is the kindle as easy to read as paper books?

Hey, elln, reading off e-ink eReaders (Kindle or Nook from Barnes & Noble) is as close to reading off paper as you can get. Folks that get an eReader generally read 3-4 times more books than before they got one thus that speaks for the devices (worth the money and useful.) There's advantages of eReaders - for example, you can put MP3's on them and listen while you read and they can hold thousands of books in digital format.

When choosing an eReader, you need to consider not only the physical properties of the device, but also compare eBook stores behind it. Sony has never been a contender for any comparison by anyone as they only have like 20 books in their Ebook store and their devices are way overpriced for what they offer. Borders is behind Kobo/Cruz devices in US and as you might of heard, Borders is on a brink of bankruptcy. Kindle and Nook are the only devices to be considered as their eBook stores have over a million of free public ebooks as well as over a million of ebooks that you need to pay for available.

Several features of Nook's environment are similar to regular books (unlike Kindle's) such as:

- Nook allows to lend books for two weeks to friends or to your other devices that run B&N app (PC, MAC, Android phones, Apple iPhone, iPod and iPad, etc.)

- When you walk in with the Nook to B&N store you're allowed to read any available eBook for free while in the store via free provided in the store Wi-Fi.

- Nook can be used for library ebooks and for renting text-ebooks

You should understand the limitations of e-Ink eReaders - they are limited to be black & white for now, they "blink" at each ebook’s page turn, they're not too good for web browsing, they need external light source for reading when dark, and they cannot handle videos.

If all you read is black & white novels then the better one would be e-Ink Nook. If you read electronic magazines or college text books with a lot of color graphs and charts or children’s' books with a lot of pictures then the better would be Nook Color from Barnes & Noble. Nook Color is a hybrid Android eReader/tablet and has USB port (unlike iPad). Even though Nook Color has LCD touchscreen, it's a new generation screen which is anti-glare coated and is better performing in sunlight and produces less glare all of which are dooming reading on iPad. Also, the screen is amazing and readable/viewable at wide angles.

Nook Color has several apps that already come with the device (Pandora Internet radio, QuickOffice, etc.) Also, Barnes & Noble recently released Nook SDK and Nook Developer platform that will allow most of the existing 100,000 Android apps be ported to it. Also, you can use the Social Settings screen to link your NOOK Color to your Facebook account and your Twitter account. You can also import all your contacts from your Google Gmail account. Once you have linked to Facebook and Twitter and set up email contacts, you can lend and borrow books, recommend books, and share favorite quotes with your friends.

The Kindle uses something called E-Ink for a display. It is far easier on the eyes than a computer monitor.

It is like reading paper, except the background is sort of a white/gray mix vs. white of regular paper.

If you want to look at it, Kindles are carried in Best Buy and they usually have one for a demo.

I have a Kindle and am satisfied with the reading experience.

I've never read on a Kindle, but I do like the feeling of real books.

The kindle is the same as reading on the computer. If you're the type who reads 300+ pg novels non-stop, I wouldn't suggest getting one. Also, if you have bad eyesight. Or the habit of reading things close to your face.

Can't read in the bathtub (if it falls - you die). Can't share with friends. Most people look rather dumb using one. The Kindle is costly as opposed to buying a book which will last you decades as opposed to 2-5 yrs until something new replaces it. Bad for the economy (like downloading music - it does make a difference). You can borrow books from the library for FREE, and return them if you don't like.

And for the argument that it's eco-friendly - its not on battery alone, which makes it worse than chopping a tree. (Though some books are made with recycled paper).

I have the free kindle app on my i-pod touch. I don't find it as easy to read. You turn pages with your finger. There are no illustrations, which can make a difference on some books. Nook, which I haven't tried, does have pictures. I don't like reading on computers.

I sometimes like to flip back and forth in books to double check something and that's not really possible. You also can't read in the bathtub. Well you can, but it probably doesn't do well with water.

You also can't share books, which I like to do.

But the books I have on are out of copyright books that are free. So you can get free books. I use it for places I'm stuck waiting and have no books with me.

I don't know if the kindle reader is different.

Edit: They are running ads saying you can get free kindle apps for your computer. You can kind of try it out that way.

i watch television set rarely. you just do not get the same quality. i mean, try making walden into a television set show

Truly, there is absolutely no evaluation absolutely....simply because watching television relies on the gunky creativity of a Television entertainer who's main concerns are budget, popularity and ratings also to Hell with theme integrity, or, for that matter, anything creative truly.

The kindle and other e-readers: hurt my eyes, cause my hands and sometimes back and head to ache (radiation?), and really make turning pages difficult. There's no new book smell, either.

It's extremely easy to read and believe it or not, I prefer reading a digital version to actually holding a book in my hands. Can't remember how I got along without it! you'll love it!

i have a kindle and it is very easy to read. It does not bother my eyes and its cool cause you can read the screen even in sunlight. i highly recommend you get one