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In today’s post I will be reviewing;
Amazon’s Kindle 3
Amazon Kindle3
Product Details
- Manufacturer/Brand; Amazon
- Item number Kindle 3
- RRP at time of writing: From £109
Reason For Buying
I was lucky enough to receive my Kindle3 for Christmas this year. The reasons I really wanted one is firstly because I am dyslexic, if a book I want to read is printed with too small a print or in a font style I can’t read, then thats it, I just can’t read it. The Second reason is because of limited dexterity, I struggle to hold pages of books open.
Pros/Cons
Pros
- Versatility; I can change fonts, their size and the line spacing.
- The special e ink is amazing and for the first time in my life I can read this outside, something I am completely unable to do with regular books.
- Its quick and easy to switch between books
- Its quick and simple to purchase new books without having to get the computer out too.
- The device weighs about the same as a paperback but not having to hold the pages open is a big advantage over regular books and something I found very painful. The Kindle resolves this as its just a single layer
- The Kindle remembers what page you were on and saves it for you, when you next open the book it goes right to that page.
- If you are a techie type who has lots of gadgets there are Kindle aps for various devices and you can sync them to each other so if you read a Kindle at home but read on another device elsewhere they will tell each other what page you were on. You can choose to buy from your computer or direct from your Kindle if you have a WIFI point near you. There is a more expensive option of the Kindle which has its own WIFI so you can buy indipendantly if you do not have your own computer or WIFI network, this will connect to WIFI hotspots at coffee shops/airports etc.
- Storage! It would be nice to have the space to have a library room.But if like me you live in a small house, large collections of novels eat shelf space fast, and you don’t always want to part with books you have read. The Kindle solves this as it holds hundreds of books. Also handy is that there is an online back up of all the books you order on your Kindle account with Amazon.
- Price, Amazon have great prices on their ebooks, they vary as the store competes with special offers that may be instore. There are plenty of free books available too, lots of classics, so if you buget it tight, check those out.
Cons
Not really got any for me personally, The Kindle solved the biggest problems I had with regular books and althought I will still buy ‘real’ books for creative subjects, for novels this is the way I’ll be going. Its just too difficult to read standard paperbacks with my ‘issues’.
As others have said on forums the ‘screen savers’ or pictures the Kindle displays while it ‘sleeps’ aren’t to everyones taste. Historical authors and such. There are a couple of beautiful illustration plates from dictionary’s, one of birds which is my favorite and also an illustration plate from the Book of Kells which I also like. It would be nice if you could select one as a favorite to have on the screen. As it is there are a whole collection of them and the Kindle goes through its own list of onboard images. The resolution is amazing and is quite unlike other readers on the market.
Build Quality
Excellent. The cover is a dark grey, which is easy on the eye and not distracting as you read. There is a decent size frame around the reading area to give you plenty of space to hold your Kindle. The keyboard is robust and also out of the way. This makes for easy navigation of the Kindle store and also allows you to input information to your Kindle such as collection names for you books.
The back of the Kindle has a slightly grippy feel to it, almost feels soft. It is shaped and is very tactile and comfortable to hold. The buttons work well and are easy to operate. Just one thing to look out for, there are two buttons either side of the screen. Not looking properly I assumed that since the one on the right takes you a page forward, the one on the left would take you back a page…oops! Actually the page forward is the lower button and the page back is the smaller button on the same side positioned above it. This means that you can use the Kindle as a left or right hander
Value for Money
Excellent! The device is a bit of an investment but there are plenty of free books you can download and the pricing of Amazon’s ebooks is competitive. It’s very useful to be able to carry your favorite books around and for those who travel it will be a fantastic space saver in your luggage as well as space saving on shelves at home!
Would I buy it Again?
Yes!!!! I’m trying to convince Hubby he needs one too as he reads far more novels than me and they are threatening to take over the house.
Summing up
I love my Kindle 3. I hesitated a long time as I was not entirely happy to buy one blind, as they weren’t in any stores at the beginning. I did see a dummy one in a John Lewis store and they said they were getting real ones soon. So if you want to feel the thing in your hand first try them.
The Kindle rocks! It kicks Sony’s butt on e readers big time. The screen resolution is far better, there is more versatility with options for different fonts with the Kindle and so far haven’t heard anyone have broken screens as so often is the cry with the Sony readers. Its a much better price for what I consider a much better machine. If you are lucky enough to live in the USA there is even a Kindle DX which comes in around the size of an A4 piece of paper cool huh! If you struggle with your sight get a Kindle they are fantastic, you can have all the books in your collection in large print without having huge tomes to lug around. There are options on there for the Kindle to describe the options on the screen and a screen reader too. In fairness the screen reader is in the experiemental section and is a bit robotic for reading books, but when you are tired and eyes aren’t playing its an option.
Links
Soft Dog’s Kindle Demo on Amazon website. This is a side by side comparison between the Kindle 3 and a Sony Reader. It helped me decide. It shows the features and benefits of the Kindle.
Did you recieve a Kindle for Christmas and don’t know what do do next? Here’s how to set it up.
The Kindle is definately something you have to hold in your hand to appreciate how great it is. The photo above was taken on a gloomy day, and was not enhanced with photoshop, just put the name on it. Don’t judge the Kindle based on photos you see on a computer, the camera and your computer screen don’t do it justice. You need to see the display in person to see how good it is.
Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon
Billie 
My Kindle goes everywhere with me. I’ve had it for over a year and enjoy not being inundated with extra information while I read. The best part is knowing I have hundreds of books and magazines with me and I can choose between them. We also have an iPad but somehow that seems a totally different experience – so multi-media and alive. It confuses me and takes my concentration from one subject to another without warning…
So the Kindle is for the “reader” in me. The book reviewer, the intellectual because it allows me to focus.
Hi Val
It really is a completely different experience than reading on other devices. It doesn’t strain your eyes like bright screens on computer or other personal devices.
Great for anyone who reads LOADS of books and those who regularly travel.
I have heard so much about these machines – all good I hasten to add
I love books and my DH reckons the walls will fall down one day from the weight. I love books and love reading – must read – so don’t know yet if I’m prepared to go down the e reader path.
My book addiction is so costly though even through Amazon. Are the free downloads by good authors?
Might have to hum and hah over this for some while longer yet
So glad you are enjoying it though Billie.
Hugs
Lynn x
Hi Lynn
If you know someone with one, have a look. I love love mine. Its nouthing like reading off a phone or similar device, no bright screens etc.
The mat surface is non glare as is the screen. I struggled holding a book open and reading print, but the Kindle has solved both these problems and I don’t feel that I miss holding a book for reading for longer periods.
I still like ‘real’ books for crafting, especially because of the colour images, but for novels I’ll stick to a Kindle from now on.
Best tip for finding books for Kindle is to go to Amazon, and the Kindle store within it. From the Amazon Home page, there is a list of options one of which is Kindle, that is the Kindle store. Then search the Kindle store for your favorite author.
If you see books on Amazon that aren’t available for Kindle at the present, there is an option next to the book to ‘tell the publisher you would like this for Kindle’.
I’m not a gadget junkie, but I struggled with regular books and Kindle resolved the problems I had. Love it.
Try John Lewis stores, some are starting to have Kindles on display if don’t want to buy one without seeing it first.
Hugs
Billie x