Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device

Since there are already a number of formal reviews, perhaps some focused reactions would be more useful.

1. Kindle is a wonderfully "green" way of reading a variety of content, an answer to a problem that has long plagued the written word. Not unlike a paperback, it eschews bulkiness for portability.
2. Reliance on wi-fi lets content producers distribute their work while reserving profits to those who actually pay. This is an advantage, since it opens the doors for a variety of publications to be carried on a single device.
3. Kindle lacks the flexibility of a laptop-style device, which can download, edit, and archive content. A book can be passed from one person to another, but the buck stops with the purchaser using Kindle. It's not unlike purchasing an album online when the CD costs the same.
4. "It's easy to read in bright sunlight," but the same claim can't be made with darker interiors, like coffee shops and the like. Kindle lends a light grayish cast to the background that decreases contrast.
5. As important as any issue is one you won't really hear about for a while: damage due to accidental droppage - a problem that has plagued handheld devices. On the other hand, a dropped book will never be a concern. Kindle's hefty price tag hardly helps.

Kindle is indeed a concept whose time is overdue. But it's hardly the perfect solution.

I am in full agreement with all of the other reviewers who rave about the Kindle. It is such an incredible luxury to have books at your disposal at any time.

Here is what I love:
-How it feels in my hands. Light but still book-like.
-You can read in the sun since there's no glare on the screen.
-How easy it is to navigate through pages and menus.
-How you can increase text size.
-The web browser function.
-The user's guide was easy to understand.

Here are areas for improvement:
-On/off switches would be better on the front.
-It's hard to hold the Kindle in the case while reading. You can't put the black elastic strap on it or it will cover the navigation wheel.

Those are minor issues that do not detract from the greatness of the Kindle!

I love to read, always have, but takes me awhile to find a book I would like to read. While at a bookstore, or library it can take me awhile to find and choose a book I would like to read, and if I find one and buy it and learn I didn't like it, it stays on my shelf forever and doesn't get read. With the kindle I can hear about a book and right then get it a part of it to read and see if I like it. I don't have to be rushed while I finding a book I can look at my own pace and I can hold many many books and only carry the small device.

The Kindle is great and very easy to use. Any one who thinking of getting on you won't regret it. Waiting will never be boring again.

Love it! Love it! Love it! Now I don't have to drive into town when I want something new to read...just browse and buy with my Kindle. I took my Kindle on a business trip and it was great. Very easy to switch off the wireless while on a flight. Only drag is having to wait until after take-off to turn electronic devices back on. I appreciated the tips from other users on how to keep the Kindle in the cover with velcro while reading. The cover itself is very nice quality and I can't believe that Amazon won't come up with a design modification on the cover to address this problem. If you share your books and/or re-sale, then the Kindle may not be for you, but my friends are all jealous!

I love my Kindle. It was easy to use right out of the box and the growing selection of periodicals and books is excellent. I can't wait for additional newspapers to be added. I wish there was more space to hold the Kindle without a button on the left and especially the right sides. Also, I can't wait for a software update that allows users to sort their content into user defined categories or folders. Other than those slight changes I found the Kindle to be a great solution to the electronic reader. I can't wait to use it overseas where it is hard to find books in English and a pain to carry multiple books.