Amazon Kindle

[surrey jim]

Afternoon all

Mrs Surrey Jim has been hinting at me getting her a Kindle for Christmas, I don’t know much about them. Which is the best one to get or is there a better 'ebook reader' on the market?

Any help/advice appreciated,

Thanks

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Love my kindle, have read a lot more books since I've had it. The newer one without the keyboard looks rather nicer, that's the £89 one I think. I never buy a book from the Kindle anyway, always from my PC. However, I think it will only last me a couple of years, until therre is a reasonable colour one - the present one is fine for books, but I'd quite like to read magazines on it (which you can get), but really need to be colour.

 

[Wilko]

The £89 kindle is the nuts. Use mine nearly every day, love it.

 

[JBizzleBeard]

£89 Amazon kindle is sound.

 

[surrey jim]

Love my kindle, have read a lot more books since I've had it. The newer one without the keyboard looks rather nicer, that's the £89 one I think. I never buy a book from the Kindle anyway, always from my PC. However, I think it will only last me a couple of years, until therre is a reasonable colour one - the present one is fine for books, but I'd quite like to read magazines on it (which you can get), but really need to be colour.

Can I read between the lines there that it is possible to download books 'free' to your PC and then transfer them over to the Kindle. How easy is it to do/find the books?

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

I prefer a good old paperback.

Support your local bookshop.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I prefer a good old paperback.

Support your local bookshop.

Yes to both. We spend too much of our lives looking at bloody screens. Can't beat physically holding a book, seeing how far the book mark is along the book, the musty smell etc.

 

[Bad Ash]

Can I read between the lines there that it is possible to download books 'free' to your PC and then transfer them over to the Kindle. How easy is it to do/find the books?

With the new Kindle there is no keyboard, so I'm guessing that the best way to get a book is to buy via Amazon on your computer and then transfer to the Kindle. Whether it is possible to do it directly I don't know.

However, yes it is possible to download books from other sources (without paying). You can transfer them to the Kindle using a program like Calibre.

 

[KZNSeagull]

I prefer a good old paperback.

Support your local bookshop.

From an owner of 2 bookshops, I salute you!!!

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

As well as book shops suffering there is the case of public libraries too. Book ownership and availability will decrease. A kindle is a screen for reading text and they dont smell the same!

 

[Bwian]

As well as book shops suffering there is the case of public libraries too. Book ownership and availability will decrease. A kindle is a screen for reading text and they dont smell the same!

Maybe Magic Tree will bring out a mini version and instead of 'New Car Smell' it'll be 'Musty Old Book' so you can hang it from your kindle while you're using it.

 

[tedebear]

I've looked at it about 4 times in Borders and still keep walking away....it reads ok, and is pretty smart and fun but it just doesn't feel right to me. I like being a book worm.

 

[Bad Ash]

As well as book shops suffering there is the case of public libraries too. Book ownership and availability will decrease. A kindle is a screen for reading text and they dont smell the same!

Don't forget the bookshelf makers!

 

[Bad Ash]

Speaking of physical books, I was on the tube last week and the guy next to me folded the hole page in half (vertically, down the middle) to mark his place. I thought this was very odd, the top corner is sufficient surely?

 

[Icy Gull]

I think that it's fantastic and I love being able to look online for books and then just download what I want. I don't believe that the screen is backlit so gives the impression that you are actually reading a book unlike a computer screen.

 

[Bad Ash]

I think that it's fantastic and I love being able to look online for books and then just download what I want. I don't believe that the screen is backlit so gives the impression that you are actually reading a book unlike a computer screen.

You're correct, it's not backlit. This makes it very easy to read in sunlight, it's less strain on your eyes in general, and means it doesn't use much energy; power is used when refreshing the screen (turning the page). The only downside to this is that you require a light source to read in the dark.

 

[tedebear]

Speaking of physical books, I was on the tube last week and the guy next to me folded the hole page in half (vertically, down the middle) to mark his place. I thought this was very odd, the top corner is sufficient surely?

I can never bring myself to fold even so much as the corner. I have a small collection of bookmarks - almost as difficult chosing one when I start my next book as it is to actually choose the next book!

 

[Bwian]

You're correct, it's not backlit. This makes it very easy to read in sunlight, it's less strain on your eyes in general, and means it doesn't use much energy; power is used when refreshing the screen (turning the page). The only downside to this is that you require a light source to read in the dark.

Just like a book

 

[Bad Ash]

Just like a book

Yes, I guess the point of my post is that reading a Kindle is visually very similar to reading a book, as opposed to reading on most other electronic devices. One positive difference is that you can alter the size of the text.

 

[beorhthelm]

brilliant device, my only slight regret was getting the wifi rather than 3G. didnt realise there was no contract so you effectivly get free web browsing forever (albeit simple functionality)