Christmas arrived just a tad over two months late for me, with the arrival of my newest toy.
Yes, I am finally the delighted owner of a Kindle 2, Amazon’s newest generation of electronic reader. Like everyone who cruises the Internet regularly, I’d read about the Kindle, Sony’s reader, etc. I was sort of intrigued by the idea, but I wanted to let others try out the goods first, then pass on their wisdom to me. In others words, let some other suckers shell out their cash and let me know whether the expense was worthwhile. 
Late last fall, a friend of mine showed me her Kindle 1, which looks like this:
Kindle 1
I played around with her Kindle and was impressed with the easy navigation, the ease of purchasing and uploading books and the fact that the Kindle, lacking a backlit screen, causes very little, if any, eyestrain. One thing I didn’t like about it was that it felt a bit too much like a cheap, plastic toy.
After pondering the matter for about a month, I announced to the deacon that I wanted a Kindle for Christmas. We placed the order and were immediately informed that they were out of stock and would not be available until late February. So, I settled down to wait. In mid-February, Amazon told me that my order was being upgraded to the Kindle 2. Having gotten the toy a few days ago and had some time to play with it, I’m very glad I waited. It’s probably only a matter of personal taste, but I prefer the look of the Kindle 2 over that of Kindle 1. Kindle 2 also has a nice, substantive feel without feeling heavy – it weighs about 10 ounces. Moreover, the Kindle 2 reportedly has longer battery life, faster screen refresh rates and other improvements that techies (one of which I’m not) really like. Most importantly, Kindle 2 has a much larger memory than Kindle 1 did.
The biggest reason I chose Kindle rather than the Sony reader is that Amazon’s digital library is growing quickly. I’m not sure how many digital books Sony has available right now, but I think the number is quite a lot lower than Amazon’s current library of 242,000 + titles. Sony’s reader looks like this:
Sony Reader
Amazon also has hundreds of digital books, many of which are public domain works, available for free. Many books cost $9.99 or less, and others (specialty, professional, etc.) cost quite a lot regardless of whether you buy digital or bound versions. So, for the most part, I can buy more books for less money and have much less clutter in my house. Not a bad bargain, from my point of view.
That’s all I have to say about the Kindle Reader at the moment, as I’m still figuring out how to use all of its features. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go read a book.
– the chaplain
yunshui
March 1, 2009 at 1:50 pm
The Kindle tears me in two – the geeky, gadget-crazed, technohead me wants one even more than I want a pony, but the traditional, bookselling, librarian side sees it as the end of literature as we know it. Since I’ve just invested in another three bookcases to hold my ever-expanding library, I’m inclined to favour the latter persona at the moment. Nonetheless, thanks for the review – if another bibliophile thinks so highly of Amazon’s latest item of shininess, maybe I should give it a little more thought…
Sun Yi
March 1, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I’m very sceptical about this Kindle thing, I think I might give it a go later in the year; but for now, I can’t afford it.
revright
March 1, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I’ve had my eye on the Kindle but was waiting for the 2nd generation so they could work the bugs out. Thanks for the review!
Digital Dame
March 1, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I’m with you, yunshui. Part of me sees advantages to them, but the feel of a book in my hands is just too viscerally rewarding to give up.
Chaplain, I have some general questions (which could probably be answered on Amazon’s site, but…). Let’s say 2 years from now you have several hundred (or thousand) books loaded on this thing, and it dies. How do you get your books back? Is there a decent warranty on this thing?
I realize I could have a house fire and lose everything, but gadgets break down more often than houses burn down (thankfully!) I also have to say I would strenuously object to paying more than $5 for an e-book.
Tommykey
March 1, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I’ve been contemplating getting one. The thing is, I like to read a lot of history books, which often contain maps and pictures. Do you know if they are shown on the Kindle?
Tommykey
March 1, 2009 at 3:06 pm
OT, do you know what happened to Brian. When I click on the link to his Primordial Blog, the page says it does not exist. I hope he is okay.
the chaplain
March 1, 2009 at 4:19 pm
yunshui:
I like the feel of books too. Still, I really like the convenience of Kindle.
Sun yi:
I was skeptical too. But, I figured the only way to find out for sure was to give it a try. We’ll see how the Kindle thing goes over time. I hear you about the price – it is pretty steep.
revright:
As far as bugs go, I think Amazon did some things right with this version, but I’ve also read comments by other Kindle users about things that they still may not have gotten quite right. That always seems to be how it goes with technology.
Digitaldame:
Amazon has a page on its web site where I can manage my Kindle. It has a list of all the books I’ve purchase and offers the option of uploading them to my computer or to the Kindle. So, presumably, if the content gets lost, I can retrieve them there. The Kindle comes with a one-year warranty and one has the option of buying an extended warranty. As for price, some books are more than $5, and lots are less than that. I got the complete works of Shakespeare for less than $5 – same for the complete works of Mark Twain, Jules Verne and a couple of others. I got Leave of Grass for 25 cents. So, depending on what one buys, the price differences probably come out okay.
Tommykey:
The Kindle 2 handles grayscale images pretty well. Having said that, the screen is fairly small, so map details would probably be difficult to distinguish. A friend of mine asked whether sheet music would work on a Kindle. I wouldn’t consider getting a Kindle edition of a book that requires good graphics, such as maps, music notation, art reproductions, photos, etc. In my opinion, the technology will need to improve a lot before anything heavy on graphics will be worthwhile.
Tommykey:
I emailed Brian about his blog. All I feel comfortable saying right now is that he’s in a situation in which he’s had to shut it down for awhile.
Tommykey
March 1, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Thanks, Chaplain.
Sounds like it would be good for something like Hitchens’ “God is not Great” but not for a book about the Roman Empire of the Civil War, filled with maps of battles and borders and such.
Sorry to hear that Brian is in a difficult situation, whatever it is. I had a feeling something was wrong given how abrupt his blog vanished like that.
Brian, if by any chance you’re reading this, feel free to e-mail me @ tom_kearney2003@yahoo.com.
Best regards,
Tom
(((Billy)))
March 1, 2009 at 4:54 pm
The only reason I could see for this is it would make it real easy to carry lots of books to a fire. Of course, then I would have to figure out how to recharge it out in the boonies.
I agree with Yunshui — I like the feel of real books.
Alan
March 1, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Yep, Kindle and its ilk are the way of the future. What we really need is a standard format – typical of Amazon to make something exclusive to them. My first novel was released on Kindle recently and the second one is coming to Kindle soon. It’s a given these days that you make ebooks available along with the print versions.
A variety of readers with a single format would be the best result though. I’m worried about a beta/VHS thing happening again. (Or a HD/BluRay thing, to be a bit more up to date!)
the chaplain
March 1, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Tommy:
You’re welcome.
(((Billy))):
Unless you don’t have access to any electrical outlets, you could re-charge it in an ordinary electrical socket.
Alan:
I agree about having a standardized format. That will probably come somewhere down the line.
DB
March 1, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Thanks for the review! If I was working in DC I would definitely get one as it would be nice on the Metro. Then again, after reading this I may get one now since international shipping of books sucks horendously.
Tommykey
March 1, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Of course, one thing e-book devices like the Kindle can’t replace is the autograped book.
“Hi, uh, would you mind signing my Kindle?”
Ric
March 1, 2009 at 8:43 pm
And let’s not forget as we turn the pages to listen to the gentle rustling of pixels…
Alan
March 1, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Plus, it’s another US centric unit, with the wireless downloads only available in America. I even have to go through a US publisher partner to have my books available as Kindle editions, because you need a US bank account and tax number, which my publisher doesn’t have.
But, it’s all starting to head in the right direction.
DB
March 1, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Damn, if Alan is correct (and I assume he is because I can’t even stream NBC video from Japan) I won’t be getting a Kindle. I didn’t even think about that. Lame.
Alan
March 1, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Yep. Sucks, huh?
the chaplain
March 1, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Alan, DB, et al:
Thanks for adding the info that I left out earlier. Kindle is only available in the USA for now, which sucks. I think the Sony Reader is available in the USA, Canada and Britain.
I think one of the reasons for the limited availability of Amazon is the Whispernet technology by which books are transferred to the reader – it uses the Sprint wireless network. If Amazon could work out deals with cell phone carriers in Canada, Britain, etc., that issue should be readily resolved. It seems to me that Amazon would benefit by expanding its market pretty soon rather than just surrendering it to Sony and others. Someone will fill the void, and there are a lot more people outside of the USA than within.
Tommy:
keep your pen away from my Kindle; I don’t want you to scratch the screen.
Ric:
I don’t get to listen to the pixels rustle, but I do get to watch them fade from one screen to another.
C. L. Hanson
March 2, 2009 at 1:00 am
I’m planning to get one of these, too, but I have one question: Can you upload and read your own pdf files on this thing as well?
C. L. Hanson
March 2, 2009 at 1:01 am
p.s. Yeah Alans U.S.-centric point is why I haven’t bought one already, but I assume there will be a European edition…
PhillyChief
March 2, 2009 at 8:45 am
Well right off the bat, I’m put off by the lack of color. This day and age, no color capability? What? How sad for anyone following my blog on that thing.
Here’s what I would expect if Apple took a crack at it:
• Full color
• ability to play multimedia like movies and music
• transfer your itunes library as well as anything else from your computer
• access to itunes store
- download film, video and music content PLUS books and magazines
• limited to full support for all iphone apps
• sexier design
I have to laugh at the Sony one. Man, what happened to them? They used to be such a trend setter company, but now their vision is so poor.
Ordinary Girl
March 2, 2009 at 9:55 am
I have been going back and forth trying to decide if I’d buy one of these or not. I was very excited when the first Kindles were announced and I looked at the Sony reader too, but I decided to wait and see how they did and also to let the price drop a little.
I really like the idea of a reader. Although I love books in physical form (the smell, the fell of the pages), I think the convenience of being able to take several books with me in one compact device will make it worth its while.
The Ridger
March 2, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I for one don’t want a reader that plays movies and songs and does all the iThing stuff. I want a reader that does books. Why must everything do everything? Usually what happens is it either doesn’t do everything *well* or it costs/weighs a lot. Maybe I’m in the minority, but I don’t mind having several well-designed tools instead of one cumbersome Swiss Army knife.
But I don’t want a reader until I can store the books somewhere else, be assured they won’t suddenly be unreadable (anybody want to buy some vhs tapes? let alone betamax?), and read comfortably – meaning enough words on a page, which the Kindle seems to have.
The Ridger
March 2, 2009 at 12:31 pm
ps – I know several people who have and love the Sony reader. It’s probably not for everyone, but it mimics a book very well, and that’s exactly what they love.
Ordinary Girl
March 2, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I have to say (in relation to the Kindle) the one thing that bothered me about Handmaid’s Tale was her job scanning in books and then their destruction. While I think that books *might* eventually be digital primarily, I see no reason why books wouldn’t be a work of art on their own. I can’t see our society burning the books to get rid of them. Maybe books will eventually go out of use and they’ll be discarded, but trashing all books? Yeah, over Ex’s dead body.
Postman
March 2, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Hey, Chappy. I see that I’ve come to this post late. However, I’ve got a question for you, (with a long explanation).
I bought a Kindle 2 for my grandmother, primarily because she has macular degeneration and can change the font size with this. She, like me, couldn’t possibly make it without a substantial amount of reading – so I’ve been somewhat on edge, waiting for it to arrive. She got it the other day, and says she’s thrilled with it, but I haven’t seen how large the font will go and I’m a little worried that she’s telling me the print is large enough for her simply because I gave her the Kindle.
So… how big does the font go?
Alan
March 2, 2009 at 6:17 pm
PhillyChief – what you’re describing already exists. It’s called a laptop.
The whole point of a reader is that it is nothing more than an electronic book – it mimics paper and holds hundreds of books, but is otherwise nothing more.
A lot of people are reading on devices like the iPhone now (someone recently reviewed my book after reading it on the iPhone which was a first for me!) The iPhone, and other smartphones, do all the colour, music and so on that you’re talking about too. That’s not what a Kindle (or other ebook) is really all about.
the chaplain
March 2, 2009 at 7:00 pm
C.L.:
There is a method for uploading .pdf and .doc files to Amazon, then having them converted to Amazon’s Kindle format.
Philly:
I agree with Ridger’s view, as stated a couple of comments below yours. I wanted a text reader that stores books. I’m not interested in all-in-one gadgets that fit in one’s pocket. I want a cell phone that takes and receives phone calls. I want cameras that take pictures. As Alan noted later, my computers are the tools I use for multi-functionality.
I didn’t mention that the Kindle 2 stores and plays MP3 files. It will also read your books aloud. Why would I want to listen to music on the chintzy little speakers on the back of the reader? If I’m going to use headphones to get better quality, then I can just play music on my iPod.
Ridger:
Amazon stores backup copies of the books, and they can be downloaded to one’s computer too.
OG:
I won’t be moving away completely from paper books – I need something to read in the bath tub, at the beach, etc.
Postman:
The font gets pretty large – about equal to 18 point font in Word.
Alan:
Thanks for your comments. As you’ve probably already gathered, I won’t be buying an iPhone anytime soon.
Alan
March 2, 2009 at 7:33 pm
No, not an iPhone.
But the convergence devices that smartphones are becoming will be more widespread than just Apple products soon enough. However, still an ereader should just be for books.
PhillyChief
March 2, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Not exactly the imaginative bunch, are you?
Ridger: Why must something that does more than one thing necessarily do them worse than one thing that can do only one? Are you one of those people who has 6 remotes on their coffee table?
“But I don’t want a reader until I can store the books somewhere else…”
Which my idea would address, having the books easily transferable to any itunes library.
Alan: “what you’re describing already exists. It’s called a laptop.”
Really? They have a laptop the size of this reader?
“it mimics paper”
You must be joking. It doesn’t even try to capture paper grain on the screen.
“A lot of people are reading on devices like the iPhone now”
I’m not talking about a tiny iphone, I’m talking about something which is the same size as these readers.
Chaplain: “…that fit in one’s pocket.” See last comment
Vitamin R
March 2, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I’m now a muddy-camo color, because all the jealousy green is competing with my natural skin tone! THIS is what I’d blow a couple hundred bucks on, over an ipod or an xbox–or even a laptop. I’m adrool. And I agree with Ridger–it’s nice to have something that does the one thing and does it well.
Ooh! And you can finally make The Portable Atheist actually portable
athinkingman
March 3, 2009 at 11:35 am
I’d be interested to hear how you get on with it. I like the idea in theory. The thing that would make me hesitant is the availability of the kind of books that I would want to read. It will be an interesting development to watch. I’m sure we’ll all be using them in 50 years time – I say ‘we’, but know that I won’t be around to see it
Postman
March 3, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Thanks. Fingers crossed that it’s big enough.
Eshu
March 3, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Do you really get free Wikipedia on it? I like the idea…
the chaplain
March 3, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Phillychief:
You know me well enough to know that I have very little imagination.
VitaminR:
The Portable Atheist would be more portable, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to buy another copy.
AThinkingMan:
The availability of the right sorts of books, at the right prices, could be an issue right now. I’ve noticed that some specialty books, if they’re available for Kindle, are pretty pricey.
Postman:
I hope it will be.
Eshu:
Yes, you can get Wikipedia and other web sites on it. Sites that are geared toward textual content rather than graphics would work okay. Graphic-heavy sites would drive a visual person, like Phillychief, nuts. I prefer using my computer to browse web sites. Wikipedia looks godawful ugly on the Kindle – even worse than it does on a computer, if you can imagine that. I also use my computer to shop and order books. It’s easy to order them online and have them sent to the Kindle within a minute of clicking the buy button.
Nightshadequeen
March 7, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Actually, about the .pdf thing, I find mobipocket’s converter works much better. Since the Kindle can read .prc and .mobi files as well, it’s great.
Also: Many out-of copyright books can be found for free at http://www.feedbooks.com , already in .mobi format. Project Gutenberg has books, too, but they must be convereted first.
Oh, and Kindle I believe offers free internet (for now). Really nice when hotels charge $12 a day for internet and I only want to surf some blogs.
About reading in the tub: I just wrap my Kindle in a plastic zip-lock bag and I can read it anywhere. Plus, this way I don’t have to get the sand out from between my pages…or worry about water damage. ^^
PhillyChief: What about a netbook? Those are quite small…
Ric
March 8, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Just a thought on an extreme view – what happens if, in this economic quicksand, Amazon fails? Does the Kindle become a paperweight? Near as I can tell that possibility isn’t addressed at Amazon.
That said, I am intrigued enough to consider a purchase. Given the several thousand books surrounding me and my occasional anxiety that they will quite literally bring the house down, might not be a bad idea…
The Exterminator
March 9, 2009 at 1:29 am
I like the feel of my books. I like the crispness of the pages and the sleekness of the hardcover jackets. I like the way they smell as they age, like thoughts ripening. I like to look at my shelves and see the hundreds of volumes, some tall and fat, others short and thin, some standing side by side, and others stacked up into inviting towers. I like the sea of colors on the aggregated covers and spines, and the way they change depending upon the light in the room, and the angle at which I view them. I like the way some of my books flip open automatically to the pages I’ve read over and over. I like that I can remember details by recalling a little wine stain on the corner of a leaf, or thinking of a small printing-accident ink splotch that runs down the side.
I like that each book has its own personality apart from its text.
No Kindle for me, Spock.
PhillyChief
March 9, 2009 at 9:23 am
Amazon Kindle Now Also an iPhone App.
When I was a kid, we had an ancient old man live in the apartment above us. Occasionally, my mother would send me upstairs to bring him food. I always resisted because it was frightening up there. Books, magazines and newspapers were stacked from floor to ceiling, and there were tiny pathways through it all. Before even reaching the door, I was hit with the smell that Ex seems to cherish so much.
I hope one day you have kind neighbors who bring food to you in your maze as you sit transfixed by the “sea of colors on the aggregated covers and spines” and so forth. Oh, and for goodness sake, do try to remember wearing pants. That was the other thing that was frightening to me about visiting the old man.
The Exterminator
March 9, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Philly:
I’ve put on a pair of lime green shorts especially for you.
the chaplain
March 9, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Nightshadequeen:
Thanks for the tips. I still don’t see me taking my Kindle anywhere near sand or water any time soon, though.
Ric:
If I fill up the Kindle with lots of books before Amazon sinks, it may take awhile before the machine devolves to paperweight status. I’ll keep that suggestion in mind.
Ex:
I like the feel of books too. I’m not too excited by the clutter they create, and I’m even less excited about packing and unpacking them every time I move (yes, I’ve got another move or two (or three) in my future, so I have to think about it sometimes).
Philly:
The smell of mold doesn’t excite you? Who would have guessed?
Ex:
It takes a brave man to admit that he owns, let alone wears, lime green shorts.
PhillyChief
March 9, 2009 at 5:54 pm
They’re probably part of this outfit
Helen
July 8, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Have been reading along for a while now, but without ever leaving a comment. Just wanted to let you know that I enjoy being here. THX.