December 10 , 2007 - The Commodore 64 turns 25 years old. I get misty just thinking about it.

In the mean time, here is a 92 minute lecture/appreciation/geek-a-thon on the C64 from the Computer History Museum. (I believe this maybe the longest video on YouTube)

And of course, you can download the ROMS and relive your wasted afternoons in the basement playing Ultimate Wizard and rocking out on your 300 BAUD modem.

Watch the universe grow in this side by side split screen of creation verses evolution. Regardless of which side of the screen you see as “right”, it is a neat little movie.

Since the release of the Amazon Kindle and my initial thoughts, there has been a lot more said about the device, from news sources to tech sites, to geeks on parade.

I think overall, my impressions have not changed one bit. It is still over priced, it is still locked into proprietary formats, and it is still not a book. That last one will never change. But a few items that I like about what Amazon has done.

• The auto-download of periodicals is nice. And yes, it is cheaper and more environmentally sound that the “dead tree” editions. BUT, you can get most , if not all, of the content on the respective periodicals websites for free.
• The download locker idea is great and something Amazon has always done. You download a book, and for some reason you erase it. No problem, Amazon keeps a record and you can redownload it right away, any time.

This could go one of two ways. It could be like the iPod. Prior to the iPod, with its tightly integrated software and store, MP3 players were around (like eBook readers) but they were very fringe and only had a small following. Apple introduces the complete package and the market blows up over time. Can the Kindle do the same thing? I am not sure. One difference that is apparent to me is that I can transfer my existing CDs to my iPod, can’t do that with my books. Plus, Apple has always been design kings and dealing with delivery of content was secondary (though integral) to the iPod success. Amazon has been masters of delivery but design of user interfaces or devices , well, they have never done that. And if their website is any indication of what usability is, we are in trouble.

The other direction is a very cool idea; that it will become a very expensive paper weight.

The one thing I could see happen is that Amazon would become the eBook provider for all of the next generation of eBook readers. They have always been a content deliverer, not the context. It is odd too, their take on music downloads is the complete opposite. MP3 ’s without DRM that will work on any portable or device out there, verses their book approach, which is locked and proprietary.

Of course the cost and tight integration would change and I think that one-click idea is what they are hoping makes this work.

Only time will tell. I still think eBooks are great for Textbooks and manuals. But for my novel of choice, I still like “dead trees”.

BTW - Amazon claims the Kindle sold out its intial run in 5.5 hours. I am not sure if that is demand (OMG I HAVE TO HAVE ONE) or supply ( we have 19 Kindles, - OOPS! SOLD OUT! - LOOK how awesome it is!)

So now Amazon has a gadget that is an eBook reader that is suppossed to fix the eBook “problem”. No PC needed, not connection, etc. It piggybacks on Sprints network and downloads stuff wirelessly and most ebooks are $9.99 or less.

AND it is “bargain priced” at $399.

Check out their pages about it. You might feel so cool looking at a cutting edge device that I think is stupid.

Why stupid? Well lots of reasons. Let’s start with eBooks in general.

• Format: they deliver them in a proprietary format that only works on the Kindle. So unlike my dated BOOK which I can lend or sell or trade, this HAS to be read on my Kindle.
• Reading is HARD on a screen : I know this used eInk (or something dumb like that) to make it more book-like, well I have something that is even MORE book like - it is called a BOOK
• People like books: People LIKE books. They like the feel of a cover and the paper, the cover flaps with info the art of “how much more is left” by feeling the number and thickness of pages left
• ebooks are good for 2 things: textbooks and manuals. and the funny part - most people PRINT them out.

And now onto the PRICE!!

• $399!! - I can get a bargain basement laptop for that can do A LOT more, including reading eBooks
• So after my $400 investment, I need to pay $10 a book. So how many real books do I need to buy before the cost balances out?

The big reasons why “book technology” has worked so well for the last 500 years is cost and portability. The problem I have as a whole with digital media (be it music, video, books, etc) is ownership. With the ancient physical media I owned a licensed copy that I can sell, trade, read, or use in any compliant device (cd player/turntable for music - my eyeballs and brain for reading). Until the formats become unlocked from the devices, they will never gain permanent traction. Ask yourself why MP3 is the default choice for sound files? Quality? File size? No - there are other formats that do that better. It is that it is the format that is most portable. Any device that does not play MP3 is doomed (Sony tried this - and the devices failed miserably)

The Nerdworld blog over at time says pretty much the same thing (using much better phrasing)

A book I wanted on Amazon was listed in hardback at a bargain price, $6.99. So I ordered a copy. And when I was presented with the final screen, I had 4 shipping options. Look, one for Saturday.

I had never seen this before but I think it is great. I am an Amazon Prime member and the price for Saturday shipping was $4.99. Obviously paying a premium for the weekend delivery - and it would have been overnight as well. I went with Two-day shipping, free with Amazon Prime.

I wonder if this is just for the holidays or a new permanent feature. I would like it to stay, even if I never use it. Knowing that I have the option is great.

I need to get outside.