For many people, the thought of going on holiday evokes the image of lying back in some sunny idyll with a book in hand. So holidaymakers must be among the prime targets for e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle.
Does this mean a new era for the great holiday read? For many people, it certainly will. The advantages of an e-book are pretty irresistible. First and foremost, a Kindle enables you to transport a lot more books than you could possibly squeeze into your suitcase and hand luggage in one slim, lightweight object. In fact, the latest version of the Kindle lets you store up to 3500 books – which should be just about keep you topped up with reading material between game drives.
What’s more, wherever you get a wireless network service, you can access newspapers at a few touches of a screen – and read them while travelling, without your elbows invading the personal space of the person next to you.
Another feature that will please tourists is the Kindle’s claim that its battery can last for a month after charging, so it shouldn’t go blank half way through your flight home. On another technical note, the Kindle has been praised for its screen quality. The Kindle display’s high contrast makes for clear reading, and, unlike an LCD screen, the Kindle’s screen easily readable in bright sunlight – ideal for taking in the latest blockbuster whilst lazing under the African sun.
But despite all its winning qualities, many loyalists of the traditional book will remain unconvinced by the e-book reader. For some, there’s something special about flicking through the pages of a book which makes a holiday complete.
And whether it’s pure and simple nostalgia or trusting a tried-and-tested low-tech solution to a yearning for entertainment, the printed book is by no means a historical artefact yet. Whatever the future holds, we can be pretty sure that a good read will continue to be a treasured element of a good holiday – whether the book consists of ink on paper or light on a screen.
The Amazon Kindle can be bought here. (For fans of the printed story, Amazon also sells books!)
