Kindle :An Indian Perspective

There is no denying the fact that electronics is the future.Present generation is a product of modern digital age that spends significant time and money on gadgets like iPod, iPhone,play stations,digicam etc.So,i will be talking about such a gadget called Kindle which is a e-book reader.They are going to redefine the way we read.

Honestly, if u just give a glance at it you will find it difficult to fit an e-reader in present digital landscape.I mean,books are portable.Books don't run out of battery,they don't break and they have been part and parcel of human's reading habits for long.

Yet,there are massive advantages to e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle.It is rather slim- just over one by three of an inch,as thin as most magazines, and lightweight-lighter than a typical paperback.It is like library on move as it can store up to 1500 books. Reads like real paper without glare,even in bright sunlight.Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed. Indian newspapers starting with Hindustan Times are available on the Kindle store.Soon other Indian newspaper and magazines are expected to follow the same.

Wow.......but before thinking about buying it ,lets look at other important aspect.It costs around $259(Rs 12,170) at the Amazon store and books like Atlas Shrugged cost around $12
(Rs 560) to download.Hindustan Times, Kindle version will be available for readers at a cost of $9.99(Rs 470) per month.In comparison,you can get an entire year's print subscription for
about half that price,and you can get some of that price recovered by selling the paper later,if you really want to compare cost,that is. Paperback copy of Atlas Shrugged costs around Rs 260 in India.In India,3G service is still patchy.Only government-owned BSNL and MTNL have 3G services in India,and private telecom operators are yet to receive 3G licences and 3G spectrum.Without sufficient 3G coverage and exclusive tie ups between Indian newspapers,wireless network service providers and Amazon kindle,it is doubtful to see how successful such ventures can be at this point.

I don't think it's for everyone, but for a subset of people.People who buy a lot of new books every year, so that the half-price books make it cost effective, people who spend a lot of time in transit, and people who travel a lot for work.It makes sense from ethical perspective-think of all trees we will save.It just matter of time before Kindle catches up in India as things fall in place.

It is a device that you should consider if u can afford it.The days when most of the publishing will be done electronically are not far off and device like these is going to redefine the way
we read.