What is it?

Amazon's Kindle is a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. Designed to provide an exceptional reading experience, Kindle utilizes a revolutionary new display technology called Electronic Paper. The display is as sharp and clear as reading ink on paper, except it's on a digital screen. This is different than reading a book on your computer screen; The Kindle's screen is designed not to cause the strain and glare normally associated with reading a computer screen for long periods, and it's portable so you can sit wherever you'd normally find yourself reading, like on a comfy couch.

Amazon wanted Kindle to be completely mobile and simple to use for everyone, so they made it wireless. No PC and no syncing needed. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, Amazon delivers your content using their own wireless delivery system, Amazon Whispernet. Unlike WiFi, you’ll never need to locate a hotspot. There are no confusing service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills—Amazon takes care of the hassles so you can just read.

"With Whispernet, you can be anywhere, think of a book, and get it in one minute. Similarly, your content automatically comes to you, wherever you are. Newspaper subscriptions are delivered wirelessly each morning. Most magazines arrive before they hit newsstands. Haven’t read the book for tomorrow night’s book club? Get it in a minute. Finished your book in the airport? Download the sequel while you board the plane. Whether you’re in the mood for something serious or hilarious, lighthearted or studious, Kindle delivers your spontaneous reading choices on demand." - from the Amazon Kindle Page

Kindle also lets you download and read the beginning of books that you're interested in. If you like it, you just purchase it with 1-Click and continue reading. Newspaper subscriptions have great deals too; you get a risk-free two-week trial subscription. If you don't like it, just don't buy it.

Books

Amazon.com: "Whether you prefer biographies, classics, investment guides, thrillers, or sci-fi, thousands of your favorite books are available. The Kindle Store offers more than 99 of 112 books currently found on the New York Times® Best Seller list and we’re adding more all the time. New York Times Best Sellers are $9.99, and you'll find many books for less. Can't decide what to buy? Kindle lets you download and read the beginning of any book for free. This way, you can try it out—if you like it, simply buy and download with 1-Click, right from your Kindle, and continue reading."

Me: I love to read, but I can't always find the time to shop for them. I love the idea that I can just browse an online catalogue, preview titles I'm interested in seconds, then purchase it for a small fee and finish reading it. This technology has been around for ring tones for years, it's about time book lovers got a device catered to our interests. And from the standpoint of living green: I usually only read a book once, then I shelf it or sell it on Amazon. I shudder to think of all the wasted paper their is stored up in all of our homes, offices, libraries and so many other places. Inventions like this are putting us giant leaps forward into a paperless society.

Blogs

Me: I dig blogs, but I find them extremely trivial reading. What I mean by that is, I don't schedule time in my life for blog reading like I do book reading. I read them when I have the time, like on the train during my commute for example. Doing this on my data phone can be frustrating because of slow load times and the tiny screen. Kindle's Electronic Paper digital-display system has got my back, though. No more eye-straining to read what Perez Hilton has to say about Lindsay Lohan!

Personal Files

Me: I carry around an 8gb thumb drive everywhere I go, which is great when I want to pick up a cd from a friend, or a video I saw somewhere, and especially to transport documents from computer to computer. Unfortunately, it can't display them, and is reliant on a computer. With Kindle I can do a lot more than just transport them around with me. Now I have the power to view, edit, and email my documents.

Audiobooks

Me: Again with the book thing. I like to read, but some things are just a little too thick for me to stay awake through. I'm trudging through Howard Zinn's A People's History.. right now, and it's really wearing me out. Enter the audiobook; problem solved. And if I fall asleep I don't have to worry about getting drool on my electronic pages =)

Paper-like Screen

Amazon.com: Utilizing a new high-resolution display technology called electronic paper, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white screen that resembles the appearance and readability of printed paper. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. It reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.The screen never gets hot so you can comfortably read as long as you like.

Me: Did I mention the Electronic Pages? You can't beat technology. Every problem I encounter while trying to read books on my computer, including the fact that I don't even know how to find most books for my computer, is solved by this device. No more eye-straining and no more neck-aching makes me a happy reader.

Ergonomic Design

Amazon.com: We wanted Kindle to be as easy to hold and use as a book, so we designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions often. Kindle's full-length, vertical page-turning buttons are located on either side, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably from any position. Navigation on both sides means both "lefties" and "righties" can easily use Kindle with one hand. And at only 10.3 ounces, Kindle is lighter and thinner than a typical paperback.

Me: Design is one of the first things I look at in a product. Is this something I want to hold for hours at a time? My phone is the same way, I couldn't spend as much time as I do on it without a great design that keeps my hands comfortable. Kindle really goes the extra mile for my comfort.

Keyboard

Me: Again with the phone references, but I had to have a phone with a QWERTY keyboard. When I type, I like to do so with full punctuation, as well as typing speed, available to me. Having to hit a combination of 3 or 4 buttons just to get a comma is unacceptable. Kindle is fully prepared to hanldle my 65wpm fingers, and like my phone comes with a set of shortcuts to make navigation easier.

Wireless Access to Wikipedia

Amazon.com: Kindle also includes free built-in access to the world's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org. With Kindle in hand, looking up people, places, events and more has never been easier. It gives whole new meaning to the phrase walking encyclopedia.

Me: I can't even tell you how many times a day I do wikipedia searches for whatever topic. It has to be the single most valuable resource to emerge from our present internet revolution. Wireless access to wikipedia content is exactly what I need in the heat of debate, and that rarely takes place in front of my computer screen. Kindle can be my hidden weapon, so to speak, thwarting nay-sayers and the too-informed alike.

In closing, I just want to say I think this thing is great. Here are just a few reasons why it's a perfect fit for me (minus the $400 price tag!)

• It doesn't appear to have any kind of web browser, which means you won't waste your time on it surfing around doing nothing, like I always end up doing on my dataphone.
• The filesize on books is tiny, less than a megabyte in most cases, so they download almost instantly, and you can store many of them.
• It has RSS capabilities, so you can keep up on all your favorite blogs and feeds.
• There are literally thousands of newspapers and magazines to choose from, with more being added daily, so news is never a problem, and it's not hard to find sources you trust either.
• The QWERTY keyboard, protective cover, and general layout of the machine are all major plusses. It's light, portable, and extremely convenient. Almost like holding an actual book.
• And last it has all kinds of gadgets you can install and attach to it, providing a unique and fully functional user experience.
• It's digital! Which means it's one step closer to moving the world towards a more environmentally-friendly, paperless society.
• No monthly fees is a huge plus too. The price you pay when you buy it is the only price you pay unless you want to purchase content. In other words, you don't pay for the wireless access on it. Amazon provides that for you.

All in all, this is a perfect fit for anyone who is really into reading of any kind. And you can feel good you're making a green decision everytime you purchase a book or read a newspaper article on it. I give it 5 stars.