Comments on: Amazon Kindle in Japan

By: Unknown34653

Unknown34653 — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:30:15 +0000

I just received the international version.

I was looking forward to use it as a Japanese study tool, but it doesn’t display non-English characters.
This means that people in China, Japan, Korea, Russia, etc are screwed over if they purchase it.

I’d like to say a big “up yours” to Amazon for keeping that information hidden.

By: Iago

Iago — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:57:35 +0000

Hmm. Seems the books are going to be more expensive for users of the international Kindle also. Maybe it’s back to the Sony reader, after all…

By: Iago

Iago — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:12:02 +0000

I was interested, especially for technical books ’cause they cost an arm and a leg, so I took a look at the Kindle store, and here’s something interesting:

Print List Price: $49.99
Kindle Price: $27.19
You Save: 22.80 (46%)

Cool. But wait… On Amazon.com, print edition:

List Price: $49.99
Our Price: $31.49

So, by buying the Kindle version from Amazon rather than the print version from Amazon, you actually only save $4.30 (okay there’s shipping charges as well, but also the Kindle has to be paid for, so…)

Don’t know, that just rubs me the wrong way…

By: James

James — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:16:00 +0000

At least they are technically correct…

Osaka on that map is actually:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka,_Gifu

And Nagoya is actually:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagoya,_Saga

Yokohama is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokohama,_Aomori

By: Annon

Annon — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:09:13 +0000

Seriously. Anyone notice Nagoya or Osaka? Hmmmmmm

By: Man from the West

Man from the West — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:27:47 +0000

Nobody noticed that the map used in this post was enourmously wrong?

By: Rob A

Rob A — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:06:17 +0000

Or they could just pirate bay the books like a normal person, and use the newest Sony reader which is cheaper and less restricted in Japan.

Anything that makes you “register” to use it is just one more method of DRM and control the world doesn’t need. 3G would be useful, but there’s plenty of WiFi too which isn’t restricted to a preset list of books and sites.

By: Niels

Niels — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:03:24 +0000

James, is it still possible to read your books in low light environment or do you need to turn on a reading light in that case?

I usually read in bed or on flights from Europe to Japan and other far away places. Having to turn on a reading light for me would cancel out the need or even the urge to buy a Kindle.

I now use my mobile phone and mobipocket to read books on.
Would the Kindle be interesting for me?

By: longus dickus

longus dickus — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:16:14 +0000

i dont like it. this will be on my “never waste your money on it” list for the next 5 years.

By: The Overthinker

The Overthinker — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:48:14 +0000

While I am not about to use Kindle (grey ‘paper’ really does not appeal) I can think of one massive (literally) advantage to digitalization. I own an entire collection of National Geographic magazines–on four DVDs. If I were to own every single paper one published since 1888 I would need a warehouse to house them all. Paper is an extraordinary waste of space when all we really need is the information on it. Hell, my own apartment is bad enough….

By: Our Man in Abiko

Our Man in Abiko — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:32:27 +0000

Our Man loves books, but has to admit downloading any book in 60 seconds appeals. But can he then give it to a mate to read? Or collect first editions? Or sell his old books? Or pass them down to his kids?

Still, Our Man remembers similar arguments why computers would never replace newspapers, and we are almost there.

By: Level3

Level3 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:58:29 +0000

When an e-book reader WITHOUT remote control file deletion (for books you’ve already “bought”) by the provider comes out, let me know. Till then, I’ll wait.

How much do you want to bet that “free” wireless coverage in Japan will suddenly become NOT free anymore if enough people start buying these things.

Oh, and they should eventually be giving e-book readers away for free or almost nothing, just as cell phones are/were, in hopes that you keep buying books. Again, I’ll wait for that.

By: yoga boy

yoga boy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:43:37 +0000

The kindle is a DRM riddled turd, please don’t try to pass it off as anything else. Amazon can remotely disable your ebooks also.

By: James Watt

James Watt — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:45:05 +0000

I just object to the prices. If a softcover book costs $12 at home, and 75% of the price goes towards printing and distribution, why does the book cost the same on kindle? Does server space and pipeline really costs $9 per book?

By: Adamu

Adamu — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:09:30 +0000

Awesome. I have no plans to buy one, but this slightly increases my chances of getting to play with one if a friend buys it.

By: gadgetfanatic

gadgetfanatic — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:28:21 +0000

interesting. I’d be interested to see their list of “international magazines.” I, for one, would love to read 「習慣アスキー」 on a Kindle. of course, no color, but still…