Light My Kindle

In this busy travel season, lots of Kindle owners are probably wondering how to travel with their Kindle. I’ve already covered how to reading your Kindle on the plane, but I’ve also been asked how to take your Kindle through airport security.

While I have read reports of some users experiencing problems with their Kindle screens after taking it through airport security, I personally have not had that problem. In fact, fellow Kindle blogger Joe Wikert has brought his Kindle through airport security - and through the x-ray machines - several times, as he commented on my previous post and never experienced screen issues.

If you’re concerned about your Kindle’s safety, you could ask the security agents to check your Kindle by hand, as they do for film. However, know that not all Kindle owners have had screen issues due to x-ray machines at the airport.

UPDATE: I traveled over the 2008 Christmas holidays and accidentally forgot to shut my Kindle off before bringing it through airport security on the way back - it was in sleep mode. Luckily, my Kindle didn’t suffer any damage due to the machines. That’s one fewer thing to worry about in your travels!

As always, feel free to send any Kindle questions my way at cj@lightmykindle.com.

Another question about the Kindle that I frequently get asked is if you can read it on the plane. The simple answer is yes.

The more detailed answer is yes, but with a few exceptions. You have to keep the wireless switch turned to off during the entire flight. This means that you won’t be able to browse the Kindle store, purchase new books, or download new content while in the air, so buy your books while waiting to board.

You can also only use the Kindle during the times when other electronic devices - iPods, portable CD players, laptops - can be used. This is usually only restricted during takeoff and landing.

I’ve used my Kindle on the plane before and it was a wonderful experience. I bought my book - The Mist by Stephen King - while waiting to board. As soon as the seatbelt sign was turned off and people started using their laptops, I turned on the Kindle and read my book without my arms getting tired from holding it up or my neck getting tired from looking down at the book in my lap.

As always, feel free to send any Kindle questions to me at cj@lightmykindle.com.

Another great question I received about the Kindle is, “Can you read it on the treadmill?” A lot of people like to read while walking on the treadmill, since it passes the time while exercising. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to do this because I get dizzy if I read while moving (in a car, for example).

Luckily, with the Kindle I have been able to read while walking on the treadmill. Since the Kindle is so light, I can hold it in front of me so I’m always looking forward (rather than down at the book holder). This prevents me from getting dizzy since my problem occurs when my eyes think my body’s going a different direction than it is (like when I look out the side window of a moving car).

Another huge help is the ability to change the font size. I change the font to a really large size so I can see it more clearly. This allows me to keep walking at a good pace, instead of slowing down so I can read but hurting my workout.

The Kindle also fits nicely in the book holders on most treadmills. And with the built-in music player, you can even listen to your favorite workout tunes while reading the latest best-seller and getting a good workout.

Send any questions you have about the Kindle to cj@lightmykindle.com.

I recently wrote a guest post for a great site called Ask MJ. The site is focused on answering readers’ questions, such as “What is an RSS feed?” and “How much does money weigh?”

My post is called “Should I buy a Kindle?” and went live a few days ago. Click here to check it out. And while you’re there, submit a question for MJ to answer - he’ll email you when he answers it on the site. As always, feel free to send any Kindle questions to me at cj@lightmykindle.com.

Since I’m the only one of my friends and family that owns a Kindle, I often get questions from them about the device. I decided to share these questions with you since many of them are worthwhile questions that either aren’t answered in other places or aren’t addressed directly.

The first question I was asked about my Kindle is “Can you read it in the dark?” Well, yes and no. Without the aid of book light, such as the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Light, you won’t be able to read the Kindle in the dark. This is because the Kindle, unlike most electronic devices, does not have a backlight. While some may see this as a drawback, I truly enjoy the Kindle’s lack of a backlight (which I have discussed before).

The backlight is what causes glare on your computer, what makes your eyes tired if you try to read long articles online, and what makes little kids’ eyes tired after playing hours of portable video games. The Kindle screen was specifically designed without a backlight to make the reading experience more like reading a book than reading off an electronic device.

So technically, no, you can’t read a Kindle in the dark without an outside light source. However, the Mighty Bright gets a four-and-a-half star review on Amazon, and high praise from Kindle owners.

If you have a question about the Kindle, feel free to email me at cj@lightmykindle.com.