Five Best Features of Kindle Book Readers

Kindle book readers are your best friends when traveling, waiting for your doctor's appointment or sitting on the bleachers at a hockey game while your son is at hockey practice. But why should you pick a Kindle over other book readers like the iPad? Knowing which features stand out above the competition makes choosing a Kindle an obvious option.

What's so special about Kindle book readers?

The Amazon Kindle is a class of book reader all its own. Where other book readers are failing miserably in the display department, the Kindle got it right by displaying your book like a real page. It's also significantly less expensive than an iPad or a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

But instead of just randomly throwing out features, let's break up the Kindle's best qualities into a nice handy list.

1. The Kindle is hand-held: You can totally pick the Kindle up in one hand and read like that. Seriously! Try doing that with the iPad. You'd be so afraid of breaking it due to how heavy and tall it is that you'd dedicate all 10 fingers to it. Not so with Kindle book readers.

2. The Kindle is the least expensive option of all: The Kindle comes with Wifi only or Wifi and 3G access, depending on which model you choose. Both of these are less than $200, which is more than you can say for most other ebook readers, save for the Barnes and Noble Nook.

3. 3G access is free on the Kindle: The extra $30 you pay upfront for a 3G-enabled Kindle lets you browse on 3G networks for free all over the world. The only time Amazon will charge you is if you start downloading huge files over the 3G network. Keep it free and only download new ebooks over a Wifi network.

4. 3G Kindle Book Readers have a better display: Unlike Apple iPads, which can't be read in direct sunlight because of the sheer glare, Kindle devices don't have a backlight, and thus can be read anywhere without a glare. If you intend to read in darker lighting, get yourself a Kindle-lighted cover, which adds a covering case and a backlight to your device for reading late at night or in bed when your spouse is sleeping.

5. You don't need a computer: Just about every other ebook reader requires some kind of connection to a computer, even if only to use it for the first time. But with the Kindle, you can do everything over Wifi or a 3G network, no computer needed.