UPDATE: Amazon has added several kindle areas since I posted (including a user guide ironically as a PDF which isn’t supported by the kindle) that make me admittedly eat some (but not all) of these words. Gizmodo has a good writeup, snaps and a Q&A session. Note to self: wait two hours before posting an opinion piece.

Amazon has officially announced their “revolutionary” electronic-paper device called “kindle.” But is this a device you’ll pay $399 for in order to have the privilege of buying products with little or no capability to have it deliver what you might actually want to read? Is the revolutionary aspect a more streamlined way of distributing printed material or a breakthrough way of reading content?

I’m going to reserve judgement until I can spend face-time with kindle and, most importantly, understand EXACTLY what that USB cable can do that’s packed in with the kindle reader. But after reading the Newsweek article, various bloggers, watching the videos on Amazon and comparing what this device does vs. the Sony Reader (which I’ve used extensively) or all the others currently shipping,  there is no question that Amazon has absolutely hit the sweet spot of what a device like this can achieve. It’s likely I’ll buy one but I have deep and profound reservations.

Is hitting the sweet spot enough? Can it overcome the inevitable show-stopper realization that will come when people realize, “Hey, wait a minute! I have to PAY to get my own content on the device or read blogs!?!“  Even though any of us in technology understand the limitations of displays like this (they don’t do color yet; battery life requires tradeoffs in writing the screen once vs. multiple times per second for videos and animations) I think people will see no color, no audio, no animation, no video as severe, possibly deal-killer limitations.

I’ve been wrong before and what leans me to some level of success with this device is imaging myself carrying around this tiny device instead of schlepping books, magazines, newspapers and more with me as I travel. Same goes with my bride who travels extensively and is always carrying around a bag with her “reading heap”.

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