Biting the Bullet

After debating for...oh, about 6 months (at least!), I finally bit the bullet and spent my saved birthday money on a Kindle! I'm super excited!! Thanks to my mom and dad and to my grandma for helping to give me this great birthday gift!! I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival by the end of the week.  In the mean time I've been occupying myself with browsing the free book titles (Outlander is free?! Woo-hoo!) and trying to decide which case or sleeve to buy to protect it...   I love birthdays :)


10/19 Addendum:
Okay, so here are the cover options.


1. Read it "naked."
(no charge)

Pro: get to hold the Kindle's lightness right in your hands. "Free."
Con: can easily be dropped/scratched.


2. Get a "skin" and a "sleeve."
(skin: $17.99, sleeve: $29.99)

Pro: Still light to hold, but the skin gives a little texture so it's less likely to be dropped and the sleeve protects it when it's not in use. Many designs to choose from.
Con: Can still be dropped. The extra step of taking it out of the sleeve is a little bit of a hassle. The skin covers the simplicity of the pure graphite design of the Kindle.


3. Use Amazon's propriety case (either with or without a light)
(no light: $34.99, with light: $59.99)

Pro: Extra protection against drops/scratches. The option of a built-in light (with no need to replace batteries, since the light runs off the Kindle's batteries).
Con: Much heavier than a naked Kindle. Plus, several reviewers complain about the locking mechanism eventually cracking the Kindle. Also, some users say the light is too bright in the top right and too dim in the bottom left.


4. Get a non-amazon case that doesn't have the same click-in system to secure it
(prices vary; top canvas case from M-Edge: $34.99, light not included; bottom leather case from Oberon: $69.00)

Pro: Extra protection against drops/scratches. Many, many designs to choose from means one can find a case to match one's personality. Artisan leather only improves over time as it becomes more supple and develops a patina. The case won't crack the Kindle itself.
Con: Weight. Cost. Light must be purchased separately.


Any guesses on which option I chose?

(P.S. All images - except the last - were borrowed from Amazon's website.)