Amazon Kindle
The basics
The Amazon Kindle International Edition finally brings Kindle eBook reader goodies to the UK. It features a full QWERTY keyboard to allow search in Amazon’s proprietary eBook store, and uses its 3G “Whispernet” connection to allow you to download books in 60 seconds, wherever you are. You can also subscribe to various newspapers and magazines, including The Times and Newsweek.
The good
The Kindle is one of the best eBook readers in terms of functionality – the eInk screen has amazing clarity, the controls are simple and intuitive and its unique 3G download service means that you can have a new novel in your hands in less than a minute. There are neat touches such as Wikipedia or dictionary lookup, plus a text-to-speech function and even the ability to play music while you virtually leaf through your books.
The bad
The “International Edition” offers a disappointing service to anyone outside the USA. There’s still a two-point US plug, so you’ll have to shell out for an adapter and pay import fees on top of the $259 price tag. The Amazon store should be the heart of the Kindle experience, but the titles are expensive (in most cases dearer than their paper cousins at Amazon.co.uk, at around $13.99 for a bestseller) and a search for popular UK titles yielded disappointing gaps.
The bottom line
The Amazon Kindle International delivers excellent promise for the future of eBook readers, but the service and pricing need to improve to make UK readers happy.
User comments (6)
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Oliver Saunders02 November 2009
Also it cannot read pdfs which is a serious lack considering how much pdfs are used!
Report as inappropriateVanceB03 November 2009
I agree with Oliver that lack of native pdf support is not good. You CAN upload your pdf files by sending them to Amazon for conversion. There are two ways to get them back. They will email them direct to your Kindle (you get a dedicated Kindle email address which only accepts emails from pre-authorised sources, the default being your own email address). This is a chargeable service and costs US$0.99 per document. However, you can also get the converted documents back for nothing by sending them to username@free.kindle.com. This returns them to your registered email address and you transfer them from your computer to your Kindle vis USB. Biggest problem so far is that the conversion process strips out some formatting and interactive contents pages. More work needed to make pdf's truly usable.
Report as inappropriatecraiggra07 December 2009
The price for this on the chrstmas show is shown as £157, how do you get it that low as ordering internationally (via Amazon.com) brings it out at near £200
Report as inappropriateDarren12 December 2009
been researching ebook readers for the last 3 months, please review all the best products not just the ones with big name or marketing clout. checkout www.mobileread.com for info. I have brought the Pocketbook 360 it is a great product. www.pocketbookreader.com dont pay for the books, you can get them from your libary, but this wont work with the kindle as they lock you in to there format so you buy from them!
Report as inappropriateWilliamT02 February 2010
It does read pdfs! And txt files! And mobi -- so you don't need to buy books from Amazon at all. You're not locked in unless you choose to be -- it's drag & drop like the others! Plus free Wikipedia! Bad review followed by even less informed comments!
Report as inappropriateStephanie Martin21 April 2010
"uses its 3G “Whispernet” connection to allow you to download books in 60 seconds, wherever you are" Wherever you are? Really? Because if you can find a 3G signal within 20 miles of where I live you're doing better than me! Would be nice if when reviewing 3G products we were told if they work in non-3G areas.
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