I don’t see it. $400 is a bit steep and the thing is ugly. I do not get the whole “colorless” thing. Why not make the thing a portable hard drive to facilitate the transfer of files? Why make this a wireless-only thing? What advantage does that give? And what is up with being a gatekeeper for which blogs I read?
I hate to say it, but this is the the type of device that could only be conceived of up in Washington. It reeks of Microsoft proprietary “we rule this space” thinking. Why not make a device that conforms to Open Standard where everyone can play?
Does Amazon really think they can invent something so new and so cool that they do not have to play with others? Hell, the One Laptop Per Child is superior in almost every way (except size) and costs half the price.
I guess absolute power (money) corrupts the mind absolutely.
Cool Features
Electronic Paper™ (readable in the sun)
Download books in under 1 minute
Purchases backed up on Amazon (’bout time!!!)
Wireless connectivity
Automatic download of magazines/papers
SD expansion card
New Releases $9.99!!!
Uncool Features
Non-standard files
Non-standard system structure
$400
DRM
Screen resolution (I have to see it to figure if this is a problem though)
Lack of color (what are they thinking?!?!?)
Small storage (200 books?!?!? What are they thinking?!?!? iPod has had 1,000+ songs for 6 years!)
Transfer files via email (B-I-G mistake)
Unsure Features
No contract (so what – These features should be included in your phone bill anyway)