Kindle Swindle?

Amazon recently announced the Kindle, an ebook reader, to great buzz - cover of Time and mentions on most news shows. This device is big. The screen is a nice size but there is also a kludgy keypad beneath the screen. And you still need a light to read in bed!

CEO Bezos acknowledged that Amazon is substantially subsidizing the cost of books. Amazon pays the publisher around $18 per book but Amazon charges Kindle owners $10 per book. For the consumer, the differential between the cost of an actual printed book and the subsidized price can quickly recoup the $400 cost of the device. But how long will Amazon continue to subsidize nearly $10 per book? It seems inevitable that the book price will rise to at least break-even, about double the current price. Unless Amazon is committed to maintaining a $10 price, they should admit that it is an introductory price and give some idea of the final cost.

One of the great pleasures of reading is sharing a book you've enjoyed. Can one share an ebook with the Kindle? I don't think so. The books are “protected” by "digital rights management”, which blocks sharing. Maybe Amazon could incorporate a "regifting" function.

The Kindle is no swindle. Nor is it a compelling alternative to print or other devices for reading ebooks.