Today’s guest post comes from journalist, copywriter and author Emily Buckley. Over to you, Emily!
First launched in 1997, the Amazon Kindle has revolutionised the way we read. Paying for extra baggage at the airport because you’ve brought ten bestsellers on holiday with you is a thing of the past, as is shoulder ache from lugging a trusty book around with you in your bag all day. With a Kindle, you’ll never run out of books as you can purchase a new one with the push of a button, wherever you are. The great news is that entry level Kindles have come down in price considerably over the years, meaning that everyone should have the opportunity to own their very own portable library.
E-books have fast become the reading device of choice for millions across the globe, evidenced by the fact that in the latter three months of 2010, Amazon sold more e-books than paperback books in the USA for the first time. So why should you buy a Kindle? Although it may seem relatively expensive, it’s the cheapest it’s been since its launch and, as the majority of ebooks are cheaper than their paperback counterparts, you’ll end up saving money in the long run.
Admittedly, the Kindle isn’t the only e-reader on the market and if you’ve made the decision to invest in one you’ll have to know choose what sort of reader you want. Essentially it comes down to a choice between a black-and-white e-reader such as the Kindle and a full-colour tablet such as the iPad. When it comes to reading, the Kindle wins hands down. It’s markedly cheaper than all tablets, lightweight (imagine holding aloft an iPad for a long reading session) and comes the closest to replicating the experience of reading a book. The Kindle’s e-ink screen looks surprisingly like printed paper and allows users to read in direct sunlight, something that isn’t possible with the LCD screens utilised by tablets. This makes them great for taking on holiday, or reading in the park in your lunch hour.
The downsides? Unlike tablets, you’re unable to browse the web on a Kindle. However, for those who simply want to read that also means you’re not interrupted by incoming emails, Facebook messages and Tweets, so could be a blessing in disguise. The Kindle’s screen isn’t backlit, which means that additional lighting is necessary in poor lighting conditions, but there is a reason for this. Backlit screens can cause eye strain and tiredness over long periods and as Kindles are designed for book lovers who are likely to lose themselves in books, this obviously isn’t ideal and is the main source of frustration for tablet users when they read. Furthermore, covers with built-in lights and attachable lamps are both available to solve the lighting issue.
A Kindle makes reading on the go so much easier, giving you the ability to download e-books as and when you want to, carry around thousands of books in a tiny piece of equipment, and even hire library books. It is a book lover’s dream.
Journalist, copywriter and author Emily Buckley is both an avid reader and writer of books who would be lost without her Kindle!