A mother here, want your opinions about a gift for my dgtr

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Ok, so I love my youngest who is in her second year of college more than the entire universe, lol. Anyway, it has been a LONG time since I've ever been able to buy a gift for her that I think she would love and that she has never, ever even mentioned the existence of such an item.</p>

<p>For starters, she is and always has been (as her sister and I are as well) avid readers. However, since she is in pre-med and overloads her courses and studies SO much, her time for leisure reading is not as much as it has been, but still she reads. Even though she does not have as much time to read, she does take long plane trips and sometimes has layovers for hours. She also has an almost 2 hour drive to come home. She's going abroad this summer.</p>

<p>So, saying all the above is leading into my choice of gift. Her birthday will soon be here and I recently discovered Kindles. That wonderful digital reading device!! I'm sure all you young, up to date on gadgets, college students are very familiar with this device, but it's new to me.</p>

<p>At first, I sniffed my nose up at it because I am a physical person, loving the smell and feel and physicalness of a book and I love to collect. But then the thought of being able to download great books on the cheap and take thousands of books with me, and/or subscribe to a newspaper or mag was incredibly intoxicating to me. It will also read to you!! Great if you're reading then have to get into a car a drive and don't want to stop the book. Then I thought of my youngest daughter.....oh she would love it SO....or at least I'm pretty sure.</p>

<p>You all don't know how obsessed I have become in wanting for her this device, lol! I think she would LOVE it!! Instead of lugging around a bunch of books, she would only lug around her sleek, light Kindle!! I've envisioned a million ways her life can be made happy. Whipping this thing out any and everywhere she happens to be. It's so exacting to have come across a gift idea like this. Only things I have given her in the last several years are either money or something she specifically wanted and asked for. But bless her heart, she doesn't ask for much.</p>

<p>Sooooo.....I ordered her one last night. I also ordered a cover for it, and also I went to ebay and ordered, in one auction, a clip on light, earbuds, home and car charger, a slip on case and I forgot what else, for a really good price. Ordered the Kindle and cover from Amazon though.</p>

<p>So, you all of the young college years....would you be ok with this gift? I'm just kinda nervous because she has never even MENTIONED the existence of such a thing and I'm not sure she would even want it. I don't want to spoil the surprise by asking though. I figure, if she doesn't like it, I will take it, lol, but I want her to give it a trial period at any rate. If she does like it, I'll STILL buy one for me in a few months. :)</p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

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<p>Personally, I love reading but I’m dyslexic and have a huge courseload, so I rarely get around to it. If someone gave me something that would read to me, I’d take it in a heartbeat. I was against Kindles until seeing your post since I’m very much about the physical looks of books (I love having a bookshelf and being able to see all my titles, but they are hard to drag around, especially in college). However, I’ve heard they can simulate the turning of pages (I’ve never seen one in person, though) and are just as easy on the eyes to read. There aren’t many downsides. She’ll love it!</p>

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<p>I’d like one… I’d probably carry it around a lot more than a book and read more with one. For instance there’s a book I’d like to get, but I don’t want to drive to the store or order it from Amazon. With a Kindle or nook I could buy it and have it ready to read in a minute.</p>

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<p>I just bought myself a kindle. I will still buy favorite books in print-- I love the feel of a real book, and the smell of the paper. :stuck_out_tongue: But for everyday reading, I do really like the convenience of the kindle. It’s easy to use and read, you can get and cycle through books quickly, and it’s fun to use! Plus I can’t be hauling tons of books back and frorth from home and my dorm, so the kindle is a nice way to bring LOTS of books back and forth without worrying about lugging heavy boxes. It’ll be a good gift for someone who loves to read, even if they do love books, too. Nobody said you have to give up real books just to make use of a kindle, too. </p>

<p>I’d recommend the belkin neoprene cover or one of the other heavier ones, though. The cover they market with it is really just useful to protect the screen from scratches in a purse or bookbag and to simulate holding a book, it won’t protect it from bumps or–god forbid-- a drop. My electronics inevitably hit the floor at least once in their lifetime, and the kindle is so thin and lightweight I feel like it will probably drop sooner or later, too. I got the belkin neoprene and am happy with how padded it is.</p>

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<p>I’ve had one since they first came out and really enjoy it. I still wind up having to get some of the books I want in hardcover though if they’re new because I don’t want to wait the month or so it takes to be released on kindle sometimes.</p>

6

<p>I was against Kindles until my Mom got one for Christmas - I was always, the internet is ruining everything, I love books, blah.</p>

<p>But it’s awesome! The screen is very easy to see - they are right, it’s not like reading a screen at all, it’s just like looking at a page - and it’s amazing how you can download magazines, newspapers, etc. </p>

<p>Also, it’s great for traveling, either back and forth between school and home, or otherwise. No more bulky books on the plane, bus, in the backpack, etc.</p>

<p>It’s a great device and I think she will really appreciate it…even if she was previously a “book snob” like myself ;).</p>

7

<p>Just got one yesterday. I had never thought much of them before but it seems pretty cool.</p>

8

<p>I think that’s a great gift! I like real books as well but it seems like it would be easier to carry around… also easier than going to the library when you can just dl a book in 2 seconds :slight_smile: I want one!</p>