Bezos: Color screened Kindle is "multiple years" away

gurupanguji, in reference to my link post about a possible color Kindle:

I don’t get it. Why do you need colored screens on text? I realize that it’s for reading illustrated books, but then a book is way better for rendering it and not only that a laptop / a computer / a netbook would be better.

However, that said, these innovations are necessary to sway people in and out. The same reason why to show album art, the iPod became colourful =D!

I think you may be missing the point of the Kindle. This isn’t just about traditional text. Think bigger. I agree that the current Kindle is basically for the novel-reading market, but it could be much more.

The true, long term goal of the Kindle is to eliminate the entire print industry.

Anyway, here’s a list of things that you can’t do (well) with the current Kindle.

  • Text books. Don’t believe me? Ask a medical student how vital color is in their books
  • Magazines. These guys are already clamoring for a color ebook reader
  • Newspapers. In 2009, black and white newsprint just isn’t going to cut it
  • Graphic novels & comic books. Huge unanswered market; DC and Marvel would kill for a new distribution medium

With the introduction of color, the market for the Kindle grows and becomes even more useful to a potential (and existing) customer.

Source: jeffrock