One small step for E-Books...

Our discussion on E-books touched on many small, user concerns that were limiting uptake: backlighting that doesn't tire the eyes, that "book feel", highlighting/ note-taking capability etc.  The latest advancement is page numbers (H/T Lifehacker).  Users love improvements to a product they already own (particularly with the ease of downloading a softward update), but could the piecemeal nature of these advancements actually preclude momentum?  Compare Kindle's software updates to the Steve Job's approach of dramatically unveiling a new product that solves all the problems with the previous model and caters to those needs-you-didn't-even-know-you-had.  Jobs certainly gets more press coverage...
- sezflom
1 response
I doubt incremental improvements are going to help the Kindle.  The iPad is a totally (multi-use) different product which also happens be an eBook reader.And really, I suspect Amazon makes more money selling books than selling Kindles.  So should they really care so long as you buy your books from them and use Kindle for Mac / PC or iPad to read them?  Of course if Steve Jobs comes up with a bookstore that's as compelling as the iTunes store then the game may be different … but is that going to happen anytime soon?Now we could also see the "Kindle Touch". Last year Amazon took over Touchco - a small start-up which uses a new technology to make pressure sensitive touch screens.