If you're a Kindle reader owner, or just want to get an idea what all the e-book fuss is about, Amazon's Kindle for PC allows you to experience it from your desktop.
Installation is easy, and it will sync automatically with your Kindle, and will associate with any Kindle files you put on your PC. If you have notes and bookmarks from your Kindle device reading, they will be carried across to the PC reader. The interface is clean and very basic. There is a Home button, which takes you to your library, which can be ordered by Title, Author or Most Recent.
You can also shop for eBooks on Amazon, though doing this will open a browser - there's no native Kindle shop in the app. Double click a book, and it opens. You can view the notes and bookmarks you have made, and make new bookmarks (but not notes etc). There's a slide to alter the the number of words per line, and you can change the size of the font to suit. You can't change the font size. Control is simple, via keyboard or mouse.
One of the disadvantages of a desktop reader is that your monitor is probably not as comfortable to read as a Kindle screen. For this reason it's a shame the app has no special text rendering to make it easier on the eye, nor any contrast or brightness controls. That you can't highlight or add notes to the books makes it a bit too basic as well.
Amazon's Kindle for PC is a functional e-book reader, but lacks options and functions to make it a truly superlative application.
