7 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Kindle

Just like cell phones and iPods, EBooks will transform the way we do things in the coming years. Techno geeks say that the eBook revolution is impending and we will be the last generation using paper books. Amazon seems to have nailed this booming trend by producing an eBook that leaves competition in the dust, but are we ready to replace tomes like war and peace with a sleek device that is so thin you can cut cheese with it?

In October of this year Amazon launched it's International version of Kindle 2, an eBook that can store up to 1500 books , is lighter and thinner than a typical paperback and can let you download your favorite newspaper, or buy the latest NY times bestseller at the touch of a button. This new version runs on AT&T's network and can access content on cellular networks inside and outside the US.

With a Kindle store holding over 360,000 books, newspapers, magazine and blogs, and the possibility of reading free samples of books and periodicals, before you actually buy the e version at a reduced price, it is no wonder that this product is Amazon's number one best seller.

According to the Association of American Publishers, USA consumers spent $15.9 million on e-books in September09, (a 171% increase from September 2008), and Forrester Research estimates that domestic consumers will buy 6 million e-readers in 2010, ( 3 million ereaders were sold this year).*1

If you are one of the millions tempted to buy the new Kindle, here are some points that should help you decide if forking out the green on this slick new gadget is a good idea.

1. Price

At present the biggest barrier to e-book nirvana is the initial price of the reading device. Kindle and it's closest competition Sony's e-book are pricey gadgets. Though prices have gone down drastically, Kindle starts at $259 and Sony's readers start at $200. The electronic version of a book that you can download from the Kindle store starts at $9.99 and electronic subscriptions to newspapers are a fraction of the price you pay for the physical ones. Though there are undeniable financial perks if you get the Kindle as a gift, (and Kindle does come with some free downloads,) I am sure that $250 plus the extras, is not on the shopping list of the millions who are living from pay to check.

2. Durability

You can buy a hundred year old book, but you would be one of the lucky few if your Kindle survives unscathed from more than a handful of years. Books are not water or fire proof but they are shock proof. They don't shatter in a million pieces when they fall out of your hands. A book can be torn if mishandled but you can easily repair the pages with an inexpensive roll of tape. Though Amazon has made tremendous improvement on the design of its product, the Kindle still feels flimsy in your hands and it is light years away from being a sturdy device you can carelessly chuck in your purse or back pack. Once your precious Kindle is gone, it is gone for good.

3. Books require zero maintenance and have no strings attached

A book's inert simplicity makes it withstand the test of time. There is no battery to recharge and you can read your book anywhere in the world - even outside AT&T's network. An occasional dusting will keep your library ship shape and ready for use for decades. The battery of a Kindle will last you a couple of days before you need to recharge it. If like me you are always travelling and you forget your charger at home, you're fried.

... and now for the advantages...

4. The Kindle is a genius lightweight space saving device.

Paper books are cumbersome and heavy. They take precious space in your house and in your bag. I love books and hate clutter. One of the things that really annoys me is when I have to find a space in my very crowded bookshelves for a book I have just read. A Kindle lets you carry a massive library in a dainty purse.

5. The Kindle is convenient.

This machine's biggest asset is it's convenience. Apart from carrying your library in your purse or backpack, if you have a Kindle but you can purchase the latest NY times best seller without getting out of bed - even if you are on the other side of the Atlantic.

6. E-books defy physics

Once you have virtual access to your Kindle store, you can buy books and periodicals, and they will be delivered to you in less than a minute. E-books are never out of stock at the bookstore, and the delivery of your favorite periodical does not depend on snail mail. You don't have to be home to pick up the newspaper delivery at your door - and the best perk of all - your neighbor can't steal your NY Times before you grab it.

Kindle gives you access to 5000 top world blogs, reads your iPhone and iPod touch without any cables, service plans or syncing. It is a god send for those you travel a lot or who like to read on their commute.

7. A Kindle is eco friendly

On a final note don't be alarmed if you hear a strange moan when you push the virtual button to confirm the purchase of your new Kindle on the Amazon site - it is just a tree somewhere in a remote forest on the other side of the globe emitting a humongous sigh of relief. In an era where we are more aware of our carbon footprint and trends push us to go paperless, a Kindle is a must for those who want to go green. Even if we recycle 100% of our literature, there is an inherent cost to our planet when we manufacture paper and then recycle it.

Sources

David Carnoy "Amazon Kindle wireless device" cnet.com

*1David Liberman "Tension grows as Publishers target amazon Kindle pricing."Usatoday.com