTHER THOUGHTS...

I have to wonder how many people got up in arms against the printing press when it first came out. Who would not cherish the loving attention, and detail of a hand-copied book? Doesn't a book lose something when it is mass-produced via cold, lifeless machines? How can block print ever have the same meaning as a hand-scribed quill pen manuscript? How can a book even be considered special if the masses can obtain it?

And what of the movement from scrolls to books. Think there were some resistors during that time, as well?

Aren't you, to a certain degree, making these kinds of resistance to change arguments, Idol?

I'm not quite sold on papyrus

[IdolEyes787]

Aren't you, to a certain degree, making these kinds of resistance to change arguments, Idol?

If by change you mean pointless,hype driven consumerism then yes.

I mean look at what username- wrote "I'm not even sure that my girlfriend will use it but it's shiny and new so obvious better ,not to mention waaay cool so I'll drop a couple hundred dollars on it because that being less than an iPad is obviously a good deal".
Or seeing as she "doesn't read much" get her a library card and send the money to an African relief agency.