Some people associate Candles for Christmas, but this year I associate Kindle with Christmas.
The Kindle (from Amazon) is pretty close to the size of a paperback - maybe 1/2" wider and longer, but to compensate, it's less than 1/2 as thick. This wireless book reader holds about 200 books and you can choose from about 90,000 titles on Amazon and download one (generally $9.99 or less - for example, Ken Follett's new book "World Without End" lists for $35.00 but the Kindle version is $9.99) If you want to store more than 200 books, you can either put them on a memory card or - you can delete them and download them in the future free from amazon.
The wireless is like a cell phone - no need for a hot spot, no need to pay for a provider, and one click charges the new book to your amazon account. The speed is amazing - faster than anything I've seen download from a computer. Amazon says a book downloads in less than a minute - but I've average 5-10 seconds a download.
You can make notes in the margins, you can highlight text, you can add bookmarks, you can look up the definition of words.
"Ah", you say, "but I like the FEEL of a book. I don't want a computer or something electronic." Well, Im a bookworm, book reader, book hoarder, and book storer from decades back ... and I like reading on this. I wouldn't like having to sit in front of a computer to read, but I can take this into a cozy corner, a comfy chair, a hammock, and I get just as involved with the plot or the information.
This is really going to lighten my luggage when I travel (it's 10.3 ounces and if you read, you know how much half a dozen hardbacks weigh)- it seems I take one carry-on just for books! (Not quite, but almost.) So when I go to Honolulu in January for CLHMS and CRS, just see how light I travel!
Oh, yes - you can download the first chapter of a book (or several books) for free to see if you like it. You can also pay for newspapers or blogs, but I haven't done that, and so far don't have the inclination to do that.
I can't carry the latest hardback in my purse all day long, but you can be sure my new Kindle is there.
They sell for $399 (but if you read a lot, you'll save that quickly on the price of books - and you don't have to wonder if the airport bookstore has what you're looking for) and are so popular they're on backorder at amazon.
So - treat yourself and have a Kindle for Christmas! Or should I wish you a Merry Kindle Christmas!?
Bonnie - I REALLY like it. Sony has had something out for a few years that never enticed me, but this has.
Cyndee - Good to hear from you. Hope you're having a wonderful Christmas. As a reader, you'll probably like it as much as I do. I read a blog the other day that mentioned a book I thought was interesting - instead of writing it down on a note, I just turned on the Kindle and in 10 seconds I had the entire book ready to read.
Christina - it's brilliant marketing on amazon's part - why would I now go to Barnes & Noble when I can get a kindle version for much less on amazon and not have to wait for the book to be shipped?
I wanted one of those so badly, but my family waited too long to order it and now it's on backorder. I can't wait to get mine. I have to make road trips fairly often and this will be a big space saver!
Joe Cline
Coldwell Banker Austin
Aloha Sharon, I hope you have it to show us in January. I have not seen one yet.
Hi Sharon - this is perfect for traveling readers, and I have a couple in my family that would love this! I have the same question as Chris about being able to change the text size.
Featured in the book club group!
Ann
Sharon, so THAT's a Kindle. You had told me you got one but I didn't have a clue what it was! LOL
What a great idea! I'm sure a ton of them will be sold and since they're on backorder I'm sure that's the case.
Sharon,
Interesting...I'll have to tell my wife about it...she reads many books and she might like this.
Clever gadget, Sharon. Thanks for passing this along. Not sure I am rady to purchase another toy to play with but you never know. Could be a cool gift for some folks I know.
Jeff
I use my pocket PC for the same thing. It is also my Supra ekey for getting into lockboxes on homes for sale. It takes pretty good pictures. It WAS going to also be my phone, but it didn't get good reception in my area.
I love reading on the screen (I assume the Kindle is similar) because it is LIGHTED, so I can see it anywhere, and because I can carry many books with me.
Awesome tip Sharon... thanks! Off to Amazon :-)
Chris / Kinetic Knowledge
Joe - sorry you're on back order. I was at first, too, and just missed having it for my last trip to Dallas by a few hours (I was already at the airport). Now I have it and will take it to Scottsdale and Honolulu in January.
Renee - yes, you can enlarge the text. There are six different font sizes you can choose.
Randy - I promise I'll bring it along. For the LONG trip from Florida to California to Hawaii, how could I not bring it? It will eliminate a whole suitcase.
Margaret - yes, too bad. Fortunately there will always be other opportunities. I couldn't wait to use mine, so I started using it soon after it arrived - only on Christmas morning did I relinquish it to its box so that my husband could wrap it up and put it under the tree.
Chris - it IS wonderful for travellers. Yes, you can adjust the font.
Ann - it's wonderful for travelling. You could use one on your many trips between New Hampshire and Florida. Yes, you can change the font size - you have six choices.
Linda - I think it will be like a snowball - the more people that do get and use it, the more they'll talk about it, the more people that will want it, etc.
Neal - let me know what she thinks. If she reads at home rather than away, it may be the cost savings that would attract her.
Josette - we always need something to look forward to!
Al - it may be like the iPhone and come down in only a month.
Jeff D - you could always use it as a carrot, and reward yourself with it when you reach a goal.
Jeff T - I sure hope I've pushed you over the edge. Sometimes we just need encouragement.
Joshua - perhaps it would. It's so easy to carry with you. I've always done that with books, so that if I'm waiting in line, stuck in a traffic jam, etc. I don't get upset, I just take out my book.
Clark - that was one of my concerns, since I'm an avid reader and book lover. It really doesn't take away from it - you very quickly get engrossed in what you're reading. I love being able to "have" a book as soon as I think about it.
Brian - so do I, but I was an easy convert. Think how wonderful it is to carry with you a library of a couple hundred books and have them only a click away.
Wayne - by all means, do.
Wishing You HAPPY HOLIDAYS and Best Wishes for A GREAT YEAR 2008.
Tommy New York Certified Home Inspector Long Island NY Nassau/Suffolk/Queens Home Inspections
Sharon- another option is audiobooks. I download from audible.com to my Treo; so now I'm able to listen to books as I travel to those remote sections of town. If I receive a call- the book pauses and remembers where I was when the call ends. I'm hooked!