Is the Kindle Going on Your Holiday Wishlist?
As Om reports over on GigaOM, Amazon’s Kindle device has taken a price cut and is now available internationally. I’ll be adding one to my holiday wishlist this year; it’s the perfect device for anyone who likes to read and travels frequently but doesn’t want to lug books and magazines with them. I have been dying to be able to get my mitts on one here in the UK. However, as Om notes, the price still looks a little steep at $279 (plus international shipping and taxes — as yet, Amazon.co.uk is not selling it and international customers must order through Amazon.com).
Now that the Kindle has dropped in price and is available internationally, will you buy one?
I’m over in the US and I don’t want one. I still, and I think always will, prefer a physical book. The don’t break, you can take notes in them, have them hold things, and they’re learning curve is a lot less.
Oh, and Amazon won’t be knocking on your door looking to take one back that you purchased. ;)
that’s certainly true, and I will still read books at home. but as someone who often fills up way too much luggage space with books (and then has to lug the weight around), a decent ebook reader sounds like the perfect solution…
Agreed on the aesthetics of real books. I too enjoy that. Although the possibility of carrying multiple books is attractive, I am turned off the Kindle by the recent mess over Amazon deleting purchased books. Whether or not they promised not to do it again, the fact that they have the capability is worrisome. I don’t know if this issue applies to any other ebook readers.
I’ve put together a table with international Kindle details that lists every country in which Kindle is available along with number of books, their pricing, wireless availability etc
Any idea why it is not yet available in Canada? I find that curious that the international version is made available to other countries, and yet not to Canada. Yet, anyway.
I didn’t know that was that was the case, but I imagine that it’s probably a rights/licensing issue.
I already have and love the Kindle – it’s lightweight, easy to read, fits in my purse, holds hundreds of books, magazines, blogs & newspapers, you can add notes and bookmarks, battery only needs charging every couple of weeks, plus you can instantly download the book you want in seconds. Although costly to buy upfront, the books are quite a bit cheaper and the convenience is worth it. I also convert and add my ebooks and documents so I have everything with me and reading is easier on the eyes than reading on a computer screen.
I have purchased a couple of traditional books lately as they were business books I knew I would really use, mark up and flip through so didn’t want them on Kindle. Also wouldn’t buy any type of workbook or picture book in Kindle format.
Besides for travelling, the Kindle is great for anyone carpooling, waiting to pick up kids, reading in bed (yes, you can curl up with your Kindle!), waiting at appointments, taking breaks at work or in coffee shops. It’s just really convenient to have with you everywhere. And no, I’m not an affiliate or anything!
Also Apple Mac is going to unveil soon the “kindle” killer according to some apple teams. So competition will be rude and I think that only one will win the market.
I’ve been slowly but surely trying to pull my Dad, an avid reader (and by avid I mean an average of 10 books a day!), into the world of technology for years now. It’s been a slow and sometimes painful process, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that A) he took my recommendation of opening a wishlist for the holidays on myregistry.com and B)he added a Kindle to his wishlist!! The price may still be somewhat steep, but I’m not taking any chances on reversing his progress, so I must buy one for him this year!