I’ve finally started reading on my new Kindle and the verdict is: it rocks.
I assumed I’d adapt easily enough—I read on the computer all day long and the Kindle’s e-ink is designed to be even easier on the eyes—plus it’s so light you forget you’re holding a book. But the best part, and the one I hadn’t thought about, is how easy it is to read in bed.
I do the majority of my reading before I go to sleep and usually roll from one side to the other as I turn the pages. Or I stay on one side and get a hand cramp. On the Kindle, the page turn buttons on either side of the device mean you can turn the page with a slight pressure from your thumb—no flipping necessary! I laid comfortably on one side for HOURS (thanks Suzanne Collins). Win!
There are a few books that I still plan to get in physical form (Grammar Girl’s Quick & Dirty Tips, to name one) but this transition will be a lot smoother—and quicker—than I expected.
Do you have a Kindle? What’s your favorite thing about it?
And if you don’t want one, what’s your reason?
I love taking all my books with me when I travel. I used to pack 6-8 books for a 2 week trip and had a hard time choosing which ones to take. Who knew what I would feel like reading after I finished the next book! And,it definitely lightens my suitcase.
Have I thanked you again for the Kindle? Thank you!
I am amazed at how fewer books we have lying around.
No Kindle but I do have an iPad with iBooks. The page flip, highlight, and bookmark features are great. I have all sorts of things on the iBook reader! I save interesting websites as PDFs and read them later: knitting patterns, decorating ideas, articles on writing, places I’d like to visit, historical documents, mostly non-fiction. I haven’t purchased a single book so far but I do have several free classics from Project Gutenberg. (Jane Austen, Jack London, Poe…) I love it!
That’s a great thing to be able to bookmark things like that. I’d love if I could connect it to Google Reader, but it’s not the end of the world.
I find that writing books or anything I might want to flip through, or go back and reference, doesn’t work well for me on a Kindle. I have a stack of books next to my bed – they’re all non-fiction books on writing and editing and publishing etc. But for fiction and memoir — it’s my go-to device.
Hand cramps are now a thing of the past!!
I agree about reference books. I know there’s a search function, but many times I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking for. Plus there’s the fun of just flipping through the pages.
Yay for no hand cramps!
That ‘hand cramp’ thing…
yeah…that’s me.
I suspected as much…
^ *waves to Quitty*
I love the fact it has opened the doorway to e-published books. I also love the Kindle cover I received with mine. It has a little light attached to it so I can read without disturbing the male hula dancer snoring next to me. 😉
My mom just got a light too.
I don’t have an actual cover — just the sleeve — but I’d like to get one at some point.
*is jealous of live-in hula dancer*
Oh.. Amy brings up a good point. I don’t think the Kindle has perfected reference books. It is harder to go back and look up one part of a book. So I am still buying ‘how to’ guides and non-fic books in the traditional book format. Someday that might improve.
I LOVE mine. It’s WAY too easy to buy books though… That’s a blessing and a curse. I am an instant gratification junky. I wish it had page numbers too. But really, it’s the best. Glad you’re enjoying it!!
I know it will get me into trouble… and I still have plenty of paper books to read. Including several you’ve loaned me!
I finally blogged about my Nook but haven’t posted it yet. I found I love it more than books. Funny. I was dragging my feet so bad… Glad you like yours.
I do! It’s so easy to read on. I also really like that it lies flat so you can read while eating. No more holding a book open with one hand while maneuvering my lunch with the other.