Kindle (not a book)

Through signing up for a bar exam preparatory course I wound up with a Kindle. I had no plans to purchase one, but it was free. So, as this is a blog about books I read I figured I'd write a little bit about medium.

First, I like having a book in my hands. Some bindings are not great and you have to wrestle with them, but most of the time I like the substantial feeling. That said, they can get bulky when you have a lot of them (books that is). This is especially true when you have a preference for hardcover books. I prefer hardcover because they seem to last longer.

Second, I like to be able to loan out and borrow books. While the wizards at Amazon and so on are working at making that more of the Kindle experience (I think), I think it is overly complex with copyright laws and profit motives and I much prefer just handing someone a book. Also, borrowing books from friends and returning books to friends is a fun excuse for a social visit and generally provides good discussion. This is lost when it is just done by a click.

Third, I like building a library and I like having bookshelves full of books. Digital books are not the same.

As to the Kindle...

It is quite readable and pretty similar to paper. I do not like that the screen saver is an advertisement, but I've also been too lazy to change that.

I enjoy access to free books on the Kindle, particularly ones I am considering buying in hardcover and can read first.

It is small and light and comfortable to hold. It's not a book, but it's not horrible. And so far I've dropped it once and it seems undamaged.

In terms of interface, the menus are okay. Having the basic (non-touch) version I am unimpressed by the keyboard and searching.

What I would really like is for books that I purchase on Amazon to come with something like a $1 option where any book I buy a physical copy of can also come with a digital copy for the Kindle. Kind of like DVDs and Blu-rays come with now. I could have a copy for my shelf and an easy to carry copy in the Kindle. So yeah, that would be absolutely wonderful!


Off topic, kind of...
From here on I will designate if I read the book on my Kindle or not. If friends read this and would like to borrow a book, so long as you do not abuse them, you are welcome to do so. As for the ones that are on the Kindle, I cannot loan those out, though some I will likely acquire in hardcover.