My Kindle Stuff

So its been a few weeks since the entire kerfluffle over ebook pricing.  Readers have gone on in their quest for stuff to read, Amazon prices are slowly edging up and most bloggers and Twitterites have moved on to other subjects.  That may be just what the publishers wanted because a year from now, only early adoption ereader customers will even remember that whole “$9.99 thing”.

Right now, its unclear whether the iPad will have conquer the world, but it will have accomplished one thing–ebook prices upwards of $12.95 will be generally accepted because that’s what most new books will be priced–our memories are short.  Between now and then, Amazon will probably have to quietly remove the ‘most books are $9.99′ statement, as most will not be $9.99.  I have no idea what that’s going to do for prices outside the U.S. except that is not a pretty picture.

I don’t think that the prices will have a lot to do towards slowing down the ebook momentum. Dedicated readers who have found the Kindle, nook, Sony or other readers aren’t looking back.  Some, like me, have given up dead tree books entirely when reading general fiction.  And if I find a device that gives me the experience that I’m looking for in technical books and magazines, I’ll be going digital all the way.  And publishers, if you’re listening–if it ain’t digital, I’m giving it up for the next guy that is digital–I’m not getting the paper version.  I just don’t enjoy reading physical copies anymore.  And judging from the way internet news and magazines are moving, I’m getting a lot of company.

There will be customers that take a stand on lower prices, but if most prices go up a dollar or two, I doubt that the number of hold-outs will be equal to the amount of outrage expressed when this subject first came up–myself included.  Sure, we’ll be more open to smaller independent publishers with discounted prices and free books, but I’m one of those readers who when I was reading dead-tree books, generally got the paperback except for the books I really wanted to read, then I’d pay hard cover prices.  That’s probably what I’ll end up doing a year or two from now, except it’ll be for ebooks.  I’m price sensitive now, but when the next Charlaine Harris or Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews book comes out, price sensitivity will fly right out the window and I’ll be clicking the buy now button.

What will last for me is the resentment towards MacMillan.  I’m not a hater and won’t be going out of my way to bad-mouth the company; but as a consumer, when I do notice their brand, I’ll be less likely to spend my money with them if I have to choose.  And that resentment will last a long time; probably past the time when I remember or even care about where it came from.  They may not notice or miss my thousand dollars a year, but it will make me feel a lot better. Wow, I guess I’m bitter; how irritating is that!

When the Kindle 2 was announced, then began shipping a year ago, I happily gave my Kindle 1 to my daughter.  She has been cheerfully downloading both books and knitting patterns (for on-the-go knitting) since then. About a week and a half ago, she announced that it had died. When we contacted Amazon, we eventually found out that they no longer have any units for repair/replacement in stock. Her end to the story is that she got a Kindle 2, but I wonder what Amazon will be doing for other K1 owners.

You can still get replacement batteries, USB cords and chargers for the Kindle 1, but don’t look for much in the way of other accessories except for the ones that fit the Kindle 2 as well.

(Update 9:20PM 1/31/2010) – Well, Amazon gave into MacMillan’s demands for higher prices.  For the full story see the NYT article here.  It remains to see what, if any fallout there is for the publisher or the ebook industry as a whole.  Certainly, publishers own their content and can set the pricing for it, but I really wonder if they are trying to save hardcover sales, give Amazon a swift kick in the behind by ’siding’ with Jobs & the iPad (go google that one!) or just don’t value the ereader consumer.  Whatever the case, I guess they didn’t read the article published on Slate last year Does the Book Industry Want To Get Napstered? Nuff said.

Wow.  This has been a crazy weekend in the Kindleverse!  Amazon pulling MacMillan titles, forum boards erupting with both anger and dismay, Twitter going crazy with 140 character comments on same-plus a lot of bad information. Authors weighing in on mostly the publishers side and some Kindlers vowing retribution by both bad reviews (here we go again) and boycott tagging.

When this all first happened, I was angry at MacMillan.  About 8 books on my Amazon wish list were gone and I don’t even remember which ones they were.  Now I’m just weary of the whole thing, while at the same time extremely curious on how it all will shake out.

I do have a couple of observations to make, though.  First, I’m a avid reader and had to join Amazon prime to defray shipping costs.  I almost always purchased mass-market paperbacks over hardcover books just to appear like I was trying to stay within some sort of reasonable budget.  There were a few authors that I loved which I felt merited the $20 for a (discounted) hardback, but not many.  I didn’t go to the library and I didn’t use 2nd hand books because, frankly, old paperback stink and I hated the yellowing due to the cheap paper used.  Then I discovered the Kindle which I’ve had a Kindle for about two years now.  If anything, I read faster and now spend way more on books.

Just as pre-Kindle, I spend more than $9.99 for some authors, but my average for a Kindle book is between $5 and $7.  I don’t really care about book format or DRM, because I have the tools to change both, and I don’t share my Kindle account with anyone, so if I find a good book, I just recommend to my Kindle friends so they can purchase their own copy.

That being said, there is NO WAY that I can see myself regularly paying $15 for a newly published ebook; and I doubt that I would even remember the book when the price came down to what I would pay–unless it got recommended by an online review or other listing.  That is a hit-or-miss proposition as most books are reviewed when they are released, not 7 months later.  The best example of this for me is the slow release of the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series.  I was going to buy it for my Kindle until I saw the release dates.  After I saw that it was releasing approximately one book a month and that I wouldn’t be able to get through it for a year, I decided to wait and haven’t thought about it since.  Some ereaders that I know got them on the darknet to read now, then would buy the ebooks as they were released.  That can start a whole conversation about ebook availability vs. piracy which I won’t go into.

Some are saying that this whole thing was started by the immenent advent of the iPad and it’s iBook store.  Maybe, maybe not, but as a non-LCD ereader, I think the publishers are barking up the wrong tree if they think that avid readers will be embracing reading books on what is virtually a flashlight on any type of regular basis.  I do plan on getting one, but it will be either as a replacement for my iPhone, or as a living room and portable laptop-lite device–not as a reader.  I’ve seen this sentiment repeated more times than I can count, so if MacMillan and other publishers are looking as the iPad to revolutionize books, I fear they will be sadly disappointed.

I don’t know who will win this war, but America loves a good fight.  Hey! Maybe they should put it on Pay Per View?

This morning I was greeted by the below email from Amazon:

Dear Kindle User,

We’re sending this note to remind you about proper attachment and use of your Kindle cover and about Amazon’s Kindle warranty. You can view instructions and illustrations here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200390460

ATTACHING THE COVER

To install the Kindle, open the cover and lay it on a flat surface. Then insert the bottom attachment hook on the cover into the bottom slot on the left edge of the Kindle. Rotate the Kindle to insert the top attachment hook. Then slide the switch down slightly to lock the cover attachment hooks in place.

Be sure to place the Kindle flat on the cover during installation. Do not tip the Kindle at an angle during installation, as that may cause the cover attachment hooks to bend.

USING THE KINDLE COVER

When using your Kindle with the cover, be careful to open the front cover only. If you open the back cover and pull the cover away from the Kindle, that may cause the attachment hooks to bend and could result in cracking or other damage to the Kindle.

THE AMAZON KINDLE WARRANTY

Your Kindle is covered by a One-Year Limited Warranty you can view here: http://www.amazon.com/kindlewarranty

If the attachment hooks on your cover have become bent, or your Kindle has developed cracking or other damage near the location where the hooks connect to the Kindle, please contact Kindle Support by phone or email regarding warranty replacement.

You can reach us via phone or e-mail through our website by clicking the Contact Us button on our help pages at http://www.amazon.com/kindlesupport or directly by calling one of these numbers:
Inside the United States: 1-866-321-8851, Outside the United States: 1-206-266-0927.

For more information, please see the Warranty Service section of the Kindle Return Policies Help page:

http://www.amazon.com/kindlereturnpolicy

Oooookay.  Well, I totally knew that little problem.  It was reported by Kindle users months ago.  It’s also one of the reasons that I use M-edge Covers.  They have two elastic bands on the top and bottom right corners that prevent you from opening the cover the wrong way and damaging your Kindle.  They also have a variety of cover types: flip top, GO! (like Amazon covers in color) and ones that hold their booklight.

So Kindle users take care.  And if you don’t have one, grab a M-edge cover today.  For other Kindle accessory suggestions, check out the images below and take a look at this post that shows all the goodies I got for my Kindles.

My Kindles

My Kindle and laptop w/ Gelaskin Bookshelf skins (Kindle on iZel stand)

My Kindle in M-edge cover w/ Decal Girl skin

Kindle 1 & iPhone in matching Decal Girl Skins and M-edge cover

From Amazon Press Release:

SEATTLE, Jan 21, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — (NASDAQ: AMZN)–For the past two years, Amazon has welcomed authors and publishers to directly upload and sell content in the Kindle Store through the self-service Kindle publishing platform. Today, Amazon announced that it is inviting software developers to build and upload active content that will be available in the Kindle Store later this year. The new Kindle Development Kit gives developers access to programming interfaces, tools and documentation to build active content for Kindle–the #1 bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product across all categories on Amazon. Developers can learn more about the Kindle Development Kit today at http://www.amazon.com/kdk/ and sign up to be notified when the limited beta starts next month.

“We’ve heard from lots of developers over the past two years who are excited to build on top of Kindle,” said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities–we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent.”

The Kindle Development Kit enables developers to build active content that leverages Kindle’s unique combination of seamless and invisible 3G wireless delivery over Amazon Whispernet, high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like real paper, and long battery life of seven days with wireless activated. For example, Handmark is building an active Zagat guide featuring their trusted ratings, reviews and more for restaurants in cities around the world, and Sonic Boom is building word games and puzzles.

“As the leading worldwide publisher of mobile games, EA Mobile has had the privilege of collaborating with many dynamic and innovative companies in bringing exciting gaming experiences to new platforms,” says Adam Sussman, Vice President of Worldwide Publishing, EA Mobile. “Working with Amazon, we look forward to bringing some of the world’s most popular and fun games to Kindle and their users.”

Starting next month, participants in the limited beta will be able to download the Kindle Development Kit, access developer support, test content on Kindle, and submit finished content. Those wait-listed will be invited to participate as space becomes available. The Kindle Development Kit includes sample code, documentation, and the Kindle Simulator, which helps developers build and test their content by simulating the 6-inch Kindle and 9.7-inch Kindle DX on Mac, PC, and Linux desktops.