For my two cents, the big problem is entry price. I can nearly buy a new computer for the cost of a kindle. I would also like to see them available through real life retailers, to get to see them before buying (is the screen really that much like paper). It is a huge leap of faith to invest in something like a kindle (though Oprah helped maximize its publicity). I do like the idea of it being so light.
Whatever happens it will be hard to keep the experience of smelling the pages of a book, writing in the margins (electronic notes are so impersonal), underlining, dogearing pages, and feeling the crease form as you open the book for the very first time. There is nothing like a true book experience (if only the our hyper-technological culture would give them a chance).

Here are potential pitfalls of kindle in my opinion:
-Cost of entry (as much as a new netbook)
-Lack of retail availability (asking for a huge leap of faith for new customers).
-Lack of the authentic experience (no dogears, page smells, margin writing [electronic notes don't count], crease forming as you open the book for the first time, things that make reading a book reading a book)
However, it may help encourage a hyper-technological community encourage reading.

For me the attraction would be instant research–you don’t have to wait for a book to arrive, and portability. But I agree with Jon: the entry price is just way too high and I would also like to be able to see and hold one before I buy it. I’m not going to buy new fiction for my Kindle, I get that at the library. I would want work (church) related books, which probably aren’t widely available.

Scot, I’m seriously thinking about getting one. I am on the road with my job all day and it would be great to have one of these rather than carrying big books. Plus, if I understand correctly, you can read blogs and PDF files too.

Scot,
I have a friend who has a Kindle and he absolutely raves about it. Also, books are usually $9.99 or less.

I don’t know, I’m an active reader. I sit with my drylighter (highlighters ruin the pages) and pen. I don’t think either of those would work too well with a Kindle.

I love the idea of the Kindle and was able to read one over someone’s shoulder on a recent business trip. The interface and size seem great for its intended purpose, but there is the problem. It has “a” purpose and is quite the investment for such a single-use product.
Perhaps a couple generations from now it will become an integrated part of a device that has many more uses and is worth the price for those who do not have much expendable income. In a way I see this device as a symbol of our economic position these says. Single tasked and headed (or already at) for the bottom.
With that said, I really wish I had one and could read the vast array of books available on it. Perhaps one day it will be reinvented as an affordable tool, integrated with other uses.

I should say that this would not replace reading books for me–I have too many for one thing that are indispensable, and I too love the feel and experience of reading a book. I think this would add to my reading repertoire rather than replace anything.

I’m not sure the technology’s there yet, although I haven’t used a Kindle so I may be wrong. I agree with everyone on the price barrier. The sweet spot for most electronics is around $200 before an item can become really popular, after the early adapters have spent a lot of money for crappy early versions of whatever it is. And that’s for items that have always been electronic; music players, video players, game consoles.
The ability to access blogs piques my interest, but can you leave comments? I’d hate to be able to read JesusCreed without being able to tell everyone how wrong they are–I mean, push back respectfully.

I’m probably unqualified to weigh in on the future of kindle-like devices as I am still firmly committed to tangible CD’s with their liner notes and their existence in the space/time continuum. I received an Ipod for a gift and I simply haven’t used it.
I like browsing for books in the ever-endangered bookstores, dog-earing my books, flipping through the pages, and filling up my bookshelves (OK, they’re full already – creating a new stack on the floor) Atlhough there are times when I would love to have a search feature when I can’t find that one perfect quotation.
I love going in someone’s home and learning about them by what they have on their book and CD shelves. Somehow asking to browse their Ipod and Kindle just won’t be the same.
But hey, I’m old-school. So buy me a fountain pen, ‘cuz I’m putting on my slippers, putting my feet up on the ottoman, and underlining an old-fashioned book.
P.S. To any of you Kindle-owning cat lovers – do your cats rub up against your Kindle so you can’t read it? If not, that might be a compelling argument . . .

I have a kindle and use it because my wife did not want any more books piling up in the house. It is quite useful for that; however, not all of the books I would like to read seem to make it to Kindle. There are several from Scot McKnight that I would love to read as an example.
The issue is actually with the publishers and authors. Amazon can create any book on Kindle as long as they have the rights. They charge less, but they still charge. No free books like songs.

Just say NO to DRM.
A lot of money for something that will wear out after a year of use? ?the books are not that much cheaper (not less than 50% of paper) and you are unable to share. Plus, no reading in bed at night as there is no backlight?

I’ve yet to use a Kindle, but I like the idea a lot, and hear nothing but good things from people who have them.
A question though for anyone here who might have an insight on this. What percentage of the books I buy could I actually find on Kindle since a majority of my purchases are theological/Biblical studies writings. I worry I’d get a Kindle and then only use it for about a third of the books I want to get.
Also, and chance I could transfer some of my Logos library on there to read? I doubt it, but if it was possible that alone might convince me to buy.

I want one–but I’m waiting for lower prices that will come with competition. I think theirs a feature that lets you highlight and save passages–but where do they go? I also read with a highlighter and love to write in the margins of my favorite books.
With a kindle my husband won’t know i bought another book like he does everytime another package arrives from Amazon:)

I wish I had a Kindle went I went to Taiwan 25 years ago! No shipping of books, no waiting 3 months for books to arrive by boat mail, and you can carry your library around with you. For an English as first language person living where English books are not available, a Kindle would be a great thing.

Someone else mentioned DRM, but this point needs some expanding. I was listening to an article on NPR the other day. Apparently (I haven’t verified this) the ONLY way to get books for Kindle is through Amazon.com’s portal. They have a monopoly on the market for Kindle-usable e-books. I find that troubling.
Apparently, Sony is releasing a competing product which will allow you to buy eBooks elsewhere, and a lot of independent booksellers who see the need to go electronic but are being cut out of the Amazon monopoly are trying to support Sony’s more open venture.

i love my kindle. i still get regular ol’ books also; but choose kindle versions if they’re available. the ONLY downside for me has been that i can’t have it turned on during taxi, take-off, and landing on a plane.

Kindle is absolutely the wave of the future. More precisely, digital books are the wave of the future. With markup, search, notation, and other features not available in printed editions, digital books are a more accessible medium. A Kindle will hold 1500 books. Imagine being able to search across all volumes for that elusive quote or phrase. Amazon has also announced the availability of Kindle books on other devices, which will further strengthen the digital switchover. Plus, we use fewer trees, no ink, no energy to print, and books can remain available (in print) forever. Another example of old media giving way to digital and mobile.

I understand the Kindle books sometimes leave out the footnotes. If so, that’s a deal-killer for me.

eric, what i’ve seen on my kindle is that the footnotes are not only there, they’re hyperlinked (you can click on them to go to the footnote, then click back). no flipping pages to get to end notes.

What happens if you spend $15,000 to fill your Kindle 2 with books, and then it dies? Do you have to buy the books again, or does Amazon re-load them for free for you?

Mark-
As I understand it, Amazon will reship them to you.

Overall, it’s a price point thing for me. At $200, I’m definitely in. At $250, I’m tempted. At $350, I’m going to be patient.
Yes, you can load PDF files. Either by transfering it directly from computer to kindle (free) or by e-mailing it to your kindle e-mail, which transfers it to your kindle. (10-cents, 25-cents, something like that.)

Will it be just deserts when my kids hear their kids say, “but I couldn’t do my English lit homework… my Kindle’s batteries died!” ????