Amazon Hopes for a Hit with Kindle Book Reader

Amazon's long-awaited entry into the electronic book reader has finally arrived. The company announced the release of the Amazon Kindle on their website recently; the device will face off against Sony's Reader in the thus-far unsuccessful attempt to move the reading public away from printed books and toward e-books.

At first glance, the features of Kindle listed on Amazon's website are impressive: they claim the display looks and reads like real paper and that no computer or cables are needed. Books are delivered less than a minute after purchase (through what the company calls "Whispernet"), and although the device is wireless, there are no wireless charges; Amazon pays all of those costs. There are approximately 80,000 e-books available, including the vast majority of New York Times Best Sellers; Best Sellers cost only $9.99. Kindle users also have access to major U.S. and international newspapers and over 250 blogs. Finally, it is lightweight (smaller than most paperbacks) and can store up to 200 titles.

There are some obvious drawbacks, however. The Kindle costs $399, and with the cost of the actual e-books factored in, it could be some time before a person buys enough titles for there to be any real savings over purchasing the same books in printed form. Even 80,000 titles only scratches the surface of the number of books out there; the selection will likely be much more limited than Amazon would have readers believe. There is also the risk that a malfunction could wipe out a person's entire library. Amazon makes no reference to what recourse consumers have in such a situation.

Another possible issue looms on the horizon. Although Toni Morrison, James Patterson, and several other authors have said positive things about Kindle, the ongoing screenwriter's strike has shown that the issue of compensation to writers is a complex issue when dealing with newer electronic methods of delivering their content. Authors have no real union, so a strike is not an option, but a fight over royalties could happen.