Quote:
Originally Posted by fugazied
Well there are still some very obvious circumstances in which you don't want an expensive electronic device to read on, you want a disposable paper book (traveling, on the beach, staying in a place where you don't feel the device is safe).
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Let me +2 HarryT's surprise at Fugazied's conclusion that e-readers are NOT suitable for travel.
My husband and I travel to Mexico twice a year -- the Kindle has been an incredible benefit on the last two trips. I might be inclined to to take it just to improve the 5 hr flight experience.
The Kindle is not a "flashy" attraction, like an iPhone or a netbook; who would want to steal it? I don't suppose the back street black market for Kindle's loaded with .prc files is a hot item among thieves trying to make a quick buck. That leaves me less of a target.
It works just fine on the beach, btw.
And here's a benefit I wasn't anticipating: free worldwide wikipedia access over 3G. On our most recent trip, we took a 5 hr bus ride through the mountains to Guadalahara and, guess what? The 3G worked everywhere along the trip and I was able to read about the very small towns and local history as we travelled through. It also provided additional tourist info and history about the things to see at our destination. Now, I could have done some or all of that on a smartphone -- but the roaming charges alone on data could have been shocking. And wifi over a netbook doesn't work so well on a bus in the mountains ....
Finally the form factor: it's light, reasonably inconspicuous and neatly fits inside a typical room safe. Oh yah ... and the two week battery life. Honestly, I pack the Kindle first, the shaving kit second.
