Kindle or Paperback?

Kindle or paperback? That's the question that's been gnawing in my mind when I heard about the arrival of Kindle. I said to myself, oh no, I'm going to stick to paperbacks. I really love the smell and feel of each sheet of paper as I leaf the pages of a book. I still love going to my favorite bookshop and browse the books on the shelves. What about my book shelves at home, what will happen to them if I own a kindle? Oh, well, after a year I finally found myself conceded to technology.

Okay, okay, after all, technology is here to stay for good. So, why not welcome it?

So, I'm now a first-time Kindle owner, and I have nothing to "compare" the latest Kindle to. I don't own a Nook. I don't own an iPad (and, in any case, that's comparing apples to oranges). I don't have a Sony e-reader.

I received my Kindle about a week ago and haven't been able to put it down.

Things I like about my Kindle?

1. The e-ink display is amazing.
2. Using the 5-way controller is simple and effective.
3. Page turn speeds are faster than I thought they would be.
4. It's lightweight, even with the attached cover (I have an Amazon cover with a built-in light)
5. Page-turning buttons are quiet and well-placed.
6. Recharge time is fast.
7. I can order a book and start reading it in less than 60 seconds. Great!
8. Portability... I can take 3,000 books with me when I travel for work and not require
additional suitcases or baggage fees.

Things I'm not too keen on?

1. Buttons are too close together and are laid out oddly.
2. Lack of individual number buttons is frustrating.
3. Power button on the bottom? Not a bad thing. Just an odd thing. (Same for the headphone
input). I usually rest the "bottom" of a book on my lap when I read.

Things I hope change in the future?

1. How books are organized... When I put a book in a collection (which is actually a "tag"), it
still appears in the main list. It's not actually "moved", it's merely associated.
2. The look of the main screen. I'd like "folders" or some other way to display "collections".
3. Ability to create personal "screen savers."
4. E-book pricing, though Amazon has little control over this. Still, most titles are the same
price as or less than their hardback/paperback counterparts. (And I'm not opposed to paying
more for convenience and portability).

Things that don't bother me regarding other reviews?

1. The browser is experimental. Amazon has created a dedicated e-reader, and it's meant to be
used to read. Period. Not browse the web. If you want to browse the web, get a computer --
not an e-reader.
2. The Kindle is not an mP3 player, either. Yes, it's nice to have some classical music playing
in the background while I read, but I don't need to see the title of the song, album art,
etc. (And you can skip from track to track on the Kindle using shortcut keys).
3. Lack of a "color" or "touch" screen.

In summary, for $139, I'm quite thrilled with my purchase and have arleady read multiple books on it. In fact, I think I've read more in the past week than I've read in the past month.