Kindle Review

As of today, I've owned the Kindle for 2 weeks. I've finished reading one book on it. I've downloaded 2 books, and M has downloaded 1.

I think I've spent enough time with it now to give a more accurate review. I'm including the pros and cons I posted in my cursory review, and adding more to it. I bolded the features I thought were really useful.

Pros:

• E-ink - just like reading a real book (you can read it out in broad daylight too)
• Free (and fast) wi-fi lets you download books on the go
• Wide selection of books, newpapers, magazines, and some blogs
• Amazing battery life (I've only charged it once since the initial start-up charge)
  
• Light and thin (about the weight of a small-ish paperback) - it's easier to hold than a real book, because you don't have to turn the pages.
  
• fits in your purse
• basic internet browsing for free
• plays MP3s (I haven't used this function yet -and probably never will, since I have my iphone- so I can't say too much about it...)
  
• No more need for bookshelves; don't need to pack huge boxes of books when you move!
  

Cons:

• You have to pay for (almost) everything. (to make up for the wi-fi being free, I assume) You even have to pay for blogs.
• White is the only color (this is a really minor con... and I assume they made it white so it would stand out? makes it easy to find in my purse, at least) - easily smudged... I somehow already got mine a little dirty!
  
• Restricts your ability to share books with others
• Does this weird "flash" when you turn the page - apparently it's the e-ink loading and it helps prolong battery life? It's a little distracting. - I got used to it.

It seems that Kindle books, on average, are $2 less than whatever the Amazon price is for the normal book. I noticed a few promotions where the e-book was much cheaper than its real counterpart (I saw one book for 50 cents, and another one for free), but I don't know how often that happens.

I'm really happy with it so far. I just wish I didn't have so many real books in the cupboard left to read.