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Free Kindle This November

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Re: Free Kindle This November

#71

Post by sudont »

latj wrote: post #68

This is a serious question: Why do we need Amazon anymore? If anyone can write a book and make an ebook and accept payment and distribute the book... why do you need an amazon? Could I buy a reader for $500, pay $5 for ebooks, and the author and publisher still make more money? It seems like giving away the reader for free with a proprietary format is just an attempt to lock in readers and create need for a service t…

It’s a brand-name on the consumer’s end. Meaning that the lay person will not only be searching their content library, they’ll also be more familiar and trusting for buying if it’s through Amazon.

By creating a reader for their content library, they’re actually providing a different service than just books: ease of use. The consumer doesn’t have to worry about seeking out the book, trying to figure out if it’ll run on their device (Yes, this can be screwed up), trying to buy it, and then trying to locate the file to install it.

Re: Free Kindle This November

#72

Post by officemonkey »

sliverstorm wrote: post #61
mcav wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those who want a device that can be used for more than just reading books.

Of course. I was speaking in regards to the folks who try to sell the iPad as a better book reader. I don't doubt the iPad will continue to sell.

But the iPad _isn't_ a better book reader. Electronic paper reads much better in sunlight. I did a side-by-side comparison with the iPad and the Kindle and I much preferred to read on the Kindle.

Re: Free Kindle This November

#74

Post by maw »

pauldix wrote: post #38

The use of the graph is ridiculous in this post. If the author wants to predict a free Kindle in the near future and back it up with some one line quote from Bezos, fine. However, that graph is pointless. I can craft countless other curves to those four points that are just as "predictive" as that one yet would predict vastly different prices. Further, if that graph was correct, Amazon would start paying us to take K…

Amazon would start paying us to take Kindles

I fully intend to take delivery of a Kindle once a day or so instead of working. It's gonna be pretty sweet.

Re: Free Kindle This November

#75

Post by mhb »

A problem with this is that he is using two different Kindles in the graph - WiFi-only and cell. The Kindle 3 is available in two versions. One of these, the Kindle Wi-Fi, is initially priced at US$139 / GB£111, and connects to the Internet exclusively via public or private Wi-Fi networks. The other version, considered a replacement to the Kindle 2, is priced at US$189 [1]

So the price of the comparable Kindle today is $189 although the graph predicts $100.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle

Re: Free Kindle This November

#76

Post by 2arrs2ells »

ajaimk wrote: post #50
tommi wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not they don't care to make money on the device directly, it's just they don't know how to.

Making money on the device directly is simple: You charge more for it. Keeping in mind that Amazon makes a pretty good margin on the content it sells with negligible infrastructure requirements (the kindle infrastructure would be negligible compared to the rest of Amazon.com + AWS), they don't need to make money on the device itself. The company that uses the revenue model of making money of the device and selling th…

This was Apple's line back when the iTunes Music Store opened, but I'm not sure it's still true (especially with respect to Apps + App Subscriptions).

Re: Free Kindle This November

#77

Post by [deleted] »

Nogwater wrote: post #6

By this logic, Amazon will pay you to take a Kindle by the start of next year. Amazon makes future money on Kindle owners because they're avid book readers and they buy a lot of eBooks. If Amazon were to give away Kindles for free a lot of non-avid readers would pick them up just to have one, which would kill the model. I think a $99 price point (maybe $49 with Prime) makes a lot more sense.

[deleted]

Re: Free Kindle This November

#79

Post by achompas »

Lazy. Fit a line and assume the Kindle will continue down the line? This is what counts for expert analysis on HN?

The cost of producing a Kindle is much greater than $0 right now. Consider if that cost (plus the net revenue of a few books) would ever hit $0. Do you guys seriously see a sustainable revenue model here? How about a winning e-book strategy?

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