I’m a gadget fan (as you probably guessed from the subject of this blog) but until last week I’d never tried using a Kindle. I’m happy to report that it has actually exceeded my expectations and I’m pleased I spent the money! I went for the 3G version in the end, which is a bit more expensive but means I can download content wherever there is a 3G network for free.

So what are the good points about the Kindle? I like how it’s purely a book reading machine – there are no frills or pointless extras; no apps or touchscreen capabilities. Instead it’s built with just one purpose in mind – to be a device that allows you to easily read books.

The screen really is as good as people say it is, and it doesn’t take long to forget that you’re reading from a computer screen and not a real book. It’s “fake” ink, which means that there are particles of ink behind the screen that rearrange into words (on a side note, turning a page is very quick – probably even quicker than turning the page on a physical book).

It also has a great battery life. With wifi on the Kindle usually lasts around a week which isn’t bad at all. If you turn off wireless and 3G then apparently you can get closer to a month before needing to recharge but I haven’t tried this yet.

There are a few problems but nothing major. I would definitely recommend a Kindle to anyone who reads a lot – especially if you spend a lot of time on public transport.