Also, I’ve also received really positive comments about my Kindle from complete strangers. Every person that I’ve showed it to really like it!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still purchasing paperback books, but I really love being able to put the Kindle in my purse and have thousands of books available at the touch of a button.

This isn’t a Kindle problem but it is an good example of how DRM can hurt the legal and legitimate user. I paid for all of those books and I would like to have continued access to them even though I am now moving on to a different reader.

I’ll keep Googling for a converter but it doesn’t look promising at this time.

Traci

Before you do any review, you should at least read the many sources available on how the Kindle wireless works. It does NOT us Wifi as you say, but EVDO high speed cellular phone technology from Sprint. Another difference between you and most of we Kindle users (got my Dec. 4th) is that we are avid readers. I just found hundreds of books I want to read on the Kindle Store, whereas you couldn’t even find one. And I love the ability to sample a book for free before I buy it, as this lets me chose those I really want to read to the end.

I bring my Kindle with me whereever I go — to the john, when I eat out, or where ever, especially to bed, where I have found the Kindle is the only book I am able to read in bed. I also put my charger next to my bed, and the last thing I do every night is to plug in the charger. Kindle says to never let the battery run down — that frequent charging will actually lengthen the battery life — especially as it cuts off automatically once it is fully charged (and the light goes out at the same time). This way I leave the Wireless switch always on, since it will never run out of juice when I recharge it every night.

And I love the case that came with my Kindle as well. I did use Industrial Strength Velcro to hold the Kindle in the cover along the inside edge only, after cutting off the two non-working holders built into the cover top and bottom to allow the Kindle to go fully inside the cover. I have no problem with unwanted page movements this way as there is room to hold the Kindle by the edges of the case when you do it this way. And I usually read with the left panel of the cover folded around behind the right and held in place by the elastic band, thus giving me a better grip on the Kindle with my left hand.

Charlcs,

Thanks for your comment. Sorry you got the impression that I am not an avid reader. It is my love for reading that got me started into e-books during the late 90′s. On average I read about 2 books per week, sometimes more. That is why I found it very hard to find something that I WANTED to read. There is much to chose from, but that doesn’t matter when I buy maybe 10 books per month from Fictionwise. As an owner of just about every e-book device made, I have my favorites.
One of my biggest must have/be about technology is that it has to be user friendly straight out of the box. I try to do my reviews as the average layperson. In other words from the viewpoint of someone that has never used e-books. How many people really read the whole user guide and understand it? How many people actually are aware of all the forums available for help? Sorry about EVDO vs Wifi. All I know is that the symbol on the Kindle looks just like the one my laptop. I know the difference in the technologies, but does everyone? Does it really matter in the context of my post? I forgot to turn it off and it drained my battery and did so with a quickness.
I have enough devices plugged next to my bed: Epod-1, Cybook, Hiebook, Rocket E-book. All of these have a backlight. No need to plug in something that is useless at night.
One last thing. You paid $400 for your Kindle. Why should you have to add Velcro to it in order for it to fit your individual needs? I refuse to do so, but then again I have many other devices to chose from.
I am glad that you love your Kindle. All that matters is that e-book devices are out and people have access. Hopefully, I will come to like my Kindle, but until that time I have to call it as I see it.

Ellen

I bring my Kindle with me whereever I go — to the john, when I eat out, or where ever, especially to bed, where I have found the Kindle is the only book I am able to read in bed. I also put my charger next to my bed, and the last thing I do every night is to plug in the charger. Kindle says to never let the battery run down — that frequent charging will actually lengthen the battery life — especially as it cuts off automatically once it is fully charged (and the light goes out at the same time). This way I leave the Wireless switch always on, since it will never run out of juice when I recharge it every night.

And I love the case that came with my Kindle as well. I did use Industrial Strength Velcro to hold the Kindle in the cover along the inside edge only, after cutting off the two non-working holders built into the cover top and bottom to allow the Kindle to go fully inside the cover. I have no problem with unwanted page movements this way as there is room to hold the Kindle by the edges of the case when you do it this way. And I usually read with the left panel of the cover folded around behind the right and held in place by the elastic band, thus giving me a better grip on the Kindle with my left hand.