Huntingdon and the New Kindle

Amazon have release a new Kindle which they claim is lighter, smaller and faster and at just £89 certainly the cheapest in the Kindle range. This perhaps important to us in Huntingdon as according to Amazons own report (full details also on Huntingdon People) the People of Huntingdon buy more books per person than any other town in the UK. That includes both digital download books and physical old fashioned paper ones. As the Kindle is the market leader in e-readers I suspect there more than a few of these in Huntingdon.

Of course not everyone is happy with the new kindle. Disability groups in particular have criticised the new kindle because it's doesn't have the Text to Speech software or the specifications to incorporate it. This was available on the other Kindles more expensive Kindles such as the Kindle Keyboard at £149. The software was frequently used by people with visual impairments and people with learning difficulties, such as Dyslexia. Those people with visual impairments would be paying more for a Kindle Keyboard for a facility that clearly would have no use for.

Of course other e-readers are also available. Inspired by American booksellers Barnes & Noble's Nook E-reader, Waterstones are planning to launch their own E-reader in the Spring and there are E-readers by Sony and Elonex. So there is plenty of choice.

Mmm, a new E-reader for Christmas please!

Features of the new Kindle

• 30% lighter than before, less than 170 grams

• 18% smaller body, same 6" screen size - fits in your pocket

• Most advanced E Ink display, reads like paper

• Built-in Wi-Fi - Get books in 60 seconds

• 10% faster page turns for seamless reading

Has any one locally got a new Kindle yet?

Do you use the Text to Speech Software on a Kindle?

Photo: kodomut