A book that I had been anticipating, The Definitive Guide to PCI DSS Version 4: Documentation, Compliance, and Management, recently came out, and instead of waiting for the paperback version, I decided to buy the ebook version so that I could read it immediately. The ebook was the same price on Apple Books and Kindle, but I bought and downloaded the Kindle version because it works on more than just Apple devices, including the web browser. However, as I began reading the book on the Kindle app on my iPhone 11, I noticed some pretty significant eye strain was starting to set in. To no avail, I tried adjusting the display settings on my iPhone, as well as tweaking various settings within the Kindle app. However, no sooner than I had resigned myself to come back to reading my new book when my eyes had rested a bit, I remembered that my oldest son had a Kindle Paperwhite (7th generation) that had long been relegated to a drawer. I found it, charged it up, signed in with the Amazon account my wife and I share, and I have been enjoying reading on this device ever since.
I mainly read for information (although I am trying to read more fiction), and a number of the books in my library, especially the computer / technology / security related ones, are big “bug smashers”, as my wife calls them. The ebook format lets me comfortably read, highlight in, and take notes in these types of books, and as a plus, it makes these books extremely portable.
There are many advantages the Kindle (or any other dedicated e-reader) has over a phone or tablet, the first and foremost being the e-ink screen. Not only does the screen of the Paperwhite have a paper-like feel, it has the same effect on my eyes that reading on paper does. I really like the Paperwhite’s high DPI and how easy it is on my eyes. It is easy to read in the sunlight, but at the same time, I also like the fact that it does have a backlight, which makes reading at night much easier.
Another advantage over reading on a phone or tablet is that with the Paperwhite, one gets a distraction free environment. There are no notifications, no temptations to check other apps, no games. There is just reading.
I really like this Paperwhite, and whether it is just the novelty of a new gadget or not, it has increased the amount that I am reading. In fact, it has me thinking about the Kindle Scribe, which seems like a better alternative to the Remarkable tablet. We’ll see.