Comments on: The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Kindle Edition

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:24:08 +0000

Thanks for the link Trent!

By: J.D.

J.D. — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:09:59 +0000

My main question — and I’m dead serious about this — is can a Kindle be used in the bathtub. At least of half of my reading is done in the tub, and if the Kindle can’t cut it, it’s even less appealing to me. (It’s pretty unappealing, I have to say. But then I’ve never tried one…)

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:25:53 +0000

@ Personal Finance Playbook

The Kindle is much easier on the eyes than a normal CRT or LCD computer screen. The Kindle, along with Sony e-book readers, use what’s called e-ink to produce the text. It looks very much like a regular book and saves battery life since back lighting isn’t needed.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:54:10 +0000

A Kindle seems convenient and a neat gadget but its not very frugal.

By: Nate @ Money Young

Nate @ Money Young — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:46:08 +0000

Trent, do you get proceeds from the Kindle Subscribers or is that simply Kindles’s fee?

-Nate

By: Scordo.com

Scordo.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:36:48 +0000

Hi Trent,

Way to get out on other channels! I recently read an interesting article on PC Magazine entitled, “10 Thing You Should Know About Kindle 2.0″

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2340721,00.asp

Best,
Scordo.com

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:26:22 +0000

Or, if you have a smartphone, you can use the e-reader on that. Probably many people pursuing frugality don’t, but if you’re thinking about spending that much money, instead of buying a $360 Kindle, which is only good for reading, you can buy a $199 or $299 iPhone and read books (Stanza) and make calls and browse the web on a decent browser and read RSS feeds like the Simple Dollar’s (for free!), not to mention the many other things an iPhone can do. (Of course, the Kindle bundles data access into the price, but since the cheapest iPhone plan prices voice at the price of its cheapest prepaid monthly plan, you’re basically looking at $35/mo. for unlimited data. So unless your sole use for data is Kindle-type activity…)

By: The Personal Finance Playbook

The Personal Finance Playbook — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:14:14 +0000

I don’t have a kindle, but I think It’s a great idea. I wonder if it’s harder on the eyes. Does it light up like a computer screen. How much energy does it use? I would think that it actually uses less energy than producing a paper copy of a book and distributing it because of shipping, paper production, etc. Just a thought.

By: Sandy E.

Sandy E. — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:51:53 +0000

If I had money to burn, I would buy the kindle in a heartbeat. But I don’t. I see it as a real money drain because with the convenience, those $10 purchases would add up like crazy. I’d be heartsick if I left it somewhere or if it were stolen. Buying used books and going to the library isn’t as convenient, but I’m out of debt, accruing savings and have the peace of mind to keep it that way.

By: the weakonomist

the weakonomist — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:42:43 +0000

@KC The Kindle is hardly heavier than a book. You would want a Kindle if you read more than one book at a time, as it will hold a few thousand of them. You also have the ability to download them over the air, making a trip to your computer or bookstore unneeded. The device will also deliver blogs, magazines, and newpapers to you every morning. If you aren’t always on the move and want instant access to many books, the Kindle may not be right for you.

At $360 it’s still too pricey to become mainstream, but eventually you’ll see something more like $5 a book and a $200 price tag, whenever volume does pick up (think 5 years out).

By: Laura in Atlanta

Laura in Atlanta — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:34:31 +0000

A typo . . . I meant:

” . . . when you CAN’T own what you buy for it”

By: Laura in Atlanta

Laura in Atlanta — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:33:26 +0000

I agree with KC . . . I just don’t see the point of paying that much money for a device as such, when you can ‘own’ what you buy for it, the books. I buy books MUCH cheaper than $10 at used book stores and via paperbackswap . . . and I have them to recycle back out for more books in terms of credit. I can also loan the books out to family, thus saving them money. And I’m an avid reader, reading nearly 100 books a year. I dont have clutter, keeping only the books I truly treasure and want to re-read. I cringe at the idea of dropping the Kindle and breaking it. I prefer to throw my paperback book in my bag and go without worries. ;-) I mean, it’s a cute gizmo, I’ll give ya that . . . but probably not for me.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:12:52 +0000

People who actually own a kindle and are willing to pay .99/month for an otherwise free product are the ones who need to see this site the most!

You should label that version “The Simple Dollar: Sucker’s Edition” so they get the hint, sell their kindle, and get a library card.

By: KC

KC — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:11:49 +0000

That’s a great idea for you – certainly good marketing and might pocket a little extra cash, too. But I have to question the overall thought of the Kindle – I don’t get it. Why would I pay $400 for something in order to buy books for $10 that I can’t resale? Plus you are stuck with something heavier than a book to lug around and possibly lose, get stolen, or drop and break. I just don’t get it. I’m an avid reader (mostly of non-fiction) but I quickly recycle or re-sale my books to reduce clutter. That’s the only advantage I can see of a Kindle is the reduction of clutter around the home.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:09:24 +0000

Many people understand we need to spend less of our money now, but few understand that this needs to be a permanent reduction. The key: consumption and production do not indicate a healthy economy. It’s like measuring a patient’s health by the number of donuts he can eat, or measuring a car’s quality by the amount of gasoline it can consume, or measuring revenue with no thought to profit.

Yes, if we never return to spending more, some businesses will go under. More people will have to do something worthwhile. Probably more people will have to farm and raise animals — to make a living off of themselves instead of profiting off of other people. That’s good – it will make us all richer, happier and safer economically. I wish more people understood that.

By: Peter Owen

Peter Owen — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:18:01 +0000

I think this is very cool! Way to keep up with all this new technology.. it can be very overwhelming. As a side note, people are already selling their preorders for the kindle on ebay.

By: the weakonomist

the weakonomist — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:15:57 +0000

Yes please do a mobile version! I read the blog from work but also from my iPhone, and mobile versions are fantastic. I think there is a simple RSS conversion that you set up and I subscribe to, but I don’t know a whole lot about it.

The Kindle is $360, I know you are a power reader but you’re also frugal, has the Kindle ever tempted you?

I myself can wait a few years for a $200 one.