A Product Review of Amazon's Kindle eReader

I have owned a Kindle 2 ever since they came out in February, 2009 and have been in love with it ever since. This digital reader has really transformed my life. As a graduate student I'm able to upload my textbooks in the form of e-books onto my Kindle for a fraction of the price of a hardback text. It makes it extremely convenient to eliminate a backpack full of books each day as I head to class. I can even bookmark important pages to discuss later in class or highlight passages and email them to myself for later use.

Worth Every Penny:

The Kindle 2 costs around $300, which is a price drop from the original $350. They are worth every penny, especially when you factor in the numerous free and low-cost e-books available on the Kindle store and all over the web. I have uploaded nearly 200 free e-books off the internet and have enjoyed reading dozens of them already. I tote this little digital device around with me, everywhere I go. When I pull it out, I get a dozen curious questions from fascinated onlookers. In a few short months I have already enticed a handful of individuals to purchase a Kindle of their own.

Protecting Your Kindle:

I have found that the port to charge my Kindle on the Kindle itself has become worn and the cord is loose when charging. This is why I highly recommend you purchase the extended warranty so they can cover small damages such as these ones. Others have complained of sun damage to their screens. This has not been the case with myself, however. You'll also want to purchase a waterproof bag if you plan to use it on the beach or while taking a bubble bath. These can be found on Amazon. Most of all, a Kindle cover and/or a Kindle bag as these will protect the Kindle as you port it around and you don't have to worry about breaking your special device. Be advised that Amazon has a video that shows the Kindle dropping to the floor and is highly resistant to damage from falls.

Extraordinary Features:

Kindles use a revolutionary e-ink technology which allows you to read your Kindle in direct sunlight. It even has a few experimental features on it, from free internet (called Whispernet), to a very basic Mp3 player. The biggest upgrade from the original Kindle to the Kindle 2 has been the text-to-speech option that will read the book aloud to you in various speeds and voices of your choosing. These are all features that make the Kindle unique as the Sony ereader does not have these. My favorite feature on my Kindle is the ability to adjust the size of the text according to your preference. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase and highly recommend it to fellow readers and/or students like myself.