I’ve been reading e-books for a few years now, starting on a Dell Axim pocket pc device using Microsoft Reader, and then syncing with my laptop to read on that as well. I love the fact that you can buy books instantly and they take up no physical space. Plus the file sizes of e-books are so small that you could have hundreds or thousands of books on your reading device. When the Kindle first came out, I thought it was pretty cool, but it was way too expensive. Plus it seemed so big and bulky. It was around this time that I stopped using my Dell Axim and thus took a hiatus from e-books. When I got my G1 phone, I started reading again using the free apps like Aldiko and Fbreader. Then Kindle for Android came out and I started reading using that app. Finally, the price on the Kindle device came down to where it was in my range and I decided to get it for my birthday. I have been thrilled so far with it! Here’s a list of what I like about the Kindle 3:
- E-ink is so easy to read: It really is similar to reading a printed page. And it is so much easier on the eyes than reading from a backlit screen.
- Lots of storage: Can fit so many books on it. I’m not even sure how many would fit on this thing.
- Music player and speakers/headphone jack: My favorite reading music is just a keystroke away.
- Lightweight: Lighter than a paperback means that I won’t get injured when I drop it on my face as I fall asleep.
- Adjustable text: As I get older, I like the text larger and larger. Sad I know...
- Does not have more functionality: I’m glad I won’t be distracted by email or instant messages while I am reading.
- Kindle store/Amazon account: Everything is centralized so I don’t have to worry about having to manage multiple copies of e-books that float around on different computers. I can buy a book at Amazon.com from a browser, my phone, or the Kindle itself and I can wirelessly sync that purchase to my Kindle.
- Price: $139 is very reasonable, especially compared to the $399 price of the original Kindle.
- And the best thing about the Kindle3 for me is… Battery life: I’ts amazing. I don’t worry about charging it, and am not distracted by wondering if my battery is draining while I am reading unlike reading on a smartphone.
Here are the things that I don’t particularly care for:
- Kindle store: Not all books I want to buy are availble in Kindle format. The Harry Potter series isn’t even available in Kindle format!
- PDF format: Although the Kindle can read PDFs, the zoom feature is unwieldy.
As you can see from my list, I really think the Kindle is great. I love reading, and the Kindle makes it easier than ever to get immersed in a good story. Highly recommended!