The world’s favourite e-reader is finally coming to Ireland, after Amazon officially revealed their plans to launch the third generation Kindle Reading Device on September 4.
To the uninitiated, Amazon’s e-reader is the best-selling item on their website for the past two years, and has more 5-star reviews than any other product on Amazon. So why the rave reviews, and why should you be interested?
Before Apple’s iPad was officially launched, many US observers considered the device could be a ‘Kindle-killer’ when in truth, the iPad’s relatively huge price point and lack of an ‘E-Ink’ paper-style screen meant that the device’s main rivals were in tablet computer market, rather than the e-reader market that Amazon currently dominate.
After years of satisfying its US consumer base, Irish customers can finally get a chance to see what the fuss was all about, and why they need an e-reader in their lives.
Perhaps the biggest selling points for the Kindle are its convenience, unique screen and diminutive size. In terms of convenience, the standard Kindle package includes free 3G wireless and storage for up to 3,500 books. What’s more, a single charge of your device lasts for up to one month with wireless, whereas wireless on the Kindle can run for 10 days without a recharge.
When you consider that you have free 3G access to an e-bookstore with over 400,000 books, all of which are fully downloaded to your device in less than sixty seconds – you can start to see the appeal. In addition to books, UK and international magazines, newspapers and blogs will also be available.
For anyone who’s tried in vain to read a book on their portable device, be it a laptop or mobile phone – the complaints never vary, from the cumbersome dimensions of your device or the adverse effect the screen on your eyesight through prolonged use. The Kindle, however, uses an ‘E-Ink’ screen, which is not LCD and can therefore be read easily in bright sunlight with zero glare. Amazon is also boasting that their device has 50% better contrast than any other e-reader.
Finally, if you’re tired of worrying about baggage fees while you shove a giant hardback copy of Stephen King’s Under the Dome in your luggage, you’ll be relieved to hear that the Kindle weighs just 8.7 ounces, has a 6-inch wide screen and is just 8.5mm thick. Amazon’s wonder now also features quieter page turn buttons if you’re worried about waking your partner, while the device also has text-to-speech that allows your Kindle to read to you, possibly to sleep.
At this point you’re probably thinking “those features sound great – but can it make lasagne?†Well, unfortunately not, as there are some things the Kindle can’t do, most notably the latest model does not utilise a full-colour display, relying instead on white and graphite tones. We reckon Where’s Wally? could prove near-impossible.
In any case, JOE is absolutely salivating at the prospect of getting our hands on the Kindle in the next few weeks. At the end of July Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos confidently predicted that eBook sales will surpass paperback sales within the next 9-12 months, and with ingenious, convenient devices such as Amazon’s own, we think he has every right to be confident.
The Amazon Kindle Reading Device can be pre-ordered exclusively from Amazon.co.uk before its release on September 4. The WiFi-only version can be ordered for £109 (€130) while the free 3G + WiFi version is available for £149 (€180).
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