Tuesday, January 4, 2011

My Kindle Review

I have always been a huge reader.  There were a few months last year where for whatever reason I was unable to focus on reading, but after getting the Kindle for Christmas I was able to get back to it and it feels great!

I wanted the Kindle SOOO badly, but there are a few things I had wish I'd known before I got one.  It wouldn't have stopped me from getting it, but it would have saved me a little disappointment.

First and most disappointing to me is the lack of a backlight.  What electronic device these days doesn't have a light?  Especially one designed for portable reading!  You can buy lights for them, but this is a major bummer for someone who likes to read in bed.

The second problem I have is the fact that it comes with no case, not even a cheap vinyl one.  You can buy them separately and I feel like you really need one to protect the screen when carrying it in a purse or even just leaving it laying around.

It takes a while to figure out how to find something that you were looking for earlier in the book.  With a real book if you need to go back to re-read something you just flip through the pages, and it's a little more tricky to do with a Kindle.

With all of that being said, I still love it.  You can have the text shown on the screen in portrait or landscape mode, the screen savers are interesting and pretty, like this one.

You can see that the background is white with black text to reduce glare and it is really easy on the eyes.

I'm still learning to navigate it, and haven't spent as much time using as I would like, since I have several books checked out from the libaray that I've been waiting for and I want to read those before they have to be returned.

I'll never stop getting real books, because I love reading in the bath tub & I'm WAY too clumsy to take this into the tub, but it's a great addition that I think that any reader would love.

*This is not a sponsored review in any way, just wanted to share my thoghts with you.

12 comments:

Rebecca Jo said...

Yeah - I wouldnt take that near the bathtub either... I'm VERY clumsy & drop everything!!!

Thanks for this post though... I'm still in major debate with myself if I want this or a Wii... decisions...

Emily said...

Call me old-fashioned but I like the feel of a real book with pages that I can turn. My daughter-in-law has a kindle and really likes it. But she is one of those modern electronic geeks of the computer age, of which I am NOT! I guess it's a personal issue. Have fun with yours!

Queenie Jeannie said...

It took me a little bit to get used to mine too, but soon it will all be second nature to you!

The reason it's not backlit, is because that IS hard on the eyes!! I just got a new case for mine which holds to light. Normally I use mine to read in bed or in the backyard, so I haven't really needed the light yet.

You can "highlight" or "bookmark" spots that have meaning for you and even write notes for those spots. Just takes a bit of practice. I love that it knows where I left off if I happen to fall asleep reading it!!! That's a real pain with real books!

Don't forget to check out Amazon's free titles too!!! I just got all the Anne of Green Gables titles!

Mimi N said...

My dad got the Kindle 3G for my mom. I was suprised it didn't have a backlight also. He did get her a case that has a light pull out in the corner, but it barely lights up. It looked pretty cool, but I'm a bedroom reader, too. My reading picked up over Christmas, too!

Happy New Year.

~Meems

Sueann said...

I have been wanting a Kindle as well. Thanks for the review. Right now I use my Droid as a reader and I love it. Hmmmm! No backlight can be a bummer!!
Hugs
SueAnn

Liz Mays said...

I have a Nook and it doesn't have a backlight either so I attach a booklight. I think it's because it's too hard on your eyes to have the backlight. In that case, I appreciate it because I read for a long time when I read!

Pat Wahler said...

I got a Nook for X-mas, and I love it, too! It did take some getting used to, but I'm happy as a clam with it so far! (I do have the light and a nice cover, courtesy of our daughter...the cover is great for standing the Nook up so I can read while eating lunch!)

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

Amy said...

My Sister in law got one of these. They look like they can be fun and nice.. Thanks for sharing what you have found out.. Have a great night..

The Cyber Hermit said...

I really thought I *didn't* want a Kindle and then my mother got them for both me and the Spousal Unit this Christmas.

I enjoy the book "feel" to it in that it's got kind of the same weight and heft of a book both by itself and with the cover. I have about 20 books on it at this point. I don't think it will completely replace my habit of buying books (I read a fair amount of fantasy and some of the covers produced are just gorgeous) but I can see that paperbacks and books that I like to read over and over will find a home on there.

Anonymous said...

Gussy Sews makes VERY pretty covers for these!!

We got our daughter the color nook for Christmas and it has a back light and is super easy to navigate - worth the extra money!!

The Bug said...

I just got my Kindle on Thursday & I agree with your negatives - although I had seen my SIL's so I knew about the backlighting (or lack thereof). So when I ordered it I went ahead & got a case & the light that works with the case.

The one thing that I didn't really think about when I got it that I LOVE is that you can increase the font size - so I don't have to wear my reading glasses. Woo hoo!

keweenawkim said...

Hello,

Thanks for the review....I am a passionate booklover too who recently has been finding the allure of Kindle/ Nook harder and harder to resist.... some how it feels wrong and yet.....it has it's appeal. I trust your review and am glad to hear you like it. Enjoy!!!