The Kindle

I had not intended to add a post right about now, but I simply have to get that luscious chocolate cake with the inch thick frosting off the top of the blog. So, I figured I'd show off my almost new kindle, Amazon's new ebook.

I ordered the kindle in February, as soon as I made plans to go to France in April. I took one look at my suitcase, and another at the pile of books I wanted to take along. That would have been fine, but I wanted to take at least one change of clothes for the three-week trip. So, after checking out a friend's kindle, I took the plunge. Of course, the famed two day shipping immediately stopped, and no kindles at all shipped for the next six weeks. During that time I busied myself learning all I could about how it worked, what people liked and didn't, and what books I might get on it before I left.

I also looked at the many sites offering free ebooks, and located some I wanted to have, like Jane Austen and the Wizard of Oz books - including illustrations.

Ultimately it arrived. Unlike some folks, I did not give mine a name, nor did I dress it up with sequins and feathers. I did apply some Velcro to make sure it stuck to its cover, and some felt padding to make sure it didn't bash its cursor wheel.

I took advantage of the special kindle feature of sampling books I was interested in for free before buying. Then I fired up the "whispernet" feature (cell technology connecting the kindle to amazon online), and purchased about a dozen books. As advertised, the books downloaded directly to the kindle in about 15 seconds each. At that rate, even though the top price was a heavily discounted $9.99, you could get into serious financial trouble in less than 10 minutes.

For the trip, it was a lifesaver. Read a book on the plane (the new Alice Waters biography), and a half dozen while in France (including Steve Martin's memoir). While there, I took the list of recommended French reading from my language classes, and discovered a substantial number in ebook form, and free. What's not to like?

Once back to Maui, I realized that I no longer had to wait a year for a hardback to become paperback before I could read it. In fact, I could read books the day they were released -- and for no more than $9.99. And having read a few books on the kindle, I also realized that it is easier to read than a book, and much more convenient. I was concerned that the tiny lag to change pages would slow me down, but it is plenty fast. I can also change the size of the font with two clicks, so there is more text on the page if I choose. And I can make notes, highlight text or dog-ear a page -- all without damaging my book!

There are a couple of disadvantages. It is pricey. And I can't give copies of books to my friends when I'm done. But so far the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Amazon offers free books from time-to-time, and recently TOR publishers offered about 20 of their sci-fi ebooks for free. And even when they cost money, it is not as much as a paperback.

So -- I have met the future and it's sitting on my bedside table. There are folks who say that they want the physical book in front of them, the smell and feel of the paper. Those folks have not tried the kindle. I thought I would use it only for travel, but I now can't imagine cluttering up my life with books -- I have to discipline myself to read three "real" books for every kindle book just so I can get through the inventory of unread books in the house. I'm looking forward to emptying the shelves! I'm sure there must be some who have tried it and have issues, but I really enjoy mine, far more than I thought I would.

I have met the future -- and it is sitting on my bedside table, containing about 70 books in 10.3 ounces!