Kindle Review: The Original eReader
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At $79, you can’t get a better deal on an eReader. The Kindle from Amazon has been around the longest and been through more trials, with consumers, than any other similar product. However, with a low price comes very few features. The screen is not a touch screen and all controls are done with a 5 way controller button, even typing. The Kindle comes with wife, but no 3G option, which means you can only download new books where you can get a Wi-Fi connection. The allocated space for books is lower than any other model. But there are no good reasons not to buy the original Kindle if you just want a compact, lightweight eReader.
First of all, consider the size and space for books. The 2GB is more like 1.25GB, but that is still enough space for around 1400 books. If you buy, and continue to store, that many eBooks, maybe you need another model of eReader. That capacity is probably enough, and unless you want to re-read those books, you can always start tossing the ones you’ll never read again. The Kindle is a very small eReader, and for some people that is great, while others feel it is just a little too small. The 6 inch (diagonally) screen is smaller than other eReaders. However, if you compare it to a small paperback, the Kindle size does make sense. So while the Kindle is small and has limited storage space, both of those factors may not be critical for most users.
As for battery life and charging, the Kindle seems to do what it needs to do. The battery is said to last for one month, but that is based on 30 minutes of reading per day and no wireless use. Even with frequent Wi-Fi and downloading, the Kindle should last for 3 weeks with infrequent reading, somewhere around a total of ten to fifteen hours of reading time. That should get you through most days. The Kindle comes with a USB power charger, and the wall adapter will cost extra. However, if you have a USB to wall power adapter already for any of your other devices, that should work fine. Inexpensive adapters are easy to find online.
Click here to visit the Amazon Kindle Page
The Kindle is about the size of a paperback.
The biggest problems for users have to do with the little 5 way button and the fact that there is no 3G and absolutely no audio books. Again, if you are looking for a simple, straight forward eReader, these features will not be an issue. If you download most of your books at home, the Wi-Fi should not be a problem, although there are a few users who report problems connecting to Wi-Fi. When you search for books, you’ll use the 5 way button to select letters from a pop up keyboard. This can be time consuming. But the hope is that you’ll only do this once in a while, and some users simply search for books on their computer and go to the Kindle once they know they’ve found something they can download.
All in all, the Kindle is a straightforward approach to eReaders. Amazon has created a device that allows you to have hundreds of books at your fingertips and that’s about it. You can change the font size and zoom in on pictures. The E Ink technology is great and reading is possible in bright sunshine or in your living room. Like other eReaders that are not backlit, the Kindle is easy on the eyes but you must have some light to read by. Reading from the Kindle is very similar to reading a book, but at just under 6 ounces, it is a really lightweight book. The entire thing is only 6.5 by 4.5 inches and about a third of an inch thick. You really can just put it in your pocket.
As far as bugs and issues go, the Kindle does seem to have some screen problems on defective models. A percentage of users find that half of the screen fails without any provocation or misuse. However, unlike the folks at Barnes and Noble who will replace defective Nooks with refurbished products, at Amazon they will refund your money and you can purchase a new item if you want to try again. For some, customer service is critical, and Amazon seems to be pretty steady in that department. The Kindle gets rave reviews from most Kindle users who want a simple, small, and easy way to read a lot of books without carrying them around.
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Kindle Technical Specs
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| Price | $79 |
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| Design | |
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| Touch Screen | No |
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| Screen Size | 6” |
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| Screen Type | E Ink |
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| Resolution | 800 x 600 |
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| Overall Size | 6.5″ x 4.5″x .34″ |
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| Weight | 5.98 ounces |
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| Content | |
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| EBooks | 2.6 million |
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| Magazines | 368 |
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| Newspapers | 131 |
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| Memory & Battery | |
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| Memory | 2GB for 1,400 books |
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| Battery Life | 1 month |
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