An electronic book that works?
 

I've been hearing about Kindle and it sounds pretty good. I'm usually a luddite on this subject and want my books and newspapers in hand rather than virtual. But my iPod and cell phone have made me more receptive to cool little devices.

I'd like to try this, but the sticker shock will keep me away for a few generations. I'd like to see the display in person and find out if it's all that. I like the 9.99 price point for new books. Could be a winner, though I've read some posts elsewhere decrying the design of the Kindle as retro-ugly.

I like the EVDO aspect but it is such an ugly machine and a bit on the heavy side. The annotation ability is a definite improvement over Sony's but I don't think it is quite there yet for what would get me to commit.

But it's close.

One interesting tradeoff is that they went with a screen technology that is more visible in daylight at the expense of a backlight so it's not viewable in low light.

I haven't seen the Kindle's screen in person but it is a slightly lower quality electronic paper screen than the Sony one (4 shades instead of 8 I believe) and the Sony screen looks great (for reading).

I'd have to see it and use it to see if it could actually take the place of paper. I'm rather attached to books, but I am interested.

I love the word "Luddite". I want a t-shirt with that word on it.
:D

Whenever I am in a position to "name" a machine in a network that is not my home stuff I always name them Ned in honor of Ned Ludd.

NA: I don't see a quality reader replacing books but serving as a more convenient carry around than books. I doubt I would use one at home. The fact that the Kindle allows purchases and downloads without having to connect to a computer is a huge thing.

If the aesthetics of the Sony reader were blended with the hardware of the Kindle I probably wouldn't even think twice about trying early adoption.

I guess I do most of my reading at home (or at someone else's home). I don't have a commute that allows for reading time so the only feasible application I can see using it for is when I travel. Now, if only I traveled more........

Here ya go