This article was published in 2011 and updated in October 2026.
Book lovers know the problem: you want to take a book everywhere, especially when travelling, but more than one gets heavy — and once you’ve finished it, there’s nothing left to read. When we first wrote this article in 2011 about the Kindle 3, e-readers were still new. Today the Kindle and other e-readers have become a pocket-sized library for millions of readers. Here’s why.
1. Thousands of books in your pocket
The Kindle 3 from 2011 could hold about 3,500 books. Today’s Kindles come with 16 GB of storage or more, enough for thousands of e-books, and your purchases are stored in the cloud so you can download them again at any time. A Kindle Paperwhite is thinner than most paperbacks and weighs around 200 grams — your whole library fits in a jacket pocket. You can also send your own documents and PDFs to your Kindle by email or app.
2. A screen that reads like paper
E-ink screens look like printed paper: black text on a light background, with no glare in sunlight, so you can read on the beach or in the garden. In 2011 the Kindle had no light, so you needed a lamp at night. Today’s models have a built-in, adjustable front light with warm-light settings for bedtime reading, many are waterproof, and the Kindle Colorsoft even shows colour. Because e-ink doesn’t flicker or shine directly into your eyes, many people find it more comfortable than a tablet or phone screen for long reading sessions. The battery lasts for weeks.
3. Reading made easier
You can adjust the font, size, spacing and margins to suit your eyes — a big help for people with poor eyesight. A tap on a word shows its dictionary definition or a translation, and highlights and notes are saved automatically. Kindle also syncs your reading position across your Kindle, phone and tablet apps, and many Kindle models can play Audible audiobooks through Bluetooth headphones.
A library that never closes
With services like Kindle Unlimited you can borrow from a large catalogue for a monthly fee, many classic books are free, and in the US you can borrow e-books from public libraries via the Libby app and send them to your Kindle. In other countries, e-readers from Kobo or Tolino work well with public library lending.
Things to keep in mind
- Kindle books are licences tied to your Amazon account, and most are protected against copying. Since 2025, Amazon no longer offers a download-and-transfer-via-USB option for purchased books.
- If you want to read e-books from many different shops or borrow from European libraries, an open e-reader (such as Kobo or Tolino) may suit you better.
- Picture books, cookbooks and comics often look better on a tablet.
For the true book lover, an e-reader isn’t a replacement for printed books — but it’s a wonderful travel companion and a whole library in one device. Read our hands-on Kindle Paperwhite review for more.
Priyangshu
Aug 04. 2011
Nice post bro !! But I think that it cannot replace a physical library although it have great features !!
admin
Aug 04. 2011
Yep … But we cannot neglect the convenience & ease in carrying this kindle
Priyangshu
Aug 04. 2011
Yeah !! That is also true !!!
Bob
Aug 05. 2011
i am also a book freak …and its amazing article..but what if felt down on floor ,,,,,,game over then…
admin
Aug 05. 2011
You should take care of it to see that it doesn’t slip off your hands ….BTW thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂
Olawale Daniel
Aug 05. 2011
The first time I read about Kindle, I knew that this is a top notch future reading device. I love it even more than Apple’s product. I wish to buy one soon. Thanks for the information that you just shared here. It helps ::
Mandeep
Aug 18. 2011
I love my Kindle! I’ve read so many books on it that I’ve stopped keeping count. I still worry about dropping it or spilling something on it, but the price for e-ink readers is continually dropping so I know I’ll be able to get a second one without spending a ton. Eventually they’ll be so cheap that everyone will have one.
admin
Aug 19. 2011
Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂
Sharon Hurley Hall
Aug 26. 2011
Couldn’t have said it better myself, and the additional features like saving your place and syncing across platforms make it even better for readers.
admin
Aug 26. 2011
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Sharon 🙂
amy c fountain
Aug 31. 2011
And I like the fact that it doesnt have back lighting. Its less stressful on the eyes 🙂
Kevin
Aug 26. 2011
I love books and I think Kindle is a good place to read and share book reviews.
amy c fountain
Aug 31. 2011
Yes. I agree. Its the perfect solution to those who love reading but travel a lot. YOu can store thousands of books on it!
Alex
Aug 31. 2011
I love my kindle, too. Like Sharon mentions, I love how I can sync across platforms (and read a bit on my iphone while waiting for one of my kids). And I love never losing my place. I live in a somewhat rural area, so the absolute best part for me is the ability to get my hands on a book in moments.
Moona Lisa
Aug 31. 2011
I love my Kindle! I’ve read so many books on it that I’ve stopped keeping count. I still worry about dropping it or spilling something on it, but the price for e-ink readers is continually dropping so I know I’ll be able to get a second one without spending a ton. Eventually they’ll be so cheap that everyone will have one.
amy c fountain
Aug 31. 2011
Me too. I love my kindle. In fact when i first got it I wasnt able to sleep for a week! 🙂