by Erich Rosenberger M.D.

Created on: January 15, 2010

The Amazon Kindle is starting a revolution in publishing. The Amazon e-book reader is an entirely new way of reading books and magazines. It's certainly not for everyone, but in some settings, it is by far one of the more interesting technologies to come about in quite some time.

There are currently two versions of the Amazon Kindle - the standard size, and the large screen "DX" version. This review looks at only the smaller, standard size.

The first thing to note about the Amazon Kindle is the screen. It is NOT a regular computer screen. It's a technology called "e-ink". The best analogy is to think of it as a high-tech Etch-a-Stetch. It really does look like you are reading a regular piece of paper. This means that it is NOT backlit, but you can read it in direct sunlight. The screen only uses power when you change the page, so the battery life is amazing. I've read entire novels on a single charge. Also, there is no eyestrain on looking at the screen for a long time.

The Kindle is about the size of a trade paperback, but thinner. The interface is simple, but relatively easy to navigate. Because you are generally only using it to read books, there is really no need for a complicated user interface. You just need a list of your books and a way to change pages. There is also the ability to take notes on the books you are reading, and you can search for text within a book.

The Amazon Kindle has a wireless "cell phone" built in. When you buy a book on Amazon.com, it is instantly downloaded to your Kindle, usually arriving within about two minutes. You can also connect the Kindle to your computer directly and load files in .txt format. Technically, you don't even really need a computer, as you can shop the Amazon Bookstore from the Kindle directly. However, the connection and browsing isn't very fast or easy to use, so it's better to do your shopping on a proper computer.

One of the best things about an Amazon Kindle is the ability to carry around an entire library. I have hundreds of books loaded on the device at any given time. This is great for travelers, or those who like to switch between several books. Text size can also be changed - making this a great device for older folks who need BIG TEXT to read easily.

There are many places online where you can find books for your Amazon Kindle aside from the Amazon store. Most classic literature can be found for free, and there are sites like the Baen Free Library which offers dozens of free sci-fi novels for download to a Kindle. Books on Amazon run from $10 for new novels, to around $6 for older paperbacks. You can save a fair amount on books if you are used to buying a lot of books.

The Kindle now comes standard with International connections, meaning that it can be used in a wide range of countries, not just in America.

The Amazon Kindle does have some limitations. It is hard to just flip through a book randomly. This means that books you don't read linearly are hard to use on a Kindle. Textbooks are an example of a type of book that doesn't do well on a Kindle. The screen is also black and white, so picture books aren't good on the Kindle either. The Kindle really shines with regular novels that you read from start to finish.

If you ever get the chance to read an Amazon Kindle, do it. It's an amazing device. It won't be a perfect substitute for regular books, but it can compliment books and is a great alternative for the avid reader.

Learn more about this author, Erich Rosenberger M.D..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.