Win a Kindle 2.0!
If you haven’t already purchased one, or you need an extra for your S.O., then hop on over to Marketing Pilgrim for your chance to win one. They’re offering a pretty slick contest, where all you have to do to enter is sign up for email updates to their RSS feed, then look for the magic words throughout the month.
What are you waiting for? I’m already entered…I can double-fist read if I win!
Jeff Bezos on the Daily Show with John Stewart
I knew he was on the Daily Show last week to talk about the Kindle 2, but I didn’t get to see it. It’s actually pretty comical, as should be expected.
My Kindle 2.0 — Delivery Estimate Wednesday, March 4th
I broke down and purchased the Kindle 2.0. I have the old one. I thought I could wait a while. I didn’t think I needed a new one, since, well…my old one still functions! But after scouring websites and seeing a Kindle 2.0 in person, I couldn’t hold out any longer. I went and head and pushed that golden buy button. A few days later and I’ll have the Kindle sitting snug in my hand.
What should I expect? I love the thought of the new Kindle. In this economic times, it’s kind of hard to justify a $400 ebook reader, but I know I use the Kindle almost as much as my $1000 HDTV, so why not? Does it sound like I’m justifying my purchase? I am.
In a few days, I’ll have the thin, hard metallic backed Kindle and I need to figure out what to do with my Kindle 2.0. Do I keep it for my wife to use from time to time? Do I sell it and recoup some of the cost of the 2.0? I haven’t decided yet, but if I do sell it I’ll post about that here, so anyone who wants one can join.
I’m excited. Are there any other Kindle 1.0 owners out there who made the 2.0 purchase?
Kindle Book Club Facebook Group
I know some of you may be interested, so I thought I would post about the new Kindle Book Club Group on Facebook. It’s a small group now, but we’re hoping to have hundreds very soon. If you’re on Facebook and have an interest in the group, then please join us.
Link to the Kindle Book Club Facebook Group.
Kindle 2.0 Hot off the Press
The Kindle 2.0 is catching fire for sure. The latest version of the popular ebook reader will be released on February 24th. All those first generation adopters are not left behind either. Those who have the Kindle 1.0 can cut in line anytime before the 24th.
The new Kindle has a bevy of neat features. The reader now has a polished back plate, measures 1/3 of an inch thick, and can read to you! The speed of page movement has improved 20% too. All the features of 1.0 are present with the 2.0 model. It should fly off the shelves.
Amazon announced they’ve also ramped up production for the release of the 2.0, so hopefully the empty shelf syndome doesn’t affect the 2.0 version.
Take a look at the Kindle 2.0 and preorder yours today!
Amazon Dropping Adobe PDF and Microsoft Formats
Apparently Amazon believes their Mobipocket format rules the roost. They’re making publishers aware that books can only be offered in Mobipocket format. I’m hoping this doesn’t hurt support on the Kindle side of things. I still push quite a few PDF docs through their conversion process.
We may never see the pain from this, but some publishers may be turned off by this move. How many publishers would want to convert a 300 page PDF document to another format. It costs money to do so. Of course, it could mean more to Amazon to have everything in their format. Maybe this has something to do with the Kindle 2.0.
Publisher’s Weekly broke the story. Take a look at their coverage.
Apple iPhone Ad Slams Kindle
I just ran across this iPhone ad on YouTube. I can’t help but think they’re attacking the Kindle. What do you all think? Well, maybe not attacking, but at least challenging consumers to think differently about their options.
Looking for New Friends who Own a Kindle?
Two Girls Reading
It was bound to happen. A social networking site for Kindle owners has taken hold and started to really attract new registrations. The site has features similar to a Facebook or Myspace, but the difference is the commonality — the Kindle. At this point, The Book Summit Social Networking site has 783 members, but I’m sure that number will increase with time. That’s just a small fraction of the Kindle market share.
Speaking of social networks, I’m on Twitter today and decided to search for Kindle. I wanted to see who was out there talking about their Kindles. So many people were talking about it. It was great to hear. Although, one person did have a problem with theirs. Apparently the screen stopped working. Ouch.
I hope you enjoy your Sunday afternoon. Let me know if you have any Kindle related sites you would like for me to share. And if you’re wanting to follow me on Twitter, you can do so here: http://twitter.com/jasonboom
The White Tiger: A Novel by Aravind Adiga
Every week I write a short review of the latest book I’ve read using my Amazon Kindle. It’s my attempt to bring a new book to your world. So you won’t miss it — sign up for my RSS feed.
I found The White Tiger to be a truly magnanimous novel. I’d never read a book about India by an Indian author. I love Ha Jin and Khaled Housseini, so this author’s style wasn’t too much of a jump for me.
The story starts out by introducing us to the main character and his quirky sense of purpose and self. He writes the Premier of China telling him how he has become a successful entrepeneur, offering to unfold his tale to him as a sign of goodwill. This strange narrative tool helps those unfamiliar with India to realize the differences between the two countries. It sets up a lot of comparison done in the book, and might even have a larger social message.
In the telling of Balram’s story, you come to care for this comical character. His perspective is saturated with witty and classic lines to make you want to keep reading. He tells how he strove to learn a new trade and break out of his caste of sweet makers. You follow his early days as an outcast during school to his subsequent days as a driver of a rich master. Of course this is where the real story begins.
Balram has the capacity to describe his world with a type of detached insight. He claims India is separate into light and darkness. The darkness is the lies, governmental deceit, and repressed nature of the poor country. He delights in showing how various bits of the darkness can take over the soul. He pointedly remarks on the dichotomy that presents itself everywhere in India, especially when he arrives in the city. The scenes in the novel actually take place largely at night, or in the darkness of a basement dwelling or otherwise gray and dark time. When Balram was a boy he had to break coal in front of a shop, so even though it was daytime in the telling, the black of the coal separates one’s mind from that reality.
The telling of the novel’s story happens through the letters to the Premier. Balram writes them in the evenings/late at night, under the sparkling light of chandeliers. It’s a message of his success and another reference to the light.
In the novel, you’ll uncover delights about Balram, but in the end you’ll likely discard him, knowing too much about his misdeeds.
Reading and Discussion
What did you think the juxtaposition of light and darkness meant?
Did you feel compassion for Balram at the end?
Would you consider this a realistic impression of India?
Buy a Kindle Now, for Less!
If you’ve been holding out for the Kindle to drop in price, then you should love the offer Amazon has going right now. They’re teaming up with Chase to offer customers $100 off a new Kindle. Here’s the details from the Amazon blog.
Thanks to a pretty sweet deal from Chase, customers can get $100 off Kindle for a limited time when they sign up (and are approved for) the new Amazon Rewards Visa card. The setup is quick and easy: customers can sign up for the new Amazon.com Rewards Visa card right from the Kindle product page at www.amazon.com/kindle. If approved (which usually takes less than 1 minute), they can then add Kindle to their cart and proceed to checkout. Let your friends and family know they can sign up for the Amazon Rewards Visa card and start Kindling for even less. Enjoy. –The Kindle Team
So wait no longer, go buy your Kindle today! With the offer, you would receive your Kindle for $259 — not a bad price at all.
