Anyone purchased a Kindle yet

I am wondering if anyone has purchased a 'Kindle' from Amazon yet? We need to thank Charles/Packlite for putting it up on the front page of the Forum for us <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

It looks to be the best so far in the line of elcetronic readers out there. Sony has (had?) their Reader, and I think there is another out there. Anyway, does anyone have a 'Kindle', and if so how do you like it? What is the battery source, and how long in real use does it last when not using the wirless feature?

I think this item may become long trail backpackers best friends when stormed in for a few days in camp!

Some backpackers are willing to take multiple devices, each one representing something that's very good at what it does --- dedicated camera, separate GPS, etc, and in this case we're talking about a dedicated book reader.

For me, at least, I'll compromise to accept some limitations in how well the device performs if I can bring just one device that does several things. My smartphone has book reading software installed --- I use Mobipocket, but I have other software options, and I've bought books for it from two different sources (plus of course, loaded various free books from multiple sources as well).

It might be a good choice for some, but I wouldn't consider carrying a Kindle into the woods. While it does offer a larger screen size, drugstore reading glasses help offset that advantage. It costs $400 and weighs a whopping 10.3 oz, and it's fairly bulky. It has a proprietary battery, though you can buy spares.

It really depends on what kind of trip you're on. Certainly if you already own a Kindle and you're not counting every ounce in your base weight, then it would indeed be a fine experience to read a variety of things on this in the woods or anywhere.

Brian, Nice post. My intent was being able to use it on the trail of course; but also while waiting for mass transit or friends to arrive. One could also read the latest daily paper if so inclined when out if they have a business that requires they be kept abreast of economic matters.

I think the Kindle has a place, just not sure in a pack, but that's why I asked. I'm no electronic guru, but I can't imagine enjoying 'reading' anything on a cellphone <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> That would be too much eye strain and give me a major headache anywhere <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> The point of the Kindle is it has a type and screen that reduces glare to make reading easier than say the Sony reader.

Appreciate your perspective just the same, like I said, I'm no electronics guru <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> This is a Compaq laptop w/ windos98 I'm on <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Earthling,

As I've said in other posts - I have a PDA phone which cost me $200 with a 2-year contract. It's similar to a smartphone, but with a touchscreen and a Pocket PC OS. In addition to being a camera, phone, gps, car navigator, expense tracker, alarm clock, schedule keeper, billable time tracker, Internet hot spot, music and video player, weather oracle, email provider, chat room communicator, audio recorder, guitar tuner, and game player - it also lets me read books. I keep a ready-reference library on a 2 GB mini-SD card. Plant and animal identification, current copy of the California fishing regs, How to Tie Knots, the Chamber of Commerce web pages for the towns I'm passing through, star charts (actually a program), tide tables, historic maps of the area, etc..

Now the only feature that the Kindle has that is arguably better than my PDA is the large e-ink display. However, I'll take the portability and versatility of the PDA over the Kindle any day. The display isn't really that hard to read, especially if you buy the VGA screen version. I've read hundreds of books on this QVGA screen with no ill effects. Typeface and size are adjustable of course. And the Kindle doesn't fit in my pocket. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You don't need to be an electronics guru to understand that.

Ok, Nity, you sold me on your PDA <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />; check your PM box for my address for where to ship it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Actually you made good points right up to the end...but then said, "you don't need to be an electronics guru" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Half of your post is goobledey gook to me, but then again half of what I do on the farm everyday is goobley gook to everyone else <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Wow! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> is all I can say about that PDA device! If only I was'nt still on a 1998 Compaq using windos98 on a dialup I'd be up to speed <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Apart from the guitar cord tuner and billable time tracker apps, I use my pda/phone/etc for all of the same things and a few others --- also on the Pocket PC platform. What specific plant and animal identification doc(s) do you use, and how do you like it/them? What format --- pdf, doc, or something else?

Ditto the star chart program --- that could be nice.

Just to potentially return the favor, I use a little freeware app that displays sun and moon rise & set times for one or multiple locations on my "today" screen, which I find handy when backpacking. If you're interested in that, have a look here:
http://www.freewareppc.com/astronomy/sunnmoon.shtml

Sorry for the blatant thread-drift; maybe a new "favorite pocket pc apps for backpacking" thread is warranted, dunno.