This is like a new sweater or cool new pair of jeans which I bought weeks ago but which still have their tags on. I’ve been on the fence about the Kindle for a long time. I was still working for Amazon when the prototype was being handed around internally and I didn’t like the look and feel of the device. I decided to wait for v2.0 – since I’m very sure this team will raise their game with the next version. But then ‘an insider’ tipped me off about the $50 discount which came with Oprah’s endorsement of the product and I capitulated.
Funny capitulation. I took it out of it’s box, charged it up – was extremely impressed with the auto-registering and set-up – and sat down to read the 1st of my 14-day delivered-to-your-Kindle trial subscription to the New York Times. And I’ve barely touched it since. It turns out that I have no more time to read with a Kindle than I had without. Funny that. (# times I read more than the front headline on the NYT subscription before it expired? 1).
But in the next few days, I’ll be visiting with friends. We have a couple of flights, which will come with waiting time in the airport, and we’ll be taking public transport around San Francisco. I’ve loaded my Kindle up with some books and I’m looking forward to this test. It’s going to be fun – and a lot easier than carrying around a bunch of books. My challenge? Keeping my Kindle to myself. CAM has already eyed it up as “just fantastic”. Usually when we travel, he gathers up a monster pile of books to take with him. Which also usually prompts a fun mother-son “No, you can’t bring that much stuff” discussion. This time, the pile of books hasn’t materialized yet. I suspect we’ll be having a “What do you mean I can’t use your Kindle?” discussion instead.
Has anyone else tried the Kindle for traveling – inside or outside the U.S.? Or the Sony e-reader? Do you have preference?
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Tags:travel, traveling, kindle
You’re not a reader
or you would already know
I was a traveler
Still am in a sense
since I am away from home
but I got tired of traveling
and settled down to read
My Kindle is a year old
Best thing that happened to me
I bought one when heavy computer reference manuals came out in Kindle form. Now I can travel to job locations with a nice reference library and a long battery to read them. It definitely makes a European flight seem quick, too, and it’s a lot less bulky to use on a plane. I have wanted to experiment with putting ebooks on it through the computer. If you could transfer electronic library books and put them on just before a trip it would make it quite cost-effective.
I know commuters who swear by them – I’ve tried to do reading on a smartphone before but the screen is way to small and your eyes hurt after a while – I’d imagine this gadget has a crisp larger screen
I want a reader for Christmas but I’m not sure if I want the Kindle or the Sony Reader! I can’t wait to hear what you like and dislike about it. I have a friend who loves his Sony Reader. I just can’t imagine there is much of a difference between the two.
Here are my travel impressions.
The Good: very comfortable to use sitting or lying down. The screen is easy to read and renders well. Getting more to read in the US is quick. You can pause it quickly and turn off the wireless for plane use and the battery lasts 8 hours or more.
The Bad: I haven’t found a good carry case. I am nervous about using it near water so no reading in a Jacuzzi or bath setting. The book expenses add up fast.
The Unknown: I treat it well, but I don’t think it would hold up well to dirt, dust, sand, etc. or the normal wear a child would give it (spills, drops, hard pushing of buttons).
Bottom line is use it during travel or clean locations, but you may want to have a book or two for the day trips.
@Angela, @Quickroute: Kindle passed the test with flying colors.
@Workerbee: I lost Kindle to kids by day 3 of our trip. Watch out for a future post. All the kid “normal wear” meted out by one or both boys. Kindle survived
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