Amazon.com’s got a new (well, months-old) electronic book reader called the Kindle. Wireless delivery of hundreds of thousands of titles at a third the price of physical titles; dictionary and Wikipedia access; high-contrast “electronic paper” display; extended battery life; etc.
Initially, I dismissed the Kindle solely on price. At $399, it’s at least twice what such a device is worth to me. (That’s getting on up there to cheap laptop territory. Are they serious?)
They are, and superficially it looks like a good price for it. (We can’t be sure; sales figures aren’t anywhere to be found, best I can tell.) To be sure, it’s a neat product in some ways. Its convenience appeals to me, and though I’ve not seen the paper-like display firsthand, I understand it’s impressive.
But I can wait out price. Technology always gets cheaper. I’ll see if I’m still interested at $199; if I am, I’ll pull the trigger.
Except…
Did you know if you “buy” something on the Kindle, you don’t really own it? Want to loan it to a friend? Tough. You can read it on your device. Your friend will have to buy it again.
So then that was probably a showstopper for me. Clearly I didn’t really own the book; I was purchasing a license to view it. Sorta takes the shine off it when you put it that way, doesn’t it? But then this sealed it: I was discussing this product with Saintseester yesterday (after seeing an ad for it at Dark & Stormy), and she said that Amazon.com collects data from it—granular data, like what passages you’ve highlighted. (Obviously they know what you buy too, but that’s an issue already, electronic purchase or no.)
Ick. Ick!
(And has anyone verified for sure that there’s no camera or microphone in the thing? Yeah, I’m kidding. I think.)
I’d like to think there’s an opportunity here for a similar device that doesn’t spy on you, but there isn’t. People who even see anything wrong with that are just about gone. As one of Saintseester’s colleagues put it, “well, that’s just the way things are going now.” We’re past a point where people even see the value in what they’re giving away when they sign up for something like this.
We’re now accustomed to being on camera everywhere we go. Police departments are gearing up to use UAVs with barely a whimper of protest—certainly no protest commensurate with the offense. What’s the harm in a snazzy new book reader telling its owners what its users are reading?
I mean, really, Bo, what’s all the fuss? It’s Amazon.com watching you, not the government, and besides, they’re just trying to target advertising to you. What is the problem with that?
Yeah, I know. I’m a paranoid nut-job.
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I’m pretty confident in saying that I will NEVER own one of these things, reasonable price or not. I’m too fond of paper, I’m too in love with the idea of holding a book in my hands, and of the ability to share my books with my friends. I’m too enamored of the fact that my books have no batteries to wear out, that they can dry off with little harm done if I spill something on them, and I take comfort in the way they look lining the walls of my dining room. I haven’t even CONSIDERED the sinister implications you touch on here, Bo, because I don’t NEED those reasons to scorn the Kindle.
Nope. I’m an ink-and-paper gal, all the way.
Well, at least you aren’t superstitious.
I love gadgets, and was greatly tempted by the Kindle (for textbooks – mine are so damn heavy!). But, shudder, the ease with which people relinquish their privacy at the deepest of levels is unnerving.
PS, there is no camera in it, but I’m pretty sure that your location can be triangulated if the thing is turned on.
Not that that would be any different than your cell phone.
I was with you on the idea that I might buy it if it got cheaper. I was intrigued with the idea that I might could get my daily newspaper via the wireless capability at some point. But…this is a showstopper for me – “Did you know if you “buy” something on the Kindle, you don’t really own it? Want to loan it to a friend? Tough. You can read it on your device. Your friend will have to buy it again.”
I loan out my books all the time. That’s part of being a reader I think. Then again, my Mom is a librarian so…
My memory fails me.. Did you end up getting a nook or kindle yet?
Buzzregog, yes, I bought a Kindle Fire. Apparently I can read the other Hunger Games books on it for free with an Amazon Prime account, so that’ll be my first book experience with it. I mainly use it for periodicals and as a web appliance.