So my thoughts on the Kindle.

So today was Kindle day.

I've read the coverage, read most of the Newsweek article, time for my thoughts.

First a quick run down of the spec, in case you missed them elsewhere.

- Has a keyboard
- 30 hour battery life
- 2 hour recharge time
- 10.3 ounces
- 5.3 inches x 7.5 inches x 0.7 inches, 800x600 pixel
- SD Slot for storage
- USB 2.0
- Uses E Ink technology
- Adjustable Font size
- Can hold over 200 books
- Can search books for phrase or name
- 3.5 stereo headphone jack

- No wifi
- EVDO connection - No monthly contract
- $9.99 for new releases and bestsellers
- 1st chapter of books available for free
- No computer required
- $.99/month for blog subscriptions
- Annotations, bookmarks
- Has a basic web browser: Gizmodo: somethingcalled "Basic Web" browsing is available in the "Experimental" sectionof the menu, along with "Play Music" and "Ask Kindle NowNow."
- Plays MP3s

So my thoughts.... Not yet. It's cool and in my Amazon wishlist, but i won't be buying it myself... For a few reasons.

• I don't know if I can abandon the paper book. I mean, I love them.  I have shelf upon shelf of the things. I re-read the ones I love the most, multiple times. What will the bookshelf of the future look like? Just a Kindle sitting there?
• Why is a full 1/3 of the device, not screen? What a waste. Clearly Amazon is thinking people will be typing things up (what I can't imagine) rather than reading books. I don't know (and suspect it's not possible) if Eink can have a touch screen, but why not a slide out keyboard? or even a on screen keyboard controlled by the scroll wheel? Anything but wasting 1/3 of the device with a feature i suspect will be hardly used.
  
• 400 bones huh? Taking a page out of the iPod playbook, as stated by many. I'm inclined to agree. Meaning, the next model will cost a bit less, and do more.
• black and white? That's really taking a play out of the iPod playbook, only years and years after apple moved to color screens. I'm assuming Eink can be in color, I could be wrong, but if you're gonna sell a feature as 'blogs and magazines' you better get to turner-izing your device, Amazon. Books, black and white. The rest of the print world, very very colorful.
• SD but not SDHC? Really in 2007.. 2008. How about CF card? or better yet a PCMCIA slot? I mean really. Come on Amazon, why hamstring the device?

I can't wait for Version 2.0!  I'm not thrilled at the idea of having to repurchase all my books, nor am I sure i can do it, such a betrayal of my beloved paper....