“But I prefer the feeling of a book in your hands.” You’ve heard it all before when someone brings up e-readers such as the Kindle. It was also my usual line. However, I gave in to my husband’s pressure and asked him to buy me one as a Christmas gift. These are my main points of view on a Kindle.
Convenience. It’s convenient to have an e-reader. An e-reader can hold five thousand books. It’s great for traveling and handy to have a few thousand books on hand in case you get stuck in traffic or in line.
There are many books available. Amazon offers thousands of eBooks. After you purchase an eBook, you can save them to your library and have them available whenever you wish.
Free books. A huge selection of books can be obtained for free through the Kindle Store, or websites like the Gutenberg project. Sending an attachment to a specific e-mail address will allow you to have the book delivered to your Kindle automatically if it isn’t in Kindle format.
Access to online library collections. Many libraries in the US allow you to check out eBooks free of charge.
You will find cheaper books. Books from recent years are a little more affordable in Kindle format than they are in print. In general, eBooks are much cheaper than print.
Internet, music and games. You can also surf the net (clumsily, it works), listen mp3 recordings (music and podcasts), or play games.
Dictionary. Dictionary. The dictionary feature is especially useful. Simply place your cursor on a word to instantly see its definition. It’s a great way for you to improve your vocabulary.
Translations. Translations.
Electronic markers. Electronic markers are a great alternative to using a pencil and ruining your book.
There is no need for a booklight. The light is not needed to read at night. The screen’s brightness can be adjusted.
Large print. You can increase font size (and font style)
The battery lasts for a long time. The Kindle can run for up to weeks before it needs to be charged.
Search function. It is easy to search for a specific word in a book.
Paperless. Paperless saves many trees.
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A Kindle’s disadvantages
It’s not a book. It’s not a book.
It’s electronic. It cannot be read in the bathtub. It will eventually need to charge, even though it has a long battery life.
Eye strain and retention. Although Kindles don’t use blue light, the strain on your eyes can still be caused by staring at a computer screen. Natural light is better for the eyes than paper books. Studies have shown that those who read with natural light instead of backlit may retain more of what they have read.
No color. Images are black-and white at this time.
It’s more difficult to share. It’s more difficult to lend books to others. They are working on a feature to allow you to “loan” an e-copy for two weeks to someone (removing that book temporarily from your Kindle). It does have the advantage that you get the book back once it’s been lent out. However, it’s not the same. A family will find it easier to have a book available for everyone, so they don’t have to worry about who is reading it.