Those who are both avid readers and electronics junkies may see the Amazon Kindle as the very best of both worlds.  Kindle readers allow users to download books from virtually anywhere.  No longer do you have to make a trip to the library or bookstore in order to pick up a book.  Kindle books are easy to read and often cheaper than the hardback editions found in stores.  Amazon has even developed technology that makes the Kindle as easy to read as any other book.  You can even sit outside on a sunny day to read without a glare.  With this in mind, is it really a good deal to purchase a Kindle?  Here are some more pros and cons to help you make the decision.

The price difference is considerable.  New release books can cost upwards of 20 dollars in bookstores and can be as cheap as 10 dollars with the Amazon Kindle.  While Kindle books are cheaper than their hardback counterparts, you will find that some of the latest titles are not available for download.  Once you have purchased a book with your Kindle, it is yours forever. This may be great news if it is a book you love, but if you want to sell it or give it away to a friend who may enjoy it more, you will not be able to do so.

The same rule that applies to selling your Kindle books remains true for loaning books as well.  Many people love trading books among their friends and community, but Amazon will not allow the book to be transferred onto another device or computer not owned by the purchaser.  Unless you feel comfortable with your friends borrowing your Kindle too, they will have to purchase their own copy.  Most people will shy away from loaning out an electronic device worth $300 to $500.

If you never loan or sell your books, the Amazon Kindle may be right for you.  You can quickly download your Kindle books that are cheaper than traditional books. There are tons of free Kindle books to download at Amazon as well.  The Kindle has a long battery life of nearly a week and you can read them wherever you go, even outside in the bright sunlight.  Amazon allows you to download a few chapters of a book before purchasing it, making it possible to only buy the books you really want to read.  If this sounds like a fit for your life and you want to carry up to 1,500 books with you all the time, check out the Kindle reader from Amazon.

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