Last week I received a Kindle – the new eBook reader from Amazon.com.  I had held off buying one as I’ve never had a problem reading from normal books.  However, as I thought about going off on vacation this summer with half my suitcase filled with books, I decided it was worth a try.  Is it the ultimate eBook reader?  No, I can think of several improvements they could make. But it is definitely good enough – good enough that it is likely to be the normal way I read books now.

The Kindle is about the size of a paperback book – about 7.5” x 5.25” x .5”.  The screen itself is about 3.5” x 5”, made from the e-Ink technology. This screen is what makes this all work. Simplifying a bit, it is like an etch-a-sketch. It is black print on a light gray background. Once there is something on the screen, it takes almost no power to keep it that way.  The advantages of this are very long battery life and very easy to read – it is much more like reading a printed page than reading a computer screen. One minor thing that some have complained about is that when you change pages, the screen goes black for a fraction of a second.  Doesn’t bother me.

The unit has a built in wireless data service called Whispernet. There is no extra charge for this and has many powerful advantages.  The major one, obviously is that you can shop for books and have them downloaded, typically in less than a minute.  If you like, you can load up the unit with hundred of books or even better, just get them on demand. When I see a book I am interested in reading, I just put it on my wishlist (I created a special wishlist just for the Kindle) and when I am ready for another book – I go to the wishlist and choose something.  The margins on eBooks are obviously much better than printed ones and Amazon has done a good job of pushing the publishers for attractive pricing for Kindle books.  I have yet to see one I am interested in that is more than $9.99 and often much less.

In fact, for many books, you can download a free sample to see if you like it.  You can also subscribe to periodicals – like the New York Times or WSJ – and they will be there waiting for you each morning.  The data network is also used for web access, with some nice interfaces for Wikipedia and a built in dictionary.  I suspect that more and more web based applications will become available.

You can purchase books in Kindle format from Amazon.  This is where Amazon’s clout really makes thing work.  There are already over 100,000 books and it seems like all new releases are simultaneously available in Kindle format. Obviously older books that were not created digitally will take more time.  There are also tons of eBooks in other formats (mostly for free) that can be read on the Kindle.  In fact, you can upload things like WORD docs and have them converted and sent to your Kindle.  The one complaint I have heard in this area deals with books that are not simple text.  Maps and diagrams don’t always translate well and books with lots of footnotes (unless they are hypertext) are going to be trouble. However, regular books that are simple text are really easy to read.

I am using the regular cover that comes with the unit – it looks just like a book. Its cover folds back and provides a convenient way to hold the Kindle with easy access to the (large) buttons for the next (or previous) page. I love the fact that it can just sit on your lap without the book closing on you.  The smaller-than-full-page screen means that you are turning the pages more often, but it is really a comfortable size – not like reading a blackberry or an iPhone.  In fact, it lets you choose the font size.  Getting tired?  Make the font a little bigger.  That is very cool.

Since it really is a computer, you can also do things like searching the content, putting in bookmarks and adding annotations. It can also play MP3 files (you can put in an SD card for more storage if needed).

Another objection that some people have voiced deals with the whole copy protection issue.  Currently you can have up to 6 Kindles in a “family” and share all the content among them.  However, you can’t give an eBook to a friend like you can a printed one.  Some think this is a deal breaker.  Depends how you use your books, I guess.

For me, this is a great little device. It is easier to hold than a book (especially a hardcover), it is easy to read and, of course, if I have my Kindle I have my complete digital library with me.

What would I do differently if I had a magic wand? I would make the screen the full size of the device and have a soft keyboard. (e-Ink screens don’t currently allow that).  I might move around some of the buttons.  But, all things considered this is a well thought out device.