Kindle E-Reader

AudreyHepburn

My folks offered to get me one for my bday coz I am a bookworm. Does anyone have one or know anyone who has one and if so would you recommend it?

Aishae

ive had one for months - i love it! i wouldnt do without it now. i know the old arguement that it isnt the same as a regular book (to hold) but you can easily stick it in your handbag and travel with it much easier than a book (or stack of them)
also easier to read outside in sunlight than a regular book as the 'pages' arent so white and bright

wildefalcon

Unless you need to read in darkness (there is no "BACKLIGHT") I'd recommend it.

Mind you, a new one is probably coming out next week/month/year.

My cousin, a COMPLETE bookworm, rates it very highly. I need to be able to read in darkness (insomniac with a partner that gets up early) so I use my smartphone instead.

Get the 3G version, and you can browse the net anywhere in the word for free.

You can also load your own ebooks on it, if they aren't in a DRM format.

Aishae

the lack of backlighting is a plus for me. its the main reason it works so well outdoors. but also because backlit screens give me eye strain

Guill

Kindle E-reader = Bookworm heaven!

pogsick

you can get a cover with a light for the Kindle for reading in the dark

Outkast_IRE

pogsick wrote: »

you can get a cover with a light for the Kindle for reading in the dark

I ordered on the other day, a kindle and ordered the cover with light to go with it , cant bloddy wait, having shelves full of books is overrated as you cant keep um all .

cml387

I have one.
Had it for a fortnight,can't imagine how I did without it before.

Plus, Amazon is not the only only source for books ifyouknowarrimean.

juke

I LOVE my kindle. I can't emphasise this enough.

I take it everywhere (just in case I have a spare 5 minutes).

I read a minimum of 1 hour a day - often up to 3, and access to books instantly is such a plus - like when you finish a book at 11pm and NEED to start the next in the series NOW.

What I like:

The battery lasts for ever (for me about 2 weeks).
It remembers what page you were on, when you turn it on again.
Calibre software allows you to convert book suitable for kindle format, that you have downloaded in different formats.
You can chop and change between books, without carrying a library around with you.
You can read samples - like the first chapter of a book - before buying.

And there's heaps more - music while reading, audio reading, a (limited) browser function, games.

My only disappointment - finding the screen damaged, and being without it for a week :eek:

pogsick

cml387 wrote: »

I have one.
Had it for a fortnight,can't imagine how I did without it before.

Plus, Amazon is not the only only source for books ifyouknowarrimean.

Amazon have an area on their site explaining this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/ref=hp_200527380_content_free?node=2245146011

cml387

pogsick wrote: »

Amazon have an area on their site explaining this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/ref=hp_200527380_content_free?node=2245146011

Yes and that too.

angel01

I have had mine since late May and I LOVE it. Best thing I have ever bought, it is so easy to buy books and to read so many books on the go. It is superb. Get yourself a good case/cover as well.

Fantastic and worth every cent.

AudreyHepburn

Thanks for all the comments so far

It seems to be getting fairly good reviews all round. There are some criticisims I've read such as it turns off and reboots regularly, you loose your page if it does, it has no backlight, the browser isn't great etc. What do you all think on these?

angel01

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments so far

It seems to be getting fairly good reviews all round. There are some criticisims I've read such as it turns off and reboots regularly, you loose your page if it does, it has no backlight, the browser isn't great etc. What do you all think on these?

I have never had that issue with it rebooting or anything. It has never done that to me, the battery lasts forever! The browser isn't great but I don't browse online with it. I keep the wireless off when I am not using the internet and that makes the battery last even longer!

I use the computer to browse the Amazon store and transfer the books via cable or wireless and that suits me.

You can buy a case with a light in it, so that is one way of getting around that issue.

Outkast_IRE

cml387 wrote: »

I have one.
Had it for a fortnight,can't imagine how I did without it before.

Plus, Amazon is not the only only source for books ifyouknowarrimean.

dont wanna get into a debate here , but i will be purchasing all my ebooks from genuine retailers unless they restrict me to stupid region restrctions and make it impossible to buy it .

Its a fledging part of the industry if we dont support it honestly now then we are just shooting ourselves in the foot and repeating the mistakes of the music industry again.

Biggins

See here - huge thread covering just about all aspects: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055984061

ixoy

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

dont wanna get into a debate here , but i will be purchasing all my ebooks from genuine retailers unless they restrict me to stupid region restrctions and make it impossible to buy it .

Agreed. If I can buy it for my reader, I will. If stupid legislation prevents me, then there are other ways. Hopefully the industry will sort itself out.

FranSansisco

best present i've ever received, love it, i've got the Kindle 2, so i've had it over 18 months
really really think i would struggle without it

jcf

I got mine last week and bloody love it !! flying through books on it now !

Only thing annoying me , Amazon seem to have a limited selection of the "free" classics ?

anyone know where i can find them all ? - legit that is ? im not asking for illegal dl's here.

amacachi

http://www.gutenberg.org/

Not sure if they work on the kindle, if you need to convert you can use http://calibre-ebook.com/ to convert them.

Aishae

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments so far

It seems to be getting fairly good reviews all round. There are some criticisims I've read such as it turns off and reboots regularly, you loose your page if it does, it has no backlight, the browser isn't great etc. What do you all think on these?

no back light is a plus for me - mine has never randomly reboot, it usually only does a boot (like a update) when i turn it on. the browser is still experimental its not a major feature of the kindle but its good enough for my email and checking bus times

_______________________
as for the last post

theres a link earlier in the thread to some other site suggestions - like the gutenberg project etc. the 'lists' on amazon are worth a look for user posted lists of free classics too

ixoy

jcf wrote: »

anyone know where i can find them all ? - legit that is ? im not asking for illegal dl's here.

http://www.manybooks.net/ - Has the books in Kindle's .azw format so there's no need to convert.

Biggins

Looking for free Kindle legit books?

* http://manybooks.net/

* http://www.munseys.com/

* http://www.gutenberg.org/

* http://librivox.org/

* http://www.archive.org/

* http://www.bookyards.com/

* http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/freeBooks.htm?cache

* http://www.feedbooks.com/

* http://www.baen.com/library/

* http://www.obooko.com/

jcf

Thanks guys !!!

I got a nice copy of Oliver Twist !

StudentDad

I have the kindle app on my laptop and windows phone - it's great - I'm a total bookworm though. I really like the fact that I can switch between the app on my phone and laptop seamlessly. It's like carrying a library in my pocket

SD

bedstuybosco

Anybody know how the "free 3G" works here in ireland?

whos the provider etc?

pogsick

bedstuybosco wrote: »

Anybody know how the "free 3G" works here in ireland?

whos the provider etc?

Here's the map:
http://client0.cellmaps.com/tabs.html#cellmaps_intl_tab

And info on it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_1-7?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200375890&qid=1312908925&sr=1-7

To the best of my knowledge it's vodafone as this is the provider in the uk

AlkalineAcid

Am I right thinking that the international one is just missing a US charger and doesn't have a USB cable any more special than the other one?

Kindle 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology [Includes USB Cable for Charging. For International Shipment]
Kindle 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

pogsick

AlkalineAcid wrote: »

Am I right thinking that the international one is just missing a US charger and doesn't have a USB cable any more special than the other one?

Kindle 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology [Includes USB Cable for Charging. For International Shipment]
Kindle 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

That would be correct, it charges via USB or if you have a power connector(like the one that comes with the iPhone) it can charge via that too, you can buy a separate uk/Irish adapter too

AlkalineAcid

pogsick wrote: »

That would be correct, it charges via USB or if you have a power connector(like the one that comes with the iPhone) it can charge via that too, you can buy a separate uk/Irish adapter too

Thanks. If that's all it is I think I'll get the US one.

EDIT: Amazon won't ship the "US" one.

omerin

For what its worth they just mentioned on the Right Hook that now is not a good time to buy a Kindle, a new one is coming out and prices will drop.

pogsick

AlkalineAcid wrote: »

pogsick wrote: »

That would be correct, it charges via USB or if you have a power connector(like the one that comes with the iPhone) it can charge via that too, you can buy a separate uk/Irish adapter too

Thanks. If that's all it is I think I'll get the US one.

EDIT: Amazon won't ship the "US" one.

Look for "live outside the us?" and choose Ireland from the drop down menu on the kindle product page

pogsick

omerin wrote: »

For what its worth they just mentioned on the Right Hook that now is not a good time to buy a Kindle, a new one is coming out and prices will drop.

Correct usually around the end of august

AlkalineAcid

pogsick wrote: »

Look for "live outside the us?" and choose Ireland from the drop down menu on the kindle product page

I tried to get the one with a US charger so I could at least use a travel adaptor.

pogsick

AlkalineAcid wrote: »

pogsick wrote: »

Look for "live outside the us?" and choose Ireland from the drop down menu on the kindle product page

I tried to get the one with a US charger so I could at least use a travel adaptor.

Ya they won't allow you to do that

Gearheart

Great resource to have, I have the 3G version, although it's by no means a primary function (or an easy function to use for that matter) the internet option is great to have, and it works in over 200 contries free of charge, would definetly reccommend one if you have a large library too, someone once told me if you can find a book that you're looking for on amazon you can request them to convert it to digital format for you which is handy

Aishae

Gearheart wrote: »

Great resource to have, I have the 3G version, although it's by no means a primary function (or an easy function to use for that matter) the internet option is great to have, and it works in over 200 contries free of charge, would definetly reccommend one if you have a large library too, someone once told me if you can find a book that you're looking for on amazon you can request them to convert it to digital format for you which is handy

My phone won't work in central America so I'll be relying on my kindle. I'll have it with me anyway as I eat books.

What amazon does is tell the publishers that there have been digital format requests. Doesn't always work out. But it's handy to be able to give them such specific feedback.

pavb2

So should I buy now or wait until Xmas in case a new one comes out. Also thinking of getting an Iphone at end of Oct what is the Kindle APP like on this for reading?

Aishae

pavb2 wrote: »

So should I buy now or wait until Xmas in case a new one comes out. Also thinking of getting an Iphone at end of Oct what is the Kindle APP like on this for reading?

For me - not good. You're also restricted in what is available. Its also not a patch on the kindle itself.

You could wait a couple Of months to see if a new one comes out as the price of the 3G may drop. Its still worth every penny as it is, to me

feelpablo

ordered one last night...had held off for a couple of months as anew version is supposed to be on the way.

Couldnt wait any longer!! It could be xmas at this stage so i reckoned i would have it paid off at that stage, cant be waiting my whole life to save a few quid....

now just the waiting part to get it in my hands

Padraig Mor

BTW be careful - it seems the screens on these are very delicate! As I recently found out

krissovo

pavb2 wrote: »

So should I buy now or wait until Xmas in case a new one comes out. Also thinking of getting an Iphone at end of Oct what is the Kindle APP like on this for reading?

I have the kindle Iphone app, it works well even in poor light conditions even with a small screen and if I never saw my sons kindle I would say I didnt need a kindle. I will buy the the 3g Kindle as I travel internationally with work so the limited browser will tick my boxes.

I like the fact I can read in bed with the iphone and not wake up the misses.

angel01

Padraig Mor wrote: »

BTW be careful - it seems the screens on these are very delicate! As I recently found out

I dropped mine once... my heart stopped but the screen survived....

Sorry to hear that :(

Aishae

angel01 wrote: »

Padraig Mor wrote: »

BTW be careful - it seems the screens on these are very delicate! As I recently found out

I dropped mine once... my heart stopped but the screen survived....

Sorry to hear that :(

Ive found the screen quite durable. But you should have a proper case for protecting it. Even a small computer case will do. If it's floating around your bag things can damage it especially if the bag gets bumped a lot. I found out the hard way and got a cheap but decent technet case for 11 I think it was. I nearly passed out when it first got damaged!

angel01

Aishae wrote: »

Ive found the screen quite durable. But you should have a proper case for protecting it. Even a small computer case will do. If it's floating around your bag things can damage it especially if the bag gets bumped a lot. I found out the hard way and got a cheap but decent technet case for 11 I think it was. I nearly passed out when it first got damaged!

I have a case for it, it did drop in the case which possibly protected it.. I bought the case when I bought the kindle. It is handy having it protected and worth the extra cash!

Aishae

angel01 wrote: »

Aishae wrote: »

Ive found the screen quite durable. But you should have a proper case for protecting it. Even a small computer case will do. If it's floating around your bag things can damage it especially if the bag gets bumped a lot. I found out the hard way and got a cheap but decent technet case for 11 I think it was. I nearly passed out when it first got damaged!

I have a case for it, it did drop in the case which possibly protected it.. I bought the case when I bought the kindle. It is handy having it protected and worth the extra cash!

Is it one of those plastic cases or the ones that look a bit like an organiser? They're both good I'd say. But I thought the one that looked like an organiser would be better for travel as it doesnt stand out (to thieves) but that was an imminent concern as I'm going away soon.

ene

i have the 3g kindle and was very excited for going away with it... unfortunately the screen decided to break on the 2nd day, i never dropped it or banged it. i think it was a fault in the actually kindle. As i was going to be away for another 6 weeks i was very disappointed needless to say.

however amazon were amazing! they sent me a new kindle to my home address and gave me a extension on sending the broken kindle back to them as i couldn't find a ups on my travels.

i would recommend a kindle to anyone! they really are amazing!!

angel01

Aishae wrote: »

Is it one of those plastic cases or the ones that look a bit like an organiser? They're both good I'd say. But I thought the one that looked like an organiser would be better for travel as it doesnt stand out (to thieves) but that was an imminent concern as I'm going away soon.

The ones that look like an organiser, It is purple and I love it

Aishae

Snap! Purple here too.

When mine broke - the screen went weird - amazon were amazing sorting that too. Excellent customer service

pavb2

So the consensus is to buy one now rather than wait?

ene

yes!!! seriously you won't look back!