What a perfect present for a bookworm such as me! So pleased!
I hate reading instructions for new technology and lucky for me you didn't have to read a manual to get a grip on using this thing. It was easy to register my kindle, get a book and start reading, all before cristmas dinner! And i did my Dad's too...so easy.
I opted for this one because i can browse the internet on my computer or phone, i just wanted to read! And the dictionary is a plus and easy to use. But if you are more techy and want more than just to escape with a novel you might be better off with the 3G one.
It actually took me a while to get into the book when reading on kindle. Usually i find myself right inside the story, actually imagine myself there with the characters shopping or on the beach or whatever. I can feel things and smell them too, i get so inside my books. But reading on kindle with its technological appearance was harder to get in there and i found myself re-reading the pages several times before i felt i had grasped the story. But a week on and i had no more problems and i'm in there again! Just takes time to get used to the format really as books have been around forever!
It is light and easy to hold and doesn't reflect the sun. Good for holidays. I do miss seeing how far i am going through a book though and the percentage marker just doesn't do it for me! I suppose i love all the pluses of having a kindle and it has freed up much space at home where i don't buy hard books anymore, but i do miss the romance of a paper book! Such a girl!
There is a main five way button for moving, scrolling and navigating the keyboard and text. A menu button for what you want to do, a home button to take you back to your list of books, a keyboard button to bring up the keyboard and a back button. Page turning buttons on both side, backwards and forwards and a power button on the bottom. You can highlight a word for the dictionary definition and there is a built in oxford dictionary as well as several foriegn dictionaries. Built in kindle instructions as well so you don't have to refer to a paper manual. You can also take clippings from books and keep them in a little file on your kindle.
The technical information is as follows:
Weight = 170grams
Size = 116x114x8.7mm with a 6 inch diagonal display screen.
Holds: 1400 books or 2GB. Books can be stored for free on cloud.
Battery: 1 month battery life on a single charge. Charges in 3 hours.
Wifi: Supports public, private and hotspot wifi. Turn it off when flying!
USB: comes with a USB cable to plug into computer. An aditional plug adapter for charging at a socket is £12.99 at amazon.
Cost: £89.00
Books: over 1 million free books including most classics. Millions of books are available on kindle - the prices are set by the publisher. But check for offers and kindle daily deals which are good.