I have had a Kindle 2 for about 3 months and have read more than I have in years. . . .It can't replace the book (books, newspapers, etc.), but it can be another tool to bring information to people, students. I'm a dean now, but if I were teaching again (American literature), I would see what I could do to use Kindle. I have, for instance, the complete works of Shakespeare, Twain, Poe, etc., on mine that I was able to download free.

I have had a Kindle2 since it was introduced earlier this year, and I find myself using almost daily. I especially like the wireless "Whispernet" downloads, copious free content, both from the public domain and from publisher's marketing departments, and the experimental web browser, useful for a quick check of the weather forecast, or a scan of the day's news and other items of interest at mobile-optimized sites like CNN, the New York Times and Fast Company. And I find something droll in enjoying a high-tech device designed to emulate the experience of reading pring on paper. While I agree with many of Baker's criticisms, and acknowledge that the device is not perfect, it's good enough for now. It has found a niche in my personal information environment, and fills it nicely. As someone who has spent a thirty-year career in academic and research libraries, I find that Nicholson Baker almost always has something interesting and relevant to say, and is worth paying attention to. And as he wrapped another interesting commentary, I think even he found something to like about the Kindle.

What does Turabian say about quoting from a Kindle?

The ADA issue is ironic to me. I have low-vision, and I intend to acquire a Kindle DX as assistive technology. It can increase text size to the equivalent of 20-point type. It also has adequate text-to-speech built in. I think Amazon should be marketing it as an assistive technology device.

I agree with dallaschrist and charlesforrest. I have the Amazon Kindle 2 and view it just as another tool. I miss the visual (cover, color, text style) and tactile (heft, paper qualify, etc.) of books, and I agree that the gray screen is a bit hard to read indoors (the reading lamp Amazon sells is a big help). I love the books that have footnotes formatted for the Kindle, e.g., The Qur'an by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem (translator) that allows me to simply move the cursor to the underlined symbol and bring up the reference; then use the back key to return to where I was reading. Trying to locate footnotes in works not formatted for the Kindle is tiresome. It is also very hard to go back to information one has read because the screens differ by text size and you usually do not know where you read the information you want to go back to, and once you go back, you better have written down the screen you were reading or you have difficulty getting back to where you want to be. Also, if you slip up and hold the slide key too long and shut down the Kindle, you'll have to begin "de novo" because the device will not remember where you left off. I think it may be difficult for students to use the Kindle because they will be reading difficult texts and needing to move back and forth continuously, as opposed to more simple reading such as a novel or short article. The bigger Kindle may solve some of the problems mentioned, however, it will be offset by the fact that it is more difficult to carry around from place to place. Most of all I like the fact that at least with respect to novels, I don't have them lying about after I have read them, and don't have to remember where I put them if I want to reread them.

Geez, Stan, why the snide remark about students with vision problems who have difficulties with Kindle? If, as you say, it was "predictable" that there would be a suit under the Americans with Disabilities Act -- If you knew it wss coming -- why didn't you and your colleagues make "reasonable accommodation," as the law prescribes? "Predictable" is almost always pejorative. Jesse Lemisch jesse.lemisch@verizon.net

I agree with Jesse and find the comment from dallaschrist who has low vision perplexing. The Kindles all have tiny keys and no text to speech capacity for menus, so how can this be considered accessible when it could have easily been made to be universally accessible using current technology (for the blind as well as those with low vision but also consider those with other disabilities such as dyslexia and those lacking physical dexterity). Also consider DAISY formatting which allows for bookmarking and the recent WIPO endeavour to meet the needs of the visually impaired (see http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/2009/vip_ge/program.html).

There are many aspects, such as location number (which faculty can work out) and the inability to make notes on PDFs with the current capability as licensed by Adobe, that work against the Kindle DX being -that- strong in an academic setting. But as one who loves to read but didn't have quite the discipline to get back to a book (too busy with news items and the typefaces were not always e-friendly), I've found reading on the Kindle to be somewhat mesmerizing because it is so easy on the eyes and, especially with the DX, extremely clear. The large-library aspect on a thin, searchable device with such a useful presentation of search results is just no small thing for me. At any time, wherever I am, I have reading for my mood or needs. And, as I've mentioned, there is no distraction by cover, prettiness of typeface, the kind of paper and layout -- only what the author had as a focus, the words. I see a good e-reader as a window to the author's mind. That can be good or ba. I found Baker's article tremendously unbalanced - his curiosity about the Kindle did not lead him to explore the many features that make it a draw for the many 'excited' people he noted while nevertheless saying it was a product not ready for release. Obviously, it was not ready for Baker. I've written my own response to many of his points and I hope it's all right to leave a direct link to that article on my site. http://bit.ly/kbaker - Andrys