Okay. Now I know that its been ages since Kindle is out but I’ve been lazy over putting this one down. But frankly speaking, first time I saw that Kindle thing on Amazon’s pages, I was like - why is Amazon doing that? I thought so because I have always been over-whelmingly impressed about Amazon does on its website. But as time passed by and as I looked through deeper, I felt so much Ipodish about Kindle. And now it really feels that this is Amazon’s iPod for readers.

So, what’s the best about Kindle:

Direct download of books via mobile network with no additional cost and hecks for the reader, I beleive, is the real killer here. This single feature will truly rock kindle version of book sales on Amazon - just because of the ease of getting stuff on your reader. That, integrated with Amazon website’s large collection (currently approx 90,000 titles on Kindle version) appears to be a perfect win-win. Infact, this one feature appears so interesting to me that I would say iPod folks can look into it for sure. Currently, I dont buy a lot of stuff from iTunes stores even at $ 0.99 but if they’d offer me to get any song anywhere, I am sure I’d end up buying so many just to avoid the trouble of connecting iPod to my PC and then all those hecks! I know mobile networks in past have tried delivering content through their networks, but I think - a content provider doing this is way better an idea since users are acquainted with their content. Users know iTunes stores, users know amazon store - users dont know Nokia music library downloads!

And whats not so great about Kindle?

Well, ofcourse the look, which everyone agrees sucks. But, apart from this aspect, I beleive no support for PDF eBooks reading is a major drawback. Now, I agree that Amazon would love to keep its books sales up by not allowing those geeky folks to read pirated eBook copies on their latest fantastic reader. But, the point is, Amazon is no one to act as DRM-nanny out here. Perhaps, this is where it needs to learn from iPod. And also from all those sinking companies who have tried to sell DRM music or tried their own ways to sell music in different ways. iTunes sells stuff for sure even when pirated MP3’s are a click away. That’s because there is perhaps a large population who are ready to buy rather than going through that pain. And ofcourse, there is other segment of population who are ready to get pirated stuff working howsoever painful it may be! So, even if Amazon tries to fight it, those geeky mongers are going to hack the features out and get it to work the way they want. So, then, why not have that hot feature in? Having observed Jeff Bezos, I beleive Kindle would have this feature soon.

So, with whom is this magic device competing?

Sony reader, perhaps, has been there even before Kindle. But, I beleive Amazon’s reach due to its website is going to be a single strength that will easily lead its victory over the reader. Ofcourse, Sony does not provide the download via mobile network feature. But, Amazon’s deep reach in the book reader’s community is going to nail it. Amazon is also selling the Kindle version of its books way cheaper and is constantly increasing the size of Kindle version selection.