Slightly Off-Topic

The announcement is here. I think the Kindle’s key feature is simply that when you think of books, you think of Amazon. Sony simply doesn’t have that. They *do* have a fine ebook store, however, when I went looking for various book series I am currently reading, they were universally available via Amazon, but only a few were available via the Sony book store.

That is quite an obstacle.

Now, I don’t own a Kindle. I do like the idea of an ebook reader, but they are a bit pricey for me at the moment. I think I will probably jump if Amazon ever releases a Kindle for $150, though. The one problem I see with ebook readers is that it’s yet another device to carry around (as would be a traditional book, of course). I would need to carry the device with me everywhere as I never know when I’ll have a few minutes to read.

I think Amazon cracked this, though. The solution? As alluded to above, they simply released Kindle software for the iphone. I *do* have my iphone with me where ever I go, so if I didn’t have my Kindle with me, I could just open up the app on the phone, allow whispersync to move me to the correct spot in the book, and carry on reading where ever I am. When I got back home, I would need only pick up the Kindle with its larger screen, and continue fairly uninterrupted. This is a streamlined reading experience.

The iphone isn’t a bad reader in and of itself, of course. Using free ebooks in mobi and pdf format and Kindle books (yes, I’ve bought plenty), I’ve increased my reading significantly this past year. Heck, if I have a few minutes downtime, I am almost *always* reading. Which is a good thing. It sure drains the phone battery though…

Final thought, why are ebooks and the Kindle experience, especially, a good thing? I was in the car as a passenger on a *long* trip. I was bored. I opened the Kindle app, browsed for a book I’d been wanting to read, hit the purchase button and within 1-mintue, I was reading, and that, my friends, is a good thing.

Edit – I hate when I forget to add in the Sunday contest clue!  The great eyebrowed one from the Chicagoland area is currently at Chicago ComicCon.  He’s used a four digit code in his blogpost as well as my commented one.  I can accept either.