I bought myself a new play thing that I can for see costing me a lot of money. A serious amount of money, if only because it makes buying stuff so dang easy.
What is it, you ask???
An Amazon.com Kindle, the digital book reader that can automatically download digital books from anywhere in the USA (provided you’re in the 3G coverage).
But this is worse than a boat…. You see, just to get the books that I want to keep for a long time because I re-read them frequently, I spent about $75.00 in under 7 minutes. Take for example Stephen King’s “The Stand”, I’ve re-read my paper version so much that the book has fallen apart. The digital version is $8.09. The paperback version is $15.00. The paperback is about 4 inches thick, the Kindle is a lovely 3/8” thick. Which would you rather carry & pay for?
Why a Kindle? I read veraciously. Seriously, I read a lot & I’ll spend way more than the cost of the Kindle a year on books. And, I can keep all of those books on the same device and keep them with me for as long as I like. The Kindle can hold 1,000+books & all books are backed up.
Also, I can get magazine subscriptions automatically downloaded every month. I choose to get American Scientific. I can also have Newspaper’s delivered daily, like The New York Times.
Here are a few photo’s if you’re wondering what it looks like. I’ve placed a pencil next to the Kindle so that you get an idea of size.
The sobering reality is that they’ve made getting reading material far to easy. I can query and download in seconds from this device with out even glancing at my laptop. It has it’s own built in Wireless feature called “Whispernet” and it’s subsidized by Amazon.com who uses AT&T. That means, that I can be sitting on the beach getting a sun tan & download material.
That’s not good. I am going to have to moderate myself. I have zero self control when it comes to shopping moderation & this would qualify as shopping moderation. I’m going to have to work out a rule that I live by, that I’m only allowed a certain amount of book downloading a month.
Anyway… I’m off to read my new goodie… I’ve already read one and am all over “Fearless Fourteen” by Janet Evanovich. She’s funny and I just love her books. Always a conundrum and I end up laffing so hard I cry.
Have a super rest of the week. We’re going to get cold here too, down to the Teens. I’ve got my heavy duty Michigan winter jacket out for ultimate warmth. It’s great, but if I zip it up, I end up sweating profusely. (It is a serious jacket). 😀
Fizz
© ‘Fizz’ 2010
Michigan Dreaming --> Texas Tortured 
I was just thinking about a Kindle the other day. I once had a pretty good size library. A lot of books I have given away to friends, acquaintances, or even a quick person passing by my life where I feel the need and they feel the need to receive a book. That could get expensive if I started handing out free Kindles.I must also admit that I too like the intimacy feel of a book. But then I have a few books right now setting in my wish list at Amazon.com.It feels good to see our days warming back up. Over half of our snow has disappeared in our Ozark hills in two days. "Good riddance," I say with hopes of no more this year for us.Enjoy your Kindle. Good investment for you in the long run.Have a pleasant week…Greg
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This sounds neat, hope you enjoy. Thanks for accepting my invite.
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Glad you have this….sounds like a good investment. It must be easier than holding a book to read in bed.
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I know this is an ignorant question..but I don’t have to have AT&T to use one do I?I have thought about it and discarded the isea BUT when you mentyioned magazines too..I am intrigued.I am also a voracious reader..and I have thousands (yes) hard cover books., I winnowed out many softcover but not old friends. That would halp. I DO like the feel of a book in my hand though. Hard decision for me. My iTouch also downloads books.
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i love audio books…they are my new found love…
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Fizz, Not sure if you noticed, but there’s lots of free books you can get too. Some are the old classics and others are new ones. Some of the new ones are previews so you’ll want to read the rest of the book, but just saying you can get some free stuff. One of the first ones I got for like 99 cents, even tho I thought it should be free was the Kindle2 Users Guide. It has lots of tip and tricks for internet access, emailing and other things you wouldn’t figure out yourself. I really enjoy mine and agree it’s so easy to spend money when cruising their site. I add lots to my wishlist and then come back and buy one when I need another book.
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Oh, one of these could get me in serious trouble as well. At least until THE BOSS took it away from me….then she would get into serious trouble. We’re both voracious readers.
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I have thought of this, but then there are only a few books that I would like to keep permanently. Plus, the books are free at the library. I think if I was your age that I would go for it too.
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I’ve heard of those before but honestly…it’s terrible for the trees I know but I love to have an actual book to read. Perhaps I’d change my mind at some point however I got an i-pod touch and that’s satisfying my technology needs at the moment and my budget seems to agree with me LOL! Let me know how that thing works out for you my friend. We’re getting snow dumped on us big time with it being a wonderful (sarcasm included) 12 degrees so I’m livin’ it up here in banana belt Montana.
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books a disease for read alholics and you got almost a bottomless bottle.When I was going to school I probably bought one …now I pass.enjoy….
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