Kari Sullivan

Robot and My Kindle

Originally uploaded by ilovemypit

After waiting a few weeks to get it, I’ve had my Kindle for a week and a half now. Overall, I really like it – and I am glad I bought it. It is well suited for my life, but I am not sure if it’s right for many other people. Here are some things I love about the Kindle:

1) The Kindle helps improve my book choices. I have a bad habit of buying books I don’t read. With the Kindle, I can read a sample chapter before buying. This weeds out a lot of bad books.

More importantly, buying books with the Kindle means that my point of purchase is exactly when I feel like reading. I’ve noticed if I buy a old fashioned book at the bookstore or on Amazon, it might take me days (okay, let’s be serious: months) to get around to reading it. But if I buy a Kindle book at the precise second I feel like reading, I read it.

2) The Kindle helps me stay out of bookstores. I think my infatuation with bookstores began and ended with great independent bookstores. Ever since the Tattered Cover in Cherry Creek closed, I really haven’t been able to find a decent sized independent bookstore in Colorado.

I really hate chain bookstores. Sorry, but I’m not really interested in buying a fart joke book, standing in line for a four dollar coffee milkshake, or having some lame loyalty card. Staying out of chain bookstores is essential for my mental health. Luckily, the Kindle really enables me do this.

3) With the Kindle, I don’t have to go out and buy a newspaper. If I have some time on my hands, especially when traveling, I like to buy a Wall Street Journal or New York Times. While the Kindle doesn’t have a great selection of newspapers, I like being able to easily instantly purchase one when I’m waiting around somewhere.

4) I’m lazy. I hate holding up books. I like that I can place my Kindle right next to me and read it without using my hands.

Some things about the Kindle that don’t bother me:

1) DRM issues. Sure it would be great if the Kindle didn’t use DRM, and I’d be willing to pay a lot more for a DRM free system. Considering how cheap the books for the Kindle are, I really am not too concerned about DRM though. I am not using the Kindle to build a personal library or anything. It’s just a convenient way to sneak some reading into my busy life.

2) Kindle Screen. Unlike some people, I really love the screen. It’s easy on my eyes.

3) User interface. I found my Kindle’s interface to be easy and intuitive. Obviously, it’s made by Amazon, not Apple. I adjusted my expectations accordingly, and I’m quite happy with what I got.

4) Price. I have no problem paying $399 for the idea of never lugging around books again.

The one thing I don’t like about my Kindle. Lack of selection. Only eight magazines? (If you even want to call Slate and Salon magazines!) That’s pathetic. I knew what I was getting into selection wise when I bought my Kindle, but I’m still a little disappointed. I’m ready to buy a ton of periodicals. Amazon really needs to get their shit together in this department.

Final Verdict. If you’re a fairly busy person who likes to read offline, I definitely recommend the Kindle – especially if you won’t miss the $399 you spend on it. Otherwise, I’d wait it out. The price might drop and the selection of materials might increase. Or the Kindle might be a total bust as everything goes free and online.