So, needless to say, Amazon's Kindle (3G and Wifi enabled) at first glance held all the power and glory and awesomeness that someone like me dreams about. It has not failed to live up to my dreams. I received the small white device with a leather cover which I deem absolutely necessary (Black Leather is sleek and professional).
While I'm torn between my love of technology and love of paper, I have found that one need not stand as an absolute substitute for another. I have books I'd rather have in paper format. But, books such as Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Step by Step are phenomenally easier to handle on my Kindle and allow me to roam airports when traveling for work without having to carry on or check a huge book.
So why the Kindle over the Nook or iPAD? The Kindle accommodates my eyes and migraine headaches, and it uses next to no battery life. It is very thin and fits easily in my purse, yet I do not have to strain to read it. The Nook is nice if you do prefer a color screen and fancier feel. The iPAD is amazing, and I still want one, but if you are just interested mostly in reading, the Kindle is a less expensive, easier to operate option. There is also the Kno Tablet, but that is in a glorious and unattainable league of its own for me at the moment.
Another unintended advantage is that it helps me to read through my ADHD. I do take my prescription medication as directed, but other sufferers know that some days, it just takes more effort to focus. Because the pages are short, my mind is kept busy enough to keep from being distracted from page to the next. Before, I would almost certainly doze off or give up on books that are straight text, however I would read through encyclopedia style books with ease due to the quickly shifting subjects and changing formats. The Kindle provides this very simple format that forces me to focus without my realizing. I see this opening up my ability to enjoy reading more and more in the near future.
I definitely recommend this device for the frequent traveler and for parents on the go. It's great to have on you while waiting in the doctor's office and stuck with their magazines or while being stuck in an airport and forced to choose from the overpriced selection at a news store.
