Electronic books are a wonderful idea in theory. It makes perfect sense that in this day and age of high speed information exchange via the internet, why should trees have to suffer just so we can read the latest bestseller? Publishing books electronically allows a convenient and environmentally friendly way of distributing our favorite novels and non-fiction.
But, as anyone who has played around with ebooks knows, reading a whole novel on the computer is a trying experience. It's not much fun to stare at even the most high tech computer or laptop displays for long enough to read an entire book, and even with a laptop you can't comfortably curl up in bed with a good ebook, or take it to the beach to lie in the sun and read, or chuck it in your bag to read on the train.
That is, until now. Amazon's Kindle electronic book reader seeks to change the way we read ebooks by combing the best of both worlds, giving us an ebook reader that handles like a 'real' book.
The most striking feature of the Kindle is the electrophoretic display, a display that uses 'E Ink' technology, creating a viewing screen that looks just like a page from a paper book. The screen is easy to read and won't cause the eye strain that staring at a computer screen for hours would surely afflict on a reader. The Kindle isn't backlit, but due to the E Ink screen can be read in any lighting condition that a normal book could be read, including well lit rooms and in sunlight.
Ebooks are copied onto the Kindle via the EVDO cellular network, which the device connects to in the same manner as your cell phone. This allows the user to download new books for the Kindle from just about anywhere and at any time. The network is provided by Amazon and there is no charge to use it for Kindle users. Books can also be copied to the device from any PC via a USB interface.
Content for the Kindle is charged at prices from 99 cents to prices similar to what you might pay for a paper book. Some bonuses include the ability to read newspapers and blogs for relatively cheap prices, New York Times Bestsellers are priced at around $10, and Wikipedia can be accessed for free. Amazon offers sample chapters of all content available for the Kindle, so you can try before you buy.
Any ebook content you already own or documents you'd like to read on the go can be converted and uploaded to the Kindle free of charge via the USB connection, or sent via the EVDO network to the device for a small fee.
The Kindle can store up to 200 books on its in-built memory, and this memory can be expanded with the addition of an SD card. The Kindle can play audio books which can be listened to via a headphone jack, can browse the web with a simple browser, and even has a great dictionary feature where a user can highlight a word or passage and find it's definition.
With all these amazing features, the Kindle looks set to revolutionise books and the way we read them. If you are at all interested in the future of books and reading I advise you to check out the Amazon Kindle.
For more info on the Amazon Kindle check out Welcome Distractions: Amazon Kindle [http://www.welcomedistractions.com/category/amazon-kindle].
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