[AsheMan]

I've been seriously debating about whether or not to get a Kindle 2 (or possibly the DX version). I will admit that I once used to love reading, but I haven't read a book for entertainment in nearly a decade. Dragon Age has sparked my desire for great fantasy novels and the recent release of the Kindle 2 only adds kindling (pun intended) to the flame.

Do any of you have a Kindle 2 or Kindle DX? I'm fearful that the Kindle 2's screen will be too small and the DX has a pretty hefty price tag. I know it has text-to-speech feature but the samples I've heard sound too robotic. Can I get "books on tape" on the Kindle 2, actual human voiced books?

Can anyone list some pros and cons? Can anyone help me tip my scale in either direction?

Thanks!

[Amsra]

Honestly I would consider a netbook. I am really getting used to reading on mine. If you are like me, you like to read in bed. With a Kindle you still have to hold it up, my netbook I just put on my chest at a comfortable distance and need just 1 finger to turn the pages. Lol, when I get a wireless mouse I won't even need that.....I can just click the button under the covers And you get a lot more functionality out of a netbook if it's a decent one. And for the price of a Kindle2, you can get a decent one

Mine is very readable, just have to remember to adjust the brightness to conditions. Kindle for PC works just like the Kindle....you can order right from the app. I just got the first 2 books of the Song of Ice and Fire series, something like a 1000 pages and it downloaded over 3G in under 30 seconds

Just throwing out an alternative, I'd been eyeing E-Books for a long time myself and decided a netbook was the better value.

[Hatto]

As someone who likes books I'd always prefer a Kindle or a similar device with an E-Ink Screen over a Netbook. I never got used to reading on a normal lcd screen and its not just a matter of changing brightness and contrast. Having a small, handheld device allows you to read in more positions that you'll ever be able with a netbook too.

The main reason I did not get one myself is that I still consider them overpriced and I strongly dislike that the prices for E-Books are sort of fixed and aparently they can even remove your license after you bought it. Books one can grab at a bargain price even and sometimes especially when they are released. Not to mention all sorts of potential availability issues one might have as a european. Just like computer games, the digital market is one big step backward when it comes to freedom and consumer rights.

But if you have throw-away money its a nice toy I recon. Just like a netbook.

[Giftmacher]

I've got a cybook (ebook reader). The screen really is kinder to your eyes.

I agree they're not without issue, the readers are still a bit pricey and the books DRM'd. I have bought the odd one or two books though, and while they are cheaper they're also still over priced IMO...

That said, I'm having a whale of a time reading old classics that have gone out of copyright. There's so much stuff out there available for free it really defies belief. Best thing is none of these books take up real world bookshelf space, this is a major plus for me as I really don't have the room for the books I own let alone ones I want to read.

Gift.