I have to admit that I tend to obsess about big decisions (like spending this much money) and this case was no different. I am one that likes to go to the bookstore and look before I buy. I am also rather impulsive so when I finally decide on a book (which I am always reading something)then I want to be able to buy it right then. I am too impatient to then go and order it online or go to the library to save money. Ultimately, I end up paying full price and have for many years. My bookshelves are overflowing and my wife constantly wants me to donate them to free up space.
I read good and bad reviews about the Kindle and really debated whether or not I could like one. On the other hand I am a technology lover and love my electronic gadgets. About a month ago after finishing in one weekend and realizing that I paid $28 for it I thought Kindle's cheaper prices and mobility would be great. I finally took the plunge and have had it for about 2 weeks. I am very happy I have one.
The advantages are many. First, it's very light and the text is easy to read in all types of lighting (except in the dark of course). In direct sunlight I have not had any problems to read. I recently had to get reading glasses but don't carry them all the time. The adjustable text size is great for people like me. The dictionary is a fantastic feature and find myself looking up words that I've always been familiar with but never knew the exact definition. You just move the cursor in front of the word and the dictionary opens a box at the bottom of the screen.
Ok, let's get to the benefits. In hindsight, the complaints about Kindle not being as "warm & fuzzy" as a "good book" etc. etc. are misguided. This is about the use of technology to ENHANCE our life not be an exact substitute. Cell phones are not as good as landlines but think of the mobility and convenience that they can add to our life. kindle is to books what cell phones are to telephones.
I can't say enough about how great it is that I can carry up to 1500 books, magazines & newspapers with me. It fits into my "dayminder" type of folder that I carry around with me. I have to spend a lot of time waiting for my work so I simply pull out Kindle no matter where I am I have access to my reading material. I can go on Amazon and read about books, check out reviews, scan for items of interest and download samples. I can download whatever material in about 60 seconds or less.
Basically, it's just awesome to be able to have access to so much reading material. I can download samples and buy books for $10 so I have a lot of things I would not buy if I had to pay full price. To be able to make notes is also another great feature although I don't use it often. The battery life is great and I even like the screen savers. To be able to read various items and just open them up right where you left off is very convenient.
Last advantage, our son who needs to improve his reading, vocabulary and language skills has to read between 30-60 minutes a day to "earn" his extra computer time. While we were waiting somewhere he asked me what Kindle is and to demonstrate it we went online to search for a book he was interested in. While we were driving home he got interested in using the "text to speech" function. He actually unplugged his Ipod and plugged in the headphones and by the time we got home he had listened and followed along for about 35 minutes. I had to literally force him to turn it off! Imagine that. He said it was fun and would like to have his own. He even used the dictionary function which is great because we cannot get him to use an actually dictionary. My wife was so thrilled at his enthusiasm she was ready to buy him one right away.
Overall, Kindle may be in it's infancy stage but nonetheless, it is nothing short of a revolution to reading. I love it and judge it on it's own merits not by comparing it to a book. It is lightweight, mobile, convenient and easy to use. If you like to read, enjoy technology and want to be able to take books with you everywhere you go and even get new ones on the go then I would suggest buying one. Based on what I've told other people my mother, wife & brother are all interested in buying one. My only hesitation is they they might come up with a "new & improved" version next year that will make me want a new one. If you can afford it then I would say go for it!
A Kindle Review in Light of iPad and 2010
As I write this review, I want to be careful to not just repeat what the other 16 thousand other Kindle customers have posted on Amazon.com. We all know that the Kindle is by far the best e-book reading device if your serious about really reading. And I want this review to really be for the people who are wondering whether or not to get this or the iPad. The iPad is awesome, but I think that for the price, you may be a person who would prefer the Kindle. There are really 5 things that stood out to me as a first time Kindle owner in the Summer of 2010. 1. Why I purchased this over the iPad - The iPad is truly a revolutionary device. I was planning on getting one, and may still get one in the future. But this device would be my first plunge into the e-reading market, and I wanted to get something that would relate well with my slight departure from actual, physical books. And I still think that the kindle is for people who really really love reading. The Kindle's size, weight, and paper like, e-ink screen make it the closest thing to being a book without actually being a book. If your serious about the ease and act of reading, get a Kindle. It's lack of features compared to the iPad take away the distractions and puts you in the book. When someone comes up to me and sees me on the Kindle, they don't ask me "what I'm doing, or what's that?" They ask me "what are you READING?" I like that. ' 2. Kindle Experience - There are a lot of options for e-readers out there. There is the Barnes and Noble nook, the Sony e-reader and many others. I debated and compared many of these. Some of them even have more features or be more compatible with book types than the Kindle. But numbers are not everything. I think the Kindle does a way better job at paying attention to the details in the user experience. User experience is what makes people love a product. Amazon does an awesome job. My Kindle was shipped in two days for free. I had a friendly welcome e-mail right after I ordered the Kindle, and the owners manual was automatically downloaded to my computers Kindle app so I could familiarize myself with the hardware before I even had it in my hands. Amazon knows it's customers care about the environment, so the packaging was hassle free and very simple. Even the little touches like the "Once upon a time..." tape that you peel off to open the box make it fun. I was reading in seconds after turning the Kindle on and downloads are extremely fast. When I'm on my computer, I can browse the Kindle store (something you can do on the iPad) and when I get back to my Kindle, my books are ready to read. The screen, after a couple of weeks of use, is flawless, smooth, and wonderful. I quickly forget about the device and soon enough, I'm reading, just reading. ' 3. The responsive, listening community - The Kindle community of users are very friendly people. I love how responsive people are in sharing books that they've found. On twitter, it was nice to hear from @AmazonKindle with a friendly welcome and eagerness to hear what I think about the device and what books I'm reading. I've met many users online and my reading list easy began to grow and grow. And with so many free books, I'm pretty sure that the Kindle has already paid for itself, and that's just the beginning. I love to be able to share my notes and highlights on twitter, and there's even this cool feature that shows places in the books that your reading that many people have highlighted. It helps me to focus in more, because the smart kindle community wants other readers to see what they thought stood out in importance. 'For kindle recommendations, you can follow me @tacojonny on twitter and I'd love to follow you! 4. The Value - It's a great time to get involved in e-reading. And if you buy a lot of books, you'll save a lot of money. Many books are free, and a lot of books are just around $10, which can be more than 50% cheaper than buying at the book store. And I love how you can add books to your wish list and how you can download generous free samples of all the books. I read a sample of a book that had three chapters. It took me the whole day just to read the sample, and when I reached the end, I could push one button, download the full book, and continue reading. And after you've read a few books, Amazon.com gets really smart and starts recommending books like crazy. I started reading a book by Arnold Bennett, and since then, I've read many books similar to that style, subject, and time period. It's pretty awesome. Also, since this thing comes with FREE internet access, I've been able to use this to check e-mail, weather, and even use it when I get lost by looking up google maps from my car. 3G internet, Audible audio books, MP3 player, and books turns this thing into the modern day, real-life Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. And the Kindle get's smarter and smarter each day that I use it. ' 5. Making me smarter - I use to not really like reading. But after owning the Kindle, I'm a believer. Kindle owners sort of re-kindle a love for reading, and find themselves reading all the time. And the more I read the better and faster I read, making me smarter. And since the Kindle saves all my notes and highlights I can refer back to the easily for writing columns, blog posts, papers, and more. This is a great gift for a college student like me. I love being up on the latest books. I also love the fact that I can look stuff up directly from a book on Wikipedia, and then go back to reading. This is great for learning as you read, both in fiction and non-fiction. I've been learning a lot of new vocabulary with the awesome build-in dictionary while I read the Adventures of Sherlock-Holmes. And many of the free books are some of the greatest classics, which anybody who knows anything about literature should read. Somebody asked my if I'd read Pride and Prejudice, and thanks to Kindle I can read it for free! The kindle is a great value for anyone who loves reading, or who wants to start a habit or hobby of reading. After owning this device for just a couple of weeks, it has re-kindled my love for reading and was a purchase that I was glad I made over and over again with no regrets. I now carry a whole bookstore, and my personal library, and the internet in my book-bag, which is lighter now than ever before! If your still comparing, stop now and just get the Kindle. You won't regret it! An audio review in podcast form can be found on [...]. The Poor Man's Podcast strives to find products, news, and tips from anything from tech to travel to help "normal" people find the most value out of life! Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generation
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2009
