My Kindle Is Here!
A few weeks ago, Robin (my spouse) came into my office and said, "Do you think we should consider taking a look at this Kindle, the new wireless reading device that Amazon is promoting?" I had just finished reading an article about the Kindle in Newsweek and references to the Kindle seemed omnipresent in my life. The buzz on this new gadget reminded me of the early iPod days and a milder, somewhat saner version of the iPhone pre-release frenzy. This gadget looked very interesting! I didn't immediately respond to Robin's question. I thought about it for a few seconds and responded by turning to my computer and ordering a Kindle. After placing my order, I turned back to her and said...yes! Shortly afterwards (which I understand is not currently the case), the Kindle...my Kindle...showed up on my doorstep. I have now had my Kindle for over a week and read a few books on it. Here are my initial thoughts and impressions:
- This thing is very cool! It is sort of the iPod for people who love to read. In the doctor's waiting room the other day people noticed that I was reading a book on my Kindle. It easily trumped all the other electronic gadgets in the room and drew a curious crowd. Thumbs quit thumb-stroking, people with blue-flashing earphones stopped pacing around and talking to the air, laptops were closed...and suddenly there arose such a clatter, that even some of the old fashion geezer-like readers temporarily closed their paper-based books and magazines and sprang from their seats to see what was the matter! I'll give it a +1 for coolness.
- It is easy to see the text, even in outside light. There is something (I can't really define it) about the font that is very appealing to the eye. The best word I can think of to describe it is "pleasant." You can increase the font size if you feel so moved. I haven't found it necessary to do so yet. Another +1.
- If a book has pictures, they are not always easy to see. They are okay...but not as clear as the pictures in paper-based books. I'll give it a -1 on picture quality.
- I find it more comfortable to read with my Kindle. If you consider the physics of reading (motion required turning pages and such), it is easier to maintain your relaxed position in a chair and turn the pages with your thumbs. A definite +1 for lazy readers.
- The process of ordering a book is downright fun. I used to hang out at a bar in Keystone Colorado that kept a large metal urn in the middle of the bar. People would stand around and throw quarters at the urn. You "won" this little coin-tossing game when you successfully tossed the coin in the urn. That's all you won...the satisfaction of being good at tossing money in an urn. The bartenders, of course, won whether you hit or missed the urn...since they kept all the quarters regardless of where they landed. Even though we all knew the game was financially dumb...we enjoyed playing it. Ordering a book from Amazon "just to see how it works" is a bit like tossing quarters at the urn...but at least you get a book in return for your investment. I'll eventually read all of the books I have ordered. Fun factor...+1.
- Books are much cheaper. When Einstein: His Life and Universe
by Walter Isaacson was originally released, I started to buy it (at $32.00). When Amazon offered the hardback version of the book for $19.20, I started to buy it again. When I got my Kindle, I ordered it for $9.99! Because of my Kindle, procrastination is my new ally. I am saving money hand over fist! That is...if you don't count the almost $400
- The highlighting feature is very nice. When you highlight something, it also sends the highlighted text to a separate area on the Kindle and makes it very easy to review your highlighted passages. +1 for highlighting.
- The "look up a word" feature is one of my favorite features. Even without the wireless connected, you can easily look up words you do not understand. With the wireless feature activated, you can roam around Wikipedia and look up things. +1
- Battery life...so far so good! I read one of the books I sucked into my Kindle through the airways in one evening and the battery indicator did not budge from "full." +1 for battery life.
- Accidentally turning pages is a problem with the Kindle. It is so easy to turn the pages on a Kindle that it also makes it easy to accidentally turn pages. Since the power switch is on the back, it is especially easy to do this when you are turning the power on and off. -1 for this minor frustration.
That's enough Kindle-stuff for now. I'll keep you up to date on my Kindle experience (pros and cons) as things unfold. I don't really care about the plusses and minuses. The truth is...my Natural Child wanted to buy this toy...I mean educational resource. If you are a serious reader and have four hundred unencumbered bucks to spare...it is a great buy. I have no buyer's remorse so far. If you are not a serious reader...you would probably get more value out of doing something else with your four hundred bucks...perhaps visiting Keystone Colorado and tossing quarters in an urn. In any case, it is probably worth visiting Amazon's website, scrolling down a bit (skip the short video) and watching the six-minute video
Chris Crouch, president of DME Training and Consulting, has spent years researching and studying both the mental and physical aspects of being productive.
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