New!!!
Featured Product. This thing is awesome!!!!

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Product Description

Introducing Kindle™ Three years ago, we set out to design and build an entirely new class of device—a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is Amazon Kindle. We designed Kindle to provide an exceptional reading experience. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, you’ll find reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips. It never becomes hot, and is designed for ambidextrous use so both “lefties” and “righties” can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time. We wanted Kindle to be completely mobile and simple to use for everyone, so we made it wireless. No PC and no syncing needed. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, we deliver your content using our own wireless delivery system, Amazon Whispernet. Unlike WiFi, you’ll never need to locate a hotspot. There are no confusing service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills—we take care of the hassles so you can just read. With Whispernet, you can be anywhere, think of a book, and get it in one minute. Similarly, your content automatically comes to you, wherever you are. Newspaper subscriptions are delivered wirelessly each morning. Most magazines arrive before they hit newsstands. Haven’t read the book for tomorrow night’s book club? Get it in a minute. Finished your book in the airport? Download the sequel while you board the plane. Whether you’re in the mood for something serious or hilarious, lighthearted or studious, Kindle delivers your spontaneous reading choices on demand. We’re very proud to introduce Kindle and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. - The Amazon Kindle Team

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1 in Amazon Devices
• Color: Bisque
• Brand: Amazon
• Dimensions: .70" h x 5.30" w x 7.50" l, .65 pounds

Features

• Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
• Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
• Wireless connectivity enables you to find, buy, and read instantly—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
• Shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle.
• Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.

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Customer Reviews

I wasn't sure and waited...I love it
I was very unsure whether or not I wanted to shell out so much money on an ebook reader. Like most people interested in this, I have an extensive 'real book' library, and am a voracious reader...but I didn't want to drop a huge amount of money on something that wasn't better than real books in most ways.

This is the best thing I've ever owned, and let me tell you why.

1. LIBRARY

I am in the process of replacing my entire real book library onto the Kindle. I store the book files on my computer. I'm in the process of buying a memory chip because I've filled up my Kindle already. You can find many books out there for free, even current books. (Yes, even legally!). I personally love speculative fiction (Sci-fi and fantasy) and TOR books releases a new ebook for free weekly. So it's not difficult to find many resources to build your library. I personally didn't want to pay AGAIN for many titles (as I've bought some books more than once already in real book form, as I've given them away, worn them out, loaned them out without return, etc.) I have the option of using software to scan them in and have text files made of them (many universities and other organizations have such software), finding them for free various places online, rebuying them, or finding them elsewhere. Your mileage will vary...but it's not hard to build a library.

Book lovers don't have to be told that if they read a book and love it, to start buying from that author. We do it with public libraries and it's why TOR gives away free books, and I think that trend is going to continue. (In other words, borrowing isn't a bad thing, stealing is! Don't be a jerk. :) )

2. THE INTERNET!

Free internet access and anyone even remotely saavy can use the kindle to do an awful lot online. You may have to be creative, you may have to change email providers (you can't access all providers through it) but you can use gmail and other free online e-mail. Additionally it's currently free with no plans at this point to charge for it.

Wikipedia access is a huge bonus for me.

3. LOOK IT UP, MAKE A NOTE

You can make notes 'in your books' without defacing the book. You can back up your entire kindle library on a computer (or disk or data card, etc.) so you can never 'lose' these things.

Generally when I run across words or terms I don't understand, I get the jist from the sentence or surrounding ideas. This way I can continue reading and 'get it' without interruption. If I REALLY don't get it, or it's confusing I can look it up. Often I'd intend to look up a name or place or thing like that later...and forget.

With the Kindle I can do this instantly without losing my place in the book, and I wish I could adequately express to you what a HUGE difference this is. Without sounding like a snot, sure I'm extremely bright and have a huge vocab. thanks to reading. So I generally don't need to look up things. And I can get the basic idea. Looking up words I 'kinda' know the meaning to but couldn't perfectly nail down has not only added to my experience, and vocabulary, but more importantly in some ways it's added to the depth of my experience with the book.

Here's one example. I was reading Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld (again) and Ultima Thule is mentioned. I 'get' from the structure that it's talking about a northern place, and they use an alternative term 'fools gold' (because in context it's also a mission that won't succeed) as the character is trying to reach this distant point in the Riverworld. But when I looked up Thule, I saw that it was historically (in ancient Rome) refered to the most northern point of the world. So Ultima Thule, in this instance would be the ultimate northern most place, and made MUCH more sense. It also told me more about the character who used that term (and how he knew it) and just added more depth.

Sure I didn't have to look it up. And in a real book, I wouldn't have. But using my kindle, it took a simple scroll of the mousewheel to select the sentence, then it looked up key words in the sentence and I selected the right word and there it was. Then I closed it and continued reading, and it took under 20 seconds.

How amazing is that. If I tried to do that with a computer and real books, I'd be sidetracked online reading more and more and would 'lose' my spot in the book. If I wasn't too lazy to do it in the first place.

4. NOWNOW

There's an experimental service that allows you to ask a question and 3 'experts' will look up answers for your in around 10 mins.

This service is the same as someone with good Google-Fu (the ability to do good research online and find things using google, etc.). I have excellent google-fu. But I'm not always near a computer and I don't always have the time. So why not ask NowNow for free?

It's also perfect for settling stupid questions. I was watching poker with my husband and we wondered what year Jamie Gold won the WSOP. He got up to 'look it up' and took his usual half hour as he read other things, and then checked his email and etc. Instead Nownow can get the same answer w/in 10 mins. without us leaving the room. (Especially good at resturants!)

5. SIZE

I'm a voracious reader, and I can't carry tons of books with me when I travel or even I'm out and about. With kindle it's as small as a paperback and lighter in weight, and with a memory card I can carry an entire library with me. The basic memory says it's about 200 books, seems less to me but I haven't counted all the books I put on. It's not enough memory for me, but to expand it will be like $20 anyway. Then I can read whatever I want.

6. BUY IT NOW

When I want a new book I can buy it through Amazon and have it delivered wirelessly almost instantly. The only complaint there is currently their available books aren't that great. I couldn't buy the entire Riverworld series there (which I'm reading now) but I did find it various places online. You won't be able to get every book you want...but you should be able to get most of them.

7. EYES

I have a neurological problem which affects my eyesight, and cannot be corrected, and changes. So sometimes I can read just fine. Sometimes things are a bit blurry. Kindle allows you to change the text size at any time, and so far I've never had a problem reading a page. THIS IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO ME. You could also use magnifiers with the kindle, though I'd be shocked if anyone had problems with the highest size setting (other than the legally blind who need external tools anyway). The color is also easy on the eyes, though the 'paper' is a darker grey than I'd personally choose, its like a pulp paperback and very easy going on the eyes.

There's no internal light, so the light is ambient light. I bought a book light, and use the nova of the light (making sure the bulb doesn't reflect on the page) and that works perfectly for me in low light settings. I bought the LED light recommended for the kindle, the one that clips on. Pretty much any such light would work, but I like that I can move the thing around as the stem is a bendy.

OVERALL:

I really love it. It's the best thing I've ever gotten. My husband is so happy at how much I love it, and it's constantly with me. Is it perfect? No. I'd change the buttons around a bit. I sometimes hit the page fwd/back/next buttons by mistake when laying down with my kindle. The search function in the library is kinda sucky. The ability to mod. some things, also sucky. I'd love to be able to create my own subfolders and better organize things.

But these are all things which I personally think will be 'better' in the future, with software updates. I personally think the 'kindle 2.0' will not be a new machine, but rather new software which we'll ALL get.

And even if they didn't fix a single thing, and it stayed this way...it's money well spent for me.

I also had a problem with my 'first' kindle with a button being not as flush as I thought it should be. I called their CSR to ask if I could pop it off or what. They apologized and overnighted me a new kindle.

The customer service on this thing is AMAZING. The kindle users are sometimes a little fanatical...and you get people who get angry at 'suggested' changes (like those who want better mp3 support and those who scream IT'S A BOOK LEAVE IT ALOOOONE), but we all have in common love for this thing.

It's a potential portable Library of Alexandria. Which is why my kindle is named Alexandria.

Kindle - Great device!
I love my Kindle!! Now I can carry hundreds of books when I travel and it only weighs ounces! Buttons could be positioned differently to avoid accidental pressing of the buttons but other than that it's a fabulous device.

The Most Useful Gadget I Own
My Kindle is my new best friend. If my little Kindle was just a book reader, I would love it. Add the fact that I can look up information on the internet (at no charge) while I'm reading, and this is the best gadget I've ever owned.

The screen is easy to read, even in bright light. I like to change font sizes depending upon whether I'm wearing my glasses or contacts.

And although the page-turn buttons do take some getting used to, I find that I can hold the book pretty much any way I want to and still turn a page. So, I can't complain about the buttons.

I have started reading more than ever, thanks to not having to make trips to the bookstore. I like being able to "surf" Amazon's Kindle book selections, and I like being able to see recommendations and reader reviews right there on my Kindle. My only complaint is that sometimes it's hard to tell what kind of book a book is... For example, you can always tell a trashy novel by its cover at the bookstore. I think maybe Amazon could do a better job of categorizing books on the Kindle site. I downloaded and tried to slog through "The Shack" because it is a Kindle bestseller before I realized it is a "Christian" book.

I have never used another book reader, so I guess I shouldn't say this, but I don't understand how anybody could give this product one star. I don't think any other product comes close to being as "cool" as the Kindle (what with the internet access and all). I think Amazon has figured out how to bring reading back to the masses.