I Love My Kindle!

I finally broke down and got a Kindle -- Amazon.com's wireless electronic book reader. I'd been meaning to for some time, but the choices and prices were a bit daunting so it was easy to procrastinate.

I had been agonizing over the choice between the 9.7" Kindle DX display and the 6" display on the standard device. After poring over dozens of reviews (at least!) I realized that the smaller size was not only handier, but also considerably cheaper and had much longer battery life. (Of course, the DX may be upgraded soon, being one generation older than its smaller counterpart.)

Having settled on the standard Kindle, one issue remained: Wi-Fi or 3G? Wi-Fi is basically a marketing name for the IEEE 802.11 standard -- a short range radio frequency protocol similar to that used in cordless telephones. The Wi-Fi Kindles require you to be within range of a Wireless Access Point or "hot spot" to download new books. Books already stored on your Kindle (up to 3500) can be read anywhere, any time.

3G refers to third generation mobile telecommunications standards -- known as cell phone technology in the United States. Kindles equipped with this feature will automatically download fresh content such as magazine and newspaper subscriptions anywhere there is an adequate cell phone signal. Although the initial cost of the 3G Kindles is higher, there are no monthly fees. Amazon picks up the tab for the cellular communications, or embeds it it the price of the subscription, whichever way you want to look at it. If you are lost without your smart phone, this may be the right option for you.

I buy a fair number of books if they aren't available at the library, but I rarely feel the need to have them instantly, so I opted for the Wi-Fi Kindle. When Amazon sweetened the deal by taking $25 off the regular price for a model with a software patch that includes some inobtrusive ads, they had me. The Wi-Fi Kindle with Special Offers cost me just over $100. Not bad, considering that there are thousands of public domain books available for free -- so many you have force yourself to be selective!

There's just one "accessory" for the Kindle that you really ought to have: a wireless router. You can get one that will be adequate for downloading books for under $20, although it would probably be wise to spend a little more. I was able to borrow one from a friend who had recently upgraded his, so I was spared the necessity of choosing one right now. I'll be blogging about that selection very soon.