Faux books are better

Several books are accompanying our vacation: Rick Steves' Paris, Rick Steves' France, Webster's English-French Dictionary, Webster's French-English Dictionary, Complete Works of Shakespeare, and Moby Dick. These tomes are over 500 pages each and weigh enough to be used effectively with dumbbell exercises. But I need them all as reference or to pass the time on those long train journeys.

The Portable Library

Faux-tunately, I can take all the information with me, without the extra weight. I put all these materials into a Kindle 3, arguably the greatest faux (fake) book to date. This reader can store over 3,500 books as well as PDF files, MP3 media and other documents. Plus it's the size of a paperback and thinner than a pack of cards. (If you want to buy one, use the link on the right, so I get the commission.)

As a bonus, the device also acts as a primitive web browser. True, it only displays black-and-white and can't show movies, sounds or animations. But the charge lasts three weeks, and it works perfectly well for looking up quick travel reference like train schedules or museum opening times. I can also read and send email through it.

The Book Look

I love the appearance, weight and smell of a leather-bound book, which is as far away from the Kindle as you can get. But you can simulate the look and feel of a hardback masterpiece with a skin and a cover.

DecalGirl makes nearly 500 skins that wrap over your device, ranging from nature pictures to abstract art to simulated textures. Your model is protected by this wrapper and is now distinguished from all other Kindles. I picked Dark Burlwood, which gives my reader the look of an antique, Steampunk machine.

As for the cover, Oberon Design makes several in tooled, leather. I bought the Roof of Heaven, which is based on an old engraving. The cover features several interior pockets as well as a closing elastic band. It also adds further protection.

Now, when I use my Kindle 3, it feels very much like opening up a treasured antiquarian work. The cover also adds a level of security. From a distance, it looks like I'm reading a fancy notebook, instead of looking through an electronic device that's easy to steal.