When you bought your Kindle, were you a .... virgin?

[patrisha w.]

I had done a lot of reading about ebooks and Kindle in particular. I told my partner I was seriously considering getting one and what did he think. He said, "Let me buy it for you for your birthday!"

[JetJammer]

I'm probably what you'd consider a diehard *techie*.  I love gadgets and electronic toys.  I knew the original kindle was coming out from prerelease publicity/reviews in tech magazines and websites.  Being an avid reader, I had to try it.  I ordered my kindle, sight unseen and with no real reviews, in that small few hour window they were available in November 2007.  I had actually seen the Sony version, and considered buying it, but liked the potential I saw from the Amazon version.

Defnitely one of my better *I have to have it* moments!

[B-Kay 1325]

I checked other because I didn't do any research myself, one of my co-workers did the research and clued me in on everything she was learning.  We both read alot and she thought I might be interested.  She made arrangements to see a kindle during lunch one day and ended up taking a longer lunch than usual.   She ordered hers and showed it to me, I still wasn't convinced the cost, yikes, then I just happened to turn on Oprah just when she was raving about her kindle (not a huge Oprah fan just watch once in a while) the discount was another point on the yes side, I still didn't order right away, didn't want to impulse buy, but waited until Oct 29th and bit the bullet ordering with next day delivery I still paid less that the $359.00, yea!! 

I have read others comparing opening the kindle to Christmas morning and yeah that's it!  I had it delivered  to work and it was the delivery of the day, everyone was coming up to see it even my boss.  It goes to work with me everyday.  I have never regretted my decision and couldn't imagine going back to carrying multiple books again.

[Angela]

I had never heard of or seen a Kindle. I don't watch Oprah but did happen to catch part of the "kindle show" while channel surfing that eventful day. Saw just enough to cause me to go to the computer and look it up at Amazon.com. Spent 2 days reading the FAQ forum on Amazon. Talked about it for 2 days straight until hubby finally said I could order one if I saved it until Christmas. Discovered KB a couple of days after I ordered and thought I would hang out here until it arrived... been here ever since!

[noblesrus]

The first time I ever saw a Kindle was when Whoopi Goldberg showed hers off on The View. I then went and found out everything I could about it. I was hooked. I ordered in Jan 08 and received it in April.

[lindnet]

I researched ebook readers obsessively after I saw the Kindle on the front page of Amazon.  I was having a really hard time getting past the price.  Finally I ordered it, used it for a week or so, and sent it back.  I was having an extreme case of the "guilties" for spending that much money on it.  So then I ordered the Sony because it was cheaper, even though I knew it didn't have all the features I wanted.  I sent it back after a few days, too, I really didn't like it much.  Then I went REALLY cheap and tried one of the Franklin Bookman devices.  After all of that, I was even more sure that the Kindle was the reader for me.  I love the big buttons that most people hate, and I love the funky shape!  So I ordered it again and have lived happily ever after.  LOL!  Yes, I have a hard time making decisions.  

[Malibama]

My Kindle was a 2007 Christmas gift from my husband.  I had never heard of a Kindle before I received my "Your Kindle is backordered but will be in your hands soon" card from my husband.

My DH isn't a reader, and he never shops on Amazon.  I have received boxes from Amazon at least three times per week for what seems like forever.  For these reasons I still can't explain how he discovered this device that has changed my life before I did - it can only have been divine intervention.

I'm serious.

[Meemo]

The first time I ever saw a Kindle was when Whoopi Goldberg showed hers off on The View. I then went and found out everything I could about it. I was hooked. I ordered in Jan 08 and received it in April.

I was beginning to think I was the only one who saw it on The View!  I too saw Whoopi talking about it, I think I saw it in Feb 2008, and was intrigued by the idea of an "iPod for books".  I balked at the price, but couldn't stop looking at it.  Told my daughter, who's also a reader, about it.  Talked to my husband, who's the tech expert around here, about it - first time I got intrigued by a "gadget" before he did, and he shot me down at first, said e-readers weren't getting real high marks.  I remained interested, he did more research & said "If you want one, Kindle is the way to go because of Whispernet".  I agreed, but as much because of content as Whispernet.  Daughter was visiting, started doing some math on books she was interested in, saw that she'd save money on the books themselves in Kindle version.  The price came down to $349.  I finally pulled the trigger & ordered in August & haven't looked back.  I'd learned a lot by the time I got it in hand by reading the Kindle forum & reviews  on Amazon.
About a month later the Visa offer for $100 off came out, I got one for my daughter (she didn't want another credit card on their report, so she paid me back for it).  When the Oprah offer popped up, I got one for my husband for Christmas.  We're all happy Kindlers sharing one account.  

[Malibama]

FOR SHELTIEMOM:

The Kindle will be a lifestyle change for me.  Yes it will, and you will be amazed!   I hope I don't experience withdrawals when I move all the books out of my bedroom.  I don't miss my stacks o' books at all.  Will I be able to walk to the bathroom without dodging the stack of books I have read and the stack I have to read?  Presumably, you can still trip over your Shelties; no worries here!   I usually fall asleep reading a book.  Please learn from my TWO mistakes and DO NOT ROLL OVER ON YOUR KINDLE IN BED - DH and I have broken two screens this way - I'm on my third Kindle!   Will I get the same comfort from my Kindle?  No, your Kindle will probably comfort you more  I can't wait to find out how I adjust to the Kindle.  It's a quick adjustment, and I bet you are going to fall in love with your K2 immediately -- and it will be nice to have your floor space back -- your bedroom and bathroom will probably seem larger!

[Seamonkey]

I had never seen or touched a Kindle, but had read about them and looked on Amazon.  Oprah's discount gave me a final push.

[deMoMo]

I chose "A friend/family member/co-worker had a Kindle and I had been able to see/touch/use it briefly." but it wasn't briefly.  I borrowed it for 4 days, which was awesome.  My first impression was good, but not good enough to spend the $$.  But after a few hours (which flew by) I was sold!

[stargazer0725]

I kind of classify myself under 2 categories.

I actually had done a lot of research on the Kindle prior to April of last year and convinced my father to buy one sight unseen for my mother as a gift (I was sure she would love it.)

Well, I lived vicariously through her until I got my own for Christmas.

So, technically, we got one in the family based off of my research and unseen advice, but I got to hold one a few times before I was given one myself.

[rho]

Well you all may have figured that I'm not good on waiting - I basically did what I did for the Kindle 2 on the Kindle 1 -- I just did it faster for Kindle 2 -- because the first time I was just behind the cut off of Kindles in stock and ended up on the waiting list for Kindle 1 and waiting made me crazy.  And I didn't want that to happen this time.. 

What that means is I put Kindle 1 in my cart took it out put it in took it out times 10  -- this time I only did it about 4 times -- see I am getting better (or worse depending on how you may look at it)  It has saved so much room in my house and cut down on the deliveries to the house big time.  We still know our UPS driver by name but now it is just because of hubbies business.   

[Toby]

July of 2007, shopnbc was selling the Sony 500 for half the price, which I found out later, & 5 months to pay, no interest. It was an impulse buy at lunchtime, before going back to work. I had put the TV on & there it was. I heard of reading devices, but ereaders were not on my radar. Then, in Dec. 2007, I started to wonder if there were other ebook readers. I checked at Amazon, since that's where I buy my books. Found the Kindle, read everything Kindle every day. Wanted it so much & saved for it. When I'd buy a Sony book for my book club & it cost more than the Kindle book, I would keep telling myself, if I had the Kindle, I could be saving money. When the Kindle finally came back in stock in April 2008 for the 1st time since selling out that Nov. day, I ordered it the next day, just in case it sold out again. Best purchase ever. Then my father got his Kindle.

[beachgrl]

I had seen an eReader about two years ago at a airport book/electronics store.  I mulled over buying it then and there, but decided to research first.  I was so tired of lugging books on trips. I decided to wait until prices dropped.  Yes, the early readers were more expensive than the Kindle was when it made it's debut. When Oprah made her announcement I did not hesitate.  Saving $50.00 was too good to pass up.  What;s funny is that I don't normally watch her show.  It was as if I was led to ownership. Now that the used are so reasonable I have purchased two additional Kindle 1's for my son and his wife, both avid readers.  My son is a naval Chief and spends so much time out to sea and now he will be able to take hundreds of books with him.

[Harvey]

Thanks for posting this, Leslie - very interesting poll!

I've posted a blog about the results, here: http://www.kindleboards.com/blog/2009/02/poll-when-you-bought-yours-were-you-a-kindle-virgin/

[Bacardi Jim]

Seriously?

[Harvey]

Figuratively!

[Gruntman]

  My son is a naval Chief and spends so much time out to sea and now he will be able to take hundreds of books with him.

I can tell you that I would have done almost anything for a device like the Kindle when I was overseas, I'm sure your son will love it and all of his fellow shipmates will be jealous. 

[jaylynn]

I had a Sony reader since 2007 but stalked the Kindle until I couldn't stand it and bought one.  Now waiting for my K2.  I admit I liked the look of the Sony and now with the sleek K2 design I'm DONE!  ....  until I stalk the K3.

[BambiB]

I wanted one for about a year before I purchased mine.  I first read about it in Dec 07, but lack of variety in books and the price deterred me.  In Fall 08 I was doing a lot of cluttering and realized how much I could really benefit from purchasing a Kindle--not to mention how much my DH would benefit from less of my 1000 or so books taking up our precious little space.  I decided that I would start selling things on Craigslist to earn enough money to buy my Kindle, thinking that I would not have the money for 2 or 3 months and by that time there would no longer be a wait.  Well, I saved enough money in a week and a half and took the plunge and bought one from eBay.  Totally worth it!!