8BitKid: Living Bit by Bit

A couple of weeks ago, I finally received my Amazon Kindle in the mail. Almost two months passed from the time I placed my order until the day it reached my doorstep. For those unfamiliar with the product, it is an ebook reader that allows a user to download books wirelessly from an Amazon store via a cellular-based network called “Whispernet”. The Kindle certainly isn’t the first ebook reader on the block, but the ability to get your content delivered to your device wirelessly sets this one apart because there is no computer required.

You can read my full review of the product after the jump…

First Impressions
The Kindle arrived in svelte packaging that bordered on an apple-esque unboxing experience. It was simple to get set up, and within minutes I had it integrated with my existing Amazon account and had purchased my first book. Also, they preloaded a handy getting-started guide on the Kindle for those who don’t like to dive right in.

Reading
The text is remarkably sharp. The e-ink technology makes the screen crisp with very high contrast. It is not backlit, but I actually appreciate that because it makes the Kindle experience seem more like reading an actual book. The Kindle pages forwards and backwards via buttons on either side of the screen. While this makes it easy to advance through the text, it makes the device difficult to grip. I recommend holding it from the bottom to avoid accidentally changing the page. The e-ink technology excels at power management because it only applies power when changing the page. The problem is that this causes a somewhat jarring flash every time the page turns. This bothered me at first, but I have gotten used to it.

The Wireless Store
The wireless access to the Amazon store is really what sets the Kindle apart. While it is simple to access the store, browsing is a bit pokey, due to the slow refresh rate of the e-ink screen. However, purchased books appeared almost instantly, and it was light years beyond side-load purchasing experiences in terms of simplicity. Plus, you can subscribe to newspapers and have them delivered every day. While this is a convenient way to consume this kind of daily content, you have to pay a subscription fee for each newspaper. This can be a hard pill to swallow, since you can get much of the same content for free online. In general, I found the purchasing experience to be pleasant and convenient.

Other Features
The Kindle also has some nifty extras. You get free access to Wikipedia, a dictionary, and some sort of question-answering service (I haven’t tried it yet…). There are additional experimental features, but I haven’t played with all of them. There is also this incredibly cool selection bar to the right of the page to help you know what you are highlighting, bookmarking, etc. by lighting up specifics pixels. It is hard to describe, but has an irresistible “wow” factor.

Final Thoughts
The Kindle certainly is not for everybody. For starters, the $400 price tag is quite the early-adopters tax, and then you have to pay for content. There are some design growing pains (although it looks much better in person), and finding a comfortable way to hold the device takes some experimenting. However, the Kindle is perfect for avid readers who spend a fair bit of time on the road. The Kindle is now a staple of my gadget bag, and I love being able to have my books and favorite newspapers with me wherever I go. It is light, compact, and easy to tote. The screen is truly remarkable, and the wireless store makes grabbing content a snap. I am 100% happy with my purchase, and look forward to seeing how Amazon continues to develop this platform and product.