Amazon’s Kindle E-book reader seems to be
hitting the mark with Baby Boomers, seniors

BY STAFF WRITER—
When Amazon's Kindle opened the market for E-book readers, the company probably had a different profile for its likely consumer... younger. Anectdotal evidence suggests that the product is a big hit with Baby Boomers and seniors.

A look at the product's features suggests its appeal to older consumers. First of all, it's a book reading device. And, who are the biggest consumers of books? Older readers, of course.

Then there are the physical characteristics and features the product offers. It's fairly ergonomic, with a size that easily fits in the hand, weighing in at 10.2 ounces, with a thickness of about 1/3 inch.

Easy on the eyes

Text on the screen is easy to read, since, unlike a backlit computer screen, it renders in "E ink." (This approach uses actual pigment, instead of traditional liquid crystal diode technology, which does not work well under intense light and can lead to eye strain). Unlike a laptop, it doesn't get uncomfortably warm with use. You can blow up the screen font without loosing resolution, so its easier on aging eyes than a paperback book. And it works in bright light, even direct sun.

Recent improvements in the current models render screen images better, with 16 levels of gray, in place of the four grays in the earlier model.

At the same time, with most titles available at $9.99, it's a bargain for the heavy reader. Several major newspapers and magazines are also available, and more are signing on all the time.

Keeping it simple

While some seniors remain computer-phobic, the kindle doesn't require a computer, and there's no software to install or cables to hook up. E-books can be downloaded through Kindle's wireless service in less than a minute with no extra cost or monthly fees. (Some fees may apply if you download titles while traveling outside the U.S., but you can avoid them by downloading to a computer and then transferring them to your Kindle by USB. Check with Amazon before you download.)

Purchase prices for Kindle start at $259.00 for the U.S. wireless version, with a 6" diagonal screen. For an extra $20, you can get both U.S. and international wireless access. The new Kindle DX, with a 9.7" diagonal screen and U.S. wireless access will set you back $489.00. (For more details or to purchase a Kindle from Amazon, go here.)

More than just a book

While at their heart, reading a book and reading an E-book on Kindle can be quite similar experiences, there are several things you can do with Kindle you just can't do with a book. One thing to remember is that a Kindle not just a book reading device, but an electronic library. You can carry more than 1,500 books around with you and it still weighs only 10.2 ounces! (The Kindle DX holds up to 3,500 titles and weighs 18.9 ounces.)

And, if you don't feel like reading or your vision doesn't permit it, Kindle will read to you, with its Text-to-Speech feature, assuming the book's rights holder permits this feature. Choose a male or female voice and set it to go faster or slower to suit your mood. You can switch back and forth between reading and Text-to-Speech and Kindle picks up where you left off automatically.

Kindle also provides access to more 50,000 audio book titles through Audible.com. Since these audio files are quite large, however, you'll have to download them on a (preferably) broadband Internet connection to a computer and then transfer them by USB cable to the Kindle.

Another convenient feature is note-taking, which could make this device a must for students. You can highlight passages and copy them to notes for later review. You can also do keyword searches, not only in the E-book you're reading, but also across all titles in your Kindle library.

And, while you won't get rich with the money you'll save on bookmarks, Kindle will keep track of your place in the book for your next session.

Kindle comes with The New Oxford American Dictionary with over 250,000 entries and definitions, so you can seamlessly look up the definitions of English words without interrupting your reading.

You can even transfer MP3 files from your computer for background music while you read. And, you can sample books before you buy at no extra cost.

E-book readers from Sony and Toshiba now compete directly with Amazon's Kindle, along with those of several smaller companies. Barnes & Noble recently announced plans to market their new E-book reader, the Nook.

(Posted October 12, 2009)