I am a reluctant ebook reader. I knew they were the wave of the future, but I was still determined to resist them for as long as possible. But when I got my iPhone last summer, I spent some time messing around with the Kindle app and I had to grudgingly admit that ebooks can be pretty spiffy. While I still prefer paper books, there is something to be said for being able to download an interesting book at 3 am while you’re in your pajamas.
Although reading on the iPhone isn’t horrible, I knew that I wanted to upgrade to something with a bigger screen. I narrowed my options down to two: the iPad and the Kindle. At first glance, the iPad seemed like the best choice since it can do so much more than the Kindle. Plus, everyone I know who owns an iPad is madly in love with it.
Try as I might, I was never able to fall in love with the iPad. It’s a slick machine, to be sure, but I couldn’t escape the fact that I just didn’t need all the extra bells and whistles that it offers. I already own two laptops, so my portable computing needs are pretty much taken care of. Also, I just couldn’t see myself curling up with the iPad, which is kind of an issue since I do most of my reading lying down.
So far, I’m really impressed with the Kindle. It’s the perfect size for reading in bed and the screen is a lot easier on the eyes than a computer screen. I also like the fact that it syncs your progress in a book across all platforms, so I can start reading a book on the Kindle and then pick it up on the iPhone without having to hunt around for my place.
At first, I was a bit put off by the the flash you see when you turn the page. From what I can tell, it’s just a side effect of the eInk technology, so all eInk-based readers are going to be have it to some degree. I got used to it quite quickly though, and I can’t really say that it bothers me.
The only real complaint I have is that I don’t really like the built-in keyboard, but it’s not a big deal since I don’t see myself typing up a storm on this thing. For the occasional search, it’s just fine.
Now I just need to decide what to read on it first. I’m torn between Mechanique and The Man with the Golden Torc. I think I may have to flip a coin on this one…
Codex Lochianus 