Comments on: Hugh Bradlow’s Kindle review

By: Maurice

Maurice — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:41:19 +0000

Recent BBC radio show 29/12:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pfl94/Front_Row_29_12_2009/

The best paperless technology I have seen is Microsoft OneNote – annotation, hand-writing, OCR, translation, knowledge management, web-page capture, knowledge search. I’m waiting for 15″ tablet pc’s to arrive. Multi-display, large screen pc’s will become more common – one display in portrait orientation for page reading and one is landscape for image display.

The 3D wirelass shutter glasses for gaming that have been around for a year or so are another interesting concept. One day, high-res glasses could replace screens.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:26:19 +0000

Great review Hugh especially that you covered the pro’s and cons so to speak.

How do you think Apps like Kobo will compete on multi purpose devices like the iPhone compared with dedicated eBook readers? Kobo have signed up with Borders and is locally available on whatever device you use in Australia which seems more versatile.

Do you think the Apple tablet rumours have any susbstance also – as that would be a real competitor if and when it comes to fruition. Personally I’m not quite ready to dish out the cash just yet for a Kindle, I still like the tactile experience (and oddly enough the smell of printed paper!) too much.

By: Kev

Kev — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:25:30 +0000

The article mentioned that there are 100,000 fewer titles available in Australia due to “geographic constraints”. Upon comparing the Australian Kindle store to the US store, it appears that we are missing most of the current bestselling authors, including Dan Brown, Stephen King, etc. If you love Jane Austen, Jules Verne or Charles Dickens you’ll have no problem but if you were thinking of buying a kindle to read all the latest best sellers, you could be in for a rude surprise.

By: Ivan Brekalo

Ivan Brekalo — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:41:57 +0000

Devices like the Kindle face the same issues as devices like PDAs – there is so much crossover with devices such as smartphones that it hardly makes it worth it forking out hundreds of dollars for another device that you have to carry around. Download ‘Stanza’ (free) on your Iphone and you can download books wirelessly or through your PC. And since most people carry their phone all the time you permanently have a library of books to read at your fingertips!

By: sorita yong

sorita yong — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:51:28 +0000

I am a huge fan of ebooks and have been using my ebook reader for over 6 years in the windows format, using Mobipocket and now E-Pub. I am not a huge fan of the kindle as I like my reader to be backlit so that i can read in bed at night without disturbing anyone or in the day when waiting at appointments. However the kindle has a place as backlit readers are not as easy to read in the daytime.
I have a library of over 2000 books on me at any time and virtually stopped buying paper books since I got my ereader.
Project Guttenberg offers readers many free classic ebooks for download and Fictionwise has weekly specials where you can download ebooks for free too.
They are so easy to use and to download books to.

By: Warren Jackson

Warren Jackson — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:25:01 +0000

Hi Hugh, As an avid reader since early childhood I have been reluctant to move away from the tactile comfort of hard/paperback. But having collected so many books now and under pressure to declutter the bookcases, reading your article was the catalyst for moving to the 21st century. I just added a kindle to my wish list for christmas. Will add some more excitement for my technology advanced children when they shop this year. I hope you also have a safe and enjoyable christmas break with your family.

By: Craig Brown

Craig Brown — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:19:17 +0000

My only concern with devices like Kindle is the cost and durability. if your reading a paper book on the train there is little fear of someone grabbing it and running; if you treat books like I do, they are thrown in the bottom of my bag and treated as a throw away item once read. Electronic devices mean that people need to outlay a substantial more money to get started, take care not to mistreat the device or drop it in the push of the crowded public transport, and so on.

What are your views on the physical and financial aspects to people adopting devices like Kindle?

By: Dave Trotman

Dave Trotman — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:09:53 +0000

Answer to Library problem – Bigpond Library

By: Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:37:38 +0000

Hugh, I knew reading your blog would get me into some serious hi-tech trouble at home. The notion of owning an eBook has been bubbling away on my wish list for some time now. Having experienced the Kindle in some form on the iPhone (Amazon application – free download from AppStore), I want more! Hopefully I will have some interesting feedback from CES where eBooks are destined to shine.