Kindle

[cjsmith]

I finally figured out what the Kindle would be good for.

See, I read paperbacks. I wouldn't want to carry a Kindle around because it is larger than a paperback. If I know I'm going to be waiting a bunch, I'll just carry a book. Duh. I also wouldn't prefer to buy a Kindle-book because it's more expensive than a paperback. PLUS the thing can run out of batteries, or break if you drop it. AND it's got a $399 start-up cost. What's to like?

I figured it out.

Airplanes.

Every December I fly from California to Boston, from Boston to Louisville, and from Louisville to California again (or the other way 'round). Every leg of this trip has two flights. Every flight includes a bunch of waiting time in the terminal. I can easily wipe out two paperback books on one leg, often three if it's a long one or a plane is delayed (and when, in December, are they not?).

A Kindle is a lot smaller and lighter than NINE paperback books.

It's still not worth $399 to me, not by a long shot. But now I can see that it's worth more than zero.

Comments

[tattermuffin.livejournal.com]

My palm pilot is smaller than a paperback, cost me a whopping $150, and while books do cost me almost "hardcopy" prices (unless they're out of copyright, in which case I get them free at gutenberg.org) the Palm (which has more than just one use - calendar, games, etc) and batteries that last long enough for reading on flights across the US) still cost me less than $400 even counting in all the books I've paid for for it. I think I've got more than 50 books on it right now ...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

That's better than the Kindle in every way EXCEPT the e-paper screen. My Palm's screen would be pretty hard on the eyes for a big novel. Do you find it tiring to read books on the Palm?

[tattermuffin.livejournal.com]

No, in fact I prefer reading on my Palm - it has a "dimmer switch" for turning down the brightness which I do when reading before bed (and which extends the life of the charge in the battery). I take it with me to lunch too - so much easier than bringing books to work, etc.