Get Your Free Kindle Reader from Amazon

It was just a little over three years ago that Amazon released its first Kindle ebook reader, which sold out in a matter of hours and was out of stock for months afterwards. Since that time, although there have been some changes (most notably, prices dropping from $399 to $139), Amazon has kept very much on target to provide a dedicated ebook reader.

Amazon's Chief Executive Jeff Bezos has said that he has no interest in competing with other electronic devices such as iPad. He wants the Kindle to be the best way to read ebooks (and, by the way, the best way to sell ebooks). In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he said, "You are not going to improve Hemingway by adding video snippets" (source).

OK, where's my free Kindle?

The term Kindle covers more than just the little device itself. It is a whole combination of hardware (the device), software (which operates it), and network (which delivers your reading material to you). Although you still have to purchase the device, if you wish, Amazon provides the software for free so that you can turn a variety of devices that you already own into a virtual Kindle.

Click on the link to access the software/app:

Windows PC - Get it!
Mac - Get it!
iPad - Get it!
iPhone and iPod Touch - Get it!
Android - Get it!
Blackberry - Get it!
Windows Phone 7 - (coming soon) Get it!

The naked Barbie doll

So, isn't Amazon being generous by making this Kindle software available? For Amazon, it is not so much that you can now read ebooks as that you can purchase ebooks (generally at $9.95). It is as if Mattel gave out free naked Barbie dolls. What do you do with a naked Barbie doll? (I'm not asking GI Joe to answer.) You buy her a wardrobe... and another... and...

Get your virtual Nook from Barnes & Noble

In a comment Adam Michael Luebke (index) mentions that similar free software is available from Barnes & Noble to allow you to read Nook ebooks on your own devices. Learn more.

In future articles (which I will link to here as they are posted), I will show you how you can load your real or virtual Kindle with all manner of free ebooks, free subscriptions, your own self-created Kindle ebooks. Since after using the free software for a while, I purchased a Kindle myself, I will also review the good, the bad, and the useless about the Kindle ebook reader. Please come back here and check for updates.

By the way, the information about free books, free subscriptions, and creating your own books is not limited to the Kindle ebook reader but is also pertinent to the Nook ebook reader and others.

Check this index to my articles on "How to Read Ebooks for Pleasure and Convenience."