[amazonshowcase_cee05cfbedc011b72432e07f46a4dab5]
I waited a long time for my Kindle 2. Rumors abounded about the new Kindle, so I thought should wait for the new one rather than getting the original Kindle. So I waited for months, but it was worth it — the Kindle 2 is sleek and light, and its screen supports 16 shades of gray (the original only supported two), so it’s possible to view black-and-white images, such as the author portraits that display when the Kindle is in sleep mode. The device has its strong and weak points, but, really, the strong greatly outweigh the weak for me.
Strong Points
1. Hands-Free
The average hardbound or trade paperback book will not lie flat unless you’re somewhere in the middle third of the book. The rest of the time, you’re stuck holding the book open. Mass paperbacks won’t stay open at all. And that’s just inconvenient if, say, you’re trying to eat a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with blood oranges and honey or an egg-salad sandwich.
2. Storage
The Kindle can store more than 1500 books. That is way more books than I already have — and those books are already overflowing my storage space for them. Unless someone wants to spring for a castle for me like the one in Beauty and the Beast with a library that replaced all of Belle’s ambitions to see the wider world, the Kindle is going to have to do.
3. Instantaneous-ness
If I’m watching The Daily Show or The Colbert Report and there’s an author on whose book sounds interesting to me, I can just reach for the Kindle, and more often than not, I can download a near-instant sample of it. In this way, I learned that the first chapter of The Good Book by David Plotz is disappointing in its lack of any new insight or chuckles.
4. Reading Experience
Reading the Kindle is just like reading a book for me. I don’t find that I am overly aware of the device. I don’t know if it just seems like it, but I read faster when I read from it and my eyes get less tired, too.
5. Free Books!
At sites like ManyBooks.net, you can download public domain books for free. I am planning on reading many classic works this way. So far, I’ve polished off Oliver Twist and am on my second try with Adam Bede, which I failed to finish when I tried to read it on my laptop.
6. Element of Surprise
The Kindle gets new screen saver images every now and again, and I am unsure how. Recently James Joyce appeared (above), as did Virginia Woolf, John Steinbeck, and Durer’s etching of St. Jerome in His Study. This is a minor feature, but I find it charming.
Weak Points
1. Availability
There are about 250,000 titles available, which is impressive, but Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is not among those titles. I was disappointed.
2. People saying “I just like the feel of an actual book” to you ad nauseam
Yes, I get it. I love books, too. But here’s the thing: a book is the words, not the delivery system. Whatever allows you to transparently experience the words is a good delivery system. This varies from person to person — I’m not good with reading books on my laptop or with audio books. However, I am feeling really good about reading books on the Kindle.
3. Water
I read in the tub a lot. There are waterproof cases that can be used for the Kindle, but none that I can find that are actually made specifically for it. I suppose I could put the thing in a zip-close plastic bag, but I worry.
4. The Sun
The text on some Kindles’ e-paper fades in bright sunlight. This is a known issue, but one I just encountered last week when I tried to read outdoors. I’m going to have to exchange my Kindle, which I’m not looking forward to. I’m already so attached to it!
[amazonshowcase_cee05cfbedc011b72432e07f46a4dab5]
