Friday, March 16, 2012

One Stroky’s Journey: Test Driving a Kindle


My walking buddy Ann not only helps me with my stroke rehab, she is also acquainting me with new technology.

Last week after we finished our walk on the beach path, she delivered me home and came in for a visit. She told me about a book she wanted me to read written by a young woman recovering from a catastrophic brain aneurysm. Then she pulled out her Kindle and insisted on leaving it with me for a test drive.

A quick demonstration was all it took. Navigation was a snap. Although the size and weight didn’t feel exactly like a book, it didn’t matter. Someone designed the Kindle with readers in mind, and that sensory experience of holding with one hand and turning pages by touching a button with that same hand was every bit as seductive as holding a paperback with an intriquing, high gloss cover. And best of all, I didn’t have to take my glasses off and hold the page close to my nose to read. I could just make the type as big as I needed.

I know, fellow bloggers have sung the praises of their e-reader experiences. I am almost sold. I have to confess, though, that my frugality genes most often keep me from spending for books. Instead I go to the free paperback swap shelves at our local library.

That way there is no guilt in not finishing a book when the first page or so fails to engage me. But Ann said she would clue me in to Web sites that offer free limited time offers of good newly published books.

I finished two during my test drive. The only other thing that gives me pause is that I can already tell that a Kindle would be addictive. 

6 comments:

  1. I enjoy my Kindle, but I also enjoy my books. I think that the convenience of the Kindle is one of its great strengths. Our public library allows for the "borrowing" of Kindle books. They are downloaded for free for a certain length of time similar to checking out a book. You might want to check this out. My husband reads many free books on his Kindle.

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  2. After my pets, my Kindle is my for sure rescue in a fire.
    There are so many free books available, a lot first time authors. I have over two hundred stored in mine to be read and only about 4 of those were paid for.
    It is a marvelous invention.
    Catch the fever.

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  3. I love my Kindle also.

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  4. our library here has e-books to lend, just log on and download. i don't have a kindle but my friends borrow from the library. also you can download an app to your computer or lap top to read books, or so i was told. i have not done that because i spend enough time staring at the computer screen and feel it would be award for reading. everyone i know that has a kindle loves it.

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  5. Thank you all for the voices of kindle experience. Since I am not driving at this stage of recovery, downloading books sounds perfect.

    I spend enough time staring at the computer screen, and the kindle did not seem to tire my eyes the way my computer does.

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  6. I haven't tried it, but I think Amazon will buy back used ebooks, Kindle books that is. Also, Tom Stightings says he gets ebboks from his library. Imagine having it sent electronically from the library.

    The only down side for me as a student who has purchased a number of ebooks is that some of them don't have good footnote applications. The pop books ususlly do, but they don't have the footnotes that text books have. Dianne

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