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- Kindle E-Reader -
08/02/2010
Do you remember when flat panel lcd
monitors first arrived and they were priced at $1,900 for a 17"
model? And now you can purchase one for just over $100! Just a few
years later, you will have a trouble finding a CRT monitor
for sale at any retail location. They are all but gone, for obvious
reasons.The e-readers are
going through the same type of "technical" evolution. When they were
new, they were priced so high, the average consumer could only wish
they could afford one! Less than a year ago, any type of e-reader
would have cost nearly $500!
Since Amazon recently announced it's
newest 3rd generation Kindle at $139, it's time for most of us to
take a serious look at them. While e-readers will certainly not
totally replace printed medium in just a couple of years as the flat
panel monitor did to the CRT, it will still happen, although it will
take a lot longer.
The Kindle e-reader is an electronic
book that allows you to purchase books online and read them at your
leisure on the device's display. Although the newest 3rd generation
model is not yet available for purchase as of the date of this
initial publication (7-30-10), you can pre-order it now through
Amazon.
The primary content available for the
Kindle can be broken into three basic categories:
- Books. The ability to
purchase and read full length books without the need to
physically purchase and handle the paperback or hardback version
of the book itself. There are currently over 600,000 books
available for purchase and over 400,000 of those will cost you
less than $10.00! And it only takes about 60 seconds to download
an entire book to your Kindle! And the new 3rd generation Kindle
will hold up to 3,500 books! There are also over 1.8
million "Out-of-copyright" pre-1923 books such as "Pride and
Prejudice" available for free. And you can download and read
the first chapter for free of any book before you buy it.
Over 510,000 books are $9.99 or less, including 80 current
New York Times Best Sellers.
- Periodicals. You can
subscribe to any of dozens of daily, weekly or monthly
periodicals such as Wall Street Journal, USA Today, etc. and
they will be downloaded to your Kindle on a regular basis
(frequency is based on your subscription). As of this date, you
can subscribe to a daily download of USA Today which currently
sells for $1.00 per copy for a total of $11.99 per month! Since
I purchase a copy of USA Today almost every day, I can pay
for my new $139 Kimble in just over a year by simply subscribing
to USA Today!! No brainer! Your periodical is downloaded to your
Kindle automatically on a regular schedule so it is ready for
your reading at your leisure.
- Misc Content. The Kindle
will read many different types of documents, including Adobe
Acrobat .pdf files. And you can purchase audiobooks so you can
simply plug in your headphones and listen.
Kindle at a Glance
New, High-Contrast E-Ink
Screen
50% better contrast than any other e-reader. The clearest text and
sharpest images.
Read in Bright Sunlight
Unlike LCD screens, Kindle's screen reads like real paper, with no
glare. Read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.
Lighter Than a Paperback
At only 8.7 ounces and 1/3 of an inch thin, Kindle is lighter than a
paperback and thinner than a magazine.
Holds 3,500 Books
We doubled Kindle's storage so you can carry up to 3,500 books.
Battery Life of Up to One
Month
A single charge lasts up to one month with wireless off. Keep
wireless always on and go for up to 10 days without recharging.
Free 3G Wireless
No annual contracts, no monthly fees. Download books anytime,
anywhere.
Learn more.
Global 3G Coverage
Travel the globe and still get books in under 60 seconds with
wireless coverage in over 100 countries and territories.
Check wireless coverage.
Built-In Wi-Fi
Connect to Wi-Fi hotspots at home or on the road. Includes free
Wi-Fi access at AT&T hotspots across the U.S.
Quieter Page Turn Buttons
Quieter page turning means you won't disturb your partner when you
want to read all night.
Share Meaningful Passages
Share meaningful passages with friends and family with built-in
Twitter and Facebook integration.
Simple to Use
Kindle is ready to use right out of the box - no setup, no software
to install, no computer required.
Books in 60 Seconds
With fast, free wireless delivery, you can start reading books in
less than 60 seconds. No computer required.
Massive Selection
Over 630,000 books, including 109 of 111 New York Times Best
Sellers, plus audiobooks, periodicals and blogs. For non-U.S.
customers, content availability varies.
Free, Out-of-Copyright
Books
Over 1.8 million free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are
available such as Pride and Prejudice.
Learn more
Low Book Prices
Over 510,000 books are $9.99 or less, including 80 current New
York Times Best Sellers.
Free Book Samples
Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.
Read Everywhere with
Whispersync
Your Kindle books can be read on your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac,
Android device, and BlackBerry. Our Whispersync technology syncs
your place across devices, so you can pick up where you left off.
Worry-Free Archive
Books you purchase from the Kindle Store are automatically backed up
online in your Kindle library on Amazon. Re-download books
wirelessly for free, anytime.
Read-to-Me
With Text-to-Speech, Kindle can read English-language content out
loud to you.
Improved PDF Reader
Now with new dictionary lookup, notes and highlights, and support
for password protected PDFs. Easily carry all of your documents on
the go.
>>
Frequently Asked Questions:
Should I spend the extra $50 to
obtain the model with the free 3G?
The basic $139 model will only connect to the internet using
your home or office wireless network connection (or any other wifi
hotspot). You will connect it just like you do your laptop and it
will connect automatically to that network from that point on. You
will only need the 3G model if you want to download content using
the nationwide 3G cellphone network. Keep in mind, to achieve the
advertised one month battery life, you will need to have the wifi
and 3G turned off unless you are downloading books or other content.
If you subscribe to content that is delivered automatically to your
Kindle, such as USA Today, etc., you will need to have wifi or 3G on
for the automatic delivery to be completed.
Is the Kindle display backlit for
night time reading?
No, this would significantly shorten the battery life and lessen
the contrast on the display. You can, however, purchase a leather
cover that has a booklight built in to it. The light gets its power
from the Kindle, so there are no batteries to replace, and it turns
on by simply extending it.
Click here for more information.
Can I adjust the font size to
meet my reading preferences?
Yes, you can adjust the font to any of several different sizes
for your convenience.
Can I charge my Kindle by
connecting it to my computer?
Yes, you simply plug in the USB cable that is included with every
Kindle.
Can I download my purchases a
second time if necessary?
Yes, all your purchases are archived on the Amazon website to
make this possible.
Can I share my purchased content
with my friends who also have a Kindle?
Sorry, but that is not currently possible.
Can I download a Bible onto my
Kindle?
Of course.
Click here for more information.
Can I read my purchased content
on anything other than my Kindle?
Your Kindle books can be read on your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac,
Android device, and BlackBerry. Whispersync technology syncs your
place across devices, so you can pick up where you left off.
Does the Kindle
have a touch screen?
No. The manufacturer claims
that would increase weight, decrease battery life and reduce
contrast and sharpness on the screen.
Can I read the
Kindle outside in bright sunlight or will it be faded out?
Actually, the brighter the
light, the easier it is to read!
Can the Kindle
read the book to me if my eyesight is not good enough to read?
Yes, the Kindle includes
text-to-speech.
How large is the
display on the $139 model?
The display on the smaller
model is 6" measured diagonally. If you measure the printed text
area on a standard paperback book, it is about a half inch more than
that. However, its not an issue since you can change the font size
to meet your personal preference and turning a page is accomplished
by simply pressing a button.
Can I get a
model with a larger screen?
Yes, but it will cost you
$240 more at the time of this publication. The 9.7 inch diagonally
measured screen on the larger model costs $379.
Click here for more information.
Links:
Kindle Website
Kindle Accessories
Discussions
Large Kindle with 9.7" Screen
Place your order now
If you have more
questions or need help with your Kindle, please call the number
below for assistance.
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