Anyway, I had time off over the holidays to test it out, and I can report that I really had a lot of fun using it.
In case you don't know what a Kindle is, it's a portable reading device that wirelessly downloads books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. It uses e-ink technology that is as crisp and clear as a newspaper. What's more, most of the books that you can download cost only $9.99. You can even subscribe to newspapers from around the world. (The New York Times is available for $13.99 a month).
Things I really liked about the Kindle are:
- The text really is crisp and clear. Plus, you can adjust its size to suit your needs. For example, later in the day or without glasses, I prefer a bigger text.
- You can look up word definitions with its built-in dictionary.
- You can search for words in the book, or even look things up in Wikipedia or search the web. This was helpful when I couldn't remember who a character was in a book that I was reading...I just typed in her name and easily found the first occurrence of the name.
- About the size of a trade paperback, it's lightweight and easy to hold.
- It's especially nice when reading in bed. I like to lie on my side when I read in bed, but always was annoyed because you would have to hold a book at different angles depending upon whether you were reading the left or right page. The Kindle only has one side, so it's easy to position.
All in all, I give it a solid thumbs up!
2 comments:
I'm glad to hear more about Kindle. I've been curious. I love that “new book smell” but in this economy I’ve been unable to justify $30 every time a favorite author publishes a new book. So maybe I'm a candidate. Meanwhile, I found http://www.bookins.com and I’ve LOVED every trade I’ve made there. I like that they arrange the trade and stand behind each one; other sites I looked at left it up to the traders to resolve any disputes. The website is beautiful and I encourage you to take a look (www.bookins.com/index.php?p1=1c_0cq0cA). They also trade DVDs, which also has worked well, but I love finding new homes for books! It’s the ultimate recycling project!
I have thought about a Kindle, but I know I enjoy the feel of holding a book or newspaper in my hands. I will be quite sad if/when the demise of the printed word ever occurs. There is nothing like a good cup/glass of tea or other beverage and reading. I guess I am old fashioned...but then you probably knew that!!
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