the Kindle after 2-plus weeks

It's been just over two weeks since my Amazon Kindle arrived on my doorstep, courtesy of the FedEx driver. A blog reader asked me how I was liking it, so I thought I would do a quick update.

First of all, I love my Kindle. Never did I think I would like it as much as I do. In fact, I like having it with me so much that I bought a bigger purse/tote just so I could drop the Kindle into the bag before I head out the door. Here's some pros and cons in no particular order (click on photos for larger views):

 
• The Kindle holds a charge for more than 30 hours. How much more, I don't know. I ran it for 17 hours straight before it showed that half the "juice" was used up. And it recharges fast. From a totally drained battery, it only takes two hours or less to charge.
 
• I love the adjustable print size. I can set it so that it is easy for me to read.
 
• You can get samples of the books before you buy them so you don't order something you really don't want. But what I use the samples for more than anything is as reminders of what I might want to buy in the future. When I read a book review that sounds interesting, if a Kindle version is available, I'll get the free sample. Then, a month from now when I want something new to read, my samples will serve as a reminder.
 
• Not every book I would like to buy is available for the Kindle, but there are still plenty of books to choose from. Over 119,000 at this point, up from 90,000 in November.
 
• The Kindle weighs about the same as many trade paperbacks and is lighter than regular hardcovers. Perfect for reading in bed.
 
• The cover that ships with the Kindle isn't very good at holding the reader nor does it fully protect the page turning buttons on the right side of the Kindle. Some have reported damage to their readers because the cover doesn't adequately protect. So I spent an additional sum to buy a better cover from m-edge. It is a huge improvement! To read in bed, I fold the front cover to the back and clip a Mighty Brite LED light to it.
 
• Some owners wish the Kindle was backlit. But not being backlit is one reason the Kindle is easy on the eyes. I already spend lots of hours looking at a computer screen. I don't want to feel like I'm still on a computer when I'm reading for pleasure.
 
• Oh, that's another thing I like. The Kindle experience for me has been that I forget I'm not reading a traditional book. Pushing the Next Page button has become as natural as flipping a paper page.
 
• When I leave a book, then open it again, it will open to the last page I was reading. However, if I want to flip back to see something I read earlier, that isn't as easy unless I bookmarked the page. I can't just go back to page 115. I have to go to it one page at a time.
 
• I installed a 1 GB SD card and between it and the built in memory, I'm told it can hold more than 300 books.
 
• I haven't played around with the basic web or email. Some literary agents, I've heard, are sending manuscripts to their Kindles for a small fee so they can read them on their Kindle when traveling rather than lugging along a lot of paper. Makes sense to me. I also haven't used the USB connection. Maybe in the future, but the Manage My Kindle on the Amazon web site works great. I currently have ten books on my Kindle including the Complete Works of Jane Austen (counted as one book) and the TNIV Bible. Plus I have five samples and the Kindle User's Guide. I haven't even used a fraction of the space available.
 
• The reduced price of books remains one of the greatest benefits!
 
• Someone asked me if I thought it was worth it if money was tight. Well, I suppose "tight" can be a relative term. Me, I "pre-spent" my tax incentive rebate that is due this month. With the reduced cost of the Kindle edition of books, I figure I'm saving $5 to $15 on each book I buy over the price I would pay for a print edition. So I don't think it will take more than two years (and probably less) for me to make up the difference.

FYI, I am currently reading Try Dying by James Scott Bell. It is a fabulous book. I don't like and can't read (due to nightmares) really scary suspense books or thrillers. But I can read Jim's books. They keep me guessing but don't scare me.

If you're interested in a Kindle, I'd love to have you buy it via my Amazon store. But none of the above has been a sales pitch. I just really love mine.

Comments

[Leanna Ellis]

Hi, Robin! Thanks for the update. I really appreciate it. One more question if you don't mind ... I'm not always great with technology stuff. I have managed to do okay with my ipod and downloading songs from itunes and such. Is it pretty easy to download onto the Kindle?

Thinking it might be a good Mom's day present. :)

[Robin Lee Hatcher]

Leanna, there is "nothing" to the download process. You can shop either on Amazon in their Kindle Books section or you can shop directly from the Kindle. When you decide you want to buy something, you just do the 1-Click and it is downloaded directly to the Kindle within seconds to a minute. I leave the WhisperNet on all the time, unless I'm in an airplane or a hospital where all cell phones need to be turned off. You do not need to be technically savvy to use the Kindle. And remember, there is no monthly fee for the WhisperNet connection. All you pay for is the Kindle and then the books you buy. Oh, and magazine subscriptions are really low priced. Most for around $1.49 per month. I haven't subscribed to any because I'm too far behind on my current subscriptions as it is.

[Rebecca Kennedy]

Hi Robin,
You've made me curious about the Kindle, even though I've had no real interest in these wireless reading machines before ... I love the feel of paper, I like thumbing through what I've read to re-read a nice paragraph, double-check a conversation, you get the idea ....

So, I have a favor to ask.

Amazon has a nice little video for Kindle, but only two or three staged photos of folk actually holding the Kindle in their hands. If you've got the time (and I know that's a big IF), would you mind posting a photo that shows your hands on the Kindle, close up? Something that shows the reality of using the darn thing -- where is that easy NextPage button, how big is that font -- so we (meaning especially me, of course, LOL) can see exactly how this machine stands up against a folded-back paperback in your hand?

It would be much appreciated, but I know you're swamped (I'm a regular reader of the blog) - plus there's that whole technology issue. Digital cameras are my nemesis.

Thanks - and have a fabulous weekend!!
Reba