Color Kindle Reader

So would you be interested in a full color Kindle?  I would for sure, and I know it would make my kids happy too.  So I wonder what the chances are of Amazon coming up with the goods any time soon.

I know when the Kindle 3 was released in August 2010 many of us hoped that color or touchscreen technology might be included in the new design.  Frankly the fact that it wasn't didn't matter a jot once we saw the upgrades and sleeker design of the new wi-fi enable ebook reader.  

But still color might be cool.

Don't get me wrong I love that the Kindle has stuck to its guns and remained pretty much an electronic reading device and nothing more (text web browsing and dodgy game applications aside).  But I think to truly take on the magazine subscription market it would really make sense to offer us a color display.  After all what's the point in reading about Justin Bieber if you cannot see his beautiful face in full color? ;)

I guess back when I wondered if the Kindle 3 would incorporate a color display the technology to do so was still pretty new. But now that E-Ink Technology has been making color displays for a while surely there must be a color version Kindle in the pipeline.

Of course color could always have been achieved but it would have required a back-lit screen which eats power and emits heat. The thing that many of us love about Amazon's ebook reader is the fact that it is not back-lit. This gives a far more natural reading experience and offers us the chance to relax with a book without feeling like we're still at work in front of a computer screen.

Barnes & Noble are producing a color Nook which is due to start shipping in November 2010. But their product has done away with e-ink in favor of a 7-inch VividView™ Color Touchscreen. Even though they're moving into tablet territory by employing a back-lit display I still think this puts real pressure on Amazon to offer us a color version of their ebook reader soon. I guess it will have to be the Color Kindle 4!

While the Nook might be the biggest rival for the Kindel's American customers there is more color emerging world-wide on the ebook reader scene. Hanvon have just announced the first color e-ink reader late in 2010. This really does make brightening up our reading look like something that might not be too far away.

In March 2011 we should see the Color Hanvon Wise-Reader shipping, and then we will get a more realistic picture of just how successful color e-ink is with consumers.

You might be thinking that the introduction of new color handheld ebook readers might bring the tablet versus e-Reader battle a step closer to a decision.  This is unlikely though.  Whilst e-ink in color will be great for viewing static displays, it won't cope with movement particularly well so is not going to turn these simple devices into multi-tasking tablets any time soon.

So, I think you will have guessed I am quite excited about the prospect of Kindle in Color. For text books, children's books and the guilt pleasure of a "Hello!" subscription I think it will make a huge difference.

If they do bring us the Kindle Color what will it be called?  I do hope it's the Kindle 4 to keep things simple.  Mind you the current version isn't officially called the 3 - it's just what everyone apart from Amazon have named it!

But what about you? Will you be interested in buying a color version any time soon?