Kindle Usability Better Than Most Tech

One of the important features of the Kindle that Amazon doesn’t seem to place enough emphasis on is its usability. Hand the Kindle to anyone and they can figure out how to navigate it within minutes. One writer has chronicled his mother’s usage of the device on GottaBeMobile.com. He says,

She uses an iMac and HP Pavilion notebook, but she often calls or emails me to help her solve relatively simple problems…She hasn’t asked anyone for help with the Kindle DX and feels completely comfortable with the device. She carries it everywhere she goes and said she can’t wait to show it to her friends.

I’ve seen the same with my mother-in-law. While she struggles with her many TV remotes and her computer, she has had no trouble adapting to the original Kindle. She was navigating the menus and buying books without even asking for help.

Interestingly, the article goes on to show how the writer’s mother uses her Kindle while shopping for physical books. Browsing books at Costco, she downloads samples on her Kindle instead of buying books on impulse. I’ve used a similar tactic while shopping at Barnes & Noble or Borders.

So not only are typically tech-phobic people using the Kindle without issue, but they’re also finding ways for the Kindle to be more useful for their specific needs.

Have you seen evidence of technophobes adapting easily to Kindle?