I Think I Want a Kindle

[PerpetualNoob]

The Summer I turned 9, my Mom and step-dad got married, packed us all up and moved us to our new joint home, a 1-acre "spread" in the wheat and corn fields south of Amarillo. For a city kid to be plopped down in the middle of the Great Wide Open, well, it was just about the greatest place God ever put on this Earth. That first Summer, though, I didn't know any of the other kids around there. I spent most of the Summer reading books from the library, and listening to my little transistor radio, which was tucked on the floor between my bunk bed and the wall. I developed a love of reading, and of radio, both of which I still have today, almost 40 years later. Give me a radio, a book, a comfy chair, a cigar and an adult beverage or three, and I am, as I like to call it, "dangerously content".

So here I am, my office half-full of dead trees, and I'm getting tired of it. The used book store offers me an insultingly low amount for what I take them, and won't even take half of them, no matter how current or popular they are. The other half usually go to Salvation Army. It's only been about six months, but I already have a bunch I need to get rid of. I'm not even going to bother with the used book store this time. I'm just going to send the whole stinking bunch of them to the troops. Where I work, we have adopted a platoon of P-FAR, and they always need things for entertainment. For the uninitiated, Paratroop-Field Artillery Regiment. Yeah. They jump out of airplanes, into a combat zone, with cannons!! And then calmly and deliberately proceed to blast the living snot out of everything within about 20 miles, or so. On the insanity scale, the person who thought of this is right up there with the person who thought of putting a 105mm Howitzer on a C-130 and shooting it out the door while the plane is flying. Anyway, they're going to get all my books from now on.

I'm just getting tired of the whole dead tree aspect of it, though. I don't want to deal with them anymore. I'm not about to give up reading, but believe me, the last thing I need is more stuff in my house that I have to figure out what to do with. And phone books, too, while I'm thinking about it. I counted them a while back, and I have no less than a dozen various phone books, and only two of them have even been unwrapped. In this day and age, whose butt do you have to kiss to not get phone books anymore? Anyway, the whole e-book idea really appeals to me, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is being a professional nerd. I checked out a couple of the Sony Readers at Best Buy. I didn't hate them, but Amazon just kicks them to pieces on the library. Sony might catch up to them some day, but maybe not. They also don't have any of the newspapers and magazines I would like to have access to, either, which is a fairly big deal to me. I'm just hesitant to drop $200-300 on a Kindle without being able to try one. Some places have "Kindle Clubs" where you can go and try one out, but not here.

Another problem right now is, the whole e-reader market is evolving rapidly. Barnes & Noble has their new Nook reader scheduled to come out at the end of next month. The early reviews are very, very good, and it has some features that the Kindle doesn't, and for the same price. I just don't want to spend the money, if something decidedly better is coming out in a few weeks. There's also speculation that a couple of new readers and stores in the market will spark a bit of a price war, which is good for me.

I wondered if anyone here had an e-reader (not on a phone), and what you like or dislike about the one you have. How long have you had it, and was it worth what it cost you? I'm leaning toward the Kindle, just because of the content they have available.

[Bermac]

Great Post!

I too would love to get a Kindle as I am up to my ears in books. I use my blackberry for e-books now because it is easy to hide in a meeting.

I think I am going to wait and see how the tech moves forward. As soon as they make a Kindle that feels and smells like an old paper book I will be first in line!

Cheers

[ToJo]

The kindle is too locked up, too small, I don't think it has wi-fi, and it doesn't have a touchscreen for easy editing/highlighting. I'm waiting on the 8.5" x 11" Plastic Logic QUE.
Should be available in January.

[Jumes]

The day will come soon enough when people no longer grab a wonderful book and treasure its memories. I personally can't imagine not sitting in a comfy chair, a favorite book in hand, knowing the anticipation which comes with just the turn of a page. I don't begrudge others the right to listen to a good book, or read one on the ever handy reader or computer, as I know it will be the norm at some point. For the time being though we will keep buying all our books from the local libraries, used book stores, and salvation armies. Definitely do as the op does however. Find some troops to send your books to. They really appreciate it and anything else you can send. The holidays are coming and most of them will not be home for them. A good book can be great company.

[Demasoni]

Wait for the "Nook" from Barnes & Noble!

[what?]

I am getting my kindle in today.so pumped up!! the pros of the kindle heavly out weigh the cons of the nook. proven track record vs no track record.

[Bermac]

Nice. If your up for it I would love to hear a review.

[what?]

hands down, i love my kindle 2!! I say to myself "why did i wait so long??" so comfortable to hold. you read so much faster becuase you are moving less to readjust yourself. it is so easy to use, read,browse,battery life, and buy.I finished my first book in 3 days (I never read a book in 3 days) and believe me i was not holding it every minute of the day. i even use the smaller font. no glare what so ever.even less then regular paper.the keyboard is a breeze to use and literally disappers while you are reading. Amazon prices are great too. I bought some books that i would have never found in a regular bookstore for $1.99 or less! no doubt about it, it is one of the greates purchases of my life. I know $259 is alot of $$$ but it is beyond worth it.

[Bermac]

Glad you like it. I will have to see if I can test one out.

[gjcab09]

Do kindle titles also have the illustrations? I read mostly historical non-fiction and really enjoy the vintage photos, maps, and etc. that many books have.