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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Wonderful! Nov 22, 2008
I love the kindle. I've had it for about weeks, and it's amazing. I take it everywhere with me, I tell everyone about it. It has sparked my interest in reading again. I love it's light weight, crystal clear screen and I could litterally, read for hours without getting tired. I can lay in bed, see the screen at any angle. I especially love that it appeals to left handers! As a lefty, NOTHING is made for me. Everything is on the right side and it seems as though nothing is made for lefties. There are both page forward button and a page back button on the left hand side. It's great! The cons: The buttons are too sensitive. It took some getting used to and I find myself always bumping those buttons. 2) There is no back light. I went to target and bought a book like for 5 dollars, and now it's perfect. Wish it had a back light. Other than that... love it!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Some Lesser Known Features.... Nov 22, 2008
Great device. Here are some additional cool features you may not know about, that I use my kindle for:
·Emailing word documents and pdf files to my kindle account, which are then automatically downloaded to Kindle within a minute or so. Pdf files with complex symbols (e.g. math/science equations) don't always render properly, but in general it does a good job for standard text. But the ability to store lots of word docs & pdfs electronically is an added bonus.
·Checking my email. I'm somewhat surprised how little kindle's internet capability is mentioned in these reviews, but kindle does allow you to browse the net & check webmail. It's not a fully capable browser yet, and I try to stick to less graphics intensive or mobile sites, but knowing that I can check email def makes the device worth it.
·Wikipedia searches - wikipedia is rendered well, and I use it all the time to look stuff up.
·Playing music - Yes, it can play mp3 files, albeit only in a "shuffle" mode. And actually, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the built in speakers sound. There is also a headphone jack on the Kindle...
·Storing lots of extra books, music, & docs on an inserted SD memory card
Well, I agree with all the nice things (and some of the criticisms) of the e-book capabilities - but beyond that Kindle has several other really cool features that make it a worthwhile investment.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Finally a technology that appeals to real book lovers! Nov 21, 2008
When I first heard about the release of the Kindle, I wondered, "Why would anyone want that?" Now, after carrying a Kindle everywhere with me during the past week, I'm a convert. I can't believe how easy it is to whip it out and start reading, with my place saved, whenever I have a few minutes. Even better, if I finish a book, I can turn on the wireless function, even when I'm not in a hot spot, and download a new book in less than a minute.
The screen is gray with black type to address complaints about early e-readers causing eyestrain and to give the Kindle the look of paper. I would have liked a brightness or contrast function to adjust it in different lighting situations; for this reason, you might want to purchase a reading light to go with it. The type can be adjusted from small to large, six sizes in all, which makes it perfect for people who need larger type, especially since large type books can be more expensive and more difficult to find than standard ones. With a Kindle, it all costs the same and is equally available. You can also download and listen to audiobooks, although the titles are more limited.
As others have noted, the most annoying design issue is the large buttons on either side of the screen which are easy to inadvertently push, thus losing your page as you handle the Kindle. I do like that the buttons are positioned for both lefties and righties; they are just too big. Of course, this disadvantage is also an advantage when reading since flipping pages takes little effort.
Potential buyers should also realize that not all books can be downloaded, nor does the purchase of an electronic version of a book give you the ability to also read it on paper. Unless you read only best sellers, you will still want to buy real books, just not as often.
The Kindle provides the biggest advantage when traveling, as it allows you to take several books on vacation without weighing down your luggage. It also saves space on the bookshelf, although, with limited memory capacity, you can't browse, say, the titles of a hundred of your books the way you can scan your shelves.
All in all, this is an excellent device that mimics the look of a real book.
-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Haven't put it down since I got it! Nov 21, 2008
So, I've waited a few weeks to write a review even though I wanted to the day after I received my Kindle. I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't in a "Honeymoon" period with it. Anyway, I love it and use it everyday! It's comfortable to hold and easy to use. Shopping and downloading directly from the Kindle is fantastic. I used to read on my Palm Pilot, but I only use this now. I love that I can take notes, mark passages, and look up words while reading. At night, I just use a regular book light as I would with any book. I haven't downloaded any music to it yet, but will be doing that, too.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
It's All About My Kindle Nov 21, 2008
My Kindle arrived yesterday (2days early) much to my delight. I am having the time of my life. Yes, I am a hopeless tech junkie. Between my G1 phone & my Kindle I'm in heaven.
About Kindle: I have a few issues with the design and the poorly constructed case- not leather or suede; with a little ingenuity I can now use my Kindle without it slipping and sliding out...very aggravating. I also figured out how to side step the side buttons trap...not a smart decision at all to put it there,irritating.
Keep in mind that I'm still in the getting-2-know-u phase; however, so far so good, it is a breeze... ez to use.
I love my Kindle; It really impressed me because I am here writing a review and as long and as much I shop on Amazon, I have never written any reviews. Yes Kindle you have my full attention, so I bought the Kindle Cookbook so I could get optimum use of my Kindle. I have a voracious reading appetite and this reader is addictive- even more so than my books- and I read several books weekly. My only concern at the moment is my ability to buy books at the click of a button. It's great but it could also be a pitfall...yep a trap. The books are cheap- much cheaper than SONY's. Most Best Sellers cost $9.99, so you see...
I am having fun acquainting myself with my new toy- thank God for birthdays and great gifts. I was a good girl all year and I got a G1 and my Kindle... Now, I'm bookmarking, highlighting, looking up words, shopping...Isn't life and technology great? Thanks Jeff Bezos....All things considered- I wouldn't part with my Kindle.
I would've given it 5 ***** but those cumbersome, intrusive side button & inferior quality pleather cover detracted from the almost heaven Kindle experience- it turned me off.
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