Once upon a time, in a land far away, I would read many books during the course of a month. Then life became busier and I would read a few books a year. Once I moved to Thailand and the daily commute meant twelve hour days and a frazzled mind; what was required in the evening was a bottle of red rather than a soothing novel. Still, in my final months of employment, I used to buy books thinking “I’ll read this once I have retired”. Once I retired, I did manage to work through most of them, although a few remain to be consumed; but my book reading never reached the levels I had envisaged.
When the iPad came along I had dreams of sitting on the balcony, enjoying a cool breeze, and devouring the latest best-seller. That didn’t work, because the iPad’s glorious screen turns to reflective mush in bright light. So I enjoy the occasional book on the iPad indoors, and purchase a “real book” on occasions.
Then The Son arrived with his Kindle. What sort of crappy gadget could an on-line bookstore produce? A surprisingly good and non-crappy gadget as it turned out. Still, difficult to obtain if living in Thailand, I am sure. Checked on Amazon. Where do you live Mr. Amazon asked me? I told him. No problem sunshine, was his upbeat response. Click here and your Kindle will be with you in four days. So I did and it was.
The base price is $139. Courier to Thailand is $20. Then you pay a $40 deposit for import duties; some of which I hope will be refunded. So what do you get for something less than $200?
Physically, not a lot. It’s small and light. Almost exactly the same weight as a paperback book; but much thinner.
Capacity is 1,500 books, enough to keep you entertained through a long weekend; and battery life is one month. The extraordinary battery life is due to the technology that puts the letters on the “page”. E-ink presents the page and then does not require any power to keep it there. Which means no refreshing, no back-lighting; just a clear, crisp readable page. In fact it is remarkably similar to a printed page in a book, which I suppose is the idea. Take it into the sunshine and it is as readable as a book would be; sit with it in a darkened room and you will need a light to help you read, just as you would need for a real book.
When you remove your Kindle from the “certified frustration free” packaging (took me five frustrating minutes) and turn it on, you find that the machine has already been registered to your name, and any eBooks you have already bought are being loaded. Neat. Let’s go to a book I am in the middle of reading on the iPad. Open the book and it takes you to the same page that you were reading on the other machine. Even neater. Something called Whispersync ensures that your libraries and bookmarks are kept consistent across all your Kindle readers.
Perhaps I should change the font size and screen shades to suit my failing eyesight:
All set, let’s finally sit out on the balcony and enjoy a book in the late afternoon sunshine. And it is just like reading a book; except you turn the pages by clicking rather than turning. It’s really, really good at what it is designed to do; no wonder it is Amazon’s best selling product.
What it doesn’t do so well is browse the web. The inbuilt wifi lets you browse the Amazon store, or visit other web sites; but it is hard work and not worth the effort. Also not worth the effort is to dump music onto it and struggle with the feeble controls. But these are small niggles, as a book reader the Kindle is excellent.
So where does the iPad fit in? Well, they may look like similar devices; but they are at different price points and capabilities. The Kindle is a small, light, use anywhere book reader. The iPad is a bigger, heavier entertainment centre. When it comes to reading, the iPad rules for magazines, newspapers and books with lots of pretty pictures; but for everything else the Kindle will be easier on your eyes and your wallet.
Which to choose? Well, of course a civilised life requires both.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to read a biography of Bernie Ecclestone The Grapes of Wrath on the balcony.
Comments 🔗
2011-03-11| Pete saysBoth very interesting machines, but I’d pick the one that doesn’t display words like ‘specular’ as a noun. And “Surface Efficiency” - What’s that all about? Is it an arty-farty term for ‘albedo’?
Grapes of Wrath and a biography of Bernie Ecclestone are both better reading than ‘Creative lighting techniques for studio photographers’ IMHO
2011-03-12| Barry saysInteresting review. I have lately been talking to colleagues from the UK about such a device, with me stating that nothing feels like having a real book in your hand and the Kindle won’t catch on. Rubbish, they said. The Tube is full of people deeply absorbed in their Kindles and stop being such an old fart. So I’m now getting tempted. But you’re spending $200 before you even get started on reading a book. You don’t have that kind of expense up-front when you buy a printed book. So - what is the point, I ask? Cheaper to buy a Kindle version of a book on-line, perhaps? Pray tell, old chap. By the way, second hand books - real books - can cost as little as 1p plus postage on Amazon.
2011-03-12| Spike saysYou lost me at albedo.
2011-03-12| Spike saysWith an improved device and a much lower price, it does seem to have caught on; it’s the best selling product on the Amazon store. ebooks can be obtained from many places for as little as zero pence and no postage. A Kindle is easier to hold than a real book and the reading experience is exactly the same. If I was packed on The Tube, a Kindle would be much easier to manage; and do I want to take ten books on holiday, or one Kindle with another 1,000 books on back-up in case I get bored.
But none of the above are way I bought it, I am just a techno-whore for neat gadgets.
2011-03-13| Wentworth saysI find books especially good for killing insects and small animals, how do the kindle and the ipad perform in this regard?
2011-03-17| Spike saysIf used in frisbee style; surprisingly effective; although the Kindle now has crack down one side and a cat has a slight limp.