I adore my Kindle! (Actually, I have the Kindle 2.)
I love almost everything about it:
I can carry multiple books on vacation, to the skate rink, anywhere -- and they take up no more space than a small magazine. I love that at Bible Study I can carry a King James Bible, an NIV Bible, and a historical commentary all in my purse.
Book storage has always been a problem in my house; I have never in my entire life owned enough bookshelves. Now I'm storing oodles of books in one tiny spot.
I never lose my place in a book (even if I'm reading multiple books at once).
I can look up the definition of a word effortlessly (without even leaving my text). I'm finding that while in the past I might've just skipped over a word, figuring that I basically knew what it meant, I now check the actual definition, and I'm learning nuances of words that I didn't know before -- and I have a degree in English lit!
I can read a chapter of a book before I commit to buying.
My aging eyes love the ability to change font size.
My books cannot be lost; even if I damage/lose the Kindle itself, my purchases are stored on
Amazon.com, and one phone call could install them to a newly purchased Kindle -- of course, I hope never to use that feature!
I like to lie on my back and read, and the Kindle is lightweight and easy to hold in one hand; it doesn't try to fall shut when you're near the front or back of the book.
It's easy to read in sunlight.
The Kindle can do a few things other than hold books; for example, it can also hold archived information that you email to it. I scanned our passports and saved them into my Kindle, giving me an electronic copy to take on our upcoming cruise.
You can also subscribe to a limited number of magazines and newspapers. This is sensible in an ecological sense because you're not wasting paper.
I love that I can buy a book anywhere, anytime, and it'll be in my hands in less than a minute. You have to set up an account with Amazon, and anytime you buy a new book, it automatically goes to your credit card -- and you get an email stating that you've bought it.
Though I love it, I must admit a few negatives:
I am NOT saving money on books. I am reading more books, and I am buying more books -- as opposed to trading with friends or borrowing from the library. (However, I'm not hounding my husband to buy me bookcases anymore, so maybe that evens out.) Everyone I know who has a Kindle says the same thing; it is absolutely NOT a money-saver.
Having said that: A pleasant surprise was the number of FREE books that Amazon offers (try around the first of the month - they tend to pop up then). I have a backlog of free books waiting for me. Some of these are classics (Pride & Prejudice, Dracula), but others are written by new authors who are trying to attract a fan base. Many of them are things I wouldn't have chosen, but I have enjoyed tremendously.
Not all books that I want are available in Kindle format; I expect this will change as time goes on.
Some books I don't think I
want in Kindle format; for example, I like paper cookbooks. And though I downloaded a Bible, I find it rather slow to flip from chapter/verse to chapter/verse at church. My daughter downloaded a Manga cartoon book, and it was disappointing; the wording is small, and its size cannot be changed.
One issue that I haven't solved yet is reading by the pool/beach, something I love to do. When I'm near the water, I simply pop my Kindle into a ziplock bag, and it's safe from splashes . . . but I can't leave it lying on a chair while I go for a dip. After all, if someone steals a cheap paperback, I won't be too upset, but if someone steals my Kindle, I would be devestated.
They advertise that bestsellers are $9.99 -- the truth is that MOST bestsellers are $9.99. Some books are more; for example, I just bought the newest Diane Galbadon book
Echo in the Bone, and it was something like $16. Why? Because
she knows that we will pay it. Also, I just bought the Lord of the Rings triology, which isn't a NEW bestseller and might not belong in this conversation at all, and it cost something like $10.99. I didn't think that was bad though, considering that it is a set of THREE books.
Comments that're neither positive nor negative, but that you might want to consider:
As soon as you buy a Kindle, you should immediately add some protection to keep it in top condition. I have a plastic film over the screen to protect scratches to that all-important part, a sticker from DecalGirl to prevent scratches to the body (and I like that it's pretty purple/blue instead of plain white), and a clear rubber-condom-type cover which makes the whole thing more "grippy" and makes me feel that I'm less likely to drop it. I keep the whole thing in a quilted, zippered bag. Maybe I'm paranoid, but this thing was expensive, and I don't want to damage it.
I use my Kindle almost every day, and my daughters often read Kindle-format books too. My battery lasts almost two weeks between charges -- IF the WhisperNet is turned OFF. With the internet feature turned on, it lasts about three days. The moral, of course, is that you should always keep your internet OFF unless you're actively buying a book. There's no purpose in draining your battery over and over.
Though you can buy books through the Kindle iteself, I prefer to buy on the computer. It's faster to switch from screen to screen, and you can see the full-color covers and recommendations for you. When you buy on the computer, the book is automatically sent to your Kindle. The next time you turn on the Kindle, you need to turn on the WhisperNet, and in less than a minute your new purchase is downloaded.
Go ahead and buy the Kindle -- you will love it.
Thanks again!
