27 replies
Yes, I have searched the forums Found no up to date posts on this question.

I'm just curious what the current status of Kindle in relation to IM? Useful? Waste of time? Thanks!
#kindletalk
  • Profile picture of the author edd666666
    I am not sure I understand your question, but I will tell you how I make money on kindle. I have an ebook I sell on kindle and in the ebook I have an offer for a free toolkit. A certain percentage take the toolkit, and I start the funnel there. So you can sell an ebook with a link or offer in it and make money. Hope that helps, thanks, Ed.
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  • Profile picture of the author Megaseller
    Banned
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  • Profile picture of the author defy
    As far as I know there's no way to put an ad on the kindle. You're best bet with the Kindle would be the Amazon Affiliates program is offering 10% for each sale which is $35/sale. Not too shabby if you can get the word out. You can also attach add-ons such as cases, e-books, etc.

    Start a wordpress blog and start getting articles up about it. I've written about this topic before at launch and can sell you articles or offer advice if you need help.

    ~defy
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  • Profile picture of the author IMChick
    Can you re-define your question? I don't really know what you're reaching for here. You can do a hardware affiliate sale or you can be a content publisher, if that's what you mean.
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    • Profile picture of the author USHwy129
      Originally Posted by IMChick View Post

      Can you re-define your question? I don't really know what you're reaching for here. You can do a hardware affiliate sale or you can be a content publisher, if that's what you mean.
      Sorry for the confusion. 2 questions:

      1) Is it a format worth spending resources on?
      2) How do you see the future of this format-is it going to last?

      My first impression was "wow $359?" I'm wondering if it's going to have to go the route of cell phones, DVRs, and DirectTV and basically give away the hardware to hook people, or it might risk dying.
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      • Profile picture of the author defy
        I own a Kindle and personally love it. The screen is what sold me as it really does look just like paper. As for survival of the format, Amazon just expanded the Kindle library to the Iphone and plans to take it to other platforms as well. Whether this will be a good thing or bad remains to be seen.

        ~defy
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        • Profile picture of the author USHwy129
          Originally Posted by defy View Post

          As for survival of the format, Amazon just expanded the Kindle library to the Iphone and plans to take it to other platforms as well. Whether this will be a good thing or bad remains to be seen.

          ~defy
          Interesting. Having seen other ebook readers come and go just wondering if this will be the one that finally sticks - but maybe allowing the library to display on other hardware may keep it alive, but like you said I like the layout of the hardware of the Kindle.
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          • Profile picture of the author defy
            I've been dying to see the new bigger DX version in person. Having a screen that size seems ideal. I've seen some videos online of a working prototype of animated e-ink and even color e-ink screens. Should be interesting to see what companies come out with in the next year or two.

            ~defy
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          • Profile picture of the author AmyBrown
            Originally Posted by USHwy129 View Post

            Interesting. Having seen other ebook readers come and go just wondering if this will be the one that finally sticks - but maybe allowing the library to display on other hardware may keep it alive, but like you said I like the layout of the hardware of the Kindle.
            There's an app for that... There's an iphone app that allows the Kindle library to display on the iphone and itouch. You can synch to keep the devices on the same page, so to speak. I thought it would be tedious to read on the iphone but it's really not that bad. I use it while waiting for appointments and such.
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  • Profile picture of the author USHwy129
    Thanks guys - I just haven't seen much about it around here and was curious if it's something worth spending any time or resources on, you know, ROI.

    What's everyone's opinion on the future of the Amazon Kindle format?
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  • Profile picture of the author IMChick
    I think that the Kindle is here to stay. Each one of it's update launches has a waiting list miles long AND most of the current customers purchase upgrades.

    The problem that I see with being a content publisher is the very low payout after Amazon gets their split. But that's to be expected with a proprietary network grabbing for most of it for themselves.

    One thing I can't get over is that the 'book' can't be shared unless the kindle owner gives up the hardware so their friend can read the same book on the device. So while the media is less expensive, it's not really community friendly like traditional books, but that's not it's real purpose.

    The coolest part of the whole Kindle thing is that it looks exactly like the reading pads that Captains Janeway and Picard use in their ready rooms on Star Trek! Awesome.
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    • Profile picture of the author phantom76
      I have a Kindle 2 which I purchased about 2 weeks back and I am absolutely in love with it. Sure, the initial cost is a little high, but the savings are huge when considered over a longer period of time, since most books cost only $9.99. I convert all the free WSOs into Kindle format and read them at leisure!

      As far as promoting Kindle is concerned, it is already a heavily saturated niche. I have a blog on Kindle with 100+ uniques every day, but most of the items which get sold are "teeth whitening kits" and some fiction books! But, that is the advantage of being an Amazon affiliate. Its such a huge market that chances of selling something else, if not the product you are selling are too high.
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    • Profile picture of the author USHwy129
      Originally Posted by IMChick View Post

      The coolest part of the whole Kindle thing is that it looks exactly like the reading pads that Captains Janeway and Picard use in their ready rooms on Star Trek! Awesome.
      that's funny you mention that I just took a break this afternoon and watched a DVRd Star Trek TNG - ever see the little data cards Spock and Kirk used back in the day on the original tv show? SD cards!
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Fullman
    Prediction:

    Stanza + The iPhone will kill the Kindle.

    The Kindle is a device too far, unfortunately.

    ...I'd love one, BTW, but I don't see it as a mass market device.

    The iPhone...or any other smartphone...will consume the mobile eBook market.

    Why?

    Real book readers will continue to read real books.

    Everyone else will read (or listen to) books on their phone, NOT a Kindle.

    $10 says I'm right.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author phantom76
      Originally Posted by Steven Fullman View Post

      Prediction:

      Stanza + The iPhone will kill the Kindle.

      The Kindle is a device too far, unfortunately.

      ...I'd love one, BTW, but I don't see it as a mass market device.

      The iPhone...or any other smartphone...will consume the mobile eBook market.

      Why?

      Real book readers will continue to read real books.

      Everyone else will read (or listen to) books on their phone, NOT a Kindle.

      $10 says I'm right.

      Steve
      I am sorry, but I don't agree with your point. Reading long hours on iPhone is highly impractical - its a big strain on your eyes because of the smaller screen size and the constant backlight can tire you quickly. It is also not ergonomic to hold and read. On the other hand the e-ink display on the Kindle is easy to use anywhere and the size is just about that of a paperback. When I read for long hours on the Kindle, the device just disappears from my hand and I only see the book in my hand. Add the free wireless facility which helps me sample the first chapter or buy the book with one click and Amazon has a winner here.

      I own both an iPhone and a Kindle 2 and the difference is light years. And I am a "real book reader" by the way.
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      • Profile picture of the author USHwy129
        Originally Posted by phantom76 View Post

        I am sorry, but I don't agree with your point. Reading long hours on iPhone is highly impractical - its a big strain on your eyes because of the smaller screen size and the constant backlight can tire you quickly. It is also not ergonomic to hold and read. On the other hand the e-ink display on the Kindle is easy to use anywhere and the size is just about that of a paperback. When I read for long hours on the Kindle, the device just disappears from my hand and I only see the book in my hand. Add the free wireless facility which helps me sample the first chapter or buy the book with one click and Amazon has a winner here.

        I own both an iPhone and a Kindle 2 and the difference is light years. And I am a "real book reader" by the way.
        Hmmm...the plot thickens...
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Fullman
        Originally Posted by phantom76 View Post

        I am sorry, but I don't agree with your point. Reading long hours on iPhone is highly impractical - its a big strain on your eyes because of the smaller screen size and the constant backlight can tire you quickly. It is also not ergonomic to hold and read. On the other hand the e-ink display on the Kindle is easy to use anywhere and the size is just about that of a paperback. When I read for long hours on the Kindle, the device just disappears from my hand and I only see the book in my hand. Add the free wireless facility which helps me sample the first chapter or buy the book with one click and Amazon has a winner here.

        I own both an iPhone and a Kindle 2 and the difference is light years. And I am a "real book reader" by the way.
        Like I said, I want one.

        But does the mass market?

        CD quality music was VERY quickly replaced by 128bit iTunes sludge...and yet, Apple have sold billions.

        Why?

        Convenience.

        Convenience over Musical Experience.

        Give me one good reason why the Kindle will be a serious player in the eBook market...

        The ONLY way I see it happening is if Amazon give the thing away...as part of an entry point into the market.

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author phantom76
          Originally Posted by Steven Fullman View Post


          Give me one good reason why the Kindle will be a serious player in the eBook market...

          The ONLY way I see it happening is if Amazon give the thing away...as part of an entry point into the market.

          Steve
          • It is already a serious player in eBook market. Almost all NYT top sellers are available for the Kindle. That means all publishers have adopted it.
          • Convenience of carrying thousands of books
          • Much cheaper cost of books. If you are an avid reader, you can recover the cost of the Kindle in months.
          • Instant delivery... (This is one reason why iTunes is so successful)
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    • Profile picture of the author USHwy129
      Originally Posted by Steven Fullman View Post

      Prediction:

      Stanza + The iPhone will kill the Kindle.

      The Kindle is a device too far, unfortunately.

      ...I'd love one, BTW, but I don't see it as a mass market device.

      The iPhone...or any other smartphone...will consume the mobile eBook market.

      Why?

      Real book readers will continue to read real books.

      Everyone else will read (or listen to) books on their phone, NOT a Kindle.

      $10 says I'm right.

      Steve
      Yeah I'm not convinced it's gonna stick either. I don't think people want another gadget to lug around. Something that does everything (or almost everything) like the iphone is the future I think.
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      • Profile picture of the author phantom76
        Originally Posted by USHwy129 View Post

        Yeah I'm not convinced it's gonna stick either. I don't think people want another gadget to lug around. Something that does everything (or almost everything) like the iphone is the future I think.
        This is one wrong impression about Kindle. You are not lugging another gadget - you are just replacing one paperback with a equally sized device which can carry thousands of paperbacks for you.
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        • Profile picture of the author defy
          Steve, have you held a Kindle or a Sony Reader and seen the screen up close and the way it switches pages?


          It looks amazing and the Kindle's downloading system is slick. You can get the first 30 pages of any book to see if you like the style of it before you read it.
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    • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
      Originally Posted by Steven Fullman View Post

      Prediction:

      Stanza + The iPhone will kill the Kindle.

      The Kindle is a device too far, unfortunately.

      ...I'd love one, BTW, but I don't see it as a mass market device.

      The iPhone...or any other smartphone...will consume the mobile eBook market.

      Why?

      Real book readers will continue to read real books.

      Everyone else will read (or listen to) books on their phone, NOT a Kindle.

      $10 says I'm right.

      Steve
      This post confused me as "Kindle" is the name of the software provided by amazon to buy ebooks on the iphone. I assume Kindle means somthing else also
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  • Profile picture of the author dndoseller
    I think the only use would be if you want to sell an ebook that is kindle compatible.
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  • Profile picture of the author astaga
    Right now the kindle is designed primarily to be a book reader, with what is arguably the best screen for the closest reading experience to a real book.

    With technology progressing at a great breakneck speed, what's to say that the kindle cannot become endowed with full PC abilities? Or what is to say that current notebook, or netbook PCs cannot be endowed with the same display technology now available with the kindle? Perhaps even with color capability! Don't real printed books have color pages or illustrations too? Why not the kindle (or vice versa)???

    It's only a matter of time, and of the desire by the powers that be, before this foray into this "apparently" overlooked segment will begin.....
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    • Profile picture of the author phantom76
      Originally Posted by astaga View Post

      Right now the kindle is designed primarily to be a book reader, with what is arguably the best screen for the closest reading experience to a real book.

      With technology progressing at a great breakneck speed, what's to say that the kindle cannot become endowed with full PC abilities? Or what is to say that current notebook, or netbook PCs cannot be endowed with the same display technology now available with the kindle? Perhaps even with color capability! Don't real printed books have color pages or illustrations too? Why not the kindle (or vice versa)???

      It's only a matter of time, and of the desire by the powers that be, before this foray into this "apparently" overlooked segment will begin.....
      Color e-ink technology is currently under development. It is not yet productized because of the current high cost. A color Kindle is expected by 2011. e-ink may take little more time to appear on devices like netbook and laptops because of the much slower refresh rates when compared to an LCD display. You would have noticed how the entire screen flashes when you flip pages on the Kindle. It is because of the slow refresh rates in E-Ink.
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      • Profile picture of the author defy
        Originally Posted by phantom76 View Post

        Color e-ink technology is currently under development. It is not yet productized because of the current high cost. A color Kindle is expected by 2011. e-ink may take little more time to appear on devices like netbook and laptops because of the much slower refresh rates when compared to an LCD display. You would have noticed how the entire screen flashes when you flip pages on the Kindle. It is because of the slow refresh rates in E-Ink.

        That technology might not be as far off as you think. They've already got working prototypes of e-ink screens merged with LCDs so when color or graphics are needed the LCD kicks on and when it's just text the e-ink takes over. Here's an engadget article showing it:


        Pixel Qi demonstrates 3qi display, merges e-ink with LCD


        ~defy
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  • Profile picture of the author jbsmith
    I can tell you one thing - it is giving ebooks more exposure, legitimacy and popularity than ever before.

    So...to pay for your own Kindle, go ahead and write your own ebook.
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