Kindle One of Oprah's Favorite Things
by sassymonkey

It's official. Oprah's favorite new gadget is Amazon's Kindle ebook reader. I've secretly been lusting after an ebook reader for awhile now, you know in that "if I had a money tree" kind of way. Let's be honest, at $359 the Kindle isn't cheap and even if I could buy a Kindle (it's still not available in Canada) like most people we're tightening our pocketbooks here. Will Oprah's Midas touch help the Kindle top bestseller lists this holiday season?

Megan McArdle wonders if world domination for the Kindle is far behind now that Oprah has endorsed it.

One of the reason people have been holding back is the same thing that kept people from buying Blu-Ray players--there are a lot of eBook Readers out there, and no one wants to commit to a device that will end up on the ashheap of history, leaving their eBook collection orphaned. That means waiting until one of the readers goes mass-market.

As important as Oprah's endorsement could be for the Kindle, it's even more important that customers are happy. And it's clear that people who love their Kindle really love their Kindle. Christina certainly loves hers and thinks that her Kindle has helped her save money.

You might think that’s an outrageous price to pay for an eBook reader (It has come down $40 since I bought mine, and is less expensive than the Sony Reader, their biggest competitor), but if you buy and read a lot of books, it will come close to paying for itself in a pretty short amount of time. Most of the books for the Kindle are $9.99, and as soon as they hit the stores, pretty much they hit the Kindle. I have probably 30 books on my Kindle right now, and assuming I have saved $7 on each one, that’s $210 in savings for me over 6 months. I have quite a few business books on there that retail for much higher than $17, so I am pretty sure I have saved more than that.

It sounds like the Kindle has great customer service. Yolospat had a problem with her screen and the next thing she knew they were overnighting her a replacement. The really nifty thing? The new Kindle recognized where she left off in the book she was reading!

Oprahs endorsement of the Kindle is about more than just the device. Jane at Dear Author weighs in on what Oprah's Kindle endorsement means for ebooks.

Mainstream publishing has a long way in adopting digital strategies that will avail itself of existing technology and a changing consumer and someone with the market influence of Oprah can go a long way in helping to push mainstream publishers into the new century of digitization.

Yep, the Kindle is tempting but it would be a lot more tempting if it cost a lot less. I think if Oprah had given the Kindle her love a year ago we would have seen them fly off the shelves. This time around I think that the price point is just too high to be a runaway hit when people are retrenching financially.

Contributing Editor Sassymonkey blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey (view blog) on Mon, 10/27/2008 - 4:42pm

Comments

 

Kindle versus paper books

Seems like there has been many converts since we first started talking about this a year ago.

I remember lots of people saying they love their paper books too much to make the switch. This idea seems to be fading fast though.

For the clutter-phobs like me, the thought of hundreds of books in a couple pound device, that could be read on the beach, at the airport, in bed... it sounds just fabulous. 

I'm not waiting for more signs that it's a good idea.  And even the price isn't terrible IMO - look at how many people have the iPods and iPhones and Wiis?!  

I'm waiting for the next generation because I want a better designed unit and I want to be able to view with any text format - .txt to .pdf to .xml.  (An API or add-ons would be acceptable). 

I'm seriously thrilled at the idea of having all my favorite books stored safely away on a hard drive. For now, I am just hoping the eReader designers are hard at work.

Submitted by KatieBeez on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 03:56
 

I've seen some big readers convert

And you are right, when people are buying iPhones and Wiis it's really not that much more. I can think of lots of reasons to buy one and I think it would be fantastic for someone who communtes/travels/etc.

I guess, for me, the price seems to so high because as much as do I buy books, the vast majority of the books I read are library books.

I totally see the appeal of having all your favourite book on a hard drive but um, that scares me. lol What happens if it crashes? Or gets stolen? I'm clearly not ready for the switch. ;-)

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:00
 

We've considered it...

for Prince J. He doesn't really like to read. He likes audio books. He really loves gadgets. I have a feeling he'd enjoy the Kindle... but would he enjoy it $350 worth? Plus books? I don't know. I'm dragging my feet. And then Oprah had to go and call it a fave... which causes me to want to refuse to buy it.

My mom loves her Kindle. Really loves it.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

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Submitted by Denise on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:24
 

I can see him loving the gadget

But I'd also wonder if he'd really be into actually using it to read books.

You know, I think it's even the having to buy books that turns me off it the most. I'm too library dependent.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 07:54
 

I'm Tempted

I'm very tempted to pick one up, but since I don't have time right now to read many books at all, it wouldn't make sense for me right now. 

And though the price is high at the moment that'll definitely come down as more people buy them.   

Megan

BlogHer CE, TV/Online Video

My Personal Blog: Megan's Minute

Submitted by Megan Smith on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 05:32
 

It's started to come down

When the Kindle was released it was originally about $399. It's now down to $359 (or $50 off that if you buy one in time to use the Oprah discount).

I've seen a number of people say that their book reading has increased since they bought the Kindle since they always have a collection of books with them and the wireless network makes it easy to buy more. For someone who is busy it might actually make it easier to read more books.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 15:12
 

You're Luring Me To The Dark Side

When's that Oprah discount expire?  I may just have to rethink waiting.  :)

Megan

BlogHer CE, TV/Online Video

My Personal Blog: Megan's Minute

Submitted by Megan Smith on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 19:41
 

I so want one and am hoping

I so want one and am hoping Jeff reads this and offers  Blogher a Kindle to giveaway...or he could just give me one.  A girl can dream!!

The feature I love is were you can touch a word and get an instant definition- perfect for me

~Susan

http://lilmomthatcould.com/

Submitted by lilmommythatcould on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 15:25
 

That would be handy

Much easier than keeping a dictionary beside the bed.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 08:27
 

I've wanted a Kindle for a while now

Those Kindles are great. My Mother-in-law has one and she loves it. I still can't justify spending that much money on a one trick pony, and I've been reading books on my Palm Pilot for years now.

That being said, as much as I would love to own a Kindle I can already read books on my Palm and my iPhone. 

 

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Submitted by Sarah on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 01:48
 

One trick pony

Very good point. I keep wondering if the next generation of Kindles will have more capabilities.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 08:30
 

I've wanted a Kindle for

I've wanted a Kindle for awhile now.  It's not in the budget or any where near the budget. But yes, I do want one.

 http://emsxiety.blogspot.com/

 http://onesnap-atatime.blogspot.com/

Submitted by Emsxiety on Sat, 11/01/2008 - 16:17
 

I've wanted a Kindle for

I made the same post twice, that's how much I want one. lol

 http://emsxiety.blogspot.com/

 http://onesnap-atatime.blogspot.com/

Submitted by Emsxiety on Sat, 11/01/2008 - 16:18
 

Ha! You want it a lot!

To have posted twice! I'm with you, it's a want but not one I'm likely to get.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 08:31
 

Lost a bit of Kindle love...

I fiddled with my mom's Kindle last night. I'm not so enthusiastic about it. I think I can blame the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The menu's aren't smooth. I feel like I should be able to touch the screen and click - and I can't. I don't like the buttons. I was constantly hitting the next page button by accident. It feels... I dunno... kind of cheap plasticky and not solid and smooth.

I don't want one. I'm not sure I'll break down and buy one for the Prince. I just wasn't impressed.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Submitted by Denise on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 04:51
 

My daughter wants one for Christmans

Sassy Monkey, I see what you mentioned in the first line of your post, that Kindle isn't cheap, and it's what I think everytime my adult daughter hints it's what she wants for Christmas. She's announced to everyone that we need not give her anything else at all for the rest of the year if we get her an electronic reader. She made her announcement during early summer.

I'm toying with the idea, and considering asking her grandfather to chip in with me because she deserves something nice.

Also, the rise of e-books is on the cover of Decembers Writer's Digest. I'm slow with this because I like to hold a book, but I'm also considering that carrying fewer books around is a plus.

Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site. Try these links, McCain Funny on SNL and Canadian comics prank Palin.

Submitted by Nordette on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 07:56
 

kindle cannot be used in Maine !!

i bought one for the wife and she is so mad at it --has had it for over a week and cannot get a signal --can only be used on sprint --almost non existant in maine --should have said this in ads --what a waste of timewe have an empty kindle after a week !

Submitted by heirloomjohn on Mon, 11/17/2008 - 05:52