Ha! I did that one-click ordering thing -- I can't even use Whispernet yet -- and I was truly unsettled at how instantaneous the purchase was. No confirmation, no nothing -- just one click and "congratulations! your book is being delivered." It was honestly unnerving. :)
We'll see how I fare once I get to Whispernet access... what they ought to do is let you hook up an Amazon gift card to it, and not the CC, so you can budget your purchases...
The only thing that really bothers me is that it seems completely random which books have kindle editions and which don't. There are a lot of series that have one book available, but not another in the series... very annoying, very random.
And several books I'm waiting for now not only have no kindle edition, but no electronic edition at all. I'm beginning to understand why there are pirated editions of things. I went so far as to look up some of the authors in the SFWA Directory and ping them to ask if there was ANY way I could buy a PDF or electronic version of something they have, and no one was willing. :P
Huh. Good to know you did that legwork. I'm going to be contacting a couple of editors to ask if they'll make Kindle editions available -- but I'm sure it has to do with the Parnassus of the owning publishing company as to whether they offer it or not, because I would bet right now there's a lot of analysis going on from the bottom line level as to how the Kindle edition will impact sales. And they have to set a pricepoint, which depending on the organization can be a huge issue since it directly impacts revenue.
But you're right, that was the one disappointing thing, but I guess it comes with jumping in on a first generation of a technology like this. I think the only way it changes is if Kindle users get more vocal about contacting the book publishers and sending the "hey, I want to give you money and you're inhibiting me from doing so" request letters.
I admit there are authors I am no longer fans of, quite so much, because when they have books out of print and I go through the trouble of finding them personally and asking them, 'please, please, is there a way I can give -you- money for this book, rather than finding some used copy or typing the bloody thing in myself for my e-reader' they're like, 'no, sorry, whatever.'
If they really care that little about a fan who cares that much, well... *shrug* I have other people to spend money on.
Yeah, I think you could strong-arm it that way through the credit card, but I'd rather Amazon enabled some sort of 'kindle charging' mechanism instead (attach an Amazon GC to the Kindle). I bet they actually have something like this available already -- they provide just about every form of support known to man on these things. When I had a slight problem registering mine (which came down to an expediting thing they did -- because my mom sent it to me and didn't label it a gift, they registered it to her Amazon account) the customer service was super fast, super diligent, and actually went above and beyond in insisting that I call back if I had any trouble setting up the USB features (they were very sad that I was out of range of Whispertel).
Yep, looks like you can do what I said with attaching the amazon GC to the account. Snazzy. I don't anticipate having problems budgeting anyway, but good that it's there.
Btw, how are you? I have discovered how awesome shamans are. Have a level 13 draenei 'Arctura' on Earthen Ring.
Yeah, I saw I broke the link but I was entirely too lazy to delete a second time.
I'm good. Not sure how much you keep up with things that are Warcraft, but my druid has defeated Illidan in Black Temple, which is pretty darn cool.
As for Shaman, I think I told you how awesome they were back when I first rolled on Silver Hand. ; I've got a 12 Draenai Warrior "Rasielle" which I checked in on today. She's still there... albeit on Teldrassil. I figured I never did the Night Elf starting zone, and there's no way I was ever going to roll one, so I'd go check it out with her.
I have the whispernet thing turned off though, as a way to control impulse buys. :P
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We'll see how I fare once I get to Whispernet access... what they ought to do is let you hook up an Amazon gift card to it, and not the CC, so you can budget your purchases...
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And several books I'm waiting for now not only have no kindle edition, but no electronic edition at all. I'm beginning to understand why there are pirated editions of things. I went so far as to look up some of the authors in the SFWA Directory and ping them to ask if there was ANY way I could buy a PDF or electronic version of something they have, and no one was willing. :P
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But you're right, that was the one disappointing thing, but I guess it comes with jumping in on a first generation of a technology like this. I think the only way it changes is if Kindle users get more vocal about contacting the book publishers and sending the "hey, I want to give you money and you're inhibiting me from doing so" request letters.
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If they really care that little about a fan who cares that much, well... *shrug* I have other people to spend money on.
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Right now it's BoA only, but I'd imagine something similar probably exists for other credit cards as well (or will sooner or later).
(original comment deleted since I had some incorrect info in it)
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Yeah, I think you could strong-arm it that way through the credit card, but I'd rather Amazon enabled some sort of 'kindle charging' mechanism instead (attach an Amazon GC to the Kindle). I bet they actually have something like this available already -- they provide just about every form of support known to man on these things. When I had a slight problem registering mine (which came down to an expediting thing they did -- because my mom sent it to me and didn't label it a gift, they registered it to her Amazon account) the customer service was super fast, super diligent, and actually went above and beyond in insisting that I call back if I had any trouble setting up the USB features (they were very sad that I was out of range of Whispertel).
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Btw, how are you? I have discovered how awesome shamans are. Have a level 13 draenei 'Arctura' on Earthen Ring.
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I'm good. Not sure how much you keep up with things that are Warcraft, but my druid has defeated Illidan in Black Temple, which is pretty darn cool.
As for Shaman, I think I told you how awesome they were back when I first rolled on Silver Hand. ; I've got a 12 Draenai Warrior "Rasielle" which I checked in on today. She's still there... albeit on Teldrassil. I figured I never did the Night Elf starting zone, and there's no way I was ever going to roll one, so I'd go check it out with her.
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