Also, the Zune's not a terrible device at all, in fact it's the top not-an-iPod I've ever used. Not that I'm an expert or anything.

heh.

Don't fear technology, Paul.

It's an MP3 player. It's functional and effective. Can't speak to the proprietary software, though, or the comparitive availability of tunes.

So anyway, Paul, your point... looks like Bezos is taking the same tactic Nintendo took with the Wii: ensure there is some demand, then manufacture and make available so few of the devices that you can brag about selling out. Without seeing specific numbers, it's nearly certain Amazon had the device under-manufactured in order to a) ensure they didn't have a sitting inventory and b) ensure that they sold out to create the impression, however artificial, of high demand.

Too bad most civilians aren't smart enough to see through such an obvious publicity ploy.

I got mine for 79 bucks on w00t, and it works great. That's one quarter the price for the same functionality. But please continue to spew forth your garbage, it obviously makes for great slog-fodder.

What's a Zune? Is that one of those cameras? And is the Kindle like one of those things you give kids to bash round and square pegs into?

mostly.

@7 -- Postureduck! I've seen you! On my wireless, that is. Unfortunately you always go out of range before I can bomb you with some kind of awesome song. I think that means you are going past on the bus when I am waiting at the stop.

@25, to kindle is to arouse or to evoke (generally an emotional response). It's a pretty good name, actually.

Modern books are commonly printed at 300 dpi (dots per inch). Most laser printers print at 300 or 600 dpi. That's reasonably easy on the eyes and easy to read.

The Sony reader is about half that (170 dpi). So is the Kindle (167 dpi). Or twice as hard to read as commonly printed text.

I have a hard enough time with printed text (just recently started to wear reading glasses). A Kindle will not replace books for me, or pretty much anyone over the age of 40.

Now, if they come out with a Kindle II (or whatever) that has twice the screen resolution and half the price... I might seriously consider it. It will probably happen within the next 10 years.

EYE and STRAIN.

oh, and design-wise, these words:

TEXAS. INSTRUMENTS. 1984.

@36: The design is clunky, I'll be the first to admit it. I don't think it was designed to be read 40 hours a week, though, and for casual reading purposes (2 or so hours a day, maybe?) I find that it works beautifully.