Microsoft will not release Kindle rival

Microsoft doesn’t see a future in ebook readers and won’t be offering its own dedicated device, senior execs revealed today.

Microsoft’s Chief Research & Strategy Officer, Craig Mundie, added: “At the rate at which netbook capabilities are increasing, reading is something that a tablet can manage. It doesn’t need heavy lifting processing capability. This is one reason why we’d hesitate to create a standalone device.”

Speaking at the Microsoft Financial Analyst Meeting 2009 in Seattle, Bach called ebook readers ‘specialised devices’ similar to smart photo frames and web-connected TVs, which he considers part of the company’s embedded devices business. However, he said Microsoft could support them if they emerge using Windows embedded toolkits.

Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home