Kindle 3: Long Live the King?

The Kindle made some pretty big waves when it came out. However, none of the effects was quite as noticeable as the competition is spawned. From the Galaxy to the Sony Reader and even, some may say, the iPad, the Kindle created a new approach to getting information, and created a surge of popularity for the eBook. There’s no doubt that the Kindle is the original king of the eReader world, but with so many others now in the field, does the Kindle 3 still reign supreme?

One of the places where the Kindle holds its footing incredibly well is in its competitive price. Models are currently available for as low as $139, US — a price that most other current readers simply can’t match. There are more expensive models as well, however, including WiFi enabled models, and versions of the Kindle that can access 3G networks. Even with a definite increase in price tag (with versions scaling up to the $400 mark), the price tends to run lower than competitors with similar features.

Kindle has also made some notably upgrades to specs across the board. They have increased the total battery life substantially, doubled the included storage, increased processor capabilities for faster page turn speed, and added support for more file types. One gaping hole does remain in the ePub file, although many are hopeful that this is a temporary oversight.

The Kindle remains focused on being an eBook reader, rather than attempting to enter the world of the tablet computer — now the iPad’s territory. However, while you won’t be able to login to your preferred social media company on the Kindle, the eBook features are definitely expanding.

For those seeking an affordable but solid eReader option, the Kindle is a strong choice. And, if you’re already familiar with previous iterations of the Kindle, you’ll no doubt be impressed by version 3′s improvements.