If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that I was lamenting my decision to pay extra for 2-day shipping on the birthday gift I decided to purchase for myself with the Amazon gift cards that were so kindly given to me by my in-laws and my co-workers. I decided to go ahead and get a Kindle. Anyway, paying extra for 2-day shipping equals SIX DAYS to get to my house, but whatever. It’s here now.
Let me explain though. I’m pretty solidly rooted in the “give me a real book” camp and if I’d been using my own hard-earned cash it isn’t too likely that I would have purchased this for myself. But birthday money is birthday money and I was throwing caution to the wind. With so many books that are out of copyright available for free, I really couldn’t turn down the opportunity.
What sold me on the Kindle over the Nook (and a few others) was the fact that there was no backlight. The whole reason I choose not to read books on my MacBook is because of the eyestrain. I spend enough time here writing and reading blogs, no need for me to add to that. The E Ink technology that’s used in the Kindle is really cool. My worry the entire time was that I couldn’t get past the fact that what I’m reading is not physically a book. But this technology has brought us something that looks like a page on a book. It’s clear, easy to read, and something I’m very comfortable with now, just a few days after unboxing it.
The weight and the way you hold it helps as well. It feels somewhat like a book and you hold it in a fashion similar to what you would a traditional book. All the things I thought would hold me back are just not there.
So, here I am. A convert. No, I won’t be throwing all my books out and it’s doubtful that I’ll drop my PaperbackSwap account. I haven’t bought any full-priced Kindle books yet and I think it may be a while before I do. There’s so much available for free out there!
And the “Collections” feature? Something this OCD person can totally get behind.
Nope, Amazon didn’t give me diddly-squat for this. I just like my Kindle.
Oklahoma girl through-and-through. Writer, aspiring domestic goddess and totalitarian dictator. Taking on the world one carb-induced coma at a time. Co-host of Picture Shows & Petticoats. 
I am hoping for one for Christmas
) It would be the wi-fi only but I am so okay with that!! I am glad you liked it. I wanted one for Christmas last year but then decided not to get one because of the “real book” thing too. But one of my dearest friends got one earlier this year and she LOVES it. So now…I hope 
So glad it finally came and you are enjoying it!
Mine is wi-fi only. I really couldn’t justify the extra expense for 3G in my mind. Wi-fi is fine for me!
I check for freebies on their site all the time. I’ve been able to find Christian fiction simply out of the blue that has been on my reading list, as well as a bunch that weren’t. I’ve got many loaded and have no idea when I’ll read them all.
Congrats on receiving yours!
A lot of Christian fiction seems to come up for free around there. Worth a try!
Welcome to the wonderful world of Kindle ownership
I got mine with Christmas money last year, and I love love LOVE it!
I’m loving mine, too! Now, if I could just NOT be so tired and get some reading done when I sit down to do so.
I’m still on the fence with it… I can’t imagine giving up the feel of a book, and turning the pages with anticipation for what happens next. Of course I could deal with something for convenient for traveling
I think you would like it
I think you may have talked me into it. I had the same feelings as you but since you adapted to yours so well I am figuring that I could do the same! Next thing to save up money for!!! How many books will it hold?
I’m hoping for a Nook for Christmas. Of course, I asked for one right before the color one came out, so I hope my parents’ don’t get me that one, because I have the same problem with back lighting. Hopefully that I’ll have one in a couple of weeks…excited!