Amazon Kindle
 

Hubby & I purchased a kindle e-reader each around September last year, as avid readers, especially on holiday, we were using a considerable amount of baggage allowance on books.

These gadgets are IMO brilliant. We can download most of the latest titles in less than a minute, the special screen makes it easy to read in bright sunlight, its lightweight, and can store up to 3,500 books. Also classics, i.e. Thomas Hardy, Shakespear et al are mostly free. Almost every book we have downloaded has been cheaper than the paperback version, and, even with my limited knowledge of all things technical, I have downloaded loads of music from the computer.

This, for us, must be one of the best buys ever,
JB

Re: Amazon Kindle
 

Agree with this...if you're a keen reader, this is one of the best purchases you'll ever make. Mine was a birthday present about a month ago and I haven't put it down since! Books are much cheaper (including, as JellyBaby says, lots of classics for free). You can download 'em in a minute and it's the last word in convenience. Forget about piles of books in your living room/garage/suitcase/wherever, you can store an extensive library of 3,500 books, probably more than you'll read in the rest of your life on your kindle. It slips easily into your pocket or bag, so you can take it anywhere with you. Best present anyone's bought me since my iPod! :)

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I have just brought myself into the 21st century and at last bought a mobile phone, it is an HTC and I have installed Kindle on that. Up to now all I have downloaded for the Kindle app are the free boooks. I find it very easy to slip from page to page andit is very easy to carry about. I had though about buying the real Kindle machine but up to now I am happy using the phone.
The only down side is that you cannot donate the book to a charity shop or part exchange it for another when it has been read, something I usually do.

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I was given my kindle as a birthday present in January and it one of the best present I have ever been bought. As well as holding 3500 books, it lasts for ages between charges, I read 3 full length novels before I had to charge it.
As for not being able to donate books to charity shops you can always give a donation instead.

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how much have you lot paid for the Kindles? i've been thinking about getting one for a while now

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I don't know.....I'm an old-fashioned kind of guy in many respects and this is one of them. I can see the benefits of the Kindle but I know I'd miss the feel and convenience of simply being able to pick up a book with my bookmark still in it and just read instantly.

In time I'll probably be convinced but for the moment I really enjoy seeing my collection on the shelf.

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I buy many of my books from the charity shops and donate them back once they are finished with....so though I have thought about buyingsomething like this for travelling on trip with.......I haven't succumbed yet.
I also have great problems with reading chunks of text from a computer screen........if I have to read something that is from the computer, I usually print it out.
So I worry that I would spend the money on something that I found hard to use.
I'm not converted yet.

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Don't know about the Kindle as i have a Sony touch which plays music and can display photos it can also show PDF files and any books i read the text size can be enlarged it also had a built in dictionary and will take 4 gig of extra memory.
it will recognize most book file formats so not restricted to some files i get cheap books from w h smiths and waterstones.
Along with the 100 free books that came with the reader
just at the moment i am reading " operation mincemeat"

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Mine was a present, but I think they cost just over £100. As for comparisons to traditional books, believe me, there's no greater technophobe than me (it took me 10 years to get a CD player!), but I took to this like duck to water. Best thing for all you doubters is find somebody who has one and try it for yourself.

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Likewise Ken, I only downloaded the Kindle app for my phone out of curiosity and only have a few few free books on it, I think after a day or two I gave up to it. I prefer to read the proper paper books and have two by my bedside with bookmarks in each. I tend to go to bed early some nights and listen to a bit of old music on my earphones with the volume very low and read a book. I have the odd habit of reading a chapter or two in one book and then picking up the other and doing the same, only two on the go at once and then when they are both read I either get two more from the library or the charity job.
I went into the pound shop in Accrington one day when it was raining hard and I needed shelter. I bought three books for three pound and they were £49 in the Arndale newsagent/book shop.

The Kindle is a very handy device for people who are going away or on long haul flights as they do save a lot of space, a bit pricey at the moment. Do they have any other function apart from the ability to download and store books, maybe watch a pre-installed film.

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Search me, I'm a technophobe! Don't think I'd want to watch a film on such a small screen anyway.

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Not been sold on the Kindle, although I too have the app on my iphone, but it is not the same on your phone.
I feel the same way with the Ipad, very nice, but I cannot find a good enough excuse to by one for myself.

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I beleive Asda do a similar thing now for about £59.00.
I'm still making up my mind as wether to get one or not.

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Can only speak for myself. I usually read around one book a week and I've found it a revelation. Books are cheaper, sometimes ridiculously so (complete Sherlock Holmes stories for 70p) or even free. I don't have piles of read books mounting up in the garage and with a 3,500 book-capacity, I can store them all and re-read them whenever I want. No need for bookmarks - just switch it off and when you go back to that book, it automatically goes to your place. Must admit, I wouldn't like to read books on a mobile phone screen, but I find the kindle screen easier to read than the printed page. Would recommend that anyone who's considering it at least "has a go" on one.

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Wyn, I am almost sold on one, I keep looking, I think it would be a lot better than the Ipad, which is a lot of money for a toy... Trying to read on the phone is a nightmare. I could be persuaded, especially the wifi model....

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Reckon it'd be perfect for you in your line of work, BG.

Re: Amazon Kindle
 

Besides books you can arrange to get newspapers, periodicals, magazines, blogs, news letters and news groups all delivered to your one device. All this can be arranged, sorted and searched with a free software application called Calibre. Check it out on the web it is well worth a look!

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How much does it cost to download a book to the Kindle?

Re: Amazon Kindle
 

some are free, and other prices vary

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Don't worry about reading chunks from a computer screen. The Kindle screen is made up of magnetic ink, it looks just like the page of a book.. no backlight or anything. If you know anyone who has a Kindle it would be useful to have a go with theirs.

I've recently got one and it's great. Books are cheap and you can easily put PDFs on which has come in quite useful.

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I see that Tesco in town stock it, I may nip in tomorrow and see....:D

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Whilst on holiday in March, the hotel offered free wifi and I was able to check our flights home and also my emails on the Kindle.
We paid £109 (now £111-due to vat increase!) for the regular Kindle 3. There is a 3G Kindle available for around £150.

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Thank you for that information Andrew.......now if we could only solve the dilemma of me buying and recycling books to the charities, we would be cooking with gas :D
I do sometimes buy new books(not very often).....and I do get gifts of books.......and that would need to be overcome too.
I have thought about one of these gadgets, purely for when I travel with Ma....but these days that isn't happeneng very much either.......so I guess I will wait.

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i think id rather stick with my books ...

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That's what I said until I tried it!

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I was dead against the kindle when my partner first mentioned it to me, I read alot of books and was admanant I'd miss the feel of book and completely dismissed it.
Then his mum bought one and after looking at it I changed my mind.
I've had mine for a few months now and it's brilliant, the books are cheaper and the display is really crisp and easy to read. Its not as cumbersome as a book when your reading in bed.

I don't miss my hardbacks or paperbacks one bit!

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just one thing to point out ...books do not have vat on them but e-books do as they are classed as software by the nice taxman so beware .

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just found an article about the Kindle if you have one you might or might not know
1) there is game on it you can play just press Alt+Shift+M to launch the game
2) There is a hidden clock press the Menu on new models on older ones Alt+T
3) The kindle can read to you press the Aa key on the device toggle the text to speech to on

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prefer audiobooks myself

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im sure my sons android tablet can read these kindle books as well as many other uses like angry birds lol

also play movies,surf the net, store photos and hundres of free apps

kindle just seems pretty limited for the money when for the same money you can buy a basic 10" android tablet which will do what the kindle does and lots more

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lol now thats just lazy ..

but like your style lol :D

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I believe(from what I have read about them) that they will read to you....so any downloaded book will become an audio book

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so you can be sent to sleep by stephen hawkings soothing voice :D

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And if you hear one you will turn it off straight away, its an awful sounding computer generated voice with a yankee accent :eek:

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well, if you can't be bothered to read it yourself that is all you deserve :)

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I listen to a lot of audiobooks whilst I am at work :p :)

Sure does pass the time

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I completely LOVE my Kindle, but didnt think I would when I was given it as a gift. The screen looks exactly like a paper and ink page and you can read it one handed, leaving a valuable hand free for a cuppa. Its given my overbursting book shelves a rest and saved me money on new books. whenever im somewhere that has wifi, I can shop for free books, which is a joy. The best bit is being able to change text size to suit you and you can use the cursor to get an instant dictionary explanation for any unfamiliar terms. It is the future!

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Could not have put it better myself. I actually left mine in the box for the first few days after I'd got it, such is my suspicion of modern technology. However, when I did start to use it, I couldn't believe how easy it was. Got it with me at the moment, so I can have a read when I go out for a coffee at dinnertime. Wouldn't be without it!

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I have to admit I DID look at them in Bury on Saturday........the concept of reading a heavy weight book in bed...without the weight appeals to me just a little......but I'm not sure about the Kindle......is it correct that it only takes the Amazon published books and PDF?.........I have looked on Flea Bay for alternative readers......hence the question for the techies........I think I would want something t hat would allow for colour illustrations as I would also use it for the children(they are really into reading, but being young, they also want the distraction of pictures).
I am going to need to do some more investigating I think.

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You cant write in the margins either Margaret

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Ooh Bernard, you don't do that do you?????Sacrilege.
I never write in the margins......even when I was studying I never wrote in the margins.....my study books were full of slips of paper with my own notes on.
I do have some study books that I bought second hand, and very cheap.....now they have notes in the margins.
I have to say I found them interesting, but still wouldn't deface my own books like that.

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In a way, you actually can add your notes to books and link them to specific passages in the book. It's a modern way of 'writing in the margins'.

I love my Kindle for leisure reading.

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Thing is any tablet is backlit so will be harder on your eyes(especially at night or in strong sunlight) than the e-ink of a kindle, the backlighting also means much much poorer battery life - hours vs weeks.

yes its a handy app on a smartphone/tablet but the screen on the kindle is what makes it such a useful tool. My friend has a 3G one which comes with free data so he also uses it to check up on websites and forums whilst commuting.

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fair enough but tablets do have brightness control etc and isnt the ability to surf the web on a kindle not realy supposed to happen and is an exploit which could get stopped with an update of kindle chose to

havnt looked into the surfing aspect somone brought it up on here before but when my mate was looking at kindle it said the only free internet access was to the book store not unlimited surfing anywhere

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it definately works for BBC news and a number of other sites

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I've used mine for browsing all over the place. It's not perfect, but it does the job pretty well to say it's only at the experimental stage at the moment. Mind you, I didn't buy the Kindle as a replacement for a notebook, so all this is a bonus to me anyway.

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Had a play with one the other day and I can't say as I'm overly impressed. It's just not as easily accessible as a book to me but each to their own, it's clearly proving popular with lots of other people.

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I am afraid that I have to disagree with you Ken, I have had my kindle since January and it is equally accessible as a book, it even remembers which was the last page you read. The battery life is superb it lasts for about 3 full length novels, is extremely portable and will mean I have to won't have to take several paperbacks in my suitcase when I go on holiday, which decreases any concerns about going over the weight limit at the airport.

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What could be more accessible than switching it on and finding yourself back at the place where you left off? No messing around with bookmarks or rifling through pages until you find your place. Just ask Claytonender to show you at the next council meeting!

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hmmmm, been looking at them today.......aren't they a bit(dare I say it?) dull?
Himself was trying to get me to buy one....and yes, I can see that they are useful if you travel a bit....but recipe books need colourful illustrations to make your mouth water(OK so you don't take cookbooks on holiday...but the thing has to be applicable to all kinds of books)........I wasn't impressed and I didn't buy one....but my blog will tell you more about why.

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Horses for courses, Margaret. It's excellent for fiction or similar books which are mainly type. Wouldn't dream of downloading a book or periodical with lots of colour illustrations, as it just wouldn't work. I'll still be getting Playboy at the shop for instance (even though, as I'm always telling Mrs H, I only buy it for the articles). ;)

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Oooh, Mr H! You Nawdy boy :D:D:D

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I have had a Sony Pocket Reader for about a year now.
I have never paid for an ebook, and still sometimes buy an ordinary book.
I like the free download of books that the internet provides, especially the books that government agencies banned from publication in a normal format.
(you would be surprised by just how many there are)

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I have looked at those too Margaret.......but like the Kindle, they don't do colour.
I want a bookreader that is as versatile as possible......meaning that I can use it for the tinlids too.......and they want illustrations........especially Spindleshanks as he is not much into fiction...more into books about space exploration, planets, Dinosaurs.......stuff that is improved by pictures.

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Well, I know I was sceptical of the joys of the Kindle.....but I have just bought one!
How's that for a turn around?
What made me buy one? Well, I read quite a lot when I go to bed. I can't seem to get to sleep unless I have about half an hours(minimum) read. Recently I have been reading the CJ Sansom novel, Revelation a gruesome murder mystery set in Tudor times. It is quite a thick book, and it made my reading arm go to sleep about 30 minutes before I did.
So I went and checked out the Kindle again.......decided to take the plunge and buy one.

I have only had it a couple of days so I can't say that I love it......yet, but I am sure the convenience and the lightness of it will win me over in the end.

Just as an aside, I fretted that it would not be acceptable to the children(no colour, no pictures).......but Miss Bossy drawers is thrilled with and has spent every evening after school for the last couple of days reading on it......Spindles is interested too!

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I am glad you decided to buy one and I am sure you will really enjoy it.

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if anyone decides they don't like their kindle, i'll gladly buy it off you :D

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For the first time in a long while I have enjoyed my bedtime reads........I spent almost an hour and a half reading last night....with no dead arm, no pins and needles in my fingers.......and I am half way through the new Philippa Gregory novel(no matter, I have loaded another three of hers)....so it is proving to be a worthwhile spend.

I still find myself looking in the book section of the charity shops, and I can't say I won't buy another paperback novel.

Shaz there are a couple of cheapish ones on Flea bay.......don't hold out any hope of me selling mine, because Miss Bossy Drawers has her eye on it! She would have it off me in a blink.

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lol, thanx Marg

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Yep....I'm converted.
I have read a whole load of books(mainly at bedtime, but some on our Saturday ride outs) since mine arrived.
I was also given a couple of disks with books already loaded on them....so I have been browsing my future reading menu(some do need to be converted, but it is a simple trick to do)....not only that but Miss bossy drawers is a great fan of this gadget...and has received one for her 6th birthday today(well she does think she is 16)

Many thanks to those of you who gave your opinions and recommendations.

I really should trust you more....you were right!

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Told you so, Margaret! Definitely essential equipment for me (along with my ipod) wherever I go these days!! :)

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Yes, you are definitely on the ball there Steve.
It has been with me on the last three Saturdays and the journey to Bury...or Manchester has seemed too short.
I don't have an ipod...but I do have a little touch screen music player...but I have found it much more pleasurable to read.......I can really get lost in a good book.
Worth every penny.......and the lady I bought it off sent me two disks with more books on than I will ever manage to read in my lifetime........some of them tbph......I wouldn't want to be reading(I ask you......Madonna, Sex......not for me thanks).

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I have an Advent Vega which is an Android tablet pc in which you can download the Kindle app. There are loads of free books and the eBooks are not that expensive either.

Might get all the Jeremy Clarkson books soon. Problem is with charity shops is they don't sell eBooks.

Wonder if Accy library do eBooks or even my local library in Rishton.

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The good thing about the Kindle is that you can read it in any kind of light......with tablets it is dificult to read in bright sunlight.
I did consider a tablet, but the Kindle won in the end.