ebook readers have been around for years. I remember seeing ebook readers selling for almost the same as a full computer just a few years back. However, even at the excessive price they demanded, they were plagued with issues. Heavy, Short battery life, clumsy interfaces, difficulty to load books, as well as the overall scarcity of ebooks in general. After you ignore ALL of their problems, they still wanted almost the same amount for a digital copy as the paperback. They really were not a very good deal back then.

A couple years back Amazon saw all these problems, and revolutionized the ebook industry. They released a relatively light ebook reader named the Kindle. The price was pretty reasonable, considering the going rate, and the relative hassle of some of their competitors.

One of the kindles revolutionary ideas Amazon had was the absolutely free internet access that they include in the purchase price. The internet access is limited to the Kindle store; however you can subscribe to your favorite blogs for a monthly cost. With that being said, the convenience that an always-available connection affords you is amazing. ‘Competitor’ ebook makers would expect you to find a wifi hotspot– Worse yet, some would have you drive home, and plug in to your computer to sync! How is that convenient at ALL?

The second feature that sets the Kindle apart from the competitors is what they call ‘e-ink.’ E-ink, also known as electronic paper, is basically a very thin display technology that consumes virtually no power when displaying static images. Most of the time when reading a book you are only looking at static images. You read a page for a minute or two, then you flip the page. Using E-ink allows their device an astonishing 2 weeks with wireless off.

What also helped the success of the original Kindle was the backing of amazon. One of our nations largest suppliers of books. They used their industry position to bring together one of the largest collections of ebooks in one location as well. On top of that, nearly every book, magazine, or other publication they sell is significantly less expensive than their hardcover, and often softcover counterparts. If you are a big book buyer, you will save a fortune and no longer be limited to library left overs to get a discount.

Amazon is continuing their innovation with the Kindle2. Here’s a quick rundown of the new features and improvements:

• Slim & Lightweight : Just over 1/3 inch and 10.2 ounces
• Books in under 60 seconds : Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
• Improved Display : Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for crisp images and text; even reads well in bright sunlight
• Longer Battery Life : 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging
• More Storage : Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books
• Faster Page Turns : 20% faster page turns
• Read-to-Me : Text-to-Speech feature means Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud.
• No Wireless Bills : No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle’s wireless connectivity so you won’t see a monthly wireless bill.
• Large Selection : Over 230,000 books, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines and blogs available
• Low Book Prices : New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise