Sharp as a Marble - And that's including the cost of a limo

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Nearly $500 for a frckin' book reader is asinine. I realize Amazon is trying to recoup the costs of the online wireless stuff, but give me a break. I'd love to be able to download books into something like a Sony eReader or a Kindle, but it's simply not worth the money to me. It's not like the books are all free either, you still have to pay for them. And I don't read enough to cover the costs even over the lifetime of the device.

I'm sure the early adapters are thrilled, and I wish them the best of luck, but I couldn't justify $300 for a reader, $500 is just stupid.

posted @ 6/10/2009 11:08:24 AM

Comments

Yu-Ain Gonnano says:

on 6/10/2009 11:23:02 AM

That and the used paperback I bought instead for $3 won't be obsolete in 5 years.

Skullz says:

on 6/10/2009 12:08:05 PM

They are definitely not for everyone. I love my Kindle, though.

I'm an avid reader - 2 books a week normally. that probably has a lot to do with the fact that I'm not into TV or gaming like many of my friends. I give them crap every time they talk about the newest XBOX or PS game by just saying, "I don;t play video games because I can read!"

The books are $10 or less, even for new release which often exceed the $25 mark. Amazon also has over 1300 "free" books - mostly the classics, but it has allowed me to re-read things like Moby Dick, The Three Musketeers, Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, 20,000 Leagues, and the list goes on.

For folks who travel (me), it's even better. No need to leave a book behind or carry 2 or 3 with you.

I still read "real books" now and again, but not if they are available in an electronic format. My biggest issue is that it is nearly impossible to share an ebook - unless you have multiple Kindles on the same account. My family and I have done exactly that, but I can't exactly pass a great read on to my friend - which would be pointless since they're neck deep in Guitar Hero or some other time wasting adventure :-)

Robb Allen says:

on 6/10/2009 12:17:09 PM

Skullz, I'm just waiting until I can go to the library with my e-Reader and check out a book.

Then it'll be all worth it.

Randy says:

on 6/10/2009 1:12:27 PM

Would it be worth 450 if your a 5'3" female carrying 5 textbooks that are each 3 inches thick? You bet it would. Put the DX in a messenger bag along with a netbook and your set for college classes

DirtCrashr says:

on 6/10/2009 3:04:34 PM

In my experience traveling overseas on the Asian subcontinent, a used paperback from the book-sellers at the train station was always a requirement, since the availability of toilet paper was always in doubt - one paperback might last a week! Our eBooks were cheaper... both the device and the content, and sharing was easier - but the Corporate Masters pulled the plug.

Ian Argent says:

on 6/10/2009 10:28:23 PM

Which is why I use my phone (Currently a Touch Pro - waiting on the Touch Pro 2). If I'm going ot blow that kind of cash on a device, it had better damn well be multifunction.

Darin says:

on 6/10/2009 11:10:34 PM

You can get the Kindle iPhone app if you happen to have the phone in the first place, thus it doesn't cost you a lot. Course, I've got it, but just can't justify spending money on the ebooks. What I'm reading now is cheaper from the used book stores (and actually, online used is cheaper even with shipping). Now I just have to figure out how to move Project Gutenberg onto the Kindle stuff.

Randy says:

on 6/10/2009 11:46:36 PM

Why does everything have to be multifunctional? I buy a 1500 handgun with the knowledge it only does one thing, but I love that one thing...it also requires me to spend huge amounts of money on ammo just like buying books for my kindle.

McThag says:

on 6/11/2009 1:34:52 AM

Get the iPhone Kindle app and the bracket that Knight's sells and you can read a book while nestled in your blind!

Ian Argent says:

on 6/11/2009 9:16:22 AM

I don't insist on everything being multifunctional, only that if it's going to be significantly expensive. Before I bought my euroweeine plastic gun (Glock) I bought a euroweenie plastic car (Smart), which has the sole purpose of being a commuterbox. I have a much larger car that my wife commutes in and is much more capable, so I had the luxury of being able to choose a single-purpose tool. I am going to be buying a PDA-phone anyway, so why blow as much money again on a single-purpose device when I am only going to use one at a time anyway?

kaveman says:

on 6/13/2009 5:04:31 PM

I honestly have no idea what everyone is talking about.

Then again, I have a rotary phone and a shortwave radio.

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