Kindle Touch, The Proper Review

Now that I’m over the shock, here’s what I think of my Kindle Touch.

Wow.

I never would have bought this for myself so I guess that makes it a perfect present for someone who really has everything she needs in life. I’ve already loaded about 30 free classics as well as my “unread” Audible books and a few purchased eBooks, two of which are not available in print.

I also really like the name Kindle. And I know I’m supposed to so good job Amazon. It instantly makes me think of curling up to read by the fireplace.

First things first, the name. I name all of my electronic devices after characters. My old iPod that died was called Charlie after Dominic Monaghan’s character on LOST. My new iPhone is Luna, which doubles as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter as well as Luna the cat from Sailor Moon. So what to name my Kindle? At first, I was thinking Bilbo but then I couldn’t imagine him using a Kindle in Bag End. Then I thought, The Doctor as in Who, because he knows everything and so does my Kindle. But I finally settled on Jean-Luc Picard as in Star Trek: Next Generation. Picard for short. This is a great name because he is well read in classic literature AND already has an eReading device. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, go watch STNE right now.

I read on my Kindle for the first time yesterday while donating plasma for a few hours. Really nice. I’m surprised that I liked holding it while I read. I’ve been reading so many gigantic tomes lately that not having to hold a brick was actually nice. Not having to crack a binding to see type that is too close to the spine either. Just lovely.

Played around in the experimental section too. Is it just me, or does it seem pointless to have a web browser? I already have a phone and a computer to do that. I can use it to check out books from my library on Overdrive, which is the one nice thing. I really don’t need to be checking Facebook (pre-loaded as a bookmark!) while I read. Or Twittering. And if I do, I’ll do it on my phone because the eInk screen makes it look really weird. MP3s … not sure if I’m going to use it. I might try listening to the Coraline soundtrack while reading Coraline. Just for fun. But again, not sure of the point …

From my experience so far, I can tell there are certain things I will definitely use this for. First of all, my favorite bag has a pocket that has gone unused until now. This pocket fits my Kindle Touch perfectly. Now I won’t have to worry about my books being ruffled in the middle of my bag, as any book over 200 pages is too big for the pocket.

I plan on reading The Count of Monte Cristo this year and that books is 1,300 pages! I do not want to be carrying it around but I will need to if I am going to get it read on time for my classics reading group as the review before April.

I also plan on using it to read drafts of my writing. Not for real editing but just for reading the current draft to get the flow of what the heck I wrote. Luckily, Scrivener has a “publish to eBook format” button. Editing is something I plan to learn more about this year so we’ll see how this works.

Things I won’t be using it for? Reference books, annotated editions, etc. I got a wonderful book for Christmas that I am excited to crack into: The Dictionary of Imaginary Places (thanks Liz!). I know I am going to have sticky notes and tabs sticking out of this books like crazy. Even though this book is quite the brick, it is more of a reference book than a novel so I won’t be reading it in order. I also wouldn’t be able to skim and scan it as quickly or effectively as with a physical book. I don’t think I will be carrying this book around with me much.  And I like making notes too.

All in all, I’m pleased with my Kindle Touch. I looked at some of the other versions and know this is the one for me. No keyboard to accidentally touch. No buttons to turn the page. I can read and flip pages one handed, which is so nice! And the matte screen is going to save my eyes. I bought A Night of Blacker Darkness by Dan Wells months ago but I really didn’t want to read it on my bright phone screen.

I don’t think the Kindle is going to replace physicals books for me. Not entirely. I still need to figure out borrowing from the library on my Kindle, as that is where I read most of my books. Not all the books I want to read are available in eBook. Not to mention my purchasing rule about books. If I’m 100% sure I’ll love it, I buy it. If I’m not sure, I get it from the library. If I ever want to read it again, I buy it. This keeps me from being annoyed at losing $20 on a book with a horrible ending. Also, some books I want the physical book for the gorgeous cover and the ability to lend it to someone, not to mention being able to get it signed by the author. The back of my Kindle can only hold so many signatures and wouldn’t they wear off anyway?

Do you have a Kindle or other reading device? What do you think of it?