Amazon is very smart. I've been very happy using my iPad as an ebook reader with the Kindle app. Then all of a sudden Amazon launches a new plan to allow free ebook borrowing for all Prime members (which I am). However, it only works on a real Kindle, not on an app. Now, I finally agree that there is a very good reason to actually own a Kindle, even if you already have a tablet, such as the iPad.

There already were good reasons to own a Kindle anyway, even if you had an iPad, mostly for the fact that the Kindle is much smaller and lighter, making it easier to carry around. Also, you can read the Kindle outdoors in any sunlight, something that is extremely difficult to do with the iPad. And now, if you are a member of Amazon Prime (more on that below) you can borrow one book a month for free.

You can purchase a Kindle eReader for anywhere from $79 to $149, but for $199 you can get the Kindle Fire, which goes on sale November 15. The Kindle Fire is basically a multimedia tablet, yet still smaller and lighter than the iPad. Other features are:

•     Millions of movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, and books
•     Thousands of popular apps and games
•     Free cloud storage for all your Amazon content
•     Vibrant color touchscreen
•     Amazon Prime members enjoy unlimited, instant streaming of over 10,000 popular movies and TV shows

All Amazon Prime members get the free instant streaming of movies, but only with the Kindle Fire can you watch them on a mobile platform.What is Amazon Prime? It costs $79 a year (free for college students) and you get:

• Free 2-day shipping on everything with no minimum purchase
• Unlimited instant streaming to over 10,000 movies and TV shows on your computer or Kindle
• Kindle owners lending library

So while the Kindle has been a big hit for holiday gifts during the last few years and the Kindle Fire was already predicted to be huge, I think the addition of the free ebook borrowing will make the Kindle and Kindle Fire the big holiday gift by far this year. And if you are trying to get your teens to read more, what a great way to do so.

See also:  
Buy and Read Kindle eBooks on PC and Mac
Amazon Kindle ebooks as Gifts - Email Required, Kindle Optional 
Most Popular Gifts Holidays 2012
Simple Touchscreen Computers for Seniors from Telikin
Best Holiday Gift Posts Compilation 

View blog reactions