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| Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device | 
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| Brand: Amazon.com
Category: Amazon Devices
Buy New: $359.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  5540 reviews
Sales Rank: 1
Color: Bisque
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.7
Model: D00111
UPC: 892685001003
EAN: 0892685001003
ASIN: B000FI73MA
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 3 to 4 weeks
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| Customer Reviews:
 Just buy it... November 19, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I know, you've be checking out kindle for months now. Just every so often. Wondering if it's really all that. Capitulate now. It is. Just take the plunge and buy it. You won't regret it.
The Future of Publishing November 19, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
The Kindle is absolutely the future of newspaper, magazine and book publishing. To be able to (almost) instantly download newspapers from around the country and the world, the latest magazines, and in just minutes, a full size book, is truly an amazing power to hold in your hands.
One of the great features of the kindle is the ability to sample (at no charge) the first three chapters of a book. With many books, that's quite enough! I also love the ability to change the font size to relieve tired old eyes.
The Kindle is beautifully designed and easy to navigate through. When I first opened it, I thought it was too small -- smaller than I'd expected, but after using it, I love the size -- completely portable and unobtrusive.
Someday (soon) every student in America from middle school through college will be carrying a Kindle containing all their course materials, textbooks, reference materials, and personal reading, and the backpacks will be a distant memory.
GF
I'm addicted. November 19, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I love my Kindle. I learned about it when I went to collequium with my doctorate program. One of the professors there said this "will change your life." He was right. I love being able to read the paper when I have a few minutes (I do miss the comics, sigh.) I can purchase heavy, heavy text books that are now stored safely in my light weight kindle. I read murder mysteries on my lunch hour and it looks like I am studying so hard! The blogs keep me up to date, I can store the complete works of Shakespeare, I can read a magazine. I have never been an "early adopter" but I am so glad that I bought this item.
Revolutionary November 19, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I love my Kindle! Books download fast, easy and cheaper than buying a physical book. I love the smell and feel of books. So, I wasn't sure I'd like the Kindle. Well, I've had it for four months and it had changed my world. I have no more back pain from lugging around all my books. I have a library in my pocket! And I read more. I read more because I can read with one hand while the other hand cleans or fills my mouth with food. I never have to stop reading. Well, maybe in the shower and when I sleep. I love my Kindle and I love my husband for buying it for me.
I'm hooked... November 19, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'll admit that I have thought about purchasing this item since it was released, but seeing Oprah rave about it put me over the top. I have never watched a full episode (seriously) but I saw that she was going to announce her favorite tech gadget so I was intrigued. After seeing her and Jeff Bezos talk about their Kindle's and seeing how small and compact they were, I had to have one so I ordered it during the show. And then I ordered a 2nd one 5 minutes later after figuring out that my wife would never let me use the one that I purchased. So I am a 2 Kindle Family is what I am trying to say and we carry them with us just about everywhere.
I LOVE books and am a voracious reader, but was mainly hesitant because I love the feel of a book in my hands and I love the colorful covers and I love to line up the ones that I have read and feel a sense of accomplishment and see the pages that I have read and feel accomplished after having read 100 of them. I also love to read the testimonials from authors before and after having read the book as perspectives change. How would this translate into the Kindle? Almost perfectly I would say:
Positives:
1) I am on the road on average 2.5 nights per week, and enjoy reading 2-3 different genres of book at the same time. Now, all I have to do is carry the Kindle! (And one other book for when I have to shut it off prior to takeoff and landing of the plane.)
2) The book prices are much less expensive for hardbacks and of course, much lighter!
3) The Whispernet access is excellent and works very well. The ability to purchase any book from the store any time you have access is amazing. What it means is that no longer do I have to purchase 5 books or 10 books, etc. because I can finish one and then purchase another instantaneously. The entire book is in your hands in a minute. This actually saves me quite a bit of money because I would often purchase books thinking I would read them soon and then other books would be released. You can "Save for Later" on the device so that you do not forget certain titles that you want to read later.
4) Easy to read-The font is adjustable so depending on your eyesight you can have the type be as big as you want.
5) Ability to take notes or highlight text is awesome. Perfect for keeping track of characters or plot or taking notes on your favorite business book while having no pen or paper.
6) Fully expandable to hold more books that you would need at one time and Amazon saves your books that you don't want on your Kindle in your account so you never have to purchase them again.
7) Nice QWERTY keyboard that makes typing easy.
8) Blog Access is kind of nice, although I'm not positive how often they are updated.
9) Easy to use
10) Smaller and lighter than a trade paperback
11) Great battery that lasts...I'm not sure how long...but probably over 14 hours on one full charge with the Whispernet turned off. Significantly less with Whispernet on.
Ultimately, the best part about it is that I do not have to carry multiple books with me on trips an don't have to purchase more books than I need at a given time while having the prices be lower than hard copies on the site.
So-So:
1) The page turning could be a bit faster.
2) The "Book Cover" which is sort of an add on that I guess that don't even need to include is a bit cumbersome and poorly designed. I think if you want to protect your device for the long term you may need something different.
3) The title selection is very good, but could always be better.
4) Wikipedia Use could be a bit easier to get to and navigate.
Negatives:
1) No Backlight so if you want to read in the dark you will need a reading lamp that probably will have to attach to the bookcover as the device might be too thick for most clamps.
2) Next Page and Last Page buttons are poorly designed. The entire right portion of the device is a Next Page button so where are you supposed to hold it? This is probably the number one irritation that I have,
3) Not extremely attractive. The Sony reader is much more attractive.
4) Expensive for a product that in order to use it requires further cash outlay. This price needs to drop by at least $100 for further mainstream adoption.
5) Small Paperback books should be much less expensive than they are. They range from being only 50 cents off of list to several dollars.
6) The White color gets dirty very easily.
7) For $359, the black and white screen does not show images well and needs to be improved. Although the text looks great, a better screen would be more ideal for this price point.
All in all, The Kindle is my new "can't live without device." If you are intrigued and can afford it. I highly recommend it.
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