Article: Does Amazon's Tablet Future Lie with Microsoft?

[Magenta]

Read and discuss.... LOVE the picture, even though it's not real.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/perlow/?p=12184

UPDATE:  People, people... this is NOT a kindle bashing article.  Rather it discusses the possibilities related to future Operating Systems.

[R. M. Reed]

For some reason, a lot of tech writers want the iPad to kill the Kindle. As if they have a personal dislike of Kindle. But if you want a book reader, one that you can read outside - these writers never mention that LCD screens are nearly impossible to read with bright light on or behind the screen - and one that costs a lot less, Kindle is a very good alternative.

And please, Mr. Bezos, don't do Windows. Please please please.

[Selcien]

For some reason, a lot of tech writers want the iPad to kill the Kindle. As if they have a personal dislike of Kindle. But if you want a book reader, one that you can read outside - these writers never mention that LCD screens are nearly impossible to read with bright light on or behind the screen - and one that costs a lot less, Kindle is a very good alternative.

And please, Mr. Bezos, don't do Windows. Please please please.

I'm not trying to defend the tech writers, I just want to point out that some people (no way to determine the actual amount) truly want back-lit screens to read on, the people that do are hardly going to find it impossible to read on them.

Everybody will have their favored screen technology, the iPad will give people who prefer back-lit screens another option, and more options are always good.

[TechBotBoy]

Mr. Bezos will have to do Windows if he wants to stay in the game -- sorry.

I'm not too concerned about the screen so long as it's in color and I can read it anywhere.

What I am concerned about is functionality and performance, and as always - I want MORE!

For those of you that saw (and laughed at) the "Hitler" video of him slagging off Apple for falling so short of what everyone wanted and expected -- his vision of a 'ground-breaking advance that will revolutionize computing' was Windows on a Kindle -- that's what everyone wants (well, everyone I know).

Don't know if gambling is allowed on this board, but I'd wager a dollar that we will see something like this in the next 3 years.

Seeing how successful the Kindle was, can the Super-Kindle be far behind?

                        - Tbb

[Ann in Arlington]

Mr. Bezos will have to do Windows if he wants to stay in the game -- sorry.

I see no reason why Kindle has to have Windows, if that's what you're saying. . . . . .it seems to do just fine with the Linux/Unix underpinning it currently has.  And there is currently a Kindle for PC app that works with Windows.

Disclaimer:  I didn't follow the link and read the article. . . .I've given that up -- people either rave or rant and I just don't care to read it either way.

[KindleChickie]

If Kindle uses Windows, then we will have to run virus protection on our Kindles.  The day they switch to Windows, I will no longer buy Kindles.

[dougmon]

First, I don't believe the adoption of Windows on the Kindle would be a good thing. That said, I also don't believe it's going to happen. (Or I don't want to believe it's going to happen).  What I think is more likely is that Amazon will introduce something along the lines of the iPad that is intended not to replace the Kindle, but to provide functionality the Kindle doesn't have.

It would be good, though, if Amazon would wait to see just where the iPad fails before they jump on the bandwagon.

Also, my first Kindle arrives today, and I would be disappointed if I couldn't continue with the Kindle just because Amazon decided that it had to have a bloated operating system with umpty-hundred extra features.

[BTackitt]

I see no reason why Kindle has to have Windows, if that's what you're saying. . . . . .it seems to do just fine with the Linux/Unix underpinning it currently has.  And there is currently a Kindle for PC app that works with Windows.

Disclaimer:  I didn't follow the link and read the article. . . .I've given that up -- people either rave or rant and I just don't care to read it either way.

Ann, I totally agree with you on BOTH points. Linux is doing just fine for the kindle, AND it means it is not riddled with viruses like windows.
and I have just reached the point where I don't give a flying fig monkey about whether someone else hates the Kindle or not. It does EXACTLY what I want it to do in the way I want to do it.

[HappyGuy]

If Kindle uses Windows, then we will have to run virus protection on our Kindles.  The day they switch to Windows, I will no longer buy Kindles.

I'm with you there. I can imagine the advertising:
"The new Kindle 4, with Windows 7. Now you can create Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on your reader. But that's not all! With the Windows OS installed you can upload almost an entire book!"

Ah well, it was a nice reader while it lasted. :>(

[Magenta]

I see no reason why Kindle has to have Windows, if that's what you're saying. . . . . .it seems to do just fine with the Linux/Unix underpinning it currently has.  And there is currently a Kindle for PC app that works with Windows.

Disclaimer:  I didn't follow the link and read the article. . . .I've given that up -- people either rave or rant and I just don't care to read it either way.

Sorry you didn't read the article as if you had you would see it is NOT a kindle hating article.... rather it is a discussion of possibilities.

[mdovell]

In all due respect I can't see the OS of kindle turning to windows...why?

Because windows is dying...

If this was 15 maybe 10 years ago I'd say sure but not now.

Did windows get a foothold in smartphones? No...infact it went from 11% market share to 8%

Did it get a foothold into mp3 players? No

Did it get into pda's that much? No

Does the OS even matter these days or the web browser? no

I'm in one of the largest schools in Mass and I haven't met anyone that actually supports microsoft.

Open source is largely becoming a way of doing things for budgets alone. There's a system called Blackboard that costs money..well there's one called moogle that doesn't...guess where the school is aiming to go?

The idea of selling software has largely be removed as you have open source, piracy (illegal) and frankly satisfaction with the old product. I use Ubuntu at home..and this laptop. I have no reason to buy software..infact it's been years since I bought any..just as movie rental places are going under as there's on demand.

I just can't see windows really trying to make it in. Maybe there might be applications that could be used but not the whole OS.

[Magenta]

Ann, I totally agree with you on BOTH points. Linux is doing just fine for the kindle, AND it means it is not riddled with viruses like windows.
and I have just reached the point where I don't give a flying fig monkey about whether someone else hates the Kindle or not. It does EXACTLY what I want it to do in the way I want to do it.

Yes, many of us are happy with exactly what the kindle does and how it does it ---- TODAY.

But, you must admit, all electronic devices evolve and change - as will the Kindle.  All this article is discussing is the possibility of future operating systems.  It is NOT a kindle hating rant. 

[David Wisehart]

Kindle doesn't need Windows.

[anivyl]

disclaimer: I only glanced through the article as I am half awake~

I do understand that Kindle's future might lie with an OS that has done a Tablet PC OS successfully before, without too much tweaking. Especially in the case of Amazon's, it might just be too much work in too short a time (to try and raise up a competition vs Apple) that would be detrimental to them.

yes microsoft has been full of fail for the last... what, 6 years? They do have the knowledge of the technology as compared to Amazon though. Hopefully, they come up with some dumb/different version of the OS that few people would've created hacks for (Read: non-windows format) and would not crash as much.

At the end of the day, Microsoft is also the other giant in the technological space. Perhaps the reasoning behind the partnership or proposed partnership is because MS and Apple are archrivals. :p

[dougmon]

After reading the original article about the licensing deal, I've come to a conclusion. The author of the article referenced here is making a  wild guess based on absolutely nothing at all. In the article about the licensing deal, there's nothing about Amazon licensing Windows; it's about Amazon using Linux. Microsoft says they hold patents on parts of Linux. You can infer that there is some interest from Amazon in Windows from the term "cross-licensing", but I think that's a stretch.

I think the deal is just so Amazon can keep using Linux in the Kindle and in their servers without fear of a lawsuit.

If I'm wrong I will happily accept correction (as long as it's not based on a guess, which the Perlow article seems to be).

[Ann in Arlington]

Sorry you didn't read the article as if you had you would see it is NOT a kindle hating article.... rather it is a discussion of possibilities.

Point taken. . .  Let me clarify that I was really responding to the post about Windows and Kindle. . .and I wanted to make it clear that I was not taking issue with anything pro or con in the article since I hadn't read it.

I probably still won't. . . . Along with rants and raves, I find I don't worry too much about possibilities that are not yet realities. . . .when I see what IS, then I decide if it's something I want.  I mean, I got into the Kindle that way in the first place. . . . .I saw it on Amazon and said that is a cool thing; I want one. So I don't really worry too much about what might come sooner or later.  I'm happy with what I have.