Top 10 Kindle Features
March 31, 2010
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Posted by Ray Fowler
(Note: For ebook and audiobook conversions, visit Fowler Digital Services.)
As much as I still love good old-fashioned print books, there are new benefits that come with ebooks and ebook readers like the Amazon Kindle. Here are the top ten things I like about the Kindle, including my absolute favorite (and little known) Kindle feature listed below.
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- Portability: The Kindle is lightweight, and easy to carry around. And it almost feels like a regular book when you put it in its book cover.
- Readability: The E-Ink screen is amazing. It is just like reading paper. I can adjust the font size up or down as needed. I also like that I can hold the Kindle “open” and “turn the pages” with just one hand (leaving the other hand free for coffee or tea).
- Accessibility: I have access to all my Kindle books and magazine subscriptions at all times. Plus, I can browse new books, read samples, and download directly to my device. As a result, I find I am reading more with my Kindle, which is a good thing.
- Flexibility: I am not limited to the Kindle reader but can read my Kindle books on a variety of devices
, including my desktop computer, laptop, or netbook. When I switch devices, each book opens up exactly where I left off reading on the former device. Multiple devices also means more than one family member can be reading Kindle books at the same time. Amazon offers reader apps for PC, Mac, iPhone/iPod Touch, BlackBerry, Android, and now Tablet Computers (including the iPad).
- Searchability: I can search for specific words or phrases in individual books or across my whole library.
- Free samples: Who doesn’t like free samples? I can download free samples from books or magazine subscriptions and preview before purchasing.
- Cost savings: This one is simple. Books are cheaper on the Kindle. Most books I have purchased are $9.99 or less. Many of them you can get for free
- Space savings: We ran out of bookshelf space a long time ago. Many of our books are currently in boxes. With the Kindle I can purchase new books without worrying about where to put them.
- Note-taking: It is easy to highlight text and make notes on the Kindle while I read, and I never need to look around for a highlighter or pen.
- Note-retrieval: I used to type up important notes and quotes from a book when I finished reading it, but it was a long, laborious, time-consuming process. Amazon saves all my highlights and notes along with their locations for me at a special password protected website. When I finish a book, I can go to the website and easily access all my underlines and notes for that book in order. Then I copy and paste them into a Word file for permanent reference. This is a huge time saver, and one of the best advantages of digital over printed books for me. Note: This is different from (and far superior to) the Kindle’s clunky My Clippings folder.
And my absolute favorite Kindle feature? (Most people don’t know about this one.)
Did you find this post helpful? If so, please help support this site by making your Amazon purchases through one of the links below or through the portal in the top left side bar. Thank you! (And check out the new Kindle Fire below!)
Related posts:
• Ebook Formatting for the Ipad, Kindle and Nook
• My Kindle Got Run Over by a Car
(Note: For ebook and audiobook conversions, see Fowler Digital Services.)
Categories: Books, Ebooks, Kindle
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I have a Kindle and didn’t know about #10. Thanks!
ChrisB – It’s a pretty neat feature, isn’t it? I’m surprised it is not more well known.
Which Kindle are you using? So you consider it worthwhile in spite of the price?
Tom – I have the Kindle 2. At $269 it has been well worth the cost to me. I had already purchased some books in Kindle format and tried to read them on my desktop or laptop, but once I got the actual Kindle, it makes all the difference. I just got the Kindle in January and have already saved about $60 on books that I was planning on purchasing anyways. It will eventually pay for itself, plus I figure I am also paying for the added features that come with digital reading (especially the note-taking features described above).
In spite of the price? What is wrong with the $259 price? I bought the Kindle DX, and for the additional PDF support it gives me, even the then $489 price has been well worth it!
The Kindle as a dedicated e-book reader with a bunch of Kindle-unique features wins out for me, a guy who uses at least four of those features every single day. The Kindle is clearly the superior book reader for me!
925 The Kindle DX is very nice, too. I actually tried both out for a week, and although I liked the larger screen on the DX, the portability and lower price of the Kindle 2 won out and I sent the DX back. But then I didn’t need the additional PDF support, or I probably would have opted for it instead.
Ray, I am a Kindle fan also. I got one last October as a pastor appreciation gift from a family in my church. I didn’t think I wanted one because I too love books, the feel, the smell, etc. But all the things you list above I concur with.
I do want to say thank you, however, because tonight, as I stumbled upon your blog and post, I learned about #10. I use the “my clippings” file, but this is so much better. Thanks for this!!
Bill – Glad you are enjoying the Kindle. And yes, #10 is so much better than the My Clippings file (which was such a frustration to use). All the best with your church and ministry!
My Kindle has definatly payed for itslef. I bought an $80 series and only payed $32! it gives me AMAZING recommendations and I love it!
Does Kindle come with a built in dictionary? I was looking at a sample book on an I-Pad, The Count of Monte Cristo, and found the dictionary very handt. With words like phlegmatic, ineffable, and superfluity popping up in every other sentance the dictionary is a real nice feature.
Thom – Yes, the Kindle 3 has an excellent built-in dictionary, along with Google Search and Wikipedia look-up. I only covered my favorite features in this article, but you can view all the great Kindle features here: Amazon Kindle (Scroll Down for Features)
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I ever had and cannot do without..
what is the purpose of the headphone jack at the bottom of the unit
Ron – You can listen to audiobooks or MP3s through the headphone jack.
i honestly did not like it what a complete and total ripoff!! people are absolutly crazy i mean seriously who reads now a days anyways lets leave that for the children at school people!
do all kindle models have the highlighting/note taking option?
Zoey – Sorry you didn’t like it!
Luke – Yes, I believe they do all have the note-taking and highlighting feature.
Doese the Kindle show color if you want to see pictures?
Karl, no, Kindle is strictly black and white . . . it gives the printed text a “paper” look while reading, thus does not tire the eyes like a computer does.
i was wondering if the kindle lets you do emails and go on line also store pics and music. and dso all kindles have the keyboard an the outside of it, i like the option of the keypad on my touch screen on my pandigital.
Sherry – Yes, the Kindle does let you go online, but it is not really meant for web surfing or email. It can also store pictures and music, but it is really meant for reading. And yes, it does have a keyboard on the outside of it.
i just got the kindle for xmas and thought it had a backlit display for reading at night in a dark room?? i must say the info that comes in the box isn’t very detailed…
Deanna, the best part of the Kindle is that it is NOT back-lit. Therefore it reads more like paper than a computer. Easy on the eyes and a better “feel.” Reading lights are inexpensive and will serve you well.
Does it have the dictionary feature just like Nook?
Joreen – Indeed it does. The dictionary is another great feature.
Can you Skype with a Kindle?
Wendy – Nope.
Heya!I am planning to get a kindle with my own pocket money and need to know the price!
Tanya – The WiFi-only version currently sells for $139, and the 3G version sells for $189. If you have the extra $60, I definitely recommend the 3G version.
Hi Ray, just wanted to let you know all the ladies at church pitched in and bought me a 3G Wireless Kindle. I have downloaded 2 versions of the bible, some free books and Son of Hamas, (which I recommend) So far I love it. It’s amazing. I am shopping for a cover for it now.Hope your doing well.
Donna
Donna – That’s great! Enjoy – I love my Kindle.
I don’t have a kindle yet. But i want one. Which one would you recommend for me? I am a teen. And do you happen to know how the kindle got started? I am doing a project for my class. And i can’t find it any where. Thanks(:
Sammy – Other companies made ereaders before the Kindle (for example, Sony), but Amazon was the first to really do a good job of integrating their ereader with their store and creating a system where it was simple for people to buy and read books on a variety of devices. If you are looking at getting a Kindle I would recommend the Kindle 3G model at $189. If that is a little too expensive, then the WiFi model at $139 would be my next recommendation. Happy ereading!
I am confused, how do you do #10? Is it through the Amazon website?
Yes, Roy, through Amazon. Go to this link and sign in . . . and there will be all your notes and highlights, arranged by each book:
http://kindle.amazon.com/your_highlights
Can I use kindle to edit an Excel / Word file?
is it good to store read books or should i delete them after read
I am looking for a device to help improving reading skill of my daughter. what I want is an ability in device where if she doesnot know a peculiar word, she clicks it/highlights it and device “reads it” for her.
Does kindle has this ability
Hoppingirl – Not that I know of.
Charles – It holds lots of books. You do not need to delete them.
Abhijeet – The Kindle does not have this ability right now, maybe someday.
Does the Kindle have the ability for audiobooks? My mom’s friend is visually impaired and would like an e-reader, does the Kindle have bumps and all for someone to feel and use as markers?
I want to buy kindle for my sister..which one do u suggest the 1o inch or the 6.7 inch one..and can we browse in this??
Surekha – I recommend the 6 inch one here: Kindle 3G with 6″ display. It is a great size for reading and carrying around, it has built in 3G for downloading books anywhere, and yes, it also has a web browser.
Hi Ray,
Thanks for all the information.
If I buy workbooks on Kindle, is it possible to download individual pages into my computer for printing and distributing in hard copy to a class?
Angela – You can highlight text and then print out the highlights, or I supppose you could put your Kindle face down on a copy machine and make copies that way.
I am back with my question again…I want to buy kindle for my sis..she is india..i thought i should get kindle wifi 3g 6 inch..my question is..will india come under the global coverage..so that she can download books anytime free..if that is not covered then i can go for just wifi..please reply to me ASAP..
thanks for your help.
Surekha – Yes, the global coverage for the Kindle 3G will work in India (100 countries in all).
Yet, I did not buy the kindle , but I decided to get one of them , I would like to ask you Am I able to add or download the dictionary to Kindle. I figure out kindle is great because it is not heavy and you can care every where.
I am sorry, correction ( care) “carry” .
I am thinking about buying a Kindle and I was wondering if I put in PDF files, if so, how many files can I put into it. In other words, how much storage?
Hi, we have a pastor visiting us from Cuba and someone gave him the lowest amazon kindle. Is there any way he can download sermon notes to this kindle? It looks like to me he can only download and read books, but hoping it has more capabilities than I think.
Thanks for your help.
Blessings,
Pat Pinera
Hi!!
i want to gift Kindle to my father who love reading i want to know is kindle provide audio option too to listen the book ???
The new amazon kindle fire HD is more cheaper and it has attractive feature than previous series. Sorry my english is bad 🙂
hi, im looking to get a kindle and will be going to university so will want to store college books and ordinary books. i want one that can hold as many books as possible. which do u recommend?
I want to buy a kindle only for reading.
Does it have camera and can we play games listen music open social networking sites and play videos reply hero quickly in bout to buy thank you
I’m still deciding on buying a Kindle. But can’t find its superiority over other eBook Readers pre-installed or from the market place in both iPhones and Androids. Means, I find it almost equal. Even if I mention the ePubs, they are almost similar in terms of giving a reading pleasure. So…for me it is still unanswered… “Why should I buy Kindle?”
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Ravi – I use the Kindle app on my computer, phone and tablet a lot too. But I also like having a dedicated Kindle reader with an e-ink screen. It is easier on the eyes for me and also easier for me to get lost in the book. – Ray
Thanks, #10 is what i’ve been researching but could not find in any features list! I want to store my highlights with keywords for easy retrieval. Much obliged!