Sitting here with my Kindle, conveniently loaded with multiple books waiting to be read, I am reminded of its awesome ability to serve my every wish/need as a devout reader. The ability to carry around a single device that houses everything I currently wish to read will never cease to cause me wonder and excitement. Kindle holds exactly the right tools to make electronic reading dynamic, but not too technologically driven to feel cumbersome. The last page I have read in any given book is automatically bookmarked with no further prompting from me, a hovering cursor in front of any word pulls up its dictionary entry at the bottom of the screen. The fact that Amazon has not required me to purchase a data plan to purchase/download/sync books to my device is definitely a welcome rarity. Throw in the use of ink for its display and no-glare screen, and well… <insert more gushing and heart shaped googily eyes here>
In pondering all of these features, I have reached a valuable conclusion about Kindle: I really don’t want it to do anything else. I like that it is focused on one task, reading, and that any software developments or product enhancements serve to boost this one activity, also a rarity. It’s refreshing to find a device that seeks to serve one need, as most technologies seem to want to do/be everything. (iPad, I’m talking about you.) Part Web browser, part gaming device, part eReader, there seems to be no focus. iPad is a jack of all trades, but really a master of none. Activity on an iPad feels more incidental than intentional. It’s difficult to use as a reader, as its display nods more to a computer screen, glare and all. What does Apple really want me to do on an iPad? It’s clearly not a dedicated eReader, and yet its overall functionality is clumsy.
I have had the same frustrations with cell phones. While perhaps initially bamboozled by a device that is part phone, part browser/camera/music player, I think the shortcomings of these multiple functionalities become apparent rather quickly. Picture quality is never great, and will never really replace the use of my camera. Music storage seems like an okay idea, until my battery is drained at a warped speed and I am unable to actually make a phone call.
To quote the new Mr. Miyagi, Jackie Chan, in the newest Karate Kid remake (because I’m not afraid to admit that I saw it and actually got wrapped up in it): Your focus needs some more focus. Devices don’t need to be designed to do everything because they can’t do everything well. Let my eReader be an eReader, my cell phone be a messaging device and my camera be a camera. Do we really need more distractions in the world of electronic devices?
Surely there is a broader and more generic lesson to be learned here. Aiming to do one thing well serves you and your client/user/audience better than doing everything in a muddled manner.
I know absolutely nothing of Kindle (other than it’s obvious intention of storing thousands of books to be read at anytime), but your article provided a little more education on exactly WHY it’s useful and a highly regarded piece of technology. While there’s definitely something to be said for displaying your collection of great reads on a book shelf, I think this is something I may consider putting on my Christmas list this year (especially if Amazon is NOT trapping you into extra fees to use it!)
Kudos!
It really is a great tool. You can also send your own files (PDF) to the device, though there is a small fee (maybe $.40 per document) to do this. I’ve done it several times and have been impressed with how well they display. I did hear a minor buzz that Kindle eBook prices may rise a little with Apple coming onto the scene, however. Amazon has been able to offer eBooks so inexpensively because they were recouping the cost of the books in the sales of the Kindles themselves. Hopefully the increase will be minuscule if at all!
I’d definitely put it on your Christmas list
First, I love that you’ve already seen the new Karate Kid.
Secondly, I agree. Who among us can do just one thing if we have constant distraction possibilities at a our finger tips? I would have never finished Gone With the Wind or David Copperfield if I had iTunes, a browser or anything else between myself and those pages.
My own zen advice: In order to do one thing well, do just that.