First and foremost is that while they are the newest models, they are actually available for a relatively low price. The two smaller models, whether they have 3G access or not are sold for under $200. And even the larger Kindle DX machine can be purchased for less than $400. However that is still quite a lot of money to many of us.

The thing with the Kindle is that the purchase of the reader itself is actually quite expensive but then we are able to save money on our book purchases. In case you do not already know, the Amazon Kindle has a library of almost two million books that users can download for free. These books are classics that were written years ago and are now out of copyright. Amazon has transferred these titles to electronic format and makes them available for Kindle users at no cost. This may well be to try and encourage people to by Kindles and I imagine this strategy is working well. Indeed this was one of the reasons that persuaded me that buying a Kindle was a good idea.

It is not only old titles that are available. There are plenty of new books that we can get on the Kindle as well. The majority of the releases cost about $10. This is a pretty good price. And the beauty of the Kindle is that we can try before we buy but we do not even have to go to the bookshop to do so. We can download the first chapter of any book to try it out first of all.

I was actually having a conversation with my brother the other day, about something that relates very closely to this topic.  It was about how the invention of the printing press actually destroyed Goth architecture.  Seems like a bit of a stretch I know, but hear me out.  It really does make sense.  Before the printing press, if you wanted to find out was was written in “The Book”, you usually had to go somewhere, and have it read to you be the keeper of  “The Book”.  Usually a priest, a monk, a king, or queen.  Or someone else of reasonably high rank and intellect.

These places you went to get this information, were of course beautifully built, designed and constructed in a manner to instill reverence in the visitor.  It was all part of the experience.  But, the printing press changed all this.  No longer was the knowledge and wisdom enshrined in the palace, temple or church.  It was now on the night stand beside your bed.  If you wanted to become more learned, you simply had to read.  The men and women in their beautiful designed Gothic towers had just been taken down a peg or two.  Fewer pilgrimages to centers of wisdom, meant there was no one to impress anymore.

The internet and blogging have kind of done the same thing to the big publisher houses and media conglomerates of the modern day.  While sure, there is a lot of crappy stuff out there, but there is also some very articulate, intelligent folks, that know how to get a point across.  The internet and blogging are what we call a disruptive technology.  What’s funny though, is that in it’s day, so was the printing press and books.  At least the proliferation of books.  It’s funny how a little perspective can make you see things differently isn’t it?  So hey, what is this thing the call an iPad.  Could it be the next big disruptive technology?  I don’t really think so.  At least not in it’s current incarnation.  But, I think it’s a step in that direction.