If you were planning on purchasing Amazon’s ebook reader, the Kindle, you may have to wait longer than expected.
After much skepticism of the product, let alone who the gadget’s target audience would be, Kindle sales soared past all expectations, going out of stock in two days. Who knew that a portable electronic device not named iPod, Nintendo DS or Sony PSP would be in demand this holiday season?
The Kindle’s early success is mainly due to its exclusivity - how many other ebooks are on the market, let alone created by one of the world’s major book sellers? - but it’s undeniable that the convenient, user-friendly system is what attracts bookworms without feeling like they’re stepping away from…well…reading a book.
Using Amazon’s “electronic paper” display, the Kindle’s high-resolution screen sports a look as authentic as a book can possibly be seen on a computerized device (no backlight, no glare). Downloading titles from their digital library (the Kindle sports 101 of 112 books on the New York Times best-seller list) is also done with ease, with loading times around one minute. Each ebook is priced at a budget-friendly $9.99, except where noted otherwise.
Other notable Kindle features include a long battery life (the battery life is measured in days; a week’s worth of reading can be done when wireless is turned off), book samples that allow you to “try before you buy,” newspaper and magazine ordering options; and free access to Wikipedia. Priced at $399, the ebook reader will go toe-to-toe with every high-profile portable product this season.
The Kindle’s closest kin would be last generation’s iPods: a portable device that focuses mainly on one option (in this case, book reading) while offering up a few extra options for convenience. One can only hope Amazon doesn’t muddy up future Kindles with full online capability, photos, video and other frivolous options. We have enough overstuffed gadgets on the market.
Amazon has reported that Kindles will be back in stock on December 5. If you’re even halfway interested it’s suggested that you read up on all Kindle’s stats and/or pre-order one here.
