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My Beloved Kindle


Amazon's Kindle has been the go-to-e-reader for some time. Accordingly, I won't bother summarizing its most obvious aspects. Instead, I want to briefly discuss why my Kindle Oasis (their current flagship) is one of my favorite things. 

My Oasis can hold a tremendous number of books. It goes without saying that this is wonderful when I travel. Not only can I carry more books, but I don't have to think about which to bring. They are all there when I need them.

If you purchase the cellular feature, you can download books without having to log onto a WiFi network. This is a one time fee and I highly recommend it because it is not that easy to get onto a WiFi network with your Kindle while traveling because many public networks require elaborate sign ins that can be serious obstacles for my little Kindle...

I don't actually need my Oasis to access my Kindle library. If I am out and about, I can pick up where I left off at home by using the app on my iPhone. 

The Kindle allows you to save and export your notes. Personally, I like to underline and make notes in my books and it is tremendously convenient to be able to export my favorite passages.

Kindle texts are searchable and this has all kinds of benefits, especially when it comes to writing papers. Additionally, it is very easy to grab quotes. I am also encouraged to look up more definitions because it is so easy.

There are all sorts of ways to add material to your Kindle. You are not just limited to the Amazon store. Many libraries allow you to check out books directly to your Kindle. You can also send PDFs, Word, documents, and many other forms of text files to your Kindle.

My minimalist friends like to get rid of all but their favorite books. In spite of my Kindle fanaticism, I love physical books and have a great number lying around my place. Part of the reason that I buy books on Kindle is to slow the growth of my book piles. Large and heavy books are top candidates for digital vs. physical acquisition. While it is nice to hold an actual book in your hands, this is much less true for +400 page books. 



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