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| Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device | 
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| Brand: Amazon
Category: Amazon Devices
Buy New: $399.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  2558 reviews
Sales Rank: 1
Color: Bisque
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.7
UPC: 892685001003
EAN: 0892685001003
ASIN: B000FI73MA
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper. | | • | Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing. | | • | Wireless connectivity enables you to find, buy, and read instantly—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed. | | • | Shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle. | | • | Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute. |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2553 more reviews...
 No need to worry about the index May 13, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I was a bit taken aback by the lack of functionality of the index on a large medical text, I got. But I needn't have worried. All I have to do is press the search button and a listing of locations pops up that is even better than an index. I wonder if Amazon shouldn't delete those large non-functional indices, though. They must take up a lot of space. Perhaps you could get the permission from publishers to send out a special Kindle version of textbooks. With no page numbers, there's no need for a long list of stuff you'd normally find in an index.
All in all, I love my Kindle. I like the simple web browser, even enjoy the music player, too. But Amazon, if you're going to have Amazon Music Downloads for sale on Amazon.com, why not have them in the Kindle store for easy "whispernet" download?
Amazing May 13, 2008
13 out of 18 found this review helpful
I've had my kindle now for about a month and I can't seem to put it down! There are some people who don't like the design, but I don't personally mind it. I find the buttons are in a logical location for FUNCTIONAL use (ie...reading) and that location may not make it the most visually appealing, but I bought it for its function! Buy a pretty picture for looks, hang it up, and pull out your kindle for reading. I've read four books so far and it makes reading a breeze. I also love the book samples. It really helps me decide if I want a book or not before I buy it. The samples are not without flaws; however, and on some books the sample ends before the book begins so all you get to preview are copyright statements and a preface or something, but I've only come across this twice.
If you're looking for a device to replace TEXTBOOKS then forget it...as a medical student I thought about this as well, but as a textbook it fails. As a book reader it passes flawlessly. Be aware that you will buy more books and Amazon has made spending money on books insanely easy! If you're on the fence I say buy it....you won't regret it.
 Amazon's big push May 13, 2008
12 out of 60 found this review helpful
Is anyone else dog sick and tired of Amazon pushing this product down customer's throats when accessing their web site to order real books? I know I am. --Mykal Banta
Kindle Great By Design May 13, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've owned my new Kindle for two weeks now. I've taken it on one trip and used it fairly heavily. I have over three dozen books, several blog feeds and a Newspaper Subscription I am using. So I have used quite a few of the features of the Kindle already. Here are my thoughts on the Kindle:
1) Display - without a doubt the new eInk technology is a huge step forward for readability. The dot per inch resolution makes text very easy to read. As to the speed of updates, it can seem slow at first when compared to other electronic devices, but when compared to page turning in a paper book, the Kindle is very fast and efficient. Given the low power requirements of this display, I think it is a great trade off.
2) Color - Black and white doesn't matter to me at all as I stopped reading children books with pictures on every page quite a long time ago. I am sure this will be addressed in the future, but for now the Kindle gives me the same color options as 99% of the books I own already.
3) Interface - Like others, I was not happy with the positioning of the "Next Page", "Prev Page" buttons on the edge of the Kindle. However, I have gotten used to them where they are and I find that using the Kindle has become very natural. The inclusion of a real keyboard on the Kindle makes searching much faster than the soft-keyboards that may devices contain. This is why the Blackberry and many new phones are starting to include real keyboards. It is far easier to use for most of us.
4) Size and Weight - The Kindle alone is about the same weight as a standard paperback book. With the case it is slightly heavier, but still lighter than most hard backs. However, the thin size of the Kindle makes it much easier to hold in one hand than most books, and my thumbs don't feel as fatigued after an hour of reading as they do holding open most paperbacks. While it seems that a larger display would be nice, the inclusion of the keyboard is too nice to pass up and I prefer the size of the Kindle as it is. What's even better is the fact that I have all of these books and several copies of the WSJ in this tiny package. I couldn't even carry all of that on a trip in the original paper format.
5) PDF - I was concerned about the fact that the Kindle didn't read PDF files. However, I have few books in PDF format. In fact, most of the electronic format books I have were in Mobipocket format anyway, so I was able to move all of those books to my Kindle, where they can be read even easier than on my old Palm Zire. I've also found hundreds of classics and public domain books available for the Kindle as well. Furthermore, I have taken my PDF books and converted them with the MobiCreator software. This might be a bit more work than most people wish to go to, but there are alternatives to getting PDF files onto the Kindle that work quite well.
6) DRM - A lot has been made about the fact that Kindle books from Amazon.com are DRM'ed and if Amazon drops support for the Kindle they won't be able to read their books any more. I don't see this as an issue for several reasons: Even if the Amazon stops support, I can still read the books I have purchased. Paper books I have eventually wear out, get damaged or are otherwise made un-readable. Nobody guarantees I can keep those books in that case. The Kindle is at least as good if not better for keeping books around. If you are worried about Amazon's support long term, back up your books to your Computer. I honestly don't think Amazon is planning to drop support given the apparent success they have had selling the Kindle.
7) Whispernet - What a great service! I love opening up my Kindle in the morning and having the Wall Street Journal right there ready to read. And it is so much more convenient than the big paper edition. My wife and I traveled to Las Vegas recently, and enjoyed the fact that our Kindle subscriptions were right there. International service might be a problem, but the advantages of the built-in wireless far outweigh the disadvantage of service coverage. No doubt these things will be addressed soon
8) Pricing - This seems to be a big issue for many people, and I have to admit at first the Kindle seemed steep. However, given the built in wireless network with no monthly service fee, the Kindle has turned out to be a real bargain. I'd love to see the cost of the books come down, but they are still 30 to 50 percent less than paper versions, and that will have the Kindle paying for itself in under a year for me. My wife and I read a lot (a LOT) and even with two Kindle's I am certain we'll get our money's worth. Plus, we are early adapters, and that is always where the price is highest. Ask people who bought flat panel Televisions ten years ago.
The Kindle is really meant for people who read more than a few books every year, and/or people who travel a lot and need a convenient way to carry reading material. I find it strange that so many people add the cost of the Kindle plus the books and think it is a bad deal. Think of how much you are paying for all of you paper books over a couple of years, and then compare to the Kindle prices. As a first generation reading device from Amazon it is a great tool in my opinion. There are just a few things I'd like to see in the future:
1) Move the buttons in a bit so they aren't easily hit when you handle the Kindle
2) Allow us to reprogram the buttons so they can be used in different ways.
3) Allow us to organize the Kindle Library into Folders to cut down on the number of pages we have to sort through to find books. As I increase the number of books I have I can see this becoming an issue.
4) RSS feeds should be free. We can read blogs with Whispernet for free, which is probably less efficient for Whispernet. Make adding new RSS feeds easier and free of charge. I think if Amazon did the analysis they would find that to be more efficient than the current scheme. But really, reading Blogs on the Kindle is just icing. I want it for books and newspapers more than I want to read Blog posts.
Overall the Kindle is a great device, a great service and a great bargain, and I expect it will only get better as publishers get on board.
My new Kindle May 13, 2008
11 out of 16 found this review helpful
This is my second Kindle as my first one had a fault in the on/off switch. So I can rave on about how good the device is and also about how great the customer service is. I LOVE my Kindle. I've been an inveterate reader since I was five years old and wasn't sure I would like not having the soft book in my hands, but I had no trouble making the transition; so, I'm sure that younger people would take to this like ducks to water because I did and I am, as the French say, "of a certain age". I love everything about it. Not having to stand in line in book stores, never running out of something to read at home or while out, not having books piled up at home in my small Manhattan apartment any more, etc., Then the morning I woke up and it didn't work, to say I was very upset, would be an understatement. When it turned out to be the switch, with which I had thought I was having a problem before, but wasn't sure (i.e., I'd be sure I turned it off at night, but it would be on in morning), Amazon's Customer Service people couldn't have been better! Luckily we got it working again, but it was a bit wonky. They got me a replacement within a week, e-mailed me a pre-paid return label for my old one and I was up and running with all my old content on my new Kindle in no time.
I can't recommend this product higly enough.
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