Leave your bulky, heavy books at home when you study abroad.
While packing for your study abroad trip, you need to take great care when deciding what to bring and what to leave at home. Thanks to the wonders of technology, you no longer have to go without essential guidebooks and phrasebooks, or choose between several that you like. The
Kindle
has revolutionized the book publishing industry.
Weighing in at 10.2 ounces, which is lighter than a paperback book, and measuring 8 inches x 5.3 inches and just over 1/3 of an inch thick, this electronic reading device has a 6 inch screen and can store 1,500 books. A new addition, with a larger screen is the
Kindle DX
. Designed for textbooks, the DX has a larger 9.7 inch screen, and measures 10.4 inches x 7.2 inches. The DX can store 3,500 books.
Books are downloaded wirelessly and quickly on a 3G network, with no internet connection is required, domestically at least. For now, you will have to make sure to download all your books and newspapers in the U.S. before your trip. Internationally, you can download them to the Kindle with a USB connection from a computer with an internet connection.
With over 300,000 Kindle books available, there is a wide variety of travel books for almost any destination available to buy, including guidebooks, phrasebooks, foreign language dictionaries, etc. Also available are a great number of books for leisure reading, which is great for travel to foreign countries where English-language books and newspapers might be scarce. You can even get blogs delivered to your Kindle!
Over time, the Kindle will actually save you money, too. Kindle books usually cost less than ten dollars, far cheaper than going to the bookstore. Oh and did I mention that you can start reading your new book instantly? No more trips to the store or waiting for books to arrive after you ordered them online.
If you are planning a study abroad trip, it is very worthwhile to consider taking the Kindle along with you. Save weight and room in your luggage and bring many more books with you than previously possible!
