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Why you should buy a Kindle, even if you love real books

If you ever step foot in my room (as unlikely as it may be), the first thing you'll notice is the books. Suffice it to say that I have many books. In fact, I have so many that my dusty shelves creak under the weight of paperback novels and thick computer science textbooks. They stack awkwardly on top of each other, and the overflow pools on my floor. I have long since given up on organizing them consistently.

I like books, specifically paperbacks. For a long time, I have been convinced that I would Never get a Kindle from Amazon Which Kindle device should I buy? A Comparison Guide Which Kindle Device Should You Buy? Comparison Guide There are four different Kindle readers available to purchase for different types of users. But which Kindle device is right for you? Read More Old school print books, I would insist, are the only way of appreciating the written word. Books never run out of power. Once I'm done with a book, I can share it with a friend or donate it to a thrift store, since books aren't encased in a tight layer of DRM (Digital Rights Management).

And yet, earlier this month, I was sitting on my doorstep, anxiously waiting for a courier to deliver my brand new Kindle Paperwhite (UK). . Like thousands of others around the world, I was tempted by the deep discounts that Amazon offered on its annual Prime Day sale. What is Amazon Prime Day and how do I get the best deals? What is Amazon Prime Day and how do I get the best deals? Amazon Prime is one of the best consumer events in the last decade. It truly brought online shopping to the masses and transformed the way we approach shopping. Read more.

It was an impulse buy, but I don't regret it. In just one week, I've been convinced that the Kindle is the future of reading. Perhaps you, like me, had serious doubts about the nature of electronic books. But you must get rid of them immediately. Amazon Kindle offers everything you love about books, but with a few extra extras that are worth all the expense.

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Using a Kindle is a delight

Forget the Kindle store. Forget the convenience of thousands of books on a device no thicker than a pencil. Forget rugged, well-built hardware that outlasts even the most careless users. The main reason you should buy a Kindle is because it's really awesome to use.

Why you should buy a Kindle, even if you love real books

Front and center of the reading experience is the lovely E-Ink display. What is E-Ink? How does it work and why does every ebook fan need it? What is E-Ink? How It Works And Why Every E-Book Fan Needs It If you read eBooks and haven't switched to E-Ink yet, then you're missing out. Here's everything you need to know about why E-Ink is great for eBook lovers. Read More It looks like words printed on a piece of paper. . Unlike many computer and tablet screens, it is sun readable. The latest version of Amazon's e-ink displays are updated almost immediately, so there is little to no delay. This was a problem on earlier models. The Kindle can go on for weeks (The Amazon Kindle Oasis Kindle Oasis review Amazon Kindle Oasis review Would you pay $290 for an eReader? Amazon bets bookworms will sink into Amazon's e-book market buy the Kindle Oasis. But you might find a dry Oasis. Read More lasts for months. ), while slowly taking in the electricity.

Plus, Unlike Old School, Dead Tree Books Books Suck:Why I Love My Kindle More Than Dead Trees Books Suck:Why I Love My Kindle More Than Dead Trees Modern e-readers hold thousands of novels, weigh almost nothing, they have built-in lights, and you don't get a concussion when they touch your nose. Read More You don't have to worry about accidentally knocking them off your nightstand and losing your place.

You can also highlight and share passages, without the pang of guilt you feel when you deface an otherwise pristine book. You can also see passages that other people have highlighted, which I've found draws my attention to passages I would have otherwise skipped outright.

Why you should buy a Kindle, even if you love real books

This winning combination has led me to read more books than I would have used. How to Use Your Kindle to Read More Books How to Use Your Kindle to Read More Books Many of us have a desire to read more books, but it's hard to find the time AND the inclination to do so. Your Kindle can help you achieve this goal. Here's how... Read More Last week I devoured the titles of Paul Carr and Daniel. “Fake Steve Jobs” Lyons, and I'm halfway through an especially important title from O'Reilly in big data. Previously, he had read maybe two books a month, max.. Now I can't stop reading .

The Kindle is perfect for night owls

I have a particular fondness for Kindle Paperwhite Kindle Paperwhite Review &Giveaway Kindle Paperwhite Review &Giveaway Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon's current flagship reader, and one we've wanted to review and give away for quite some time. If you already own a Kindle or a different e-reader, you can... Read More That's because I spend a lot of time flying red-eye from the US to the UK, and back. Like most people, I can't sleep on flights, especially when I sit in the confined and uncomfortable confines of coach class. During these flights, I am quite aware of the fact that people close to me are probably trying to rest. As a result, I'm reluctant to reach into my bag to find a book or turn on the reading light.

But the next time I'm headed abroad, I won't need to turn on an overhead light to read a book on my Kindle Paperwhite. It has four small LEDs buried under its black plastic bezel, which can be adjusted for the amount of illumination required. If I finish my book, or get bored of it and want to read another one, I can switch to another one in its internal storage.

Why you should buy a Kindle, even if you love real books

Even better, because these LEDs cast a natural-looking white light and don't shine directly into my face, I can read in bed without risking my Kindle affecting my sleep.

I can still push myself to buy books

One of my favorite things in the world is to go to a bookstore, whether it's Waterstones in the UK or Barnes and Noble in the US, and browse. I love wandering the aisles, finding books for sale, and blurring the lines between “browsing ” and “loitering

Having a Kindle hasn't stopped me from doing that. Little by little I have built a collection of titles on my Kindle that “Totally intend to read one day. “. I just haven't had to go to the bookstore, or wait for an Amazon courier to drop them off.

Why you should buy a Kindle, even if you love real books

The Kindle Store is where you download books. In my experience, it's a bit of a mixed bag, but for this article we'll focus on the positives.

For starters, he has more books than you could possibly have. possibly I hope to read in your lifetime, just shy of 5 million, that it's insane . Titles are delivered in seconds, and if you pay extra for one of the 3G-enabled Kindles, you don't even have to be connected to WiFi. You could be on a beach somewhere exotic, sipping an ice cold pina colada, and still get your books delivered to your device.

Then there are the offers. Every day, Amazon sells a range of top-notch novels and non-fiction books at knockout prices. Some are quite difficult to resist.

Why you should buy a Kindle, even if you love real books

Some are as low as $2. Others are a little more, but still well below the market price of the book itself.

Goodreads makes your Kindle social

In 2013, Amazon acquired the book-based social network Goodreads for an undisclosed sum. While this was initially quite controversial within the Goodreads community, Amazon has largely had a hands-off approach to running the site. The only thing that has changed is that Amazon is slowly integrating its support into its Kindles, and the Goodreads app is without a doubt one of the must-have mobile apps for book lovers.

Why you should buy a Kindle, even if you love real books

Whenever you buy your Kindle in the US, Canada, Australia, or the UK, you can now see what your friends are reading and rate the books you just read without ever leaving your device. You can even share passages you find interesting or meaningful, and see recommendations based on things you've previously rated or purchased.

This is a huge plus for me, as Goodreads always seems to be more trouble than it's worth. If I wanted to share a snippet of a book, I'd just take a picture on my phone and post it on Twitter. But now I can easily contribute to this community of bibliophiles of 40 million people. 10 Essential Goodreads Tips for Book Nerds 10 Essential Goodreads Tips for Book Nerds Goodreads has made finding that next book so much easier. If you love books, and are on Goodreads (or plan to), these tips will help enrich your reading experience. Read more.

Just bought a Kindle already

The Kindle isn't perfect, but I personally feel that the pros far outweigh the cons. And for most people, the Kindle is the ideal way to read books these days.

Reading books on Kindle Paperwhite is an absolute delight, and its low physical impact, long battery life, and large storage capacity make it one of the most convenient ways to enjoy the written word.

So what are you waiting for? Just buy one now. I did, and I'm so glad I did.

Are you a Kindle convert? Or are you still a skeptic, determined to keep reading real books until they appreciate your best grip? Please let us know your thoughts on the Kindle in the comments below!