I recently purchased the 3G version of the Amazon Kindle (as an early Christmas present) and all I can say is ‘awesome!’ I know many people bemoan the negative effect Amazon and digital media may be having on traditional bookstores and the like, but I am still a huge fan of this technology. With this mind, I wanted to provide everyone with a short, and preliminary, review.
The screen is very easy to read and you can easily adjust the font size if you need too. They’ve also made it very easy to highlight sections and take appropriate notes. The ‘My Clippings’ feature on the home page stores all of these quotations automatically, so referencing them for later use is quick and easy.
The Kindle is extremely light and easy to hold. Battery life is up to one month on a single charge.
Books can be downloaded free of charge in a maximum of 60 seconds by using either a wi-fi signal or Amazon’s 3G whispernet network (depending on which model you have). And, if you’ve downloaded a title by accident, or decide that you no longer want it, simply click the appropriate link and the book is returned with a full refund (no packaging it
up, driving to Canada Post and sending it back). You can also subscribe to many newspapers (including the Globe & Mail), as well as numerous magazines and periodicals (with a single or monthly subscription charge).
Even though I’ve only owned the Kindle for a short period of time, I already love it. I think people who perhaps didn’t read much before may fall in love with reading. This, in my humble opinion, is something we should all applaud.
Finally, the fact that this very small and lightweight device can hold up to 3000 books (including PDF files, which is a great feature), means that I should have many reading opportunities ahead of me. Yes, I can visualize many cold winter nights at my neighborhood Starbucks, sipping caramel macchiatos, while enjoying a great book (and I can enjoy more lattes because each book normally costs around $9.99 :)
Happy reading!
Join in on the fun here.
November 25, 2010 at 9:57 am
So the Kindle stores quotes – I didn’t know that. That one feature has almost convinced me . . . almost . . . can I let go of the texture of paper, the smell of glue, post-it notes, high-lighters and squiggles . . . can I? Please answer this – can the Kindle be read outdoors? A computer screen can’t. It bothers me to work indoors in nice weather. I spend a good part of the summer reading outside. If your answer is yes, you may have converted me.
November 25, 2010 at 10:04 am
Yes, the Kindle does store quotes and your personal notes as well – book by book. There will probably always be a selection of books that I will purchase in the traditional print format (for my purposes, academic books, commentaries, etc), but the Kindle is proving to be great for many of the others. I believe you can “let go” :)
Yes, the Kindle can be read outdoors. The ink technology and screen makes this possible. Unlike the iPad, which has a glossy screen, the Kindle does not. This makes reading very easy on the eyes. If you watch the short video posted on the Amazon.ca website for the Kindle, they talk about and showcase this feature.
Go for it! I’m sure your husband would just love to purchase this as a gift for Christmas!
Yes, another convert :)