On Kindle, Apple Please Save us from this Monstrosity

Ok, this Kindle thing is getting out of hand, first, the thing is just a disaster. Secondly, it’s ugly has hell. Then there are the functionality and size. This is not how most people read a book. It’s not how most people read a newspaper either. It’s completely unnatural.

First, it’s too big. Well it isn’t, but the way it’s put together is all wrong. Most people who read a book don’t read a hardcover book, they read paperbacks, that’s the target, not that hardcover. So you need to shrink the device. I’m thinking of a device that is folded like a book. This has two advantages, the first being it will work more like a real book and second it will be protected from having the screen damaged, scratched, or otherwise made unreadable when it’s “closed”. When closed the device should have dimensions of about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 inches across and between 6 1/2 and 7 inches tall. Could even be as big as 5 1/2 long by 8 1/2 (equivalent of a 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper folded in half) When the device is opened it should have two screens, one on the left and one on the right. Each screen being about 4 inches wide and 6 inches tall.

Next the interface; hint: MOST people don’t write in books they read. They don’t care. So the interface, oddly enough, and this means only Apple can build it, it needs to be a touch interface. Using a swipe motion with your finger to “turn the page.” This will give it a BOOK feel, and makes it more acceptable for users to adopt. Most people are scared of all the buttons, makes the device feel too complicated. If you Need the ability to “write in it” then you need to add some functionality, like a paper day planner and use a stylus with handwriting technology like graffiti. I’m sure that Palm could use someone to buy their stuff now that they are getting smacked around by the iPhone.

It needs a backlight. I often want to read in bed, or somewhere lighting is an issue or where it would disturb other’s, airplane, car rides, etc, so the things has to be back lit in some way. Yes, I’m aware this will create battery life issues, but no more so than having a cell phone built into it. And that’s the next thing, it needs WiFi, not cellular connectivity. That’s assuming that it needs connectivity at all. Connect it to the computer, who cares, as long as you provide for both Windows, Linux and Mac compatibility.

The problem with this format, and the format of the Sony eReader, is that they go against how humans have been using books for about 1500 years. (Yes the first mention of a “codex” was in like 4th century b.c.e or something but it wasn’t really adopted then) 1500 years is a long time to try to replace history with one device. At least with one device that goes against the natural feel of how people are used to using its predecessor.

Lastly, read my post to the studios yesterday about pricing. You can’t expect people to pay MORE for something because it’s “digital.” They won’t buy it. Books will need to be cheaper, and if they aren’t using paper they can be, they use nothing but TIME to create. Most publishers require that books be submitted electronically anyway, so just don’t print it. And that brings me to another point, the market for the book should be open for anyone. I should be able to write a book put it into a format (PDF or HTML or whatever) and then sell a copy of it in the store without much trouble. Sure, without the major marketing of a large publishing company behind it, it probably won’t sell very well, but if I sell 1,000 copies via word of mouth at 2.99 each, I’ve done okay for myself. And by God, as an Author, I would want people to be able to “Share” my book. More people who read it, the more word of mouth there is. Again, can’t get around the fact that eventually, whatever DRM system is put into place will be stripped out or hacked anyway, save them the trouble. Not to mention that with a physical book, if I get done with it, I could sell it online, to a 1/2 price bookstore or whatever. Don’t change the rules about how I do what I already do. You can’t expect me to pay MORE for something, and then restrict me from using it in a way that I’m used to. That’s like saying, hey we will sell you this shiny new car, but you can only drive it to work and the grocery store and it’s going to cost you 15% more than your current care and if you want to go anywhere else, you have to buy this car also. I’ll honestly tell you to go to hell, and I’ll go buy a “normal” car. If you make it more complex, charge more and reduce the way people can use it. They will not buy it.