"Most asked-for, most-gifted and most 5 star reviews of any product on their website," are the words that Amazon, the world largest online retailer uses to describe the Kindle Wireless Reading Device. Despite not being widely used presently in Trinidad and Tobago, it may soon become the latest trend in mobile technology for the tech savvy and avid readers alike. Besides being environmentally friendly by reducing the need for printed books, saving on paper, it has the ability to store about 3500 books in a package that is even smaller than the average paperback novel. The Kindle is extremely portable weighing in at 247g.
There is a massive selection of books that are available for purchase and download through the Amazon website. Amazon says that, "Over 450000 electronic books (e-books) are available for customers in Trinidad and Tobago." These books can be bought and downloaded to the device in as little as 60 seconds via a WIFI connection. The convenience of this is almost unimaginable, with someone being able to browse, read a sample chapter and then purchase and read a book without even leaving their home. E-books are often relatively cheaper than their printed counterparts and a wide range of free publications are also available.
The screen size is 6inches and Amazon's new E ink feature shows clear and sharp images and is more comfortable on the eye than traditional computer monitors. The only draw back is that the Kindle features no backlight so reading in the dark or poorly lit areas is impossible without light or a light attached case that is sold separately. For the visually impaired or those who just don't want to 'read' there is a text to speech feature that turns the text from the book to audio. E books are not the only media that can be view on the Kindle, there is a wide range of foreign newspapers and magazines that can be purchased on the Amazon website at a lower price and viewed on the device.
Battery life on the Kindle is quite good with it lasting about a month once fully charged using its included USB charger. At US$139.00 from the Amazon website, it may seem expensive but with trends in E books and electronic media, E book readers such as the Kindle may take a greater market share in the publishing field and even slowly replace the need for printed books. Currently the latest version from Amazon though, is clearly ahead of the pack with its cheaper competitors and should be a clear choice for those interested in this technology.
Here are a few Ebooks available:
1. Trinidad and Tobago Adventure Guide - Kindle Edition- Kindle eBook (June 20, 2007) by Kathleen O'Donnell - $11.99
2. Caribbean and the Yankees: Trinidad and the United States Occupation- Kindle Edition- Kindle Book (Mar. 12, 2007) by Harvey R. Neptune - $15. 17
3. Trouble in Trinidad- Kindle edition - Kindle eBook (Mar. 30, 2009) by William Manchee - $7.95
4. Sweet and Sour Trinidad and Tobago - Kindle edition- Kindle eBook (Sept 3, 2010) by PhD Johnny Coomansingh - $11.99
5. New Homelands: Hindu Communities in Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Fiji, and East Africa- Kindle Edition- Kindle Book (Nov. 30, 2009) by Paul Younger - $61.20
6. Spirits, Blood and Drums: The Orisha Religion in Trinidad- Kindle edition- Kindle Book (Oct, 26, 1995) by James Houk - $18. 47
7. The Novels of Samuel Selvon: A Critical Study- Kindle Edition- Kindle Book (Apr. 30, 2001) by Roydon Salick
8. Letters to Ailan - Kindle Edition eBook (Oct.10,2010) by Wendy Fitzwilliam. $11.99