Amazon.com has set its sights on revolutionizing the way consumers read books with its new portable reading device, called "Kindle."
Released in mid-November, the device is about the size of a paperback novel. Kindle retails for $399 and holds up to 200 titles, right at your fingertips. It's easy-to-read screen adapts to inside or outside light and you can read for days before having to recharge the battery. My feelings are mixed about the Kindle. There's just something soothing about holding a novel in your hands, rather than a plastic device. However, Kindle does have advantages. And good news: after months of back orders, Amazon now has Kindle's in stock. Here are my thoughts on the pros and cons:
Advantages:
- Ideal for those who live away from big city bookstores or those who travel regularly.
- Auto-delivery of newspapers from around the world is a nice feature.
- Easy to carry and you never lose your place.
- Instant downloads of more than 90,000 books and newspapers.
Disadvantages:
- The price. To me, you can buy a lot of books for the $399 cost.
- Currently, Kindle is only available to customers in the United States.
Is this the future of reading? I doubt it, but Kindle is an interesting addition to the publishing world.
