There are already thousands of reviews about the first generation and second generation Kindle e-readers offered by Amazon. This review will include a brief description of the Kindle's incredible features and how the Kindle and Amazon are helping people read more books than ever before and how the Kindle 2 can help pay for itself.
Kindle 2 Features
The Kindle 2 works exactly as advertised and after the novelty (no pun intended) wears off, the Kindle does indeed fade into the background as Amazon says it will. With the e-Ink technology and non-glare screen it's easy to forget that the Kindle isn't an honest to goodness book.
Access to Millions of Books
Amazon's Kindle 2 offers access to an amazing variety of books without a trip to a brick and mortar bookstore or the library. While Amazon certainly does a brisk business selling electronic copies of new releases and selections from the New York Times' bestseller lists, Amazon, along with many other websites, offers free or reduced cost versions of classic books that are now out of copyright. Examples of titles available for free from Amazon or other sources include:
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
- The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe
- Pride and Prejudice
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- Treasure Island
In addition to the wonders of classic literature, some up and coming authors also offer ebooks for free to try and gain new readers and exposure. These free ebooks are an excellent way to try new authors or read forgotten about works of classic literature. Using ebooks can also help reduce the cost of summer reading for high school and college students as summer reading lists usually include one or more tried and true classics that can cost $6.99 or more per book at a brick and mortar bookstore but may be available for free online.
Saving Money with the Kindle
While the Amazon Kindle 2 represents an initial investment of approximately $190 avid readers can easily save that much money in a year by downloading electronic books instead of purchasing physical copies of the books they want to read.
As mentioned above, many classics are available for free. These same classic books are certainly not available for free at Border's or Barnes & Noble, nor are they free at used bookstores. By downloading available free classics rather than purchasing a copy substantial savings can be realized.
Also, many new release hardcovers are available for $9.99 via Amazon representing great savings on purchasing the exact same hardcover. Of course the downside is one cannot loan a Kindle book out after reading it but with list prices of some new releases exceeding $23.99, the inability to loan the electronic copy seems a reasonable concession given the savings. (Not all new releases are available at the $9.99 price point. Some books, most notably those from Penguin Books, are priced higher.)
In addition to the savings available via purchasing electronic books versus physical books, money (not to mention time) is saved by using Whispernet to download the books to the Kindle 2 or by connecting the Kindle 2 to a desktop or laptop computer. By not using gas to get to the bookstore, or putting wear and tear on a car, or time standing in line, the Kindle 2 can save money, although the amount is unknown and varies based on proximity to a local bookstore and the MPG of the car being driven, but over time savings can certainly be realized.
Reading More Books With the Kindle 2
Another great bonus to the Kindle 2 is the ability to read more books. Because of its small size and portability the Kindle 2 can be taken almost anywhere, allowing people to read in waiting rooms, grocery store checkout lines, and other places where they may not have previously taken a book with them. Also, with the speed with which one can acquire a new book to read, at any time of the day or night, it's impossible to not have something to read. Overall the Kindle 2 is an amazing enhancement and ereader for readers around the world and across the globe and is helping to bring more books to more people.
Tracey Carter - Tracey holds a B.A. in English from Hood College and is an avid reader, educator, blogger, and aspiring librarian.
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