A Review of the Amazon Kindle e-Book Reader for the Technology Challenged
I'm a great person to review this high tech device for the average Joe, because I'm technologically challenged. There's a reason why I belong to Squidoo and make free lenses instead of putting this info on my own blog or website. I'm just not that great with new technology and gadgets. I even have trouble every time I get a new cell phone!
But, that being said, I have to say I absolutely love the Kindle reading device. Kindle is easy to use and perfect for any avid reader.
What Does the Kindle Do?
What's an e-Book Reader Any Way?
The Kindle really is the new must have device for any avid reader. It allows you to read just about anything you want any where at any time.With the Kindle, no matter where you are you can have access to just about any book you want in about a minute. Why is that so great? Well, for example my dad loves to read and he reads about 3 books a week. He especially loves best sellers. The major problem with his favorite pastime is that he lives in a tiny little town. He doesn't own a computer, so buying the books via the internet isn't an option for him. To get his books he has to drive to the nearest city, which is nearly an hour's drive. With the Kindle (which he'll be getting from my husband and I this Christmas, shhh), he will have any book he wants almost immediately...and with no gas expense to boot!
Ok, so what if you aren't a book reader? Is the Kindle limited to books? Nope. The Kindle can also send you your daily newspaper subscription or even your magazine before it hits the newsstands!
The Kindle delivers just about anything you want to read almost instantly no matter where you are. You don't need a computer or an internet connection, or even access to WiFi.
Kindle also gives you access to Wikipedia, the worlds most up-to-date encyclopedia. Do you love to prove your right or just really enjoy learning new things? You can literally have an entire encyclopedia at your finger tips.
Kindle's Physical Spects
How big is the Kindle? What's it look and feel like?
- Kindle's screen is 6" diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 4-level gray scale.
- Kindle is about the same size as a standard paperback, 7.5" x 5.3" x 0.7".
- Kindle weighs 10.3 ounces, that's less than most books.
- Kindle's wireless access uses Whispernet, Amazon's optimized technology plus Sprint's national high-speed (EVDO) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, download, and read content on the go. No monthly fees.
- Kindle has no system requirements, because you need no computer or internet connection. All you need is the Kindle.
- Kindle's Ergonomic Design makes it comfortable to hold, shift positions, and turn pages with ease. It also has full length page turning buttons on the left and right, making it user friendly whether you are left handed or right handed.
- Kindle has a QWERTY keyboard.
Tell Me About Your Experience
Do You Have a Kindle?
How Does Kindle Work?
Don't I Need an Internet Connection? How do I Find the e-Books? And Other Questions Answered
Ok, so this is the technical stuff, but I'm going to simplify it. After all, if you're just an average user, you don't need to know what all the components are of the gadget. You just need to know the basics of how it works so that you will be able to use the device.The Kindle doesn't need an internet connection. No need for cords or computers. To use Amazon Kindle all you need is the Kindle. You go to the Amazon Kindle bookstore directly from the Kindle. There you can purchase any book, magazine, newspaper, or even blog and have it sent wirelessly to your Kindle in under a minute. Amazon's Kindle not needing an internet connection means you don't pay a monthly fee and you can use it any where.
It has a super long battery life. The battery lasts much longer than your cell phone battery does. You can turn wireless off after you download your book and the battery will last about a week. If you leave wireless on, you will need to recharge the device every other day. Now, that's a long battery life!
You can email word documents and pictures to your Kindle and carry them with you every where you go. This feature could be especially helpful if you have a word document that you need to proof read while on the go.
Kindle is also a dictionary. It has The New Oxford American Dictionary built right in. That way, if you come across a word you don't know while you're reading, you can immediately look it up. Also, don't forget that it gives you free access to Wikipedia. So, with this device you have a lightweight, portable dictionary and encyclopedia!
Purchase Your Own Kindle Now and Get Free Shipping
Buy the Kindle Here Securely Through Amazon
Kindle: Amazon's Original Wireless Reading Device (1st generation)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Product Overview
- 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 shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle-whether you're in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
- Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
- More than 160,000 books available, including more than 98 of 112 current New York Times%uFFFD Best Sellers.
- New York Times%uFFFD Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
- Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.
- Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes-all auto-delivered wirelessly.
- Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times-all auto-delivered wirelessly.
- More than 350 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post-all updated wirelessly throughout the day.
- Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.
- Holds over 200 titles.
- Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.
- Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones-so you never have to locate a hotspot.
- No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments-we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.
- Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia-Wikipedia.org.
- Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.
- Included in the box: Kindle wireless reader, Book cover, Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable
What if I Don't Like Reading from a Computer Screen
Kindle Doesn't Look Like a Computer...It Produces Zero Glare
Amazon used a new high resolution technology that they call "electronic paper" when they made the Kindle display. It's a crisp and clear black and white display that is easy to read and doesn'tstrain your eyes, even in sunlight! Its screen produces no glare at all.
In fact, author James Patterson had this to say about Kindle's unique screen: "The screen is fabulous. You would expect that, with a screen, there would be a glare, it would be hard to read but it's not. There's no glare. It's not backlit, which is kind of magical. I think people are going to be very, very surprised and delighted. This is a lot easier to read than a lot of books are these days."
In addition to the amazing no glare technology of the screen, Kindle offers you six different font sizes to choose from. So, even if you have poor eyesight, you'll be able to use the Kindle. You can make the text as small or large as you want.
Power Your Kindle
Replacement Battery, Charges, and Adapters for Your Kindle
When Does the Kindle Come in Handy?
Who Needs a Kindle Reading Device and Why?
Do you know of a good use for the Kindle that isn't listed? Add it! Also, don't forget to vote for your favorite uses.
College Students
Built in dictionary and encyclopedia, plus conveniently carry around 200 books all in one 10.3 ounce device!0 points
Anyone Who Travels A Lot
Carry around all of your favorite books, magazines, and newspapers. Still on the plane and finished your book? Download a new one!0 points
An Avid Reader that Lives in a Rural Area
Never again be without a good book! No special trip required.0 points
Anyone Who Loves to Read and Wants to Save Money
The e-books you download to the Kindle are much cheaper than their paper versions ($9.99 for new releases and less for older book). Also, you aren't spending gas to go to the store or paying shipping costs to have a book mailed to you.0 points
Anyone Who Loves the Environment
Kindle is the GREEN way to read. Imagine if all newspapers, best sellers, encyclopedias, dictionary, and magazines went to the Kindle. We would save tons of paper, which translates into a lot of trees.0 points
Cases for Your Kindle
Protect Your Kindle and Carry it in Style
Video Demonstrations of Amazon Kindle
Watch Brief Tutorials of How the Kindle Reading Device Works
Which one of these YouTube videos do you find to be the most helpful? Vote for your favorite.
What Do You Think About the Kindle?
As an English teacher, I think the Kindle is a wonderful device. Today's technology savvy population has started to lose interested in books. But, with the public growing more and more comfortable with texting and browsing the internet via their cell phones, I think it's quite possible that the Kindle will, well rekindle people's interest in reading.
Do you like this fresh new approach to reading?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes. I think it will get more people reading!
ArtByLinda says:
I say yes, it sounds really neat. But honestly I think for me I like the books. I just have too many screens I look at all day long at work, and then I squidoo, so there is a lot of time at home. I tend to print out long documents to read to give my eyes a rest. But hey, if it works for others, that is great!
Posted October 05, 2008
Not at all. It's another gadget to spend money on and then stuff in a drawer.
Carrying Bags and Cases for Your Kindle
Protect Your Amazon Kindle and Carry it in Style
Why Everyone Should Have a Kindle
What are the Kindle's Neatest Features?
Amazon Kindle really is the neatest and most innovative gadget I've seen since the release of the original Atari. Kindle has so many great features? Which are your favorites?
Add the Kindle features that you think are the best if they're missing from this list. You can also vote up the features in the list you like and vote down the ones that you think aren't so great.
Get Any Book You Want Without a Special Trip to the Store
No longer do you have to get in your car and drive more...0 points
The e-Books are Less Expensive that the Real Books
The electronic version of best sellers will run yo more...0 points
Kindle Stores Around 100 Books, Even More with Added Memory
With Kindle, you can carry your entire library wit more...0 points
That Amazing Screen!
That no glare screen is absolutely amazing. It rea more...0 points
It Saves Trees
Reading books digitally means saving paper and tha more...0 points
Want to See What Amazon Kindle Looks Like?
View Photos of Kindle on Flickr
My first book on the Amazon Kindle? Grimms Fairy Tales
They looked so similar at first.
My Final Thoughts on the Kindle
My Over All Opinion of the Kindle Reading Device
I'm an English teacher. So, I have to admit that I get a bit nostalgic for a traditional book. I love the way they feel, look, and smell. I also like being able to take notes inside a standard book. So, I was a little turned off by the Kindle when I first learned of it.Then, I got to thinking about how resistant I was at first when many other things went digital and how much I love the digital formats now.
For example, ripping all of my CD's and storing all of that music as MP3 files cleared out an entire closet in my house! Also, when I go to the gym I'd much rather carry a tiny MP3 player than a big bulky CD player that is limited to holding just one CD at a time.
My husband also saved us a lot of storage space by ripping our DVD's. Now all of our DVD movies are stored on an external hard drive, totally eliminating the need for all of those DVD's and their boxes.
Finally, I love all of our digital photos. When cameras and pictures first started going digital I didn't like it at all. I used to love thumbing through my multiple boxes full of photos. Just as I used to get nostalgic for a traditional photo and now love being able to store tons of family photos without taking up any physical space, I have also learned to love the Kindle and its ability to store all of my favorite books!
Amazon Kindle is light weight, easy to use, comfortable to read, and let's not forget the cool factor. It's a great device and I absolutely love it!
Ok Already, I'm Sold. Where Can I Buy My Own Kindle
Purchase the Kindle Right Here
Kindle: Amazon's Original Wireless Reading Device (1st generation)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Three years ago, Amazon set out to design and build an entirely new class of device-a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is the Amazon Kindle.
Kindle's paperback size and expandable memory let you travel light with your library. With the freedom to download what you want, when you want, you'll never again find yourself stuck without a great read.
And because Amazon knows you can't judge a book by its cover, Kindle lets you download and read the beginning of books for free. This way, you can try it out-if you like it, simply buy and download with 1-Click, right from your Kindle, and continue reading. Want to try a newspaper as well? All newspaper subscriptions start with a risk-free two-week trial.
Light Up Your Kindle
Clip on Reading Lamps for Amazon Kindle
Thank You for Visiting
I'd Love to Hear from You
Feel free to tell me what you think about this lens. Also, leave me your thoughts on the Kindle.
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- Winter52 Winter52 Dec 9, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
- Oh, I think that I want one of those! It's going on my list... which happens to growing by the day. ;)
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Reply
- marsha32 marsha32 Nov 6, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
- Looks like an interesting thing.
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Reply
- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Oct 5, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
- Great lens, I left my thoughts above about the kindle itself, not quite for me (avid book reader here), but it really sounds great for others. Linda
by thrivingmom
Thrivingmom is a 30-something former high school English teacher turned stay at home mom. She holds a B.S. in Sociology with an additional Teacher's C...
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