The Amazon Kindle 2 Review: Is This The Right Device for Students & Academic Professionals?
The Amazon Kindle 2 may be the avid reader’s best buddy nowadays but do you know that it could also be a good partner for students and professionals? This is because this ebook reader device offers an option for students that allow them to quit hauling around their heavy books. Professionals are also starting to realize that the Kindle can be used for reading their work-related documents. But how is the Kindle 2 doing in this role so far? Let’s find out what the pros and cons are in this Kindle 2 Review.
For most people looking to get a digital version of their book, only MS Word or PDF versions are available. This is because most digital documents are set up to be read primarily on desktop computers. PCs and Macs can read these documents very easily or come with programs which can quickly convert files. Unfortunately, the Kindle does not have a native PDF reader and can only take a limited variety of files, most of which you will not find commonly.
Here are some common solutions for this problem. The first option would be to send over your files to Amazon and have them converted. This requires only a very small fee but if we’re talking about dozens of books here, a student may have to spend a lot of time sending files over to Amazon. Plus, with the issue of college costs, any amount spent would have an impact on struggling students. One could also opt to convert the files himself, but again this would require a lot of time that students could put to better use.
But there are some benefits to switching over to the Kindle 2. First and most obvious, is the size. No more sore back from lugging around a backpack weighing as much as you or aching shoulder from hauling around a briefcase full of materials. You may also save money buy switching over. While that sounds absurd considering the price tag of the Kindle, digital copies often cost substantially less that paper versions and over time may save you some change. And considering the digital age that college has entered, many teachers offer their class work in the form of PDF, meaning you will have to view it on a computer anyways. Why not make it your Kindle?
One’s choice to use a Kindle in the academe would all depend on whether the need for it would outweigh the initial cost. Consider also the time that you would have to spend to convert files. If you can spare the time and the few cents needed to have files converted, then swapping your backpack of books for the Kindle 2 would literally get the load off your shoulders. If the file conversion process is too tedious for you, the new Kindle DX, with its native PDF support, could be the solution you’re looking for.