The Amazon Kindle: Next Generation Reading

At first glance, the Amazon Kindle- a compact computer-like device that holds all of your favorite books, essays, and articles -might seem to be a ridiculously unnecessary new toy for the world's uber-nerds. And it is. Kind of.

The first-generation Kindle (pictured above) was released in 2007, promising 250 MB of storage (the equivalent of about 200 non-illustrated books). It sold out in about five an a half hours, and was then replaced by the Kindle 2 earlier this year.

The 6" Kindle 2 is slimmer than the first, offering about a 2 GB memory (can hold about 1,500 non-illustrated books) and a better battery life. It costs $359.00 plus shipping.

The Kindle 2 was upgraded in record time, as the efficient Kindle DX was released earlier this month. The 9.7" Kindle DX sells for $489.00, and boasts 4 GB storage abilities (about 3,500 non-illustrated books).

The Kindle promises a lot, that's for sure. However, when considering it's affiliation with Amazon and it's potential when paired with wireless internet, the Kindle starts to look less like an over-the-top tech geek tool and more like a handy device for today's on-the-go readers.

Let's examine THE PROS:

• When traveling, you no longer have to narrow down your book selection because of packing and space limitations. All of your favorite reads are in one place.
  
• One of my personal pet peeves is squished and ugly book fonts: if I pick up a book that leaves me claustrophobic and gasping for breath because of cluttered text, I won't buy it, no matter how enticing the back description is. But no matter- the Kindle allows you to change the font of your text right on the screen!
• The Kindle comes with a built in dictionary for immediate usage.
• If you don't have the time to physically read off of your Kindle screen but you still want to experience a story, your Kindle can read it out-loud for you! You don't have to spend extra money on books and books on tape.
  
• When buying books for your Kindle, the price is considerably lower than your average bookstore prices (most books go for $9.99 on Amazon.com). This causes Kindle users to broaden their literary scope, as people are more likely to buy more and different books when it costs them less.
  
• While you can subscribe to big-name newspapers and magazines (i.e. The New York Times), you can personalize your Kindle and access local resources as well (i.e. The Towson Times).
  

And the list goes on (for more information, surf Amazon.com).

While the Kindle can certainly boast of many impressive feats, you have to wonder how this new technology will affect the general definition of reading that has so long been present in our society. While content, style, and language utilized in books have changed dramatically over the centuries, the act of reading a book has, for the most part, been the only consistent thing linking past with present.

The Kindle is definitely tailored to the types of people that we find all around us in today's society; high-powered business people who travel a lot (but never for fun) and who can not seem to master the art of sitting still. It used to be that to curl up with a good paperback was a way to unwind and escape from the fast-paced life around us; now it seems that recent on-the-go technology glamorizes multi-tasking and forces us to adapt to that fast-paced life. With the ever-accessible Kindle on your hip, how can you take a break from the world every once and awhile?