Someone asked me why I bought a Kindle when I already had an iPad. That’s what I first thought: why get a Kindle if I have an iPad? Silly.

This is mostly what did it: the iPad is backlit, like a television or computer screen. I look at those already too many hours per day. I was reading that the Kindle, with its “digital ink” technology (or whatever it’s called) is more like ink on paper. It’s not backlit and doesn’t tire your eyes or stimulate your brain (not good to fall asleep to a TV or computer–it also explains why you can stay up forever watching your computer screen but reading a book you fall asleep in minutes). You can also read in broad daylight. You do need a light to read in the dark, though, but I bought a case that has a built-in light.

Another reason is that I’m not going to sit at the pool in Spain (or even on the MUNI in San Francisco) with my $700 gadget attracting attention. But I don’t mind sitting with my $140 dull-looking e-reader. Besides, thieves can’t read so good. ;-)

Here’s the post-purchase kicker: I’m already reading more. Might be partly just because it’s a new gadget, but I’ve already read two books on it. It’s strange, but it’s easier to hold than a bigger paperback, much easier than a hard cover, and it’s easy(-ier) to turn pages. You can also search for words and it remembers your place wherever you left off. Oh, and if I did want to read the same book on my iPad, it’s all synced up so it would know the page where I left off on my iPad (or iPhone). You can also highlight/underline your favorite passages and even see what favorite passages are from other readers (although that’s a little creepy–you can turn it off).

I have almost a dozen books (and PDFs) on there now that I’ll bring on vacation. Total weight? A few ounces. Oh, and the battery lasts … a month.

It connects via Wi-Fi (like your iTouch) to download new books. Here’s the kicker for my die-hard library folks: Coming to Your Kindle: Library Books (New York Times).

Oh, and you can “lend your book” out (for some books). But while you’re borrowing it, I can’t read it. Interesting, huh? Oh, and any purchase I make, I use the Rooftop Amazon link first, so they make a buck or two.

How’s that for a convert? From a old-school-writerly-type who can’t bear the thought of a digital book to this.

From the writer’s, writer promoter’s or publisher’s perspective: if this sells more books, if people read more books, if people share more books. That’s win-win-win.

Update: Clare Swindlehurst lists 20 places you can find free Kindle books and other downloads – and they’re all legal!