(also: The Da Vinci Code: A Novel)

Just finished my first Kindle book — How Starbucks Saved My Life. I picked this as the first read for a good reason — something light, something current. I want to read the book and also sample the experience. Seems like a feel good book when I picked it (It is), and I Starbucks, the company and their product. So it maybe a good way to peek behind the curtains (it did).

This book is a light read. While I have to believe that this is a true story, sometimes the structure is a little contrive. Name dropping to highlight the author’s former failed live does get tiring after awhile. “Remember when I was drinking with Hemmingway?”

To me, the message of the book is “Dignity through Work”. Which is, a good message.

First impressions: Love the packaging. Almost Apple style. Hate the cover. I couldn’t get it to fit into the cover well. But at least it works. The network connection is fast. I like the way I can page forward while browsing the store without waiting for the graphics to completely downloaded.

The Kindle is small than I thought. The screen is way better than I though. I have no problem reading from it under all different lighting condition at home. The best part ? The Kindle really does disappear. It is not about the device. It is about reading. I bought my first book (more on this late) and am already happy reading away.

Two things that I do not like:

The back button on the right side — At first I thought it was another “Prev page” button. It took me a few click to realized that it is a “back” button in the menu system.

After downloading a sample, and then purchased the book, the sample remains on the device as a separate book. Why would I need the sample anymore? I have to manually go into the Content Manager to delete the sample.

Yes — small nitpicking. The device is, revolutionary.

You’d think I can browse for a book, add it to a newly created “kindle books” wish list, and purchase them later? No !

The “Add to Wish List” button is not available when you are browsing a kindle book. Instead you have to choice of “buying it now”, or “send sample to my kindle”. While that’s nice, what if I really just want to build a wish list?

Come on, Amazon. I want my “add to wish list” button back.

These reviews are written by gadget lovers (I being one). They all complaint about the ugliness of the device, the copy protection of the material, the lack of (direct) support for PDF, the lack of a companion PC/Mac based reading software for any purchased books. The truth is, non of that matters. Kindle is not a gadget. As Jeff Bezos says, they designed the Kindle “to disappear”.

e-readers are all about the availability, the price, and the ease of getting content (books and magazine) to the reader. By removing the need for a PC, the need for syncing, the need for wires, the need for anything, even our parents, yes, those people who reads a lot, can use it. They can use it easily to buy and read books.

The only surprising thing about the Kindle launch is the price and the lack of quantity. Amazon ran out of them within the first two days. The available dates moved from “now (Nov 21st)” to Nov 28th, to Dec 5th as of this blog entry. Demand is there. This is going to be THE Christmas present for the “normal” people. Go get one!