Talk kindle to me

Nody · 05-06-2019 6:55pm #1

Ok, I'll start with admitting I tend to be a tech nerd at times buying more stuff than I need more often than I want to admit to the misses. However I've seriously been pondering a kindle for a while simply because it is handier to carry around than the load of second hand books I usually buy. Second hand books are great but once you add in shipping etc. we're talking prices that are up there with cheap e-books anyway and I don't lose them around the house etc.

Hence been looking at the gen 10 300dpi but for those who were avid book readers before have you switched over permanently, are you using it a lot or did it end up as a dust collector on the "cool tech" shelf?

05-06-2019 7:20pm

I love my kindle, got the basic one years ago and use it all the time. downloading books onto it like nobody's business. just read book 1? time to download book 2 and read it NOW

i think i only buy books if they're in a specific series i'm following and want to collect etc. 99% kindle

Jayd0g · 05-06-2019 7:38pm

Nody wrote: »

Ok, I'll start with admitting I tend to be a tech nerd at times buying more stuff than I need more often than I want to admit to the misses. However I've seriously been pondering a kindle for a while simply because it is handier to carry around than the load of second hand books I usually buy. Second hand books are great but once you add in shipping etc. we're talking prices that are up there with cheap e-books anyway and I don't lose them around the house etc.

Hence been looking at the gen 10 300dpi but for those who were avid book readers before have you switched over permanently, are you using it a lot or did it end up as a dust collector on the "cool tech" shelf?

In a similar position, empathise with the buying too much tech and second hand books points - both of which take up space!

Looking at the Kobo Clara HD as I'm reluctant to buy in to the Amazon ecosystem too much, and really like the ComfortLight feature that adjusts the blue light levels based on time of day. I read a lot at bed time and I'm wary of disrupting my sleep.

lordgoat · 05-06-2019 10:11pm

Any of the paper whites are great.

dudara · 05-06-2019 10:28pm

I have two iPads (personal and work) and I have the Kindle app on both for reading. I personally wouldn’t buy a separate Kindle.

morgana · 06-06-2019 5:39am

Absolutely love my paper white kindle. Haven't looked back since I got my first many years ago. Only repkaced my first when the first paperwhite came out which I'm still using. EBooks all the way

06-06-2019 5:47am

Kindle all the way, especially in countries where books are hard to find. Need to buy a new one though as I dropped something on the screen and cracked it.

dudara wrote: »

I have two iPads (personal and work) and I have the Kindle app on both for reading. I personally wouldn’t buy a separate Kindle.

Have you used an actual Kindle before? The difference between them and tablets is huge.

ilovesmybrick · 06-06-2019 5:59am

Bought a kindle (a bit dubiously) about 8 years ago and it was one of the best tech purchases I've made. I tend to bounce between the kindle and real books, but the kindle is generally in the bag for the commute to work and I always use it travelling.

I think the new basic model is now a paperwhite, which is a phenomenal device. Personally my kindle is so old it has no back light, but still works a dream and no signs of damage or needing to be replaced. Also, as a side note, I got a really good quality leather case which has protected it, but its also aged really well. Some nice signs of battering and wear that actually give it some of the character of a well worn book!

mcgovern · 06-06-2019 8:07am

Bought a Kindle in the airport a few years ago as I always ended up taking up half my suitcase with books.
Thought I wouldn't use it that much but within a few months I'd completely stopped buying physical books. Battery or screen went on that after 3-4 years but Amazon gave me a discount on a new one even though it was out of warranty so on my second Kindle now.
I buy from Amazon but also Google Play and Kobo and use Calibre to convert.

beauf · 06-06-2019 8:42am

I have older eReaders but I tend to use my kids Paperwhite. I just love the convenience of getting a book for a few euro and it's downloaded straight away.

Not a huge fan of the kindles software interface but you get used to it

I'm on a few email lists which tell me of current bargains.

I read a lot of books using my phone and the Kindle app also.

06-06-2019 8:45am

dudara wrote: »

I have two iPads (personal and work) and I have the Kindle app on both for reading. I personally wouldn’t buy a separate Kindle.

Kindle screen always easier to read, for me (in all conditions)

Bought mine in 2010 and it's still going strong (even if the dpi is a bit low nowadays). Man does it save a tonne of room around the house and when travelling and have my library backed up to local storage too.

Mickeroo · 06-06-2019 9:12am

Can't go wrong with a paper white, reading on a tablet is horrible in comparison.

I don't think I can go back to paper books now, way too awkward, particularly in bed! I still like having shelves filled with them though

Brego888 · 06-06-2019 9:14am

dudara wrote: »

I have two iPads (personal and work) and I have the Kindle app on both for reading. I personally wouldn’t buy a separate Kindle.

What kind of battery life are you getting on your ipads though?

stesaurus · 06-06-2019 9:16am

I've had a Kindle of some form for the last 9 years. The freedom of not taking heavy books away is amazing. I've often finished a book at night and downloaded another in the series and reading within moments.
Amazon are amazing with their customer service also. I've only paid for 2 Kindles in my time but have had 5 due to dropping etc. and getting free replacements.
There's no comparison to using tablets etc. Why anyone would do this is beyond me. Tablet screens are so much harder on the eyes.
The latest paperwhite is also water resistant so much handier if ye fancy a bath.
Not sure what your stance on sourcing ebooks are but pretty much any book can be found in the right places.
Use Calibre to manage your device and link it to your Goodreads lists.

fixXxer · 06-06-2019 9:20am

I used to buy Kindle books almost exclusively. Love the convenience of being able to buy a book whenever the urge took my fancy. Much smaller and lighter and better battery than a table and easier on the eyes for long reading periods. The paper white models really are lovely to hold and read with.

Having said all that, I've started buying paper books again. Now the kids are getting a bit older I want books on the shelf at home that they can pull down and read themselves when they want to. That's how I got started reading, so I'd like them to have the same chance as me.

beauf · 06-06-2019 10:17am

My kids prefer books. The almost never use the eReader unless they are stuck.

I still a sucker for the real book, and I've kept many simply because I love the book cover artwork.

Dades · 06-06-2019 10:21am

I'm on my fourth Kindle!

Bought the first one when A Dance With Dragons came out so I could read on my commute. Upgraded to a Paperwhite so I could read in bed with no light. 3 year old threw that in the bath, so had to buy a replacement.

Just bought the new basic model on Friday so I could give my daughter my old one. It has a light just like the Paperwhite - just less DPI and £40 cheaper.

Having a library at your fingertips (esp when travelling), and reading in the dark are the unbeatable features.

beauf · 06-06-2019 10:22am

I'm tempted to get a waterproof one for the bath.

06-06-2019 10:56am

Dades wrote: »

Having a library at your fingertips (esp when travelling), and reading in the dark are the unbeatable features.

I like that you don't have to keep the pages open. Easy to eat and read.

Igotadose · 06-06-2019 10:59am

Have paperwhites going on 6 years now. Best investment ever, only used at night when reading in bed, great if you get up during the night and need to settle down again without waking the person next to you. Enabled several moves of 'the book collection' that were trivial - just move the Kindle and not the boxes of books!

smacl · 07-06-2019 7:56am

Got a present of the original Kindle many moons ago from my wife and still use it. I very rarely buy paper books these days, as with crap eyesight I find the Kindle much easier to read. I also like that it is light, is always on the right page and that the single button page turn makes one handed reading a joy. Also great battery life, cheaper books, whole library in your hand etc... For me it is on of those technologies that just works really well.

The big downside is spending less time in bookshops, which for me is an altogether nicer experience that browsing online.

Glebee · 07-06-2019 8:00am

I use a paperwhite and find it brill. Ive also started using audiobooks in the car because of the crapness of the radio and discovered that the audible.com and kindle books are intertwined.(there both amazon so I guess they should be) If im listening to a book in the car when I go to read the book on kindle (if I am) it automaticaly goes to correct paper and visa versa I think.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 10-06-2019 9:38am

I have a Kindle which I never use since I downloaded the Kindle app on my phone. I love the ease of just opening the book on the page I left the book at and just reading for 5 or 15 minutes while waiting for something or someone.

10-06-2019 9:42am

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

I have a Kindle which I never use since I downloaded the Kindle app on my phone. I love the ease of just opening the book on the page I left the book at and just reading for 5 or 15 minutes while waiting for something or someone.

Does the kindle app work with non-Kindle purchased books?

super_furry · 10-06-2019 9:46am

After going through several Kindles I have the Kobo Aura One and I couldn't recommend it enough. I think it's the vest ereader out there and the bigger screen size, thee DPI, the interface, the in built library lending software and the change of light from white to orange as the evening wears on make it perfect for me.

blackbox · 10-06-2019 9:51am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Does the kindle app work with non-Kindle purchased books?

It works with most formats, but if necessary you can use Calibre to convert formats. Edit: reply refers to Kindle device. Don't know about app.

3DataModem · 10-06-2019 9:51am

I held off for a long time getting one, but I did last year and never looked back. I read more now that I have it. No brainer.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 10-06-2019 1:05pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Does the kindle app work with non-Kindle purchased books?

Don't know that, tbh.

mcgovern · 10-06-2019 2:24pm

You can use Calibre to convert it and then Send to Kindle to send to your Kindle account.
You can then read it on Kindle device or the app, and whispersync will be enabled.

Trojan · 13-06-2019 2:38pm

I used to read on a Kindle paperwhite exclusively, but now I read on iPhone 8+ with Kindle app.

I noticed a massive difference in screen brightness - or darkness, rather - between iPhones and some different Androids - the iPhone was much better for reading on in the dark (also a tip: Options - General - Display Accommodations - Reduce White Point to 80% at night).

dudara · 16-06-2019 8:16pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Have you used an actual Kindle before? The difference between them and tablets is huge.

I have, but I don’t need another gadget. And I find reading on the iPad to be quite comfortable.

dudara · 16-06-2019 8:19pm

Brego888 wrote: »

What kind of battery life are you getting on your ipads though?

The work one is quite good, as it’s the newest model. Lasts me a few days with email, browsing, document reading and some Kindle. My personal iPad is a good bit older and doesn’t have the same battery capacity at all.

I get that the Kindle is a good device. But I prefer the overall capacity & ability that I have on a tablet.

Johnny Storm · 26-06-2019 12:40pm

I find Kindle great as an alternative to reading glasses, just embiggen the font
also +1 for the paperwhite so you can read it in the dark
In the past I have found that amazon.com had a better range of sci-fi kindle books than .co.uk, have not checked recently

fenris · 11-09-2020 12:40pm

A waterproof kindle is the business especially with dark mode and Calibre for converting my non-kindle books, I picked up an Aldi hot tub a couple of years ago so most evenings I can be found bobbing about with my kindle in the back garden. Kindle unlimited along with recommendations from here provides a regular supply of floating reading material, currently enjoying Aftershocks - book 1 of the Palladium Wars

I have had most models as my kids break theirs then I give them mine and HAVE to go shopping for a replacement :-)
Current model is the V1 Oasis, it just works really well, before that I has a Voyage which I really liked. Kids have gotten too careful as they have grown up a bit so no excuse to go for a later model. Battery life, robustness and portability are the main reasons that I prefer my kindle.

Glebee · 11-09-2020 12:56pm

Kindle is great in fairness. I use Audible a good bit as well and the Whispersync feature is brilliant. I was sick of the sh1te that does be on the radio when driving, so audiobooks are a great alternative. Means I can get through books at a good speed..

NIMAN · 09-09-2021 11:32am

I've been tempted to buy a dedicated e-book reader, or ask for one for Xmas. Got back into reading a bit over lockdown and want to keep the habit going.

Thing is, I have downloaded the Overdrive App on my Kindle Fire HD, but I have found the odd book which has at least one line missing at the bottom of the page. An obvious formatting issue.

So any recommendation for a reader which would allow use of Overdrive (since this is handy for borrowing library ebooks) and which might also allow you to put ebook files on tonir via drag and drop?

Fian · 25-08-2022 3:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/110534077#Comment_110534077

Maybe it is just age, but tbh I think my eyesight has deteriorated for reading small font since i started using larger font on kindle. I may be confusing cause with effect here though. I am approaching 50 so i guess some deterioration is to be expected, but until recently I had unusually sharp eyesight, I could read e.g. distant signs from far further away than other people could. Now I struggle with small font especially in dim light. reading cooking instructions on packaging etc. is getting to be difficult.

I have read almost exclusively on kindle for the last decade. I love my kindle. I have a room where two walls are floor to ceiling bookshelves and they are filled 2 deep, the one drawback with kindle is that those shelves are frozen in time and not continuing to fill or to change. I love the backlight for reading in bed without disturbing my wife with a bedside light.

Talk kindle to me

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