I've been lusting after Amazon's Kindle since it first came out. Unfortunately however, since I'm in Australia, the Kindle was out of reach... sob.
Naturally, as soon as the international Kindle was announced, I placed my order. Oh, the excitement!
After less than 24 hours of experience with the Kindle, here are my impressions.
What I don't like
* Pressing a button hard to turn a page. This seems outdated. I'd rather flick a page just as in a real book. I hadn't realized how much I've been spoiled by the iPhone's touch screen;
* The dinky screen. I'm a fast reader. I can get through a 400 page book in three hours, so the little six inch screen is a worry. I feel like a hamster in a science lab, pressing buttons for more food as I keep pressing to turn pages, and if I make the print smaller, I'll need new glasses;
* The flashing as the page "turns";
* Everything on Amazon isn't available in Kindle format.
Wow... Picky, aren't I? Until I wrote these things down, I hadn't realized just how many things I didn't like...
Nevertheless, I'm still very happy with the Kindle.
Here's why.
What I do like
* BOOKS on demand. If I see a book I may like to read, I can download a sample to my Kindle, and it's waiting for me as soon as I turn it on. I had seven samples ready to load onto my Kindle before it even arrived;
* Being able to buy a book and download it within seconds: that's real instant gratification. It's very, very easy to buy books this way. (Too easy? Is there a 12-step program for Kindle addicts? :-))
* The knowledge that I'll never ever be without something great to read. That panicky feeling as my To Be Read pile of books dwindles won't ever affect me again;
* Having my own Kindle page on Amazon, with all the ebooks I've purchased, so that if a disaster happens, I can download a book again.
Naturally, as soon as the international Kindle was announced, I placed my order. Oh, the excitement!
After less than 24 hours of experience with the Kindle, here are my impressions.
What I don't like
* Pressing a button hard to turn a page. This seems outdated. I'd rather flick a page just as in a real book. I hadn't realized how much I've been spoiled by the iPhone's touch screen;
* The dinky screen. I'm a fast reader. I can get through a 400 page book in three hours, so the little six inch screen is a worry. I feel like a hamster in a science lab, pressing buttons for more food as I keep pressing to turn pages, and if I make the print smaller, I'll need new glasses;
* The flashing as the page "turns";
* Everything on Amazon isn't available in Kindle format.
Wow... Picky, aren't I? Until I wrote these things down, I hadn't realized just how many things I didn't like...
Nevertheless, I'm still very happy with the Kindle.
Here's why.
What I do like
* BOOKS on demand. If I see a book I may like to read, I can download a sample to my Kindle, and it's waiting for me as soon as I turn it on. I had seven samples ready to load onto my Kindle before it even arrived;
* Being able to buy a book and download it within seconds: that's real instant gratification. It's very, very easy to buy books this way. (Too easy? Is there a 12-step program for Kindle addicts? :-))
* The knowledge that I'll never ever be without something great to read. That panicky feeling as my To Be Read pile of books dwindles won't ever affect me again;
* Having my own Kindle page on Amazon, with all the ebooks I've purchased, so that if a disaster happens, I can download a book again.
Got any Kindle tips you'd like to share? Please share them in the Comments. If you've purchased another brand of ebook reader, please share your likes and dislikes.
