The Kindle

The Kindle, the Nook, the iPad, etc, etc, etc. There are so many choices today, how does one decide what they want to spend their hard earned cash on?

Besides the large price differences in models, there are huge feature differences as well. The iPad is pretty much a small laptop with a large price tag. If you are looking to just read a book, then in my opinion, there is no need for such a device.

I'm thinking (and researching) to purchase a Kindle. I love to read and carrying heavy books all over is a drag, literally. I have left many a book at home, just because I don't feel like taking them with me.

The positive and eco-friendly side of a Kindle, is by not purchasing a printed book, you may have saved a tree or two.  The negative and yet more realistic side, is publishers will never stop printing books, so you really aren't saving any trees.  But maybe by making a statement of not buying the books, it will somehow make us feel better.

I can just imagine myself sitting on the deck in the sun, and still being able to see my page without the intense white glare. As the breeze picks up, there will be no fighting to keep my pages from blowing around. And while lying in bed, it will be lighter then a big bible and there's no chance of the book accidently smacking me in the forehead while I fall asleep. (There are several downloadable bibles as well. I must for my Kindle).



When reading a Kindle, will one still feel like they are holding a real book? Or has the old lost tradition of cracking the spine and smelling the fresh paper gone right out the window? Are we, the techie generation, not even using books anymore? Will I look like I am "so 80's" if I sit on the beach with a book and not an electronic reading device? These are my questions. My sister owns the Kindle and has for a while. She says she doesn't miss her books at all. And she is quite the book nerd, (I say that in a loving way) so I take her review as a good one.

Now that I have decided to purchase a Kindle, which one? Amazon is still selling the 2nd generation (for only a few dollars less) and the new 3rd generation. The 3rd gen comes with standard Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi with 3G. 3G is for someone who doesn't have easy access to Wi-Fi and wants to download books anytime, anywhere. If you travel a lot, this may be the better choice. You can simply pull it out of the box and it's ready to load purchases. If you have Wi-Fi in your home, simply send books from your home computer to your Kindle. The 3G Kindle only holds battery for 10 days where the simple Wi-Fi version can hold battery life for 3 weeks! That's pretty impressive.

The 3rd Gen also has a Facebook and Twitter feature. This could be addicting. One can hi-light a passage or comment, from a book or magazine, and share it with friends/family. While even adding your own status update. Tired of reading, Kindle also has a read feature. Plug in some headphones and have Kindle read to you. When you want to continue reading yourself, Kindle pics up where it left off so you don't miss a thing.

Also, please be aware of the new "includes special offers" version of the Kindle which sells for only $114. Amazon explains it to have screen savers featuring great deals. I wouldn't have a problem with ads as a screen saver, but it also explains to have them at the bottom of your home page, "not interfering with your reading". It would interfere with my reading as I am sure I would pay too much attention to the "special offers". So for only $25 more ($139) you can avoid this.

Then for those of you who want more to hold on to, the Kindle DX is available and sells for $379. It's twice the size but works globally if you are a big traveler.

For a more intense comparison of all these Kindle versions, click here to view the comparison page on Amazon.com or watch the video attached below.

If you own a Kindle, please share your thoughts. Good or bad. I will let you know when I have purchased mine and what I think. Hopefully, I can continue to do book reviews and also be more "hip" at the same time.

Blessings,
~Angie Christine.