Let's face it, the browser wars are basically contained. You can Google just about any whoopsie and fix it. But at what price? Still I would have never thought that in 2009 we would still be struggling with inconsistencies between browsers. Without question the worst thing that has happened to us is the continued agendized computing we still experience. While Microsoft, Adobe, Apple (to a lesser degree), Sun Microsystems, and Google struggle to be the "one," we see countless hours that could otherwise be productive evaporate in corrective action. The browser wars that were bloody and violent when Microsoft set it's sights on destroying Netscape, are less fever pitched but we now have more browsers than ever to choose from with Apple and Google jumping on board. You can also roll your own basic browser in a few lines of code with Microsoft .Net and I imagine Java has a browser component. Adobe is working hard to bypass your browser altogether by moving you to their “purchased not created” Flash product (in the interest of fairness Macromedia didn’t create Flash either).
Okay enough history, why will the Amazon Kindle win the browser war? Why will the follow alongs be doomed? People have tried before and failed at marketing an electric book. Sony has revived one and has it in stores now. Good luck Sony but you should probably focus on something that you know and love like video. That's what Amazon did. I can't imagine any entity in 2009 claiming to know and love books better than Amazon. I'm sure I'm ignoring some huge publishing company etc. but let's face it Amazon has forever made it's mark.
Okay, okay, okay - how will Kindle win the browser war? I mean Kindle is NOT even a BROWSER for crying out loud. By following the sage advice dispensed by W.O.P.R. in the classic computer movie "WarGames". "The only way to win - is NOT to play." In fact, Amazon probably doesn’t even think Kindle is IN the browser wars. So just like the butterfly that defeated the tiger, the Kindle may mozy along and not even seem a threat until it’s too late.
The Kindle was most definitely a WTF product in version one. You looked at it and said – huh? Who would want that? Answer? Lots and lots of people. You have to wait to get your Kindle. This means I believe that sales are better than Amazon anticipated. I won’t rehash what it does watch these videos and see for yourself. It’s so freaking simple it boggles the mind.
Let’s compare 3 devices that are hotspots for browser wars….
| Category | Kindle | iPhone | Netbook |
| Life | 4 Days | 2 Days | 5-8 Hours |
| Screen Size | Page | Business Card | Little Widescreen TV |
| Connectivity | Most anywhere Sprint is | Most anywhere AT&T is | Wifi or 3G provided |
| Conn. Cost | 0 | $80 - $100 a month | $80 - $100 a month |
| Form Factor | Star Trek PADD | Very Little | Chunky & Sideways |
| Input | Keyboard | Fingertips mostly | Keyboard |
| Pages designed for it | Every single one that lands on it | Lots and lots (very close to ubiquity) but still many pages no workee well and no flash. | Can display all pages but weighs…. |
| Weight | 10+ oz. | 20 oz.? | 3 lbs. |
| Secure | Sure | Has been hacked | Windows XP? - OMG |
Yeah, yeah but how will Kindle NOT a browser win a war it isn’t in?
Content IS king.
The fatal flaw of agendized computing like Windows XP, and most “free” websites is they want you to do what THEY want you to do NOT what you want to do. Now for the lower half of the bell curve that’s fine but in the upper half of the bell curve (where the money is), you’ll need to actually give them something for their time. So Kindles model of mostly content and pay as you go will make it a preferred carry along device. As it evolves, I PROMISE you they will add messaging. It will probably be some simple form of lightweight IM but it will make Kindle a serious contender.
Let’s face it. In a Microsoft controlled world you would need TONS of software and coding to do the simplest tasks behind the scenes. Compare .NET/IIS/SQL Server to Apache/PHP/Javascript/MySQL sometime. It boggles the mind. You have to license all that, and in the case of a personal browser tote it. That netbook battery burns a pretty good bit of power just getting you to the browser window. Lots and lots of things going on “behind the curtain.” In reality how much data transfer does it take to send “Switch TV#123214143241123 to channel 23” to the your TV. Yeah, just that much. So while some folks have been making things more complicated for profit, others happily have been making books you can read anywhere.
The Kindle is NOT going to replace your computer. Not by a long shot. I didn’t say the Kindle was going to be last man standing in the world of tech. Far from it. The Kindle (or its next generation version) IS going to be the device you use to “browse” for information and eventually communicate with your network AND set your TV to watch “Bones” with. You will hold it happily in your lap and be glad you are not burning out your eye sockets with that tiny Phone or Netbook screen.
The other thing that is going to happen to the Kindle is a selfpublishing explosion. Amazon will hook CreateSpace to the Kindle. So now that question of how you as author get paid will vanish and you will be in the fray. The marketplace will decide the value of your work.
Okay so today, count the number of KIndles you’ve seen. Probably zero. Now mark your calendar for 6 months from today. I bet that number is dramatically different.
Oh if you buy one from the link below, I make money.
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