Amazon Kindle as Traveling Library?

[eHemingway.com]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has tried out Amazon.com's Kindle. I've been thinking of taking the plunge. I'm a gadget geek who likes to read so the Kindle definitely seems to be the perfect little thing to take along on trips, etc.

Looking for reviews before plunking down $400.

[Hijo]

I have a friend who got one recently - Christmas? - as a present. He loves the thing. It has flaws, he notes, like you accidentally turn it off or move its page somehow because of the controls' placement, but he thinks it's very easy to read on because of its lighting etc and has stored on it such opuses as Greenspan's latest book, and loves carrying books and articles and whatever else he can get downloaded cheaply onto it in such a small, lightweight (compared to books) gadget.

We discussed how it would/should be a boon to students who from early on are breaking their backs with books, and how it might make studying easier as you can highlight, capture, annotate, etc without wrecking a book you had planned to pass on at some point.

Also you no doubt are aware that suddenly, as in this year and since the Kindle's appearance, major publishers are wanting to make their books "downloadable" on Kindle or other "e-book" tools, essentially now making vast libraries of even foreign published texts and books available to virtually everyone and anyone for a fee that is far less than that of an actual book. And the cost to the publisher is negligible compared to setting up a print run, distribution, sales, etc.

I don't have one yet, by the way, as I unfortunately am still a fan of the tactile feel of a good, hard-cover book in my hands. But you could apparently put a small personal library on the thing, and for apartment, ship, or even shanty or tent dwellers, you don't have to worry about such a wealth of available wisdom or entertainment taking up your living space. And traveling, if you like to read, like my friend and fellow commuter, it's worth the cost. And will likely cost less as time goes on.

Allbest,
Hijo