Yes, I belong to the Kindle Kult!
How do you like it?
I *love* it. I travel a lot for extended periods (weeks or months) and normally bring several books with me. Now, I carry them on in something that fits in my purse. I also *hate* reading on a screen, but I love the kindle - it doesn't feel like reading on a screen at all. It's awesome.
Are there monthly charges?
Only if you subscribe to a magazine or newspaper. Otherwise, no - it's a free wireless service.
I live in a VERY rural area. Still on Dial-up. How can I get books downloaded?
Whispernet is like a cell phone receiver. If you can get cell reception, then you would be good for their wireless service. If you cannot, the other option is to download eBooks to your computer and then transfer them to your Kindle.
Is there a removable memory stick so you can safely store books you want to keep forever (or until the next Big Thing comes along)?
The first kindle had expandable memory, version 2 does not (people ain't too happy about that). However, when you buy things from Amazon, it goes into your "Digital Library." Every digital object (be it eBook, mp3, or video download), gets stored here and you can redownload it as long as Amazon exists.
Three BIG dogs, six cats, and a 24 lb. bunny live with me. How durable is the unit?
Think of it like an expensive cell phone. THey're pretty durable, but they can get damaged (they have some 'crash tests' displayed on the Amazon web page.
WS is thinking of getting me one. I told him to hold off because Newsweek says that Sony and another company are in the process of making their own versions which will drive the prices down a bit (I hope) plus Kindle V3 will be out towards the end of the year. Good idea? Bad idea?
I would be surprised if V3 came out this year - I would say you've got a good year or so. Kindle vs. Sony - the Kindle has been winning hands down. What Kindle *currently* has over other eReaders is availability of eBooks. There are other eBook resources, but their texts are *very* limited.
Personally, I think buying now isn't a bad plan. You could always do version 1 from eBay (you could get it for about $200 or so).
How easy is it to read off the screen?
*Very*. Trust me, I *hate* screen reading. I took pencil paper GRE in lieu of computer because I have such a problem reading on screen. It's a non-issue with the Kindle. However, you do need an exterior light source - it is not backlit.
How much does it weight? Can it be slipped into a normal size purse and how long do the batteries last? What about re-charging it?
I carry mine in my purse. I would consider it 'normal' sized. It weighs about 10 ozs. If you have the wireless turned on (which is good if you subscribe to blogs or newspapers as they update throughout the day), it holds a charge for about 4 days. If you turn off the wireless, they say 2 weeks (I haven't tested that, but I will affirm that 3-4 days with wireless on is right). After that, you just plug it into the wall - it's got a rechargeable battery.
I love my Kindle it's awesome. One of the best things I ever got.
ETA: One of the best features about the Kindle and Amazon that I haven't seen with other eBook distributors is that you can download samples from books (usually the first chapter) and 'test drive' it before you purchase it.
Also, all of the classics (i.e. Shakespeare, Moby Dick, Frankenstein, etc) are *FREE*!!
[This message edited by hurtbs at 1:30 PM, March 27th (Friday)]
