Amazon is experimenting with bundling by offering the Kindle Basic Touch with a kid friendly case and two year warranty against spills and drops. It is currently available for $99, which is a $39 savings from the normal price.
Designed to help kids get excited about reading, the Bundle allows kids to easily take all of their books with them, wherever they might go this summer, on a compact device. Unlike the Fire tablet that is aimed at kids, this device is purely designed for reading and lacks the multimedia based distractions of a tablet.
The Kids Bundle has a really slick listing on the Amazon store, that really hypes all of the virtues of an e-reader. If you are interested in this, here are some of the main details. The two year warranty is not from Amazon, but a company called Squaretrade. Once your Kindle ships, you will receive an email with instructions to activate your coverage. The Kindle also comes with the ability to get a free colored case, your options are black, blue, green, red and purple.
Should you buy this kids bundle? Well, I approve of the free two year warranty so parents can rest assured they will be protected from the rigors of a five year old. Also, I have always endorsed single use e-readers, because they are a gateway to stories and expanding the imagination. It is important to note that this $99 package is only available in the US, so international residents won’t be able to purchase it.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.