Since it was first released way back in November of 2007, the Amazon Kindle reader has consistently been the best e-book reader on the market. That’s why it has enjoyed such a high level of success to date. Back in 2009, when almost all the electronics manufacturers was rushing to get an e-book reader of their own to market, any new reader which showed the slightest promise was instantly dubbed the “Kindle Killer”. This is due to the fact that the Kindle was, and still is, the industry benchmark.
The recent launch of the enhanced third generation Kindle reader has opened the gap between Amazon’s reader and the following pack even further. It’s probably worth pointing out that the most credible Kindle killer to date is not another e-book reader but the Apple iPad. This is a very different device with a much higher price tag and, when looked at as an e-book reader, one which suffers in a number of areas in comparison with the Kindle.
The new enhancements include extended battery life, a doubling of memory capacity, quicker page turns, an enhanced PDF reader and a higher contrast display. The device retains the same 6″ display, but in a smaller, lighter case - which now comes in either white or graphite. Amazon has also released an entry level Wi-Fi only model Kindle for customers who do not have need of a 3G connection. This is priced at just $ 139 – getting close to the $ 99 impulse buy threshold for personal electronic devices. The 3G plus Wi-Fi model is priced at $ 189.
As well as these various technical improvements, and almost unnoticed by many, Amazon opened a separate Kindle store for the UK market. UK customers will no longer require to have an “international” Kindle shipped from the USA. To be fair, this only took a few days - but for some customers the simple act of dealing in a foreign currency may have been off putting. Amazon has just launched a major television advertising campaign in the UK and it could be that this, in conjunction with the “local” UK Kindle store could produce a lot of sales for them. Should this prove to be a successful strategy for Amazon, they will probably open other Kindle stores for countries such as France and Germany who also have their own local Amazon Web stores.
Shortly after the release of the third generation Kindle Amazon had, for the umpteenth time, sold out of the devices. Customers are waiting for three to four weeks before their Kindles can be shipped and readers are being despatched on a first come first served basis. Based on the current level of sales, there is little evidence that demand for the Kindle is diminishing - hardly surprising considering the quality of the device.
Up until now, reports of the death of the Kindle have always been premature, and that still seems to be very much the case. The Kindle and the iPad are such different devices that comparing them is a futile exercise. The Kindle is, by a long way, the best e-book reader available on the market. That’s why it will continue to thrive - and why Amazon’s influence in the future of digital publishing will continue to grow. Some people will prefer to continue to read conventional printed books - whether in hardback or paperback format. Some people will transfer to an e-book reader, in which case the Amazon Kindle will be the first choice (as will Kindle books). Others will be more interested in surfing the net on the go, maybe reading the occasional e-book - and they will probably go for an iPad. Whichever category you fall into, you will be able to buy your reading material from Amazon.