Amazon Kindle Review: Is it as Great as Oprah Said It Was?

Editor’s Update August 2010: This Amazon Kindle review was done when the device first hit the market. Since its release, it has been replaced with the “Amazon Kindle 2.” As of August 2010 however, the sleeker, slimmer, and smaller latest generation Kindle has been introduced and is available at a reduced price of $189 for the 3G and Wi-Fi version, and $139 for the Wi-Fi only model! Plus, you’ll enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries. Read all about the all-new 6-inch Kindle in our Kindle 3 review.

Oprah Winfrey did an Amazon Kindle Review of sorts on her Live show in Chicago on Friday, October 24th, 2008. Oprah received the Kindle as a gift and she said the ebook reader changed her life. She said it was her, “new favorite favorite thing in the world.” She featured the device on her Live show with Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon. You can watch a 30-second clip of the show here:

The fact that there are over 7,600 mostly positive reviews of the Amazon Kindle at the time of this writing may be an indication that this ebook reader is as great as Oprah says. There is no doubt the Amazon Kindle has been one of the hottest gadgets in recent months and much has been said in regard to it. There probably hasn’t been so much hype about an electronic device since the iPhone.

David Carnoy, Executive Editor of CNET’s Home and Hardware reviews, did a a video review of the Amazon Kindle back in November of 2007 shortly after it was first released. He also gave it a positive review. You can view the two minute Kindle review here:

I thought I would do my own review of the Kindle to see if it was as great as everyone seems to think it is so here it goes. One of the best aspects of the Amazon Kindle is the use of e-ink technology as shown in the CNET review. In layman’s terms, this just means that the text looks and feels like real ink on paper. If you didn’t know you were looking at an electronic device, you would think you were reading a piece of paper. This technology eliminates eye strain and makes reading from the device a pure pleasure.

Easy to Read
Another nice benefit of the Kindle is that you can change the size of the text and then save that setting for future use. If you struggle reading small print, that won’t be an issue with this ebook reader. Simply change the text to a size that is easy for you to read and you’re good to go.

Long Battery Life
The battery life is excellent on the Kindle with reports of over four days of usage before a charge is necessary. This is really critical for people who like to read while travelling or who are constantly on the go. The other nice feature is that it only takes about 20 minutes to fully charge so you don’t need to wait around for it.

“Carry” Hundreds of Books in the Palm of Your Hand
Another nice benefit of the Kindle is that can hold up to 200 books using the internal memory alone. You also have the choice of using SD memory cards which give you almost unlimited storage space. This means that you can walk around with literally hundreds of your favorite books in the palm of your hand!

The Amazon Kindle isn’t without Flaws

When reading through the majority of the Amazon Kindle reviews, the major criticism is the design. Many people have commented on the less-than-attractive, bulky design. To be blunt, a lot of people (myself included) think the reader is just plain ugly. Sure it’s ergonomically friendly and easy to use, but if you’re looking for a cool, hip device like the iPhone to show off to your friends or co-workers, forget about it!

No Backlight
Another drawback you’ll read about is the lack of a backlight. The Kindle is designed to be read under normal lighting conditions. Basically, where you can read a book without light you can read the Kindle. If you like to read in the dark, however, you’ll need to use a lamp nearby or purchase a clip on battery-operated light that you’d use with a regular book.

Isn’t Cheap
The price is also another factor to keep in mind when considering the Kindle. With comparisons being drawn to smaller laptops and other reading devices, it seems that people feel the price is too high. At the time of this review, the Kindle was selling for $359. When it was first released in 2007 it was selling for $399 so it has come down in price. Critics of ebook readers say that in order for them to become common place they really need to be priced below $300. I’m sure they’ll eventually reach that price but for now plan on spending a minimum of $350.

Editor’s October 2009 Update: As mentioned, the original Kindle has been replaced by the Kindle 2. The device is now just $259.

Overall the Kindle is a Revolutionary eBook Reading Device
Despite the high price, there are a couple things to consider before you write it off as an over-priced, over-hyped gadget. The Amazon Kindle is far more revolutionary than any other ebook reader available at the moment. With the Kindle, you can browse and download from Amazon’s collection of ebooks and magazines without needing to have an internet connection or a computer. The Kindle comes with a free built-in wireless connection so that you can simply connect to the Amazon Kindle store and purchase books anytime you want. In addition, books purchased for the Kindle are typically less than $10 each – about half of what a new hardcover book costs.

So is the Amazon Kindle as great as Oprah says it is? Sure it’s a great device or dare I say, “a must have device,” if you’re an avid reader, but I think Oprah might be a little off her rocker when she says it changed her life. I could agree with her if she was talking about the iPhone, a truly life-altering communications device, but not an ebook reader.

There is no doubt the Amazon Kindle is quickly revolutionizing the book industry but I don’t think it will drastically change your life as Oprah implies. Who knows, maybe the second generation Amazon Kindle will. Rumors have it that it will be released sometime during the first quarter of 2009. Whether you choose to purchase the Kindle now or wait for the next release, I think you will be very satisfied with the device if you’re an avid reader. It can be improved, but as over 5,900 Amazon Kindle reviews have clearly shown, it leads the way in eBook readers.

Click Here to Watch a Video Demonstration of the Amazon Kindle