Why the Kindle is a Success … and a Failure
Originally posted on The Writers Vineyard
The new version of the Kindle was announced today so I thought this would be an appropriate topic to blog about.
In many ways, the Kindle is a massive success. Demand far exceeded supply of the old version of this eReader and the new version is only better.
- It’s easier to use. All reviews so far indicate that the Kindle is even easier to use than its predecessor, eliminating the accidental turning of page, the most common complaint.
- It’s smaller, thinner, lighter, and more stylish. Gone is old retro 80’s look of the original Kindle.
- It holds more books. The original held over 200 titles, the new one over 1,500.
- Battery life is better. You can now read for up to two weeks with the wireless access turned off on a single charge.
- Crisper display. The new Kindle has 16 shades of grey, 4 times as many as the original.
- It’s faster. Page turns are 20% faster.
All of these things add to the core of what made the Kindle so successful the first time. It’s easy to read in any light, the free wireless access lets Kindle users access books anywhere, anytime in less than 60 seconds, and it doesn’t feel much different from holding an actual book.
However there is one major area where the Kindle fails. Price.
At $359, the Kindle is restricted to avid - and relatively affluent - readers. Admittedly these readers are the early adopters and eventually the price will come down but in the meantime millions of existing and potential readers are left in the cold.
As an author, I want to reach as many readers as possible. While I celebrate the success of the Kindle, I also mourn at its failure. In all likelihood those avid readers who own a Kindle would also be the readers most likely to purchase The Gender Divide.
The Kindle has advanced the future of eReaders but it hasn’t done much for eBooks.
NOTE: This was originally posted in The Writers Vineyard.
I agree with you Dave. That is a steep price. But as with most electronic gadgets, the price will eventually decline significantly. I think, in addition to price, another obstacle is demographics. The generation 50 and older are generally avid readers. Most of those readers I know in that group will only buy paperback because they love the traditional look and feel of a book in their hands. The newer generation does lean toward the E version. My two sons and many of the younger people I worked with will use E media form because of the cheaper price of the book. Things will chance, gradually, but they will change.
Big Mike
Davisstories.com
Comment by Michael Davis — Thursday February 12, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
I enjoy reading SF books and often come across a new author to me although they may have been around for a while. Quite often when I look to purchase the book I find it’s out of print and thus only available through second hand book stores. While the price is often very low the postage and packing are not and as I’ve been comparing prices I find that purchasing a Kindle version of the book is often slightly less expensive than ordering the same book by post.
As I travel around a fair bit it’s not that easy to take many books with me so with the Kindle I can take a lot of books with me on my travels.
Alastair
ElectricScotland.com
Comment by Alastair McIntyre — Friday March 27, 2009 @ 11:57 pm
Alastair
Good comment and I can definitely see the value of the Kindle for people who travel a lot. As someone who reads all the time, I’d love an eReader but I’m just not convinced that the Kindle is the answer. It’s definitely a step in right direction and the Kindle has done a tremendous job of educating the public in terms of eBook awareness.
Thanks for taking the time to read.
David
Comment by David — Sunday April 5, 2009 @ 11:31 am