Amazon is offering a pretty cool deal (if you have an account that is attached to a US address -- sorry non-US customers, this is not available for you guys just yet).

At any rate you download the application to your preferred device, you can then download Kindle books (or purchase) onto your blackberry, iphone, mac or pc computer.

Here is the link to where you can download the free Kindle application: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000493771

I think this is pretty great, there are over 7 thousand free ebooks available, and now you can have them all on your laptop or smartphone.

I have a US account, so registering wasn't a problem and so far Amazon hasn't noticed that my computer is in Switzerland (*crosses fingers*), so if you any of you EFers out there have a US amazon account I'd say make use of this cool offer!

US only? Laaaaaaaaame

Kindle? Laaaaaaaaame

Kindle for Android is free to download from Android Market so I think you can let go of your crossed fingers.

IBooks for iPhone and ipad: free app, no US only nonsense, lots of content.

Kindle? Yawn.

Kindle is great! Far easier on the eye strain then squinting at an iphone!

It's not very new - I've had it on my iPod for ages, at least a year. And I have an originally UK Amazon account which seems to be replicated across the other Amazons - US, French, German, etc, all of which seem to have all my addresses and payment methods stored. The only books I can't get are a handful of 'US only for copyright reasons' ones.

Anyway, Stanza's loads better on iPods/Phones - I always find myself with the Kindle app wanting a font size slightly between the ones they offer. And I can't brighten/dim the Kindle screen just by finger swiping. And there's no way to categorise your books by subject.

The option to read the samples first is good, though.

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'Chance favours only the prepared mind.'

I've had the application for some time now for my Mac and iPad---it isn't new. Of course, I do have a U.S. account. This shows that for Amazon, Kindle isn't about selling the device but selling the books themselves on-line.

Incidentally, the copyright thing goes both ways. I've been able to download some early Jeeves stories and novels that are in the public domain, but the later works that are still under copyright are not available for Kindle in the U.S., although they are in Europe.

Compared it to a book ?

Yes I am afraid I have! I personally love the Kindle, but hey that's just me!

That app has been around for months already :-) And it's not restricted to US customers. Anyone can download it and purchase / download books for it. I've been doing so for a long time.

Both the MAC and the PC version of the Kindle app have been available for months, too. I use the Mac version every day.

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I love the Kindle, for the simple reason that using one is actually very similar to the experience of reading a book -- particlularly if you keep it in the case so that it can be held open just like a book. The size of the 'page' and level of contrast make it look very similar to a page of a standard book, and is very readable in bright sunlight, unlike some devices.

But the best thing of course, is that you can 'carry' thousands of books with you in the space of one small paperback.

That's why I like the Kindle.

As for the Kindle app, as several people have pointed out, this has been available for a long time, regardless of where you are. I've had a free app on my Android phone for months, though I don't much like reading novels on a phone.

Well this is embarrassing.

Thing is I was on a plane and, the old eyes not being what they used to be, I was finding it near impossible to read my book of the moment. Chap in the seat next door had a Kindle with a lickle light and I could actually read his book no problem.

In a nutshell, I got one and.............. love it .

I hear Old Nick is looking for an electric blanket .

No, it is not just you - ebook readers have a great display technology that is far better for reading than any "computerish" thing as an iphone or laptop. But: Kindle. You really do not need to buy the Amazon-locks-you-in device, there are "open" ones from Sony and others. My boss has a Sony one and it looks very nice - since it supports multiple formats, you can buy your books at various websites - and there are apparently even libraries "lending" e-books by now.

I like this article on the topic: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20028767-1.html