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| Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device | 
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| Brand: Amazon
Category: Amazon Devices
Buy New: $359.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  3825 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 3820 more reviews...
 I wasn't sure and waited...I love it July 27, 2008
I was very unsure whether or not I wanted to shell out so much money on an ebook reader. Like most people interested in this, I have an extensive 'real book' library, and am a voracious reader...but I didn't want to drop a huge amount of money on something that wasn't better than real books in most ways.
This is the best thing I've ever owned, and let me tell you why.
1. LIBRARY
I am in the process of replacing my entire real book library onto the Kindle. I store the book files on my computer. I'm in the process of buying a memory chip because I've filled up my Kindle already. You can find many books out there for free, even current books. (Yes, even legally!). I personally love speculative fiction (Sci-fi and fantasy) and TOR books releases a new ebook for free weekly. So it's not difficult to find many resources to build your library. I personally didn't want to pay AGAIN for many titles (as I've bought some books more than once already in real book form, as I've given them away, worn them out, loaned them out without return, etc.) I have the option of using software to scan them in and have text files made of them (many universities and other organizations have such software), finding them for free various places online, rebuying them, or finding them elsewhere. Your mileage will vary...but it's not hard to build a library.
Book lovers don't have to be told that if they read a book and love it, to start buying from that author. We do it with public libraries and it's why TOR gives away free books, and I think that trend is going to continue. (In other words, borrowing isn't a bad thing, stealing is! Don't be a jerk. :) )
2. THE INTERNET!
Free internet access and anyone even remotely saavy can use the kindle to do an awful lot online. You may have to be creative, you may have to change email providers (you can't access all providers through it) but you can use gmail and other free online e-mail. Additionally it's currently free with no plans at this point to charge for it.
Wikipedia access is a huge bonus for me.
3. LOOK IT UP, MAKE A NOTE
You can make notes 'in your books' without defacing the book. You can back up your entire kindle library on a computer (or disk or data card, etc.) so you can never 'lose' these things.
Generally when I run across words or terms I don't understand, I get the jist from the sentence or surrounding ideas. This way I can continue reading and 'get it' without interruption. If I REALLY don't get it, or it's confusing I can look it up. Often I'd intend to look up a name or place or thing like that later...and forget.
With the Kindle I can do this instantly without losing my place in the book, and I wish I could adequately express to you what a HUGE difference this is. Without sounding like a snot, sure I'm extremely bright and have a huge vocab. thanks to reading. So I generally don't need to look up things. And I can get the basic idea. Looking up words I 'kinda' know the meaning to but couldn't perfectly nail down has not only added to my experience, and vocabulary, but more importantly in some ways it's added to the depth of my experience with the book.
Here's one example. I was reading Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld (again) and Ultima Thule is mentioned. I 'get' from the structure that it's talking about a northern place, and they use an alternative term 'fools gold' (because in context it's also a mission that won't succeed) as the character is trying to reach this distant point in the Riverworld. But when I looked up Thule, I saw that it was historically (in ancient Rome) refered to the most northern point of the world. So Ultima Thule, in this instance would be the ultimate northern most place, and made MUCH more sense. It also told me more about the character who used that term (and how he knew it) and just added more depth.
Sure I didn't have to look it up. And in a real book, I wouldn't have. But using my kindle, it took a simple scroll of the mousewheel to select the sentence, then it looked up key words in the sentence and I selected the right word and there it was. Then I closed it and continued reading, and it took under 20 seconds.
How amazing is that. If I tried to do that with a computer and real books, I'd be sidetracked online reading more and more and would 'lose' my spot in the book. If I wasn't too lazy to do it in the first place.
4. NOWNOW
There's an experimental service that allows you to ask a question and 3 'experts' will look up answers for your in around 10 mins.
This service is the same as someone with good Google-Fu (the ability to do good research online and find things using google, etc.). I have excellent google-fu. But I'm not always near a computer and I don't always have the time. So why not ask NowNow for free?
It's also perfect for settling stupid questions. I was watching poker with my husband and we wondered what year Jamie Gold won the WSOP. He got up to 'look it up' and took his usual half hour as he read other things, and then checked his email and etc. Instead Nownow can get the same answer w/in 10 mins. without us leaving the room. (Especially good at resturants!)
5. SIZE
I'm a voracious reader, and I can't carry tons of books with me when I travel or even I'm out and about. With kindle it's as small as a paperback and lighter in weight, and with a memory card I can carry an entire library with me. The basic memory says it's about 200 books, seems less to me but I haven't counted all the books I put on. It's not enough memory for me, but to expand it will be like $20 anyway. Then I can read whatever I want.
6. BUY IT NOW
When I want a new book I can buy it through Amazon and have it delivered wirelessly almost instantly. The only complaint there is currently their available books aren't that great. I couldn't buy the entire Riverworld series there (which I'm reading now) but I did find it various places online. You won't be able to get every book you want...but you should be able to get most of them.
7. EYES
I have a neurological problem which affects my eyesight, and cannot be corrected, and changes. So sometimes I can read just fine. Sometimes things are a bit blurry. Kindle allows you to change the text size at any time, and so far I've never had a problem reading a page. THIS IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO ME. You could also use magnifiers with the kindle, though I'd be shocked if anyone had problems with the highest size setting (other than the legally blind who need external tools anyway). The color is also easy on the eyes, though the 'paper' is a darker grey than I'd personally choose, its like a pulp paperback and very easy going on the eyes.
There's no internal light, so the light is ambient light. I bought a book light, and use the nova of the light (making sure the bulb doesn't reflect on the page) and that works perfectly for me in low light settings. I bought the LED light recommended for the kindle, the one that clips on. Pretty much any such light would work, but I like that I can move the thing around as the stem is a bendy.
OVERALL:
I really love it. It's the best thing I've ever gotten. My husband is so happy at how much I love it, and it's constantly with me. Is it perfect? No. I'd change the buttons around a bit. I sometimes hit the page fwd/back/next buttons by mistake when laying down with my kindle. The search function in the library is kinda sucky. The ability to mod. some things, also sucky. I'd love to be able to create my own subfolders and better organize things.
But these are all things which I personally think will be 'better' in the future, with software updates. I personally think the 'kindle 2.0' will not be a new machine, but rather new software which we'll ALL get.
And even if they didn't fix a single thing, and it stayed this way...it's money well spent for me.
I also had a problem with my 'first' kindle with a button being not as flush as I thought it should be. I called their CSR to ask if I could pop it off or what. They apologized and overnighted me a new kindle.
The customer service on this thing is AMAZING. The kindle users are sometimes a little fanatical...and you get people who get angry at 'suggested' changes (like those who want better mp3 support and those who scream IT'S A BOOK LEAVE IT ALOOOONE), but we all have in common love for this thing.
It's a potential portable Library of Alexandria. Which is why my kindle is named Alexandria.
Kindle - Great device! July 27, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I love my Kindle!! Now I can carry hundreds of books when I travel and it only weighs ounces! Buttons could be positioned differently to avoid accidental pressing of the buttons but other than that it's a fabulous device.
The Most Useful Gadget I Own July 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
My Kindle is my new best friend. If my little Kindle was just a book reader, I would love it. Add the fact that I can look up information on the internet (at no charge) while I'm reading, and this is the best gadget I've ever owned.
The screen is easy to read, even in bright light. I like to change font sizes depending upon whether I'm wearing my glasses or contacts.
And although the page-turn buttons do take some getting used to, I find that I can hold the book pretty much any way I want to and still turn a page. So, I can't complain about the buttons.
I have started reading more than ever, thanks to not having to make trips to the bookstore. I like being able to "surf" Amazon's Kindle book selections, and I like being able to see recommendations and reader reviews right there on my Kindle. My only complaint is that sometimes it's hard to tell what kind of book a book is... For example, you can always tell a trashy novel by its cover at the bookstore. I think maybe Amazon could do a better job of categorizing books on the Kindle site. I downloaded and tried to slog through "The Shack" because it is a Kindle bestseller before I realized it is a "Christian" book.
I have never used another book reader, so I guess I shouldn't say this, but I don't understand how anybody could give this product one star. I don't think any other product comes close to being as "cool" as the Kindle (what with the internet access and all). I think Amazon has figured out how to bring reading back to the masses.
 kindle July 26, 2008
0 out of 9 found this review helpful
The Kindle is terrific except it is not back lit so that you can read in a dark room. I know I can buy a light however it is not convenient.
It is really easy to order a book with out your computer
The iPod for books! July 26, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Just as the iPod and similar devices allow us 24/7 access to our personal music library, the Kindle allows us to read anywhere, anytime.
It is light-weight -- about the weight of an average magazine, adding virtually no weight to your briefcase or bag.
It is small enough to hold with one hand -- AND turn the pages. Try that with a magazine or newspaper or book.
Granted, as most reviewers have pointed out - you have limited choice of thumb space on the front of the Kindle with which to hold the thing. I expect that the next version will shrink the keyboard and page turn keys, so that accidental hand-shifts don't create accidental page and menu changes.
I have been pondering purchasing the Kindle for about 6 months. I have to admit that, even though I could easily afford it, the price put me off. I am an avid reader. It is nothing for me to take a trip to Barnes and Noble and walk out with 10 books -- and go back again 2 weeks later for more.
An upcoming vacation brought me back to the Kindle. Well, it's not really a vacation. It's kinda complicated and quite private, but I will be in a not very interesting American city for 6 days with very little to occupy my days.
I started contemplating a trip to B&N to stock up and then thought about the sheer weight of all the reading material I might bring, now that we must pay for checked bags (which is more annoying than a financial inconvenience, truth be told). I had one of those "eureka!" moments, when I realized I could take 100s of pounds of books, magazines, and newspapers with me -- in my carry-on luggage.
I am now completely and utterly in love with my Kindle and I am thinking of all of the barriers in everyday life that conspire to limit one's reading:
Recognize yourself in any of these scenarios?
***Crowded subway or train.
Too difficult to read more than one page of the paper or a magazine? Need one hand to hold on - can't turn pages? Can't spread out the front page of the newspaper to read?
Kindle's solved that. Once you work out the mechanics, it is easy to hold the Kindle with one hand and turn the pages.
I just finished a luxurious hour floating in my swimming pool, noodle under my arms, lightweight Kindle in my hands, reading a good book.
Before the Kindle, I had stopped reading in the pool, because the mechanics of holding the book and turning pages without getting them wet got to be too difficult. I had to limit myself to reading material easily held in one hand - pretty much magazines; and there are only so many magazines I am interested in reading (well, other than professional journals, I am a New Yorker girl through and through; everything else is fluff, IMHO).
***Almost done with a book - can't bother to carry the heavy thing with you because you are close to the end, but you really want to finish it?
Old school (pre-Kindle) you would have 2 choices - take a different book with you and finish the nearly done one another time -- or carry 2 books with you (ugh, the weight!) so that you could finish the first and still have something to read for the ride home. Now, with a Kindle, you can take both (and 100s more) with you whereever you go.
****Strangers checking out what you are reading and/or commenting/trying to create a "connection" through your choice of reading material?
Kindle offers Complete Privacy!
The only thing I will miss as the Kindle becomes ubiquitous is the delight of seeing what other people are reading.
And the occasionally interesting conversations that come up on public conveyances as readers meet each other -- "I see you are reading __________, how do you like it? Have you read his/her other works?". "I see you are reading the Nation; are you going to the protest rally on Thursday?"
Some of us do not enjoy such encounters/come-ons and would prefer that one's traveling and waiting-room companions not have such an easy conversation-starter. The Kindle provides you with complete anonymity and privacy to enjoy your choice of reading materials.
If you take a guilty pleasure in reading popular novels, but it conflicts with your image as, say, a buttoned-down accountant -- now there will be no tell-tale bright book cover to give you away!
****How about the unexpected delay that leaves you somewhere without anything to read and no laptop or internet connection?
Sure, you can always pull out your cell phone and play 100 games of "Bejewled" -- but with the wireless Kindle, you can quickly purchase and read that novel you've been saving, or anything else your heart desires.
****I don't waste my money on hard-cover editions -- I can wait 6-12 months for the paperback version.
This was me, big time, before the Kindle.
As much as I would like to support the authors and publishing houses by buying hardcover editions, the cheap-skate inside me just can't do it.
Over the years, I have purchased only my most favorite authors in hardcover, because I just couldn't stand to wait. This also means that I have missed out, because I am not organized enough to keep a list of what I want to get when it is available in paperback form, some books that caught my interest have permanently slipped my grasp in the delay between printings.
Most Kindle titles are less than $10, which means you can read the newest books for the price of a paperback version, without the months-long delay.
****Books just take up too much space in my house/apartment. I hate throwing them away when I am done with them, but I have run out of room to store them.
Duh!
With Kindle, you can story a library in the space a single paperback takes up.
If you still want to be pretentious and carefully seed your coffe-table with "must-read" books, or lend them to your friends -- "You MUST read this", you can always purchase the physical book.
My best argument for Kindle, however, is environmental.
No paper. No trucks delivering the books to stores. No you driving to the bookstore to buy books.
I'm sort of surprised that other reviewers haven't mentioned this aspect of the Kindle. Live lightly on the land -- read e-books!
I do hope that Kindle doesn't become so popular as to destroy bookstores, in the same way that the iPod killed Tower Records (ah, such a bright and vibrant place to hang out); but it probably will and many of them need to go the way of the dinosaur, anyways.
So many malls house lifeless bookstores, populated by non-readers picking up the latest "thriller" or "romance novel". I once visited one of these mall establishments, and after more than an hour of happy shopping, hefted 10 books onto the counter to purchase. The clerk (a reasonably dressed mid-30's woman, who didn't appear at first glance to be a moron) looked at my stack and then at me like I was crazy: "You gonna read all of those?", she asked.
I didn't know what to say.
If Kindle can remove these "bookstores" from the malls and make room for more sneaker stores, I would consider that to be a benefit to America.
I only hope that the real bookstores, where actual readers gather for inspiration and companionship will be able to hang on.
I also know there's nothing I can do to prevent the inevitable loss of the community book store. For years, I walked right past B&N and their tempting 15% off offer to shop at a true community bookstore, where the clerks displayed their latest favorite picks and I always found more than one surprise. My $ made no difference - it closed 2 years after B&N moved in up the street.
The internet and all these electronic gadgets have made us all more connected in so many ways, yet so disconnected from physical connections to others.
But, reading is, and always will be, largely a solitary adventure.
Owning a Kindle will, someday, be like being accidentally locked in overnight in the reading room of the NYC public library - all by yourself with all the books you ever wanted to read, but never had the time!
Just go ahead and spend the money, even if it means that you will pay again for the more ergonomic model sure to be coming out down the road.
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