kindle #3 (or is it #4?)

Back in 2008, we bought our first Kindle in preparation for a 20 day trip to Japan. I was unsure whether or not we’d use it after the trip. And, of course, we did. But generally only while traveling. Otherwise, it was still physical books for most else. Our homeschooling books we bought as both books and ebooks.

Then Camille and I both wanted to use the Kindle, so bought a second one for her. By 2013, the original Kindle was obsolete, and it was time for a new one. Kindle #3. The third Kindle was more like a tablet. On our trip to Greece, Camille used Kindle #3 as her internet device: websurfing, email, tumblr, and more. She also brought along Kindle #2 for …. reading.

Over the last seven years, I’ve read hundreds of books on Kindle #3; most borrowed using Overdrive — I actually predicted Overdrive back in 2008. I’ve used the Kindle for watching streaming shows, checking email, reading magazines, and more. Instead of traveling with stacks of books, I have my Kindle loaded with library books. Once I started to split time between Decatur and Cape Cod, I could check out books from both libraries and never worry about having to return books to the proper library.

But last week, I found out that my beloved Kindle is once again obsolete. Due to increasingly stricter privacy laws, Overdrive is required to use improved protocols, and my Kindle is too old to support the new OSes that handle these. While the Kindle can still function, I won’t be able to easily download library books.

So now it is time for Kindle #4…