Kindle 2 Wireless Electronic Reader

From time to time I go to Amazon.com and check the sales rank of my books. The last time I did that I noticed that The Book of Mules is now available for Kindle. What is Kindle? Well, I knew the answer to that because two were sold through my Amazon affiliate link not long ago, earning me a nice percentage. I took a look on Amazon’s Kindle page to learn more about this interesting way to read.

So, what is a Kindle 2? It is the new and improved Kindle, a wireless reading device marketed by Amazon Digital Services. The neat thing about it is its lightweight (10.2 oz) and easy to carry around. According to the description on Amazon it reads like real paper and will hold over 1500 books. That sure will make packing books to carry on vacation a lot easier.

You download Ebooks directly from your 3G wireless Kindle – with a quarter a million books to choose from as well as newspapers and magazines. The Kindle can also read out loud to you with a text-to-speech feature. The battery charge lasts for up to four days according to the Amazon specs.

So, what does this cost, you ask? The Kindle retails for $359. Accessories can add to the cost. A quick look at the Kindle Store shows there are four pages of accessories for the Kindle 2. A leather cover costs $29.99, 2 yr extended warranty $65, power adapter 14.99, charger 19.95 (car or wall) metal stand $27.95, and a colorful variety of Gela Skins Protective Skin at $19.99 each. That was just page one; there were three more pages of stuff to enhance the Kindle experience. Oh, and don’t forget the books which start at $9.99 each.

As a writer I wondered how this would affect my book sales, so I emailed my agent to ask. I knew my contract provided for electronic reproduction. She answered me immediately – she is good that way – that at present time Ebooks only account for 1% of book sales and royalties. I guess there isn’t much to worry about yet. And on a positive note we writers’ books will be less likely to disappear into the remaindered world. Once an Ebook it will likely always be available.

For those of us who think a electronic reading device sounds downright “cold” we’ll still be curling up on the sofa, or next to the pool on a chaise lounge, with our paper books. But for the geeks and travelers, or the sight impaired, the Kindle 2 will be a new and improved door to the literary world. However, I am worried about the future of bookcase builders.