Kindle…the iPod for reading?

• May. 7 by Katie Graczyk (2)

Trees have always been used for books, newspapers, and magazines but does it have to be that way?  On Greener People, some comments were posted about Kindle, Amazon’s storage/wireless reading device that holds 200 books at a time.  It also allows you to store more books/information/newspapers on your Amazon account or laptop.  What are the pros and cons of this device?  Does it have a chance at decreasing tree usage for various publications?  When is the UK release?

In a blog by Heather, she mentions information about the Kindle, (available in the States since Nov. 2007) why she owns it, and why you should too.

• “Most people don’t think about the trees used to make their books, but once I found out that one tree only makes 116 average sized books, I was horror struck. I also read that a book that sells one million copies will need around 12,000 trees. And, that’s just one title.”
• All books delivered wirelessly to your Kindle
• Its a space saver because of the amount of material you can store on it at any given time
• can move books, etc. from your laptop to your Kindle at any time
• free internet access to Wikipedia
• state of the art screen which is glare free (as compared to laptops) which simulates a paper page

Additionally-

• can get access to national and international papers through it
• over 250 top blogs about techonoly, business, entertainment, politics etc. can be accessed on Kindle
• download sold-out books while Kindle-less customers must wait for tangible copies to surface
• free book samples
• books are auto delivered wirelessly in less than a minute

Cons

• High, high price $359…£238
• some members on Greener people mentioned that you’d lose the ability (if this took on well/newspapers were finished) to have a paper from the day your child was born-not the same on Kindle!
• loss of the ability to have a ‘copy’ of your favorite book
• It is only available in the US (but plans are supposedly in motion for it to be distributed to the UK and other countries…)

Although it isn’t available outside the US yet, for many, this will be a must have.  It certainly could make a difference in the amount of trees used for paper publications if it takes off.  I’ll be posting questions to my social networks about Kindle in the UK and updating with any comments…

**Telegraph article on UK Kindle launch delays…

“The delay is partly because the Kindle uses a free wireless service called whispernet, which enables users to download books, and signing up networks around Europe is a complex operation.”