Amazon Releases Kindle for PC Beta

Amazon has moved to consolidate it’s grip on the e-reader market, releasing Kindle for PC. Now anyone can download a program to their PC for free and then browse and buy e-books from the Kindle Store. The application supports Windows 7, Vista and XP, and a Mac version is “coming soon”. Hey, no Linux version?

The move will expand the potential Kindle customer base, since no Kindle device is needed. Plus, current Kindle users will be able to read their Kindle format books even if their Kindle is not with them. The software works like the Kindle for iPhone app, synchronizing automatically between PCs and Kindles your last page read and annotations. Newspapers, blogs and magazines are not currently offered on Kindle for PC, but why would you need that, if your PC is internet connected? Also, unlike Kindle DX, there is no support for pdf files.

To download a free beta copy of the program, go to the Kindle for PC page.