Product Review: Amazon Kindle - Electronic Reader and Then Some!

Product Review
by Lisa K. Price

Style, usability, convenience. Amazon Kindle has it all.

As a voracious reader, I can go through a 350-page novel in a week or less. I love Nora Roberts trilogies, Patricia Cornwell, and classics, such as Dante's Inferno.

As a fairly lazy person outside of work, I abhor removing myself from my comfy spot on the couch to go to and from the library or the bookstore (or anywhere, for that matter). So much so, that if I finish a book and have nothing else to read at that moment, I'll wait until the next time I venture out to pick up a new title.

My Amazon Kindle sure did solve the problem of always running to the bookstore or library!

With the Kindle's fast Whispernet 3G Network I browse the Amazon Kindle site, make my purchase with Amazon's exclusive 1-Click Shopping, and have my book downloaded to my Kindle in under 60 Seconds. And unlike WiFi, I never have to hunt for a hotspot. With Kindle's expanded National coverage, I have yet to find a location where my Kindle wouldn't connect to the 3G Network. Oh. And did I mention that this service is all free? No wireless bill.

Okay - convenience is one thing, but how well does the product actually work?

First of all, let me tell you that this thing is super light weight. I haven't actually weighed a paperback, but I can guarantee you the 10.2 oz Kindle weighs less than a hardback best seller. And, it is very thin. I actually keep my Kindle in the leather cover (sold separately), which effectively doubles the depth of the product, but it still only measures about 1/2" thick with the cover on! The cover does add another 12.8 oz of weight, but all in all, I'm still very happy with the portability of it. As far as overall dimension, the Kindle comes in two sizes. I actually have the 6", which is the version I talk about in this article, but Amazon now also offers the DX, which measures 9.7".

The actual reading area is black print on white, simulating a book, magazine, or newspaper. The readability is great! The words and crisp and clear, and the 16 shades of gray make images pop even more.

And, if you're like me, you read with one hand, generally cradling the book with the spine resting on your middle three fingers and your pinkie and thumb straddling the outer edges of the open pages. After reading this way for an extended period of time, I tend to get a cramp in the palm of my hand. With the Kindle, you can read with one hand or two. The buttons to advance to the next page are placed one on either side of the device. So, whether you are left- or right-handed, or like to switch hands often, you can easily advance to the next page with the touch of a thumb.

Read for days without charging!

Before my Kindle arrived, I was worried about the thing dying and having to recharge it often. Amazon advertises that you should be able to read regularly for up to two weeks. I have actually found this to be true - IF - you make sure you keep the wireless connection off. Yes, definitely only turn the wireless on to order, then make sure to turn it right back off as soon as your purchase downloads. This definitely extends the battery life by about 200% or more.

When it is time to charge your device, you can charge by either the wall charger power adapter or USB cable, both of which are included with your purchase. Charging usually takes about 4 hours.

Relief for the Book Pack Rat!

If you are like me, I never quite caught on to the book recycle program, such as Half Price Books, and the like. Sure, I'd go there and buy books and bring them home, read them, and then add them to the ever-exploding collection in my bookshelves. Somehow, I never quite got the idea that I could actually trade these books in, thereby reducing the walls and walls of books lining my rooms.

The Kindle has the capacity to hold up to 1,500 books and titles. And, rather than cluttering up my Home Screen (and my home) with 100s of titles and having to hunt to find the one I'm are looking for, I can actually archive my titles in backup mode on Amazon.com. So, I never have to search through stacks and stacks of books. They are always there at my fingertips.

Conclusion: I Love It!

It is very easy to use, very easy to transport, and very handy and convenient to have around.

My rating:
4 out of 5 stars

NOTE: I would have given the product 5 stars IF there was a backlight option so you could read in the dark.

Nuts and Bolts thoughts on Kindle:

• Over 300,000 book, magazine, and newspaper titles to choose from.
• Since the Kindle is not backlit, I can read it, even in direct sunlight. Although, I wish there was a backlight option so I could read in the dark if I really wanted to.
• Kindle is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box--no setup, no cables, no computer required.
• Adjustable Text Size.
• The Read-to-Me Feature will read any title out loud, so I can even listen to my book when it is not convenient to actually concentrate my eyes and my hands on the material.
• My page is automatically saved and will be right where I left off, even after I shut the device off; even if I switch to another title in between.
• By using the QWERTY keyboard, I can add annotations to text, just like one might write in the margins of a book. And because it is digital, I can edit, delete, and export my notes.
• An added-value accessory is the Personal Document Service Via Whispernet, which enables me to download personal documents from my computer or laptop to my Kindle using the USB cable. However, there is a small fee to use this feature.
• Built-in Dictionary with Instant Lookup.
• Wireless Access to Wikipedia.
• Listen to audio books or MP3 files.