Kindle Update #1

For those who did not read the December 12th blog, a Kindle is the new wireless reading device that Amazon is promoting.

After several weeks of Kindle-ownership, my enthusiasm for the Kindle continues to grow. If you are a serious reader, you might want to take a look at this device. When I was waiting for my Kindle to arrive, I told many people that this device would never replace paper-based books; however, I am not so sure of that now. Maybe I should revise my statement and tell people that it will be a long time before such reading devices replace paper-based books. I can now easily imagine the possibility that the Kindle (and future versions of the device) might totally replace paper-based books for me.

At this point, I have already become very fond of turning pages with a slight movement of my thumb, looking up words with two slight movements of my thumb and ordering books (at a significantly lower cost) with a few thumb strokes. Maybe it is just the novelty of the situation...but I already prefer to read things on my Kindle. People know I love to read, so they give me books for Christmas, my birthday and sometimes for no reason at all other than they want me to read the book. It is still my favorite gift...to give and receive. However, I now have several traditional paper-based books in a holding pattern...circling waiting to land and be read. The good news...I am still finding time to read some of these books. I read them when Robin has swiped my Kindle. Twice lately I have gone to get my Kindle to read for a while and found that she has beat me to it. It seems to be growing on her too.

Any frustration related to using my Kindle is mostly due to "pilot error" ...mainly the fact that it is too easy to turn pages electronically. Sometimes when I accidentally turn a page and lose my place, I think I am backing up to find my place and I am actually going forward. I have already developed some habits to deal with this problem and I'm sure future design features will minimize or eliminate the problem. 

So far...still no buyer's remorse whatsoever. I am a very happy Kindle owner at this point.   

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Chris Crouch, president of DME Training and Consulting, has spent years researching and studying both the mental and physical aspects of being productive.

Comments

[Matthew Cornell]

Thanks for the update, Chris. Sounds like fun, and I'm still a skeptic - it's a big switch.

Enjoying the blog.