October 26, 2010

oh god, i'm an infomercial. I APOLOGIZE.

i have this weird complex where the less i post, the more i feel like the subsequent post needs to be Extra Good! or Extra Interesting! to make up for all the blank blog time. which then makes me feel like nothing is Good Enough! to post, which just makes me go longer & longer between posting and BLAH BLAH I REALIZE NO ONE CARES. anyway! hello! you all look very pretty today. have i told you how nice that color looks on you?

i made out REALLY well for my birthday this year, folks. in addition to my sister's hilariously awesome gift to me, my extra-lovely boyfriend got me a kindle!

i hadn't done too much research into getting one for myself, mainly because i figured i spend all day looking at a computer screen; why would i want to do so when i relaxed with a book as well?

SO. INCORRECT.

i don't know how they do it (magic?) but this is not at ALL like looking at a computer screen or any other electronic device. it literally looks like the words are printed directly onto the surface of the screen, with no backlighting or anything. it's astounding. i've actually found myself reaching up to the corner of the screen to turn the page, because it's that much like reading a regular book. except, you know, ONE MILLION TIMES more convenient. i am in love. IIIIN LOOOOVE.


i know this is going to sound like a compensated product review (it's not) but i can't seem to stop myself: you can download books instantly. which means you can finish a book halfway through your commute, pick out a new one, have it delivered to you, and start reading the new book, all in like 2 minutes. you can read while you eat, because you don't have to do the awkward one-hand hold while you try and eat a sandwich with the other hand and turn pages with your thumb without losing your place with the other; you just lay it flat on the table next to you and push the "next" button intermittantly. i just can't get over how much i love it.

and granted, it's only been a short time so far? but i am reading WAY more now. carrying around an 8.5oz device rather than an entire book means i'll take the kindle with me on the metro when i'm headed to happy hour to meet friends, whereas previously it wouldn't have been worth weighing down my purse for the 15 minutes i'd be able to use the book. and when you turn it on, it goes immediately to the last page you read, so you don't spend 5 minutes hunting around for where you left off if, like me, you never manage to use bookmarks.

so i guess my point is that if you were on the fence about kindles? do not be! they are marvelous! you will love one!

17 comments:

  1. I got mine in Sept for my birthday and it is FANTASTIC! I'm spending more on books, but I'm reading WAY more, which is a good thing, right?

    LOVE IT!

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  2. Electronic ink is GLORIOUS. I heart my Kindle so, so much.

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  3. I have a nook, it's a similar device from Barnes & Noble that the husband gave me last Christmas and I am pretty much in love with it. I forgot to bring it to work with me yesterday and OH THE HORROR.

    You are dead on with your eat & read analysis. I think that might be my favorite part.

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  4. First of all, fab gift from the bf!!

    Second, please tell me when you are finding time to read because right now I have about -1 hours.

    Unless I stop working at work and just read. Maybe I should do that.

    But yay for awesome birthday presents!!

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  5. AGREE. You get over that page-turning reflex eventually. Now I think I would have to readjust to TURNING physical pages instead of pressing the little button.

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  6. I admit, I was pretty skeptical about the Kindle. But, of course, as soon as my mom got one I wanted to test it out. It's really only a matter of time.

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  7. I want one! For when we go on trips! And we bring nearly an entire suitcase full of books!

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  8. I feel like, if I get a Kindle, then the robots win. I'll stick with my paper books, missy. Infomersh all you want. Not even the late great Billy Mays could sell me one of these demonic devices.

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  9. I reaaaaaally wanted to get my boyfriend one for his birthday, which is Friday, but, you know, I'm unemployed. So... maybe some other time? I want one for myself, too, can't forget about that! Glad you're loving it.

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  10. I've pooh-poohed these things because I can't read long documents on a computer screen. My eyes! My eyes!
    But you have made a very convincing case...
    Of course, my husband will point out there is a public library 2 miles down the road with loads of books!
    Also? How can I choose between a Kindle and a DSLR? Oh, right. I can't. I have to send teenagers to college. I'll just sit here and dream instead...

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  11. Oooh WANT. I see the appeal. Hmm, maybe for Christmas...

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  12. I really want to, but I'm trying to hold off for my birthday in June. I was going to ask for one for Christmas, but I'm already getting an iPod to replace the one I broke.

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  13. Oh so pretty! I want one so bad. I don't know if the Canadian equivalent (the Kobo) is any good though.

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  14. I absolutely LOVE my kindle! Got one when it first came out and haven't stopped using it since. How incredibly convenient to carry around, right? Also, it's very practical for people like me living in tiny studio apartments!

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  15. Oh, I love my Kindle too! I got the first version for my birthday 2 years ago, and I'm STILL in love!

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  16. I'm getting tempted to buy one myself. Our local library has electronic books that you can "take out" which would save a lot of money.

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  17. I'm glad you wrote this b/c I've been wondering about this whole kindle business. Like you...I like to have a book in my hand and I thought using the kindle would be like staring at a computer...which I already do at work all day.

    So it's good? For real? How much does it cost to download books?

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