A bookworm and book lover ever since I can remember, I never thought I’d be saying this, but I recently bought the new Kindle DX (9.7″ display) and absolutely love it! In the picture to the right, I downloaded 2 books while I was waiting to board a plane at the Penticton airport.
Watching Ed use his Kindle finally convinced me of its benefits, particularly that of trying to preserve my remaining eyesight. (See the contraption I had to wear just to do a jigsaw puzzle?)
Here are some of the benefits of using a Kindle:
- Easy to read
- Font sizes are adjustable
- Saves paper
- Saves space, easy to carry a LOT of books (up to 3500)
- Super easy to get books almost anywhere quickly (you don’t need a computer to browse for and buy books)
- Kindle ebooks are inexpensive – only $9.99
- Wondering what “zabaglione” means? There’s a dictionary included
- Some digital ebooks are available before the print versions come out
- You can download book samples
- You can archive books bought on Amazon and retrieve them anytime you want
- You can load your own documents
- Some books are available in text to speech
That last feature will probably prove mighty worthwhile down the road.
In the meantime, I’ll enjoy using the adjustable font size feature and NOT having to wear my reading glasses!
Oh ya, I sprung for the “official” Amazon Kindle DX Leather Cover which cost 50 bucks. The ever the more practical (and cheap) Ed, picked up an equally good cover for his Kindle on eBay for only $20.00.
Oh and by the way, I’m not sure if the “Super easy to get books almost anywhere quickly” benefit above is really a benefit — I’m buying books every time I sit down and turn my Kindle on. A benefit to Amazon to be sure, but you could get seriously carried away in a hurry with these things. 🙂
Maybe iPad will be something worth of ckecking, what do you think? 🙂
I wanted to ask the same question as SasaKostic. 🙂 Now that you’ve been smitten with Kindle, what about iPad?
Now, here’s what I predict occurring soon…what, 3-5 years from now: K-12 schools & colleges (colleges first) will adopt this delivery system, advancing into the 21st Century.
Now, before the purists attack me as heretic, hear ye: I was a high school English/business teacher for 16 years. I served on many textbook committees during that tenure.
When the district adopted new textbooks, the content already had dated itself. Granted, not really an issue for us English teachers who primarily resurrected the “dead poets’ society” (so to speak 🙂 ).
But for disciplines wanting to teach CURRENT information, those shiny, new textbooks hot off the press disappointed students, parents & teachers.
Oh, not to mention (but absolutely critical), let’s STOP sending kids home with book bags weighing more than our kids…for heaven’s sake. My son (grade 3) carts a book bag around weighing more than he.
Last point: as a teacher I always had dreamed of integration, i.e. clicking on a link in the text and seeing a video, hitting a web page, a discussion, etc. — true interaction & integration.
To make this dream a reality, I admit it won’t be easy. Textbook publishers resented this evolution…at least back when I was teaching. I hope publishers have had time to discover profit centers for logical move into the digital world.
Could the iPad be the delivery tool? I’d love to hear what others have to say on this topic. Obviously, I see colleges embracing this technology before K-12.
Mike
P.S. Congratulations, Ros, for going cold turkey for TEN days! 🙂 Now that’s why we do what we do, right? To enjoy life & not slave away on a computer.
Hi Mike,
I don’t know much about iPad, but you make an excellent argument for use by students, especially regarding those ridiculous backpacks. I cringe everytime I see a kid walking down the street over-laden with books and likely to suffer a bad back too early in life.
Thanks kindly for sharing!
Cheers,
Ros
Looks like a fab product Ros, thanks for sharing.
Came across you on YT…you are an inspiration to us all on what can be achieved long term online.
Loving your blog:)
Cheers
Barry Cross UK
Hi Barry,
Thanks for stopping by and for the very kind comment.
And yes, I’m really getting into the Kindle after spending my holiday with it.
But I’m baffled… what’s YT? 🙂
Cheers,
Ros
Hi Ros
Sorry to baffle you 🙂 with our UK slang…YT is an abbreviation for You Tube.
Bfn (bye for now:) )
Barry