I too want to like this thing but I want a lower price on the gadget so I can put more money into content.

That said, my guess is there will be pressure from computers that are shrinking into tablets and smartphones that have other uses and frankly, I’d rather have one device rather than two. If they made this kind of subscription service available to computers via a browser, the way iTunes works on computer and iPods and iPhones, I think they might have something.

If not for what I see as the real issue. 90K sounds like a lot of choices for titles, but it is not. In November, and also recently, I did a little experiment, analyzing my Amazon wish-list baskets, which at any point in time contains far more than I will ever buy (because I use it as a storage place for items of interest which I have looked at). The running average for availability of these items under the Kindle banner is about 16%. The real problem with the Kindle availability base is that it is tailored to the best-sellers and the momentary “it” propaganda of the cultural literary output. In this way it functions as an unconscious funnel for mainstream-only cultural activity into our hearts and homes. It is, as presently marketed, a cultural homogenizer device.

I know, I know — big plans for the future, everything on Earth scanned and available. Plan sounds nice, meanwhile what’s the timetable? Amazon needs some kind of associated link for KIndle site to describe current status about ‘what’s new’ in the library and also about what major projects are coming down the pike, when, regarding the missing literature out there.

I wrote to them twice, suggesting little research projects like comparing Amazon member’s browsing history/wish lists against Kindle availability and using this as a sort of feedback loop to scan new titles. That could get me excited. No response yet.

The cost also seems fair when you factor in the free wireless, at least compared with the sony which had more expensive books as well.

I’m still not convinced this thing will succeed but Pogue’s review makes me less sure it will fail.

I’m not so keen on the price; expensive however you look at it. The Sony Reader retails at $50 less and IMO is a much better looking device. I do like that books are retailing at a fair price for it but don’t like that I would have to pay to put my own content on it. On my Librie I was free to put books from Project Gutenburg, or other free libraries, on the device at no additional cost.

I agree with you though that Amazon has the resources to make this thing work. In a fashion anyway. As much as I like electronic readers they will never replace the good old, time tested paper that sits on my bookshelves.