Amazon Kindle

The future’s bright: the future’s already here! Now there’s a handheld electronic ‘book’ you can take anywhere, think of a title, and get it downloaded in one minute. The 3G technology frees you up from computers and WiFi hotspots as it uses the cellular phone network. Newspapers, magazines, blogs and even Wikipedia are all available to read on the ‘electronic paper’ display. Amazing.

This really is a 21st century device. I have always thought that Amazon was an unimaginative use for the internet. Although it gained prominence during the dotcom boom, it was only a mail order retailer at heart. Nothing revolutionary there. Just as early cars were horseless carriages and the first iron bridges were constructed using woodworking joints, Amazon was in the business of selling books through the post.

Now they have launched a radically new system for disseminating the written word. Alas it’s sold out – and in any case not available at all outside the USA. But you can order the Kindle now to reserve your place in line, and they won’t charge your card until it is shipped.