Amazon Kindle Reader – A True Specialist
There’s a lot of interest in electronic devices which fulfil a number of different functions these days. Phones which have cameras, can browse the internet, play mp3 music files and even act as satellite navigation systems are splendid examples of these “fusion” devices.
The iPod may well be the best example of all. It’s a phone, music player, internet browser and has a huge variety of “Apps” which can range from games to restaurant recommendations. It even has a Kindle app which allows users to read Kindle books on their iPod.
The Kindle reader itself could be considered to be a multi-functional device. Apart from its main function as an e-book reader, it can be used as an internet browser. Whilst the functionality is limited, chiefly due to its display which is black and white and not well suited to showing video due to a somewhat slow refresh rate.
On the other hand, it is the Kindle’s e-ink technology display which makes it so much more pleasant to read on than either the iPod or a computer screen. Due to the fact that it is not back-lit, it produces much less eye strain in use than using a standard LCD type of monitor.
A further advantage of e-ink technology displays is the fact that they only require power when the screen is being rewritten. What this means is that e-book readers can go for a long time on a single battery charge. It’s the ideal scenario for a portable battery operated device. Roughly speaking, e-book readers can perform several thousand “page turns” inbetween charges. For an average reader, that will represent something between four and six weeks of use.
So, the thing that makes e-book readers so very good for reading books on – the e-Ink display – is currently a limitation on their ability to perform other tasks, such as web browsing or video display. Perhaps in the future, color e-Ink displays will become available, with a faster refresh rate. Devices such as the Kindle may then become better web browsers and video players.
In the meantime, based upon the fact that e-book readers are very much the hot gadget of the moment, it does look as if there is still a place for devices which do one job only. Just so long as, like the Amazon Kindle, they do that one job very well.
