Asus pre-installing Kindle app on select devices
By Wilson • May 25th, 2010 • Category: Industry News, Laptops, Mobile Computer News, Netbooks
- Photo: Asus
Computer manufacturer Asus is lined to pre-install the Amazon Kindle for PC app on a select line of its netbooks and laptop.
Smart partnership
The partnership makes sense, considering the sheer volume of product Asus moves on Amazon’s store and Amazon’s ongoing battle for eBook dominance with Apple – a natural, albeit indirect, competitor to Asus.
Baby steps
The first devices to have the Amazon Kindle for PC app preloaded will be the Asus Eee PC 1005PE netbook, as well as the Asus UL30 laptop.
Kindle for everything
Amazon has been very good about aligning themselves with various platform holders and manufacturers in recent months, with this announcement following close on the heels of the release of Amazon Kindle for Android. With the Asus partnership, Amazon now has the Kindle application available on both the Kindle and Kindle DX, the iPhone, Android phones, Mac, PCs and on Asus laptops and netbooks straight out the gate.
Eee Pad expecations
Outside of this Amazon alliance, Asus is hard at work on its Eee Pad, which is expected to be the company’s take on tablet computers. Though various competitors have come – and are still expected to arrive, still – Asus’ arrival in this space is a big deal since the company all but invented the netbook category. The very same netbook category Apple has slated as being, essentially rubbish.
So while many are still caught up in iPad mania – with the UK and other countries finally getting their iPads this Friday, 28 May, Asus may sneak a game changer onto shelves (unlikely, but you never know). Erstwhile, Amazon is solidifying Kindle lead, if not as the best eBooks platform, certainly the most ubiquitous. iBooks, like other Apple products will remain Apple exclusive in the immediate feature, giving Amazon both the opportunity and the breadth to negotiate with 3rd parties.
Tags for this article: tablet pc, asus eee
