Amazon Kindle

There is nothing better for me than a great mystery or action novel. I usually find an author I like, and read all of their books, in order, until I'm in a holding pattern for the next one to be written. Some of my favorites are guys like Nelson DeMille, Lee Child, Vince Flynn, Daniel Silva, Harlen Coben. Great authors, great characters. And my most productive reading time is usually on an airplane.

But sometimes, when the new hardcover I've been waiting for comes out, it's just too big and bulky to stuff into my briefcase next to my computer. Those two things alone add both weight and bulk to my long walk through airport corridors.

So, when I heard about the Amazon Kindle, I was immediately intrigued. 

The Amazon Kindle is what I would call a paperless paperback. (Amazon uses the more utilitarian "Wireless Reading Device.") Basically, the Kindle enables you to download books or newspapers, wirelessly, to a thin, plastic tablet, and in seconds you can be reading the latest James Patterson bloodfest.

There is a lot to like about the Amazon Kindle, but my first concern was the page-turn...because there really is none. The Kindle has a long panel sitting conveniently next to your thumb (on either side) that you press once, and the page is turned. I have to admit, it took a bit getting used to, but once I got in the groove, I didn't even think about it.

Next, I was worried about the screen, and the battery life. Books don't just power-down, so I was a bit concerned about being stuck in the middle of a page-turner. Amazon claims that with the wireless turned off, it will last around a week. I can't prove that, but I never had a power issue -- as long as I kept it charged. My cross-continent plane ride hardly made a dent in the battery indicator. And the screen, while not back-lit, is very easy to see. (I could even increase the type size, and read without my glasses!)

Wireless and Extremely Portable
The two things I fell in love with about Kindle were the wireless applications, and the size. The Kindle is a mere 10.3 ounces, and thin. It slipped right into my briefcase, and hardly took up any space, or weight. That's a big deal.

And, imagine sitting in an airport, or on a train, or in a park, and downloading a full novel in seconds. I did it, because the Kindle isn't dependent on your home wireless network. It works more like a phone device -- if you can make a call, you can download Pillars of the Earth (all 1100 pages) in around 45 seconds. You can also download The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, TIME, etc. The list is exhaustive.

AND...the books are cheaper than what you would pay for in a bookstore. Example: Nelson Demille's "The Gate House" just came out in hardcover -- $16.79 at Amazon. Kindle version: $9.99. And no lugging around a big 688-page tome. You can download it in the time it took you to read this review.

Downsides to Kindle
A few downsides to the Kindle. You never really know what page you're on because depending on the type size (which you can adjust to your liking) the page numbers will vary. (There is a linear scale at the bottom of the book that give you an indication how far along you are). You can bookmark where you left off with the touch of a button, but sometimes I forgot to, and it didn't always take me back to where I left off. It took some getting used to, and eventually I made bookmarking a habit.

All in all, the Kindle solves a lot of my hardcover woes, and it's a cool gift for the bibliophile in your family. The Kindle is now $359 on Amazon.com with free shipping. It's a bit pricy but if you're an avid reader like I am, you'll save money on every book you download.