Kindle, oh Kindle

Over the past few weeks I’ve had a plethora of different reactions regarding Amazon’s new reading device, Kindle. Initially I felt that the Kindle was doomed. I figured there is no way that people would be willing to adhere to the strict DRM policy that’s been set in place by Amazon and the content publishers. However, the more I’ve thought about it, the more I think the Kindle might have a shot at being a great device. No, not because the device itself is a joy to use, but rather because it offers something we have never seen on the tech landscape before. Free high speed web access without a subscription cost.

Here’s the deal. The Kindle is incredibly important to the future of content distribution and discovery because it offers free 3g wireless internet (mobile EVDO) with the device. Free free — as in the online content isn’t restricted to just content from Amazon but rather it’s full fledge internet. Do you see what I’m saying? The Kindle is the first device in the history of tech devices that gives us the ability to browse the web practically anywhere in the country without having to pay.

Now picture this. An iPod Touch with free high speed internet anywhere in the nation. Check your mail, browse your blogs, download photos and music, all without having to pay a monthly cost. This is unthinkable, and something that we never saw coming from the big telco’s, yet all of a sudden the Kindle has broken the mold.

Yes the Kindle’s ugly, yes the user interface looks slow and frustrating, yes the screen is not paper-white, and yes the battery doesn’t last as long with internet on. But what I am saying is not that the Kindle is a great device, but that it is a great gateway device. The type of device that we need to be successful so we can use other better designed devices in the future.