OrionWorks - Steven V Johnson wrote:
Nevertheless, as you also stated "...at this stage." Seems to me that it just a matter of time before products like the Kindle, or its progeny will end up being given away for free . . .
Sure. As soon as they can demonstrate to the regulators that the cost of the hardware is negligible, they will be free to give it away. Telephone companies that provide cell phone service are allowed to give away free phones. An automobile company can throw in a free radio. When they first started including radios in cars in the 1930s they were hit with antitrust motions by Uncle Sam, I assume because radio manufacturers complained.
My biggest complaint against the current Kindle configuration is admittedly an eccentric one, a criticism that probably isn't shared by the vast majority of Kindle enthusiasts. It's too damned small for me!
Have a look at the bigger Kindle DX with the 9.7" display. I got one of these for my daughter this Christmas. Rob Duncan uses one for PDF files and recommended it.
- Jed
