Monday, June 13, 2011

New Little Buddy.

Earlier in the year I made some foolish declaration about not buying magazines anymore. That didn't last as I have an addiction. This is my excuse. A pathetic one I know. One I should certainly be able to address.

However, I have made some steps towards *reducing the paper waste in our family. I have bought a Kindle. I got it a while ago and I love it. Now I know many of you are going to poo poo this e-reader saying it signifies the loss of the written word and the death of books etc etc and to some extent I agree. I am not saying I am going to stop buying books. (When I was in Melbourne Mich took me to Artisan books on Gertrude street where I had to buy a book about the history of Colour- such a beautiful book shop, and just down the road was another book shop called Books for Cooks which I could absolutely recommend and of course I bought Chef a book too. ) In fact quite the opposite but I am only going to buy books that are like reference books, like I have written about before. But all those disposable books, you know the crime kind of ones that you sometimes read when you don't want to use your brain too much, that you read in a few days?? that you pick up on a whim? I am not going to buy them anymore.  I just have an image ( Mich has hear this spiel before) of a book factory pumping out Jodi Picoult books by the thousands and just think about ALL THAT PAPER. Think about it....it's not like her books are life changing novels? ( sorry to pick on Jodi, but you get what I mean) so these can be downloaded onto my kindle, if I feel that way inclined, for a fraction of the price. ( about $8)

Which brings me to the kindle. It is not like reading a computer screen at all. Nothing like it. I have tried to show you the screen, this is Fantastic Mr Fox which I have a real copy of but wanted to see if it showed the pictures when I downloaded it- which as you can see it does.  

You turn the page on by the little button on the side. You can change the font size and type -this was hugely important to me- what if it was in comic sans - *shudder*. (I know you don't think it is that bad LC and you cannot comprehend the enormity of my contempt for it )The keyboard at the bottom is so you when you dial up Amazon you can type in the name of the book you want, they are downloaded onto your kindle in about one minute. This is great for someone like me who is not always good at delaying gratification. It is instant.

Because I am a rampant consumer I had to buy a nifty cover for it.  I take it everywhere. It is great for holidays, as it is light as a feather. The battery lasts for ages too.  It is my new little buddy and I have already converted a few friends too.
* this is how I am justifying this purchase.

27 comments:

  1. Excellent Cath!!

    We have got an e-reader for Miss soon to be 10's birthday, in a few weeks. She reads so much, that the library can't keep up and we just can't afford to buy that many books. Let alone the waste of paper!!!

    Loving the cover you got there too!!xx

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  2. I ♥ my Kindle! It's perfect for holidays when you don't want to lug all that extra book weight around.

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  3. I have been debating about getting an e-book reader for ages. With the Kindle how does it go with our power supply?

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  4. I've been thinking that an e-reader would be perfect for magazines and newspapers. Can you read these on the Kindle, or is that only an iPad/iPhone thing?

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  5. You're going to have to select American Typewriter as your font of choice...

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  6. My mother and sister-in-laws both have Kindles and just love them! I have yet to dive in because I just can't imagine not having a real book yet - maybe one of these days!

    http://thefreckledmarauder.blogspot.com/

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  7. We borrowed a kindle recently for Jake who loves to read but couldn't turn pages with his broken arms! It is definitely a new experience. But I think I still love real pages.... Or an ipad!

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  8. i just can't give up books - even if the technology is light,, economical and handy. Adore the cover!

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  9. i do love paper and books and handwritten notes, but that does look very tempting!

    have you tried vintage typewriter font, love it ♥

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  10. justification accepted!!! (grin)

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  11. Hmm...I'm not there yet, but glad you're enjoying yours! Love the cover...
    xo,
    w

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  12. I got a kindle for Christmas and I absolutely LOVE it!

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  13. I like your musings on the kindle. Your 'buying trashy novels that you don't necessarily want on your bookshelf' theory makes a lot of sense to me! And, just for some comic relief, here's a pretty funny defense of Comic Sans! (Not for those that have a problem with bad language!)
    http://fuckyeahcomicsans.tumblr.com/

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  14. hmmm, not sure. Think I would have to see one in 'real life'. I am a big library girl. I ordered in about four books and a dvd last night, from the comfort of my computer, to my local library, at no cost, it's a great trick that they do that! I HATE Times New Roman, hate it. Ooooh, I really hate it.

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  15. I love that cover. So many people have been singing the praises of kindle lately. Looks great. Kx

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  16. I really love REAL books, but I don't like the fact that I have a bookshelf full of them that I've already read.
    I'm thinking that a kindle might be perfect for all the hours I waste sitting in waiting rooms. Might have to save my pennies and lash out!

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  17. I am THIS close to purchasing a Kindle and now that I have seen your post (and your GORGEOUS cover) I am now THIIIIIS close!! x

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  18. I am very envious of gadgets, especially when they come in lovely covers.

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  19. I see the advantages. I really, really do. But I just can't give up my real, live books...

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  20. the technology behind digital ink means that it is almost exactly the same as paper anyway, the screen literally pushes pigment molecules to the surface, no different to printing.. its just a re-usable screen just like the old fashion magna-doodles.
    It's really one of those weird things now though that I'm seeing, where people can see this is better in every single way.. but can't let go.. oh well
    I'll also add though that Amazon anounced last month that for the first time digital books are now out selling their real books ^_^ wow...

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  21. I absolutely love beautiful reference books and children's books but I couldn't agree more!! Thanks for showing what the pages look like Cath. Straight on the shopping list!

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  22. Love my Kindle but don't love the lack of Australian content available or the fact that as an Australian you can't buy some things that you could if you were in the US. It's a Amazon thing apparently. And you can get newspapers and magazines, well some of them!

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  24. We are a three kindle household. I dearly love mine. One of the best things about it is that I can read and knit at the same time, without the akward balancing act of trying to hold the book open.

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  25. ooh I am thinking of buying a kindle for travelling. now I can use your justifications for my own! yay! thanks! where did you get that groovy cover?
    Pepper x

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what a nice person you are- taking the time to comment in this busy hectic world...Thank you!!