I found out why they call it a Kindle

I've got to say, I am very much impressed with the Kindle DX I received today! Though it is much bigger than I had anticipated to be, after reading on it today, I don't mind how big it is. After learning how to use it, and downloading my first few books onto it, I am sure that I will be reading a good portion of my books on it. Though it will never be able to replace a real book.

I will simply gush over this mysterious thing. I don't know how they make the screen, as the screensaver mode gives a lovely picture of a well known art or author and it remains up there with ease. The font is adjustable and I like setting mine at the second smallest level, though I could read from the smallest as well. The fonts get just huge though, where not even a sentence can fit on it sometimes.

The orientation is nice as well, though I do find the placing of the usb port and the headphones to be silly. I definitely think they should be reverse with the headphones at the bottom and the usb port at the top. When my kindle is charging, I will be using it upside down, as it will change to fit that format as well with the text. The page buttons are both on the right, and it seems that inevitably, someone will complain about it. As most people are right handed (which I am not) it make the most sense to put it on that side. As well as because most items will be read with the page turning right. But the backpage button is also on the right, albeit smaller and above the right page button. It works for people who use only one hand to hold the kindle, but I will always say that the backpage button is on the wrong side. Seeing as how the button is used much less, it really isn't much of a problem. Only if the page is inverted, as in my situation with charging, does the reader have to remember to pres the now pointing left button to turn to the right page.

I tried out the voice option, but will rarely, if never use it. The voice is good for automated, yet it is still automated. I have to set it onto the slowest setting in order to understand what it is saying, and it still may pronounce words wrong. It also will flip the pages for you when you get to the end of the page, which is truly nice. The choice between male and female voices is a nice touch, and for print-to-voice, it is a good program, but not for me. I like to read my books, rather than hear them.

An aspect I do not like is the fact that when I have to type in my password, the letter I type in is shown and any others before it are the standard bullet. If my password is cats, I type 'c' '*a' '**t' '***s' which still allows anyone looking over my shoulder to read what I type, even if I am going fast, and log in. It is essential that they fix that. My password does not happen to be cats in actuality.

Though it touts it as 'being able to read without straining your eyes' I like the idea of a backlit screen, as a computer or laptop screen has never given me trouble over long periods of time. I am also one who likes to do things with only just enough light, though again I hear that hurts my eyes as well. In all, I do really like the screen.

My only fears are for it breaking or snapping, though I am sure it is a durable little thing. It is just simply so thin and I am afraid for it. I have gotten a case for it, and shall be happy when I get it. It is a deep burgundy red, which just happens to be my favorite color. We'll see if it is as true a burgundy as they say.

Other than that, I shall be reading plenty of books, especially the out-of-copyright books that I've been wanting to read for so long. Come classes with many older books, I will be in luck, particularly a Shakespeare class.

Expect more updates about the kindle as I test it out even more as school starts up again soon. I also completed reading The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman and The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin just these past couple of days and will be writing up on them soon.

Why is it called a Kindle anyway?

Yesterday, I went and ordered a kindle. While the initial expense is up there, I figure that I will be able to save in the long run, especially on out-of-copyright books. A class I must take for my English major that will use the Kindle particularly is a Shakespeare class. I am sure that in the class we will be reading plenty of them, and having a kindle will definitely help, as opposed to finding either physical book copies, or reading them on the web. It will also save my poor back from having to carry around all of my books, which may be even better than anything else.

Will be updating soon on my first impressions of the Kindle DX Graphite.