As an electronic gadget addict and consumer, I’ve been interested in ebook readers and have been following the press of the Kindle, the new handheld ebook reader from Amazon. As a freelance writer and budding novelist I’ve been following the news of the Kindle to keep abreast of the future of publishing. Do I think that the Kindle will revolutionize the way we read books? I think it could. Do I think that it will put bookstores out of business? No, I don’t. Too many people are addicted to the smell of printed paper and the feel of holding an actual book in their hands.
The technology behind the Kindle is excellent in the fact that you can hold your entire library, 100+ titles, in a little over 10 ounce of handheld reader with the option of SD memory cards to expand your library even more. It’s smaller than a paper back and more convenient with none of that page turning hassle.
Another feature that sets Kindle a part from other ebook readers is that it boasts a paper-like screen. It provides a crisp black and white screen that imitates the readability of printed paper. It’s not backlit like a computer monitor so it’s easier on the eyes. It’s also handier than a paperback because you can bump up the font size to make readability easier.
One of the things I love best about the idea of going digital for books is the price for two reasons: 1.) they are much cheaper than hardback books at around $6.95 a novel and 2.) ebooks are an up and coming medium in which authors will be published. I will confess that I’m a die-hard book reader, and even if the Kindle becomes the next big thing, I will still buy my favorite titles in their hardbound original versions, although in most cases I’ll be paying three times more for them.
