The Large Screen Kindle: An Act of Desperation
By Gina Cuclis
I suppose you can give Amazon.com an "A" for effort and for seeming like it cares about the future of traditional newspapers and magazines. The online retailer has announced its new, large screen wireless reading device, Kindle DX, intended for reading digitized newspapers and magazines. The device is 9.7 inches, roughly the size of a sheet of paper. Price: $489. Amazon is taking orders now, but isn't releasing the Kindle DX until the summer. Other manufactures are also developing large wireless reading devices.
Difficult Reading Device
These devices are designed to present the editorial and advertising content of traditional newspapers and magazines in the same format as they appear in print. But who wants to read newspapers this way? My community newspaper, the twice-weekly Sonoma Index Tribune, started an e-paper last year. The San Francisco Chronicle recently introduced one. I subscribe to both these papers and receive their print and e-versions. I hardly pay attention to the e-papers. When I want to see a newspaper online, I go to its website. E-newspapers are awkward to navigate. Online formats are much easier to search and read. Plus, people who still enjoy reading the printed paper at the breakfast table won't enjoy the wireless reading device experience.
Kindle Can't Save the Industry
Newspapers hope they can save costs by eliminating paper versions and encouraging their readers to subscribe to their e-papers instead. The industry appears to be counting on wireless reading devices to help with this transition and motivate people to pay for newspaper content. I think they're dreaming. The newspaper industry blew it years ago, when the economy was still strong, by failing to create an expectation that quality, reliable news content isn't free. That said, I think the only option newspapers now have is to switch to entirely online formats. Most have been reluctant to do so, because they haven't figured out a profitable business model.
So I ask, would you pay for a subscription to your read your local newspaper online?
I suppose you can give Amazon.com an "A" for effort and for seeming like it cares about the future of traditional newspapers and magazines. The online retailer has announced its new, large screen wireless reading device, Kindle DX, intended for reading digitized newspapers and magazines. The device is 9.7 inches, roughly the size of a sheet of paper. Price: $489. Amazon is taking orders now, but isn't releasing the Kindle DX until the summer. Other manufactures are also developing large wireless reading devices.
Difficult Reading Device
These devices are designed to present the editorial and advertising content of traditional newspapers and magazines in the same format as they appear in print. But who wants to read newspapers this way? My community newspaper, the twice-weekly Sonoma Index Tribune, started an e-paper last year. The San Francisco Chronicle recently introduced one. I subscribe to both these papers and receive their print and e-versions. I hardly pay attention to the e-papers. When I want to see a newspaper online, I go to its website. E-newspapers are awkward to navigate. Online formats are much easier to search and read. Plus, people who still enjoy reading the printed paper at the breakfast table won't enjoy the wireless reading device experience.
Kindle Can't Save the Industry
Newspapers hope they can save costs by eliminating paper versions and encouraging their readers to subscribe to their e-papers instead. The industry appears to be counting on wireless reading devices to help with this transition and motivate people to pay for newspaper content. I think they're dreaming. The newspaper industry blew it years ago, when the economy was still strong, by failing to create an expectation that quality, reliable news content isn't free. That said, I think the only option newspapers now have is to switch to entirely online formats. Most have been reluctant to do so, because they haven't figured out a profitable business model.
So I ask, would you pay for a subscription to your read your local newspaper online?
Posted by Gina Cuclis at 5/6/2009 9:09 AM 
Categories: Technology, Newspapers, State of the Media
Tags: Kindle Sonoma Index Tribune newspapers Amazon.com San Francisco Chronicle
Categories: Technology, Newspapers, State of the Media
Tags: Kindle Sonoma Index Tribune newspapers Amazon.com San Francisco Chronicle
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