If you enjoy reading and are thinking of buying a Kindle here are some reasons for and against.
The first point I want to make is that you do not need to buy a Kindle device to read Kindle ebooks. Kindle software is made available – at no cost – by Amazon which enables you read Kindle ebooks on your computer or phone.
I have a Kindle device myself but it got damaged due to some rough handling. I will most likely not buy another anytime soon unless I come into some money (by way of a job – I have applied for one). Here are some comments from an avid reader and Kindle user:
- I think Amazon has meant and priced Kindle to be strictly use and throw items. If your Kindle gets damaged it does not make sense to try to repair it. I contacted a number of people to try to get my Kindle battery replaced. No one knows anyone who can do that job.
- Using a Kindle it is easy to make notes and also modify the notes and the highlighting you want to do. This is a feature that may be useful if you are really studying a book to master it. With physical books if you take notes on the margin it disfigures the book and you cannot change the notes or highlights that you have made.
- Also comparing Kindles with IPads or tablets there is the factor that reading on tablets or phones or computers causes eye strain. With a Kindle the amount of strain is less. If you read for many hours a day – say five or six hours – then it makes sense to buy a Kindle for that reason.
- Kindles are portable and easy to handle. You can carry them with you (your whole library of Kindle ebooks) when you are travelling and read when lying down in bed. You can do the same with a phone of course but point (3) above may be relevant.
- With a Kindle you can increase or decrease the font size. That is not true of physical books. If you are a senior citizen who finds reading difficult then this may be important.
- If you like lending your books to friends and relatives then it is better to buy a physical copy although you can lend Kindle ebooks to others.
- Amazon makes it possible for you to borrow and return ebooks for a fixed price per month if you take membership in Kindle Unlimited.
- You can browse through samples of Kindle ebooks before buying them.
- Lastly Kindle ebooks are available at a discount compared to paperbacks and hardbound books. Sometimes the discount is substantial. If you are operating on a tight budget or buy and read a lot of books then this may be important to you.
I hope you liked this article and it will be useful to you. Please share it on WA, FB and X (formerly Twitter) and let me have your comments. Feedback from my readers keeps me going.
Find this handy. Buy me a coffee