Amazon and Google both want you to want e-books

by Brad Linder Sep 6th 2007

The New York Times reports that there are two major developments coming on the e-book front. And by major developments, we mean big name companies plan to launch products or services that will make the world shrug and then move on with their business.

Amazon is expected to launch its Kindle e-Book reader in October. According to the New York Times, the device will cost between $400 and $500 and include the ability to download content over a Wi-Fi connection. No computer needed. While that does set the device apart from previous e-book readers, the price tag is still a bit high considering you can buy a lot of books for $400.

The Kindle will reportedly come with some freebies like reference books and the ability to read RSS feeds. We can barely contain our enthusiasm while we flip through the same content on our PDAs.

Google, on the other hand plans to monetize its Book Search service with more than paid links. An upcoming upgrade will allow you to access full versions of some books for a fee. Currently you only get snippets of most books available on Google Book Search. No word on whether Google plans to offer downloadable versions of the books or if you'll need to plop down in front of your computer for a good read.

These two approaches raise a good question. Is the reason that e-books haven't taken off because of the hardware or the software? Do we need better e-book reading devices that mimic or improve the experience or reading a paper book? Or are there enough devices out there for people who want them, but a lack of content (particularly DRM-free content)?

Tags: amazon, e-book, e-books, ebook, ebooks, kindle

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ComicDork said 11:29AM on 9-06-2007

There is almost nothing I want more in this world technology-wise than an 'eBook' and, I fear, it will never be done correctly until Apple does it (and I say that even after yesterday's uber-confusing releases).

Seriously, how hard can this be to do? Just say "What would Steve Jobs & Team do?" and go from there. have you ever tried to use Sony's HORRIBLE portable 'Reader'... what idiots.

>sigh< someone just copy the size of a 'Pad' from Star Trek and go from there. Can't be that hard.

stuff said 11:29AM on 9-06-2007

Had the Sony reader for about a month. It's a) not as easy on the eyes when reading as it's cracked up to be, b) WAY too expensive (as is this new one, from the looks of things), and c) although not proprietary to e-ink technology, wasn't back lit for night time/in-bed reading. I agree with ComicDork, too, that there additionally needs to be a design element to the unit.

keeves said 12:22PM on 9-06-2007

If e-books were going to take off they would have done so before now. I bet 99% of people would prefer to sit down with a book, who's battery will never run out, which you are not scared about loosing, which hasn't cost an absolute fortune...

Shops started selling mp3s because there was a massive illegal downloading of them going on. (demand). there isn't anywhere near that much downloading happening with e-books at present, suggesting that people arn't that interested.

sharonlives said 1:47PM on 9-06-2007

I want an ebook reader more than anything, but I will NEVER pay more than $100 for it. They should just bundle one into the ipod touch. That would be ideal. I'd pay more for that feature. Or maybe I'd be fine if someone would show me how to hack that feature into the ipod. Whatever. I'm sick of waiting.

Mysterius said 9:52PM on 9-06-2007

Hardware, definitely. Or even software readers. I've yet to find software or hardware that makes eBook reading as easy and enjoyable as a physical copy.
I believe it can be done (and have had a few ideas on how), not that a physical copy is intrinsically superior to a digital copy.
The reason why massive pirating of ebooks isn't near the scale of music pirating is because books are much harder to copy, and the lack of a easy way to read them digitally. Music is both easy to copy to a computer and easily played back; ebooks lack such easy sharing. That's why pirated ebooks haven't taken off like music or software.

Victor Agreda, Jr. said 8:18AM on 9-07-2007

Apple would likely point out that the hardware and software are BOTH important, especially to the end-user and the experience they have with any device. iPod with WinMo?

Cost certainly has to plummet-- these things aren't HD res 1 billion color 60fps gaming machines! But when Adobe can't even make a PDF reader worth a crap (on Palm OS anyway) then you know the industry just doesn't really care.

paket said 9:03PM on 9-10-2007

The price of the reader needs to be reduced by an order of magnitude for ebooks to have a chance. Seriously - look at the Nintendo DS. You can pick up one for $180 Cdn. Why does an ebook reader cost $400?

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