No Kindle Required – Kindle Reader for iPhone and PC Works Great

Don’t get me wrong. The Kindle is a cool device, especially for anyone who is an avid, regular book reader who wants to read books while on the go, away from the PC, on an airplane, etc.

In fact, I was considering buying a Kindle, because I’m involved in research for a book that I’m now writing. However, I just didn’t really want a Kindle. My wife already has one, and she’s found that while it was a novel device for a few months, it’s yet another specialized device that requires charging and keeping up with. And it’s too big to keep with you all the time…

Since I always have my iPhone with me everywhere I go, and take my Sony VAIO notebook PC with me just about everywhere, too, I decided to find out if the Kindle book content was available for my PC and iPhone.

Good news. IT IS! The Kindle books can be downloaded and read on both the iPhone and PC using Kindle reader applications for both devices. So, for now at least, I’ve decided to invest my money into the books I want to read (instead of yet another device I don’t really need or want right now). Well, maybe it’s not really “news”, as this capability has been available for some months (it’s only news if you’re late to the Kindle game, like me).

For the iPhone, to get the Kindle reader for iPhone, just go to the App Store and search for “Kindle” and download the FREE Kindle reader app. It’s super easy to set up and use (you just need your Amazon.com user ID and password to get started). I actually prefer the iPhone for reading Kindle books because it’s always with me and I can read anytime I want. Also, I find the iPhone display very easy to read and use.

For the PC, you just download the Kindle reader from Amazon.com. The reader is simple and straightforward enough. I like the way you can easily change the font size, too.

So, I was delighted to find that Amazon is enabling me to use the Kindle content the way I prefer – on my iPhone and PC, which is a great way to get started without investing in a personal Kindle device.

Kindle books by Amazon.com – I really like the fact that I can quickly and easily purchase the electronic books online, and Amazon.com maintains them for me on their site. This means I can quickly download and access my online book library everywhere I go, and if I have any device issues (like getting a new PC, for example), I can easily access my previous book purchases on Amazon.com.

Outside the U.S.? If you’re not in the U.S.A., be sure to check and ensure you can get access to the books that you’re interested it (there’s apparently some limitations currently).

The Kindle Reader. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll advance to the more sophisticated Kindle unit to take advantage of all of its more advanced book-reader features. If you aren’t using an iPhone, then that’s yet another reason to consider the Kindle device:

Here’s what Amazon.com says about the Kindle:

Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback

Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered wirelessly in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

3G Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle; no annual contracts, no monthly fees, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Global Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries.

Paper-Like Display: Reads like real paper without glare, even in bright sunlight

Carry Your Library: Holds up to 1,500 books

Longer Battery Life: Now read for up to 1 week on a single charge with wireless on, a significant improvement from the previous battery life of 4 days

Built-In PDF Reader: Your Kindle can now display PDF documents natively. Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go.

Read-to-Me: With the experimental Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book’s rights holder made the feature unavailable

Free Book Samples: Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy

Large Selection: Over 360,000 books, including 101 of 112 New York Times® Best Sellers, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs. For non-U.S. customers, content availability and pricing will vary.

Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases are $9.99, unless marked otherwise. When traveling abroad, you can download books wirelessly from the Kindle Store or your Archived Items. U.S. customers will be charged a fee of $1.99 for international downloads.

Learn more about the Kindle here