We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

What is a Kindle™?

By R. Kayne
Updated Feb 26, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The Kindle™ is Amazon’s electronic reading device, or e-book. It is to books, what an MP3 player is to music, and more. The Kindle™ can store thousands of books, magazines, blogs and newspapers, and an optional SD flash card will allow for a virtually unlimited e-library of your favorite reading materials. Even nicer, the Kindle™ has free, built-in cellular broadband for accessing Amazon’s library 24/7 so that you can purchase a book, newspaper or magazine when and where you want it. And that’s just the beginning.

A Kindle™ is not much larger than a paperback and thinner, with the second generation Kindle™ 2 even more streamlined. Barely topping 10 ounces, it features a 6-inch (254cm) diagonal grayscale screen. The Kindle™ uses electronic ink, so it reads just like paper, is not backlit, is easy on the eyes, and is readable in bright sunlight. Amazon reports that the rechargeable battery will last for 4 days with wireless turned on, and up to two weeks without wireless on.

The Kindle™ features a QWERTY keyboard for entering search items within Amazon’s extensive library. You can also use the keyboard to enter text notes within the pages of an e-book, similar to writing in the margins.

New book titles are priced at $9.99 US Dollars (USD) and arrive at the Kindle™ within seconds after purchase. Amazon keeps a backup copy of the book in your own online library so that storage on the Kindle™ or on an additional SD flash card isn’t mandatory. If you should lose your Kindle™ or delete a title, you can download it again from your Amazon library.

What makes a Kindle™ so nice is convenience. Waiting for your plane to depart? Get on your Kindle™ and order a book for the trip. Traveling by train? Forget about choosing books ahead of time and lugging them along. Just drop the Kindle™ into your purse or backpack and you’ll have access to all the reading material you could possibly want en route. Sitting on the beach? Read the incredibly crisp electronic ink in the brightest tropical sunlight possible.

If you like to read in bed the Kindle™ also has an advantage here. Books can be difficult to handle but the kindle is lightweight and you can turn pages by pressing buttons located on either side of the device, making it easy to navigate whether right-handed, left-handed, lying on your back or curled up cozily on either side.

There are no wireless contracts or fees with the Kindle™. Amazon pays for all cellular communications and even offers free access to the Wikipedia encyclopedia. Other niceties include a built-in dictionary and the ability to adjust text size up or down as needed.

For reading enthusiasts, the Kindle™ is a great gift idea. As of spring 2009, the newest generation Kindle™ 2 retails for $359 USD with free shipping from Amazon. Kindle™ 2 incorporates built-in text-to-speech so you can listen to that new bestseller while driving. Other ebooks include Sony®’s Digital Reader® and the iRex® iLiad®.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By anon88813 — On Jun 07, 2010

What is the difference between an iPad and a kindle?

By zoid — On Oct 12, 2009

I have several friends and family members with Kindles, but I'm just not sold on it yet. I probably already spend the price on books each year anyway, but the high upfront costs make me reluctant to jump in yet.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.