UPDATE 3 : With more and more ebook readers on the market the latest is from bookseller Barnes and Noble who have created the Nook Ebook Reader

UPDATE 2: Amazon has made an application available for PCs so that you can download books direct to your PC - the app. is free but you pay for the books - best-sellers are $9.99 - further details here - Kindle Ebook Reader

UPDATE 1 : You can now publish your blog on the Kindle Ebook Reader and make money ! It costs $1.99 per month for a person to subscribe to your blog using their Kindle, of which you get around $0.60 - so if you've got a very popular blog you should check it out - see Publish Your Blog on the Kindle Ebook Reader

Oprah Winfrey described the Amazon Kindlle Ebook Reader as her favorite gadget! This led to an enormous increase in sales of the Kindle version 1 and it was soon sold out, leaving people very frustrated in the approach to Christmas last year.

Amazon therefore got busy designing the Kindle Ebook Reader version 2, which was launched in February and has now just launched a revised version - the Kindle DX - which has a larger screen, 9.7 inches instead of 6 inches.

But what exactly is an Ebook Reader ? In short it is an electronic device that allows you to download and read ebooks wirelessly. Why the Kindle is so interesting is because the screen is made in such a way as to look like paper. This means that you don't get eye strain staring at a computer screen.

The Kindle also allows you to download, newspapers and magazines (ebooks cost around $9 each to download). In these pollution conscious times it also claims to be ecological and healthy. You can carry hundreds of books with you in a single electronic device - rather than in a very heavy backpack - thus it will be very popular with students.

The Kindle Ebook Reader's USP (unique sales point) is that you can have access to all the books, newspapers, documents you need via its 2GB SD card. Or if you don't have them stored on your Kindle you can download them in minutes. Cost is also a significant factor - the Kindle 2 costs $359, the new Kindle DX costs $489 but you can buy ebooks for less than the price of the actual printed book. So over time you may find that you are saving money. You may also decide to wait until prices come down of course.

The Kindle Version 2 is thinner and sleeker than the version 1 which many people found rather unattractive.

Features of the Kindle Ebook Reader Version 2

• It weighs just 10.2 oz, less than a paperback book
• Ultra-slim - slightly more than 1/3 " , i.e. similar to magazines
• 3G wireless capability
• No monthly fee
• No need to find Wi-Fi hotspots
• Less than 1 minute to download a book
• Display looks like paper and has 16 shades of gray ensuring clearer text and sharper images - resolution of 167 ppi at 600 x 800 pixel
• Long-life battery means you can read for days between recharging
• Can be charged via USB 2.0 cable from your PC
• It can store over 1,500 books
• It can read documents out loud via its text-to-speech feature
• Over 230,000 books available Low ebook prices - best-sellers and new releases for $9.99

All in all the Kindle is an excellent idea and Amazon is on to a winner - even the BBC thinks the Kindle DX is a good idea - it is not available in Europe yet, which is a bit odd, but I am confident that one day students will store all their books on their Kindle (or similar ebook reader) and have a lot less excess baggage to carry around all day. If you think Amazon may be a good investment check out Amazon Kindle Selling Well at Online Stock Trading