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Amazon’s Kindle: Highly Recommended
Posted by Scott on 8th November, 2008 | 12 commentsI read magazines like Fortune Small Business, Forbes, Money, and although I occasionally read business books, I don’t read them that often. Usually, it’s because I don’t make the time, but more often, it’s because I don’t have a book handy when I feel like reading it. I sure don’t want to lug around a library, and happen to have just the right book when I have a few hours to kill on the airplane, for instance.
Amazon’s Kindle changes things. It’s a wireless e-book reader with a paper-like screen. Most importantly though, you can download entire books and magazines to the device from anywhere via a cellular network and the content is cheaper than the printed versions. These aren’t just junky out of print books, these are the best, highest rated, most popular books and magazines available. If you’re sitting on an airplane, you can browse Amazon’s books, view ratings/reviews, buy a book or two, and read on the flight. It’s really an amazing device whose time has come.
When I first heard about it, I thought it was lame. Then I was flipping channels one day and heard Oprah raving about it - yeah I know, Oprah. She was doing an interview with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. Bezos outlined several cool features and they were demoing the device. I didn’t know it worked via a wireless cell network, I thought it had to sync-up to a desktop. I think that’s the biggest factor that makes this thing a winner, plus the huge library of content available.
I’ve owned a Kindle for a few weeks now and I’m already hooked and have made solid progress on 3 books: that’s 3 more books than I’ve read in the past couple of years. Plus, I use it to keep up with newspaper articles and magazine articles. The screen is very easy to read: easier than paper or a computer monitor, with great contrast.
It’s a bit pricey at $359, but worth it in my opinion. It’s the best way I know to “download” great info straight into your brain, whenever you have some free time.
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Saturday, November 8th, 2008 at 6:51 pm and is filed under Web Business. If you like this post why not subscribe to my full text RSS feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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This advanced technology thingy always start from the US. I wonder when it is going to reach Malaysia.
This is the future of paperless reading. Save the trees!
I’ve have one for a long time now and I definitely enjoy it greatly. Although I hate some of the page turn buttons and how easily they can flip through several pages on accident sometimes, overall I’m very satisfied with the Kindle.
I’m old school when it comes to my books. I like the actual physical book I am reading in my hands. And I enjoy building my library.
The device sounds cool though, but I think the novelty would wear off for me fairly quickly since I enjoy having a book, not just the text in the book.
Connecting via wireless sounds pretty sweet thoug. And from the picture you put up it looks like you can read the newspaper on it which is cool, but I don’t see myself spending $359 just to read the newspaper.
I will have to wait for the price to come down a lot.
Looks a very useful device.
However there has been some criticism of the device…
Apparently, without its cover, it is difficult to hold without accidentally pressing one of the buttons. The screen has a low refresh rate.
But nonetheless a great alternative to reading a paper or book!
That is a really great idea but for $359 it is really pricey. Maybe if the price dropped to $200 it would be a must have.
@ bid directory [$359 it is really pricey]
Just think how much the Palms are discounted now - compared to the time when they were introduced.
I bought a Palm II about 6 (or even more) years ago and paid a horrendous sum of money, but the productivity i gained from it far outweighted the monetary outlay.
Same will probably happen to those buying a Kindle.
@Scott - what else can you do with this device? Could it be used as a productivity tool or is it just for e-paper and books?
I also saw the Oprah-Jeff Bezos show and was intrigued, and just recently saw another e-book at Borders by Sony. I’m not sure I’m ready to invest the $$ for one yet - plus the books are still rather pricey - but I’m keeping my eyes on them.
The sony ebook requires you to dock with a PC to download content, making it far less useful than the cellular wireless kindle.
When it comes to technology, the price is not always an issue as every one wants to embrace change especially tech-wise. This could be a break through!
Have you tried Sony Reader? I can’t decide between it and Kindle.
I tried the sony at a tradeshow, but haven’t really used it. The thing is: the sony is not wireless. You have to dock it with your PC to download content. With the kindle, you can get books, magazines, newspapers, anywhere, because it works anywhere a cell phone works.
this has so many benefits, when traveling i can find whatever i want. This product is amazing.