Coming soon - Kindle Fire! (Hot, hot, hot!)

OHMYWEEERD, I was so excited to see the brand new "KINDLE FIRE" unveiled on Amazon just this week:

 

What is this, you ask?  Well, according to Amazon, it's one of the 4 new products in their "Kindle Family".   The first color Kindle, it also offers movies, apps, games, music, reading and a web browser, like many popular tablets.  (See short Amazon video HERE.)


In the ever-changing world of technology, it seems to be making quite a stir.  (See these articles at PC Mag,  Engadget, and Yahoo News and this video clip from CNN for starters.) 

Now you KNOW I lurve my li'l Kindle (look HERE for proof!).  But lately I have been thinking of getting a tablet, and have been looking around a bit.  What I was finding was too high of a price for too many features that I didn't especially need or want. 

When examining features and comparing to other popular tablets (including, of course, the king pin iPad!) the Fire offers a 7" screen, exclusive new "Amazon Silk" split browser system, Android Gingerbread OS, 8 hour battery life, and 8 GB of storage, but unlimited storage in Amazon's Cloud.  (A hard drive in the sky, babeee!)

BUT, Amazon also makes no excuses: the new Kindle Fire doesn't boast a camera or microphone, potential 3G connectivity or GPS functionality.  But guess what? I'm not lookin' for that - I've got all that on m' phone!  So the Kindle Fire is offering the features I want at a price ME LIKEY!!!  ($199, all-in, all-done, woot!)

In other words, I prefer to think of it, not as an iPad competitor, but as an iPad alternative.  My darling niece (who's the adored techie of our family!), is a shameless Apple fan and lurves her iPad, but even she is intrigued by Amazon's new darling.  (See her blog, The Daring Librarian, and especially this informative post on Kindles and iPads and Nooks OHMY!)

She also found and sent me this LINK which has this incredibly helpful at-a-glance comparison chart:

 

I am 100% psyched by this new Kindle Fire... in fact -- *SOLD!* --  I have my pre-order already in, and am eagerly awaiting its arrival in mid November.  

So, yeah... I am well aware of what the Fire "is" and "isn't".  I also do NOT intend for it to replace my current beloved Kindle (for starters, NOTHING beats the easy, pleasant reading experience of Amazon's E-ink Pearl technology on the classic black-and-white Kindles!) -- but it will certainly be a fun addition to my li'l stash of electronic toys.  Besides my first Kindle, I think the Fire will compliment my laptop, Dell mini netbook, and smartphone quiiiite nicely, thank you! 

See Amazon link for more information on the Kindle Fire: Here 

PS  The other 3 Kindles in Amazon's new line-up are quite intriguing, too... (see HERE for Amazon's chart comparison) and offer some nice (and inexpensive) options for folks just entering The Wonderful World of Kindle.

Kindle me, baby!

I am an avid reader and book lover.  I have shelves and cabinets full of books.  I always travel with several books, and usually have a book under my pillow, in my car, in my purse or tote bag, and desk at work.  I love the way books feel and smell.  In my opinion, a crisp, brand new book just waiting to be opened and enjoyed is one of life's purest pleasures. I savor the time spent happily lost in the pages of a good book.

So... I debated long and hard before I bought a Kindle.  I wondered... would I really USE it?  Would I really ENJOY it??  Would it be the same pleasant, enjoyable experience as reading a REAL book?  Well, I've had my Kindle for a few months now and let me assure you that the answers are yes, yes and YES!

I knew my little Kindle was a winner when I tucked it into my back pack and took it on vacation recently... and happily read 6 books in 2 weeks.   I could never have carried 6 (heavy!) books with me; it's just not possible!  But my li'l Kindle made it so easy and convenient!

And (this surprised me)  I am even reading more since I got my Kindle.  Why?  Well, I have identified 3 main reasons.  (1) My [*cough*] over-40 eyes really like the adjustable font feature!!! No reading glasses needed.  YAY!  (2) I have the lighted cover from Amazon and it makes reading in bed (with all room lights off) so easy and enjoyable! (3) I can slip my Kindle into a heavy-duty ziplock bag and read happily in the tub!  (I have always loved to read in the tub but HATE how a regular book's pages get all wrinkly and crinkly when they get wet! Gah!) 

I got the smaller Kindle, with Wi-Fi only, no 3G... wanted to spend as little as possible since I wasn't sure how I would truly like reading on it.  Now honestly, although there have been a handful of times when WiFi was not available and having 3G capability would have been a nice perk, it's really not been much of an issue!   I don't regret my choice.

I love cruising around Amazon's Kindle Store and seeing what's new, what's on sale, and what's FREE.  If you don't already know this, check the Free Book list OFTEN, because prices can change daily, and I have found and read lots of great books that were free one day, $9.99 (or more!) the next. Really!  Amazon also offers a list of 100 different books ("hand selected by our editors") that are discounted to $3.99 or less.  The list changes monthly, and there are some great bargains to be had. Here's the LINK.  There is also an ever-changing list of .99 and $1.99 books all over the site -- but you gotta keep your eyes open!

Yep, Amazon has certainly made "Kindling" easy and FUN!  With one click, you can download a free sample of any book that interests you (and they are very generous samples!)  Or, "Click to Look Inside" at the top of almost every books info page lets you actually "open the book" and read the beginning, right here, right now.  AND, once purchased, every book is returnable within 7 days of purchase with Amazon's excellent no-questions-asked return policy. All samples and books are sent right to your Kindle over the air, no cables or wires required. I mean, really, what's NOT to love?!

And NO! I assure you I am not affiliated with Amazon in any way.  Although I sure wouldn't MIND being!!!  ;o)  

Kindle Photo Credit: here