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Amazon tries to reinvent the book

19.11.07

Reinventing the book is a big challenge, but Amazon has been on a roll, notes Forbes. Its shares are up 99% so far this year. Analysts say that’s in part thanks to Bezos’ success adding digital content, such as movies and music, to the mix alongside electronics and paper books. Kindle promises to build on that success.

The device has some real advantages over other electronic gizmos. To mimic the readability of a paper book, Kindle uses a system dubbed E Ink, developed by E Ink Corp., that is used in other electronic books, such as Sony’s Reader. Another edge: Newsweek reports the device will get 30 hours of reading out of a single charge. By contrast, the iPhone’s battery can sustain just six hours of Internet use.Yet those advantages, plus the Kindle’s ability to tap into content from Amazon, coupled with its wireless connection, may not be enough to make it a winner. At $399 it’s not only pricier than a small library of used books, it’s more expensive than Asustek’s 2-pound, $299 Eee PC laptop. Another catch: Amazon, according to Newsweek, is going to charge subscription fees for blogs, magazines and newspapers. Yet most magazines and newspapers — and practically every blog — can be had online for free.


Forbes

e-book amazon Kindle

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