[English] The Amazon Kimble e-book

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Hi all,

Some say the  Amazon Kimble  e-book will revolutionize book publishing  

 http://www.amazon.com/

Wikipedia say .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle

'The Amazon Kindle is an (always-on) electronic book (e-book) notebook
appliance launched in the United States by Amazon.com in November 2007. 

It uses an electronic paper display,and downloads content over Amazon 
Whispernet, via the always-on US Sprint (NextG) network. The Kindle is 
normally used as a stand alone e-book, without a computer. 

Whispernet is accessible through Kindle without any fee. Amazon does not 
sell the Kindle outside America as Whispernet only works in the U.S. The
New York Times bestsellers cost around $10(US) and web browsing is free.

Amazon's first offering of the Kindle sold out in five and a half hours..

Concurrently with the Kindle device, Amazon launched the Digital Text 
Platform, a system for authors to self-publish directly to the Kindle. 

Currently in open beta, Authors can upload documents in several formats
for delivery via Whispernet, and charge between US$0.99 and $200/download.
The authors receive 35% of all revenues based on their list price."
--

It will be nice to have the Kimble here in Australia, though imagine what 
Telstra etc will charge Amazon for the mobile-phone/Internet connectivity.
In America, Amazon includes the net connection in the purchase price haha!

An expensive arrangement (always-on, often-download) here one would think,
and, unlikely to be included in the purchase price whan it gets here, yes?

Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Member, Victorian
Institute of Teaching