I’ve always loved my Kindle*. I never used it as much as I wanted to, since much of my reading was done on paperback ARCs sent to my door, but lately I’ve received more e-galleys that I can read on my Kindle, and I’ve also been making an effort to do more personal-choice reading.
After losing my ipod touch, I decided to replace it with the much-cheaper nano. However, that meant that I wouldn’t be able to use it for email or game apps. I survived, but when the Kindle Fire came out, I wanted it! I could use it to watch my Amazon Prime free video content; I could get some game apps from the android market, I could use it for email and web on the go, and well — yeah, I might use it to read.
I put it on my Christmas list and lo and behold, my wish was his command. After using it for over a month, here are some of the ways that the Kindle Fire has surprised me:
- I actually enjoy reading on it! I honestly thought that the Fire would be my tablet toy, but I’d still use my old Kindle with the e-ink screen for reading. Boy was I wrong. The backlit screen doesn’t bother me at all. I generally keep the brightness turned way down (about 25%), and it doesn’t bother my eyes at all. Believe me, this had been a concern. I spend enough time staring at screens, and the thought of a glossy backlit screen didn’t appeal to me at all (though I thought it would be good for nighttime reading in the car, and it is).
- However, it really won’t do for outside reading. This weekend my husband and I got away to Florida with some friends. I brought my “new toy” (as my husband calls it), but it did NOT do for reading on the back patio or by the pool. I do a lot of reading outside on vacation and at home, so I’ll probably choose to bring the traditional Kindle, E Ink Display when that’s going to be the case.
- The game apps aren’t nearly as great as those available for Apple devices (no Diner Dash! No Chocolatier!), but that’s probably fine. I’ve amused myself with Sally’s Salon and kept my son entertained with Angry Birds.
- It’s heavier than I would have thought. Especially holding on to it and trying to play games, I noticed the weight. However, I bought the Marware jurni Kindle Fire Case Cover that has a sort of pocket you can slip your hand into without gripping it so tightly, and I love it. It does make a difference.
Have you been surprised — either positively or negatively — by your ereader or tablet purchase?
*Here are all the posts I’ve written about my Kindle:
- My thoughts on the Kindle (5/09)
- A month of e-reading (6/10)
- Hello, Kindle, my old friend (2/11)
- My Kindle got skinned 9/11
I got the Kobo Vox for Christmas and I have heard similar things in regards to reading it outside. I will find out myself as I am going to sunshine and warmth in a few days with my family.
Reading outside is definitely important! I always travel with at least one “real” book too. I forgot to mention the other thing that’s a drag is that since it’s an electronic device, you can’t read while the plane is taking off and descending, so I come prepared 🙂
How exciting! I have the Kindle keyboard that I bought about a year ago. I have to admit that when I saw all the new ones come out (and the Fire!) I was a bit jealous, but I still love mine.
There are three things I don’t like about the Kindle. One, you can’t read in the dark, which I suppose isn’t the biggest of issues because you can’t read a regular book in the dark either. Two, Kindle books don’t have the same page numbers that their “real” counterparts do. That’s disappointing, because I can’t buy books for some of my college classes because I need to have the page numbers. Third, when you add a book to your Kindle it isn’t automatically put into a category. I would’ve liked the Kindle to come with its own, but instead you have to make them yourself and add the books individually. Not terrible, but I think it would’ve been cool to have pre-determined categories.
But I do love my Kindle, and I’ve gotten enough free and extremely cheap books to make up the cost of the device, so that’s pretty nice!
When I first got the kindle, I was excited to be able to read in the dark (at bedtime if my husband is sleeping, or in the dark in the car), but then my friend told me you couldn’t. I do find that because it’s just one page, not 2 like a book, a booklight works very very well.
And I didn’t figure out the whole category thing until I had it for over a year!! So I do love putting them in folders.
I wish there were page numbers too:)
My daughter received a Kindle (keyboard, not the Fire) for her birthday, and I’ve been surprised by how much we all like it. I mean, mostly she’s the one who uses it (it is hers, afterall) but we’ve all tried it. I didn’t think I’d like it, but I love the convenience of having all those books on one, lightweight device. And for her, she finds that making the text bigger really helps her to read more easily. I guess we are converts. 🙂
The prices have come down SO much now that you really could have several.
I’m more willing to let my 2nd one go so that the kids can use it, so that works.