A "Champion" Disagrees with Views of Kindle

I got the following as a response to my post Some Additional Views on the Kindle. However, as it eventually seemed to border on the self-serving, I thought I'd address the anonymous remarks in parts on a post.

I, myself, am a Kindle champion as well,

And as you were trying to point people to what appears to be an Amazon-affiliated (not owned) site about the Kindle, I have to wonder what "champion" really means.

and I think that there are a number of intangible "cost" savings and benefits to consider for you skeptics out there.

Ah, yes, intangibles - often the last refuge of the businessperson who cannot point to a concrete benefit.

First of all, think of the convenience the Kindle provides you. Now, you can read all of your favorite newspapers, blogs, books, magazines etc. anywhere and everywhere. You do not have to worry about the weight and size of your reading material and about how you will transport it on the move.

Yes, I always travel with a Sherpa carrying my newspapers, magazines, and books. Realistically, when I do travel on business, it's one book, and I find that airlines are terrific about having magazines that I needn't schlep.

Second, you can do and learn more with what would have been wasted down time while you wait for this or that. You can just pull it out whenever you have a few minutes here and there.

How about the educational use of contemplating what you have already read and heard, or even looking around to see where you are? Not every minute of every day needs to be "productive," in the limited sense of the term.

Third, think of the environmental cost savings. If we, as a collected whole, begin to do more and more of our reading from "paper-like" digital devices, we will be cutting down less trees, maintaining and even increasing oxygen levels and perhaps even fighting global warming.

What of the environmental costs of the semiconductors plants that run through tens of thousands of gallons of water daily? The non-replaceable minerals and metals? The energy costs of manufacturing the whole thing? The energy costs in keeping the acres of servers running to make the "environmentally-friendly" reading available? High tech does not translate into green.

Fourth, you begin reading content that you may have otherwise missed and will become more and more educated/cultured as you seek out new and different reading materials.

Wait, you're going to read it just because it's on a screen, although you wouldn't on paper? That seems like one of the most far fetched arguments I've ever heard for anything.

All in all, while $359 for this device plus the cost of the books etc. seems high, you are getting a great deal of value out of it, be it value from convenience, value from supplementary education, value from environmental protection or other value.

In other words, pay no attention to businessman behind the curtain. And, sorry, I won't be listing your Kindle-centered web site that is "in association with Amazon.com," even if you do end your exhortation with an environmentally-friendly electronic exclamation point.