Kindles really that great?

While hunting this year, I read my first book ever for pure enjoyment.  And to be honest, it didn't even kill me.  I've never been a huge reader.  My mind always wonders when I read, and to be honest and rather curl up on the couch and watch some SportsCenter than read a book.  However, hunting was really slow this year, and there were barely any deer.  So I went into my dad's room and grabbed the shortest book I could find.  I did try and read a non picture book being that I'm 20 now, even though the pictures do actract me a lot.  I landed on "Of Mice and Men", by John Steinbeck.  First of all I loved it.  It was an amazing book.  However, my blog is not about the book "Of Mice and Men", or how everyone should read.  My blog is about a new device called Kindle.  Here is a link talking about the important facts of Kindle.  http://www.squidoo.com/someAmazonKindleInfo

My parents love to read, which is wierd considering I don't.  My dad on the last Harry Potter book, made himself a big bowl of popcorn, and read the entire book in one sitting.  So yeah, it's safe to say they are avid readers.  I figured a Kindle would be the perfect Christmas present for the both of them from me.  I asked my mom if that would be a good present for Dad, (looking for her reaction seeing if she would like one too).  Her response was simple.  "It's a great idea Andy, but that just really isn't for us."  And thinking about it, that is exactly what Kindle is to me, is a great idea.  My mom said she read a book on Kindle before, and she couldn't even finish the chapter.  She said she got such a bad headache from reading it, and that for some reason she couldn't seem to get into the story because she wasn't reading a "book".  The following is a link discussing the downside of Kindles.  http://buycheapappleipad.org/is-reading-ibooks-on-ipad-iphone-ipod-touch-bad-for-the-eyes/

Like I said earlier, it might be a thing about older people and not liking new technology, but they like the feeling of reading from an actual book, rather than a computer type device.  I know I wouldn't enjoy starring at my laptop reading a book.  And that is basically what a Kindle is, is a laptop looking device that doens't have a keyboard.  There are definately some positives to Kindles, and it is a great idea, however I just don't think it's something for me.  The following are some positives about Kindles, and discussing if it will take over reading books.  http://doloresmonet.hubpages.com/hub/KindleVSRealBooksWillEBooksReplaceRealBooks

Skype-keeping the WORLD in touch

Skype continues to become more and more popular.  Skype has got it all.  If you haven't heard of skype yet, here is the url to sign up for it.  http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/welcomeback/.  To briefly describ what Skype is, is it's a slight version of Facebook, that you can video chat with other friends.  The great thing about Skype it literally only takes 2-3 minutes to set up.  It is very easy, which is a great positive for it.  In Skype, you can set up a profile, describing you, along with a profile picture.  Skype didn't use to have a picture gallery like Facebook, but however, two years ago Skype added a picture gallery to it.  So now you can share pictures of your life on your Skype.

So what is so great about Skype?  First of all, I will use the messenger on Skype way more than I will on Facebook.  Skype messaging is way faster and way easier than on Facebook.  But the main component of Skype is the video chatting.  I, along with a lot of my friends have Skype, so it is a great way to keep in touch with friends.  Facebook is really known for that, but on Skype, you get a face to face conversation with someone.  It actually seems like you are right there talking to the person the quality is so good.  Here is a link describing the video conversation quality.  http://about.skype.com/

Is there one factor that has suddenly made Skype bloom so much?  The answer is the war.  Imagine having one of your loved ones fighting in Iraq.  Letters and pictures just don't really cut it after awhile.  Hearing your loved ones voice and actually seeing them right in front of them has become the most popular tool used to communicate in the war.  It keeps families closer with their loved one fighting for our country.  Here is an article discussing how soldiers use Skype to stay close with their families.  http://www.mobiledia.com/news/117704.html