Calling all book readers - cheaper E-Book Kindle on sale soon.

07-09-2010 01:05PM

JohnK wrote: »

Yes the IMSI starts with 23415 so that appears to be correct at least. Now though its trying to roam with Meteor . And yes theres good signal for Vodafone in my house, both my sister and her husband have iPhones with them and they've never had any issues.

I tried that switch for the network providers and its listing all off them (Vodafone, 02, Meteor, 3) and most with both 2G & 3G. I tried selecting Vodafone 3G but that made no difference.

That sucks man after ordering and waiting for it so long

I was going to buy one but your problems are making me think twice. Hope you get sorted mate!

ajmull · 07-09-2010 01:59PM

ajmull wrote: »

Ordered a leather cover to be delivered at the same time as the Kindle. Cover sent before Kindle. DHL refusing to give it to me unless I pay them VAT which has already been paid to Amazon. Hope there isn't the same problem with the Kindle which has now been despatched. Anyone else have any problems like this?

Cover arrived this morning but only after major row with Amazon and DHL. Hope the Kindle arrives ok after that.

Packet · 07-09-2010 02:11PM

ajmull wrote: »

Cover arrived this morning but only after major row with Amazon and DHL. Hope the Kindle arrives ok after that.

According to this Amazon page they pay the charges and will refund any extra, although in the Irish case there shouldn't be.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=596184&#customs

UPS at least seem to have a clue and don't try to charge for the VAT again.

Chalk up another argument for why buying from the US store is a pain.

JohnK · 08-09-2010 07:41PM

Well its been 2 days without any news so I just rang back and a good thing too since they said my follow-up date in their system was extended to the 14th, with no notification to me, as the specialist hasn't even looked at my case yet :mad:

Now they say they'll get back to me on Friday and they hope the specialist will have had a chance to look at it by then. If not, they may be willing to look at other options but right now a replacement is not an option apparently.

The level 1 guy I got on to first this time said it was the second case today that he's had with the exact same thing but as he'd only escalated the case he had no idea what fix if any they got. At least I'm not the only one but at the same time thats not good for the kindle.

Packet · 08-09-2010 10:12PM

They've put a software update up

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_navbox_top_kindlelg?nodeId=200529700

It is for the freezing/restarting problem that some people have been having.

JohnK, it doesn't sound like it will fix your problem but might be worth a try.

JohnK · 08-09-2010 10:50PM

Tempting but to be honest I dont think I'll be doing anything unless they tell me to, last thing I want is them telling me I voided the warranty or some crap by installing an update.

ajmull · 09-09-2010 07:21PM

Got the Kindle on due date from UPS with no problems. Very pleased with it.

The Sparrow · 09-09-2010 07:26PM

ajmull wrote: »

Got the Kindle on due date from UPS with no problems. Very pleased with it.

What do you like about it? Anything you dislike?

ajmull · 10-09-2010 11:46AM

The Sparrow wrote: »

What do you like about it? Anything you dislike?

Like: Very clear readable screen. Light and compact. Reasonable choice of books, usually cheaper than paper. Lightning fast download of books. Some good free books available from Amazon and other sites. Can be used as an MP3 player and, with limitations, a web browser. Seems to have good battery life.

Dislike: Expensive enough when you add in VAT, handling and shipping charges. Bit of a reflection from the screen under some lighting conditions.

Haven't really had it long enough to give more detail, but I really like it overall.

Packet · 10-09-2010 05:51PM

Like: Page forward and back buttons on both sides allows it be read with either hand. Adjustable font size and spacing. Distractions like social networking/popular highlights can be turned off. The clock only shows when the menu button is pressed. Synchronisation to furthest read page and archived collections. The way it handles new subscriptions loaded onto it by Calibre.
Free 3G. It can play MP3s. Long battery when using it just for reading. It weighs less than most paperbacks and doesn't have to be held open. No need for actual bookmarks. Easy to buy books.

Dislike: The screen isn't completely flush with the case so dirt can gather there. Isn't ideal for reading PDFs as the font size and layout of this format can't be modified. No table of contents for PDFs. No way to borrow or lend DRM protected books. Easy to buy books.

Biggins · 10-09-2010 05:57PM

I have A Sony eReader and now a Kindle.

The Kindle is very much more usable by weight and by abilities alone to read books, get newspapers and magazines on it via wi-fi and 3G.

The Sony eReader will become my night time reading tool because it has a great light for it.

Extra tip for free books: You can browse and download Gutenberg books, directly into your Kindle library, using Wi-Fi. It's easier than using the Kindle Store!

"First, you need to get the catalogue on to your Kindle, download it by webbing via your Kindle to http://www.freekindlebooks.org/MagicCatalog/magiccatalog.html (or http://tinyurl.com/gutmagic) or by using your PC and copying the file across to the root directory via the usb cable supplied.

"After downloading 'The Magic Catalogue of the Project Gutenberg E-Books (MOBI Edition)' to your Kindle, you can open the listings by opening them up as a book, move down to the one you want and press using your pad or use your Kindle's Search Feature to find your favourite Author and/or Title. Your chosen E-Book will automatically download directly from the Project Gutenberg website to your Kindle..."

Packet · 10-09-2010 06:19PM

Biggins wrote: »

Extra tip for free books: You can browse and download Gutenberg books, directly into your Kindle library, using Wi-Fi. It's easier than using the Kindle Store!

"First, you need to get the catalogue on to your Kindle, download it by webbing via your Kindle to http://www.freekindlebooks.org/MagicCatalog/magiccatalog.html (or http://tinyurl.com/gutmagic) or by using your PC and copying the file across to the root directory via the usb cable supplied.

"After downloading 'The Magic Catalogue of the Project Gutenberg E-Books (MOBI Edition)' to your Kindle, you can open the listings by opening them up as a book, move down to the one you want and press using your pad or use your Kindle's Search Feature to find your favourite Author and/or Title. Your chosen E-Book will automatically download directly from the Project Gutenberg website to your Kindle..."

Very nice, although not as slick as the Amazon store. I just bookmarked and downloaded that. The quality of the conversion of the book I tried "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith is good. Amazon have the same book in free and specially formatted for Kindle editions for $1.16. Some free conversions of other books I've seen would leave me tempted to get the almost free version.

The Sparrow · 10-09-2010 06:20PM

Packet wrote: »

Like: Easy to buy books.

Dislike: Easy to buy books.

haha yeah I can see it being a potential problem that it is too easy to buy a book so you end up making lots of impulse purchases.

Really jealous of everybody here with their Kindles. As soon as I get some cash (ie a job) I'm getting one.

Packet · 10-09-2010 06:37PM

The Sparrow wrote: »

Really jealous of everybody here with their Kindles.

I've actually got two of them

Or at least I did until this morning.

The Sparrow · 10-09-2010 07:13PM

Packet wrote: »

I've actually got two of them

That's just greedy:)

10-09-2010 07:22PM

Put in my order on Wednesday. I've got a load of pdfs on my pc and books around the house that I hope to store on my Kindle. Can anybody explain a few of the things Calibre can do with it? I know you can change ebook formats with it...what does:

packet wrote:

The way it handles new subscriptions loaded onto it by Calibre.

mean?

JohnK · 10-09-2010 07:22PM

Packet wrote: »

I've actually got two of them

can I have one?

Packet · 11-09-2010 03:06PM

The Sparrow wrote: »

That's just greedy:)

It's proportional to the level of my Kindle fanaticism. Like Veruca Salt I want them all now.

Deleted User wrote: »

Put in my order on Wednesday. I've got a load of pdfs on my pc and books around the house that I hope to store on my Kindle. Can anybody explain a few of the things Calibre can do with it? I know you can change ebook formats with it...what does:

mean?

If you haven't already, try downloading Calibre. It can be used to convert various ebook formats and my favourite feature is the RSS feed downloader.

When the Kindle is plugged into the computer Calibre automatically detects it and transfers the news over removing the local copy. On the Kindle itself the news seems to be integrated with how it handles news subscriptions. The previous days articles are moved to a separate folder and deleted after about one week. Articles can be saved.

JohnK wrote: »

can I have one?

Nope. The new one is actually a replacement for the first one. I had several restarts with it so got on to Kindle CS and they replaced it. I software upgraded it and that fixed the problem but I had to send it back to avoid being charged for a second one.

JohnK · 11-09-2010 04:50PM

Well yesterday came and went with no updates from Amazon so that makes twice they've promised to come back to me and failed to do so. I've just rang them again for the third time and spoke to yet another person whos promising to come back to me although they still have no idea what the problem is but they assure me their engineers are working on it...

Packet · 11-09-2010 04:54PM

JohnK wrote: »

Well yesterday came and went with no updates from Amazon so that makes twice they've promised to come back to me and failed to do so. I've just rang them again for the third time and spoke to yet another person whos promising to come back to me although they still have no idea what the problem is but they assure me their engineers are working on it...

Sounds like you're getting less than ideal support, JohnK. Yours sounds like a no-brainer case for a replacement Kindle.

JohnK · 11-09-2010 05:00PM

Yeah I'm not particularly happy with them thats for sure. I'd have thought a replacement would be the logical choice too but apparently not. In fact I'm half tempted to just throw in the towel and tell them I want my bloody money back at this stage.

Packet · 11-09-2010 05:12PM

JohnK wrote: »

Yeah I'm not particularly happy with them thats for sure. I'd have thought a replacement would be the logical choice too but apparently not. In fact I'm half tempted to just throw in the towel and tell them I want my bloody money back at this stage.

I wonder are they getting low on the replacement Kindles.

They sent me an American one with an AT&T SIM in it. It works fine but as it will be going through Vodafone's network it will probably cost them a bit more in roaming charges.

JohnK · 11-09-2010 05:18PM

I'm half wondering that myself.

With your us sim, will you get charged more for file transfers over wispernet? I'm sure there was something about higher roaming rates for us kindles. I'd keep an eye on that if I were you.

boc121 · 12-09-2010 02:26PM

Has anybody come across a good light for this ?

The Sparrow · 12-09-2010 03:10PM

boc121 wrote: »

Has anybody come across a good light for this ?

Have you seen this?

Biggins · 12-09-2010 03:41PM

The Sparrow wrote: »

Have you seen this?

I've known about that for some time but the price of it is such a ripoff,
I hate lights that light up one end and fade into darkness the lower you go visually.

Sony had for their eReader at one stage (I have one. The said light and Sony eReader) a perfect light for theirs.
It was a complete screen cover with an inbuilt light that lit up the underneath totally equally.
This one here: http://www.amazon.com/Cover-Custom-Light-Shield-Batteries/dp/B001DESZWW/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1284302418&sr=1-13

Now if someone comes out with same for the Kindle, I'm first up to buy it.

boc121 · 12-09-2010 04:28PM

Thanks lads, just found this one kinda what i'm after,looks ok.

http://www.kindleboards.com/blog/2010/02/octovo-kindle-light/

JohnK · 12-09-2010 06:12PM

I had bought the official cover with inbuilt light and its pretty good. No problems reading from it with that as the only light source but it does drain the battery a lot.

phantom_lord · 12-09-2010 06:36PM

JohnK wrote: »

Yeah I'm not particularly happy with them thats for sure. I'd have thought a replacement would be the logical choice too but apparently not. In fact I'm half tempted to just throw in the towel and tell them I want my bloody money back at this stage.

I say they just don't have any. I only get the order details for mine today.

Packet · 12-09-2010 07:38PM

JohnK wrote: »

With your us sim, will you get charged more for file transfers over wispernet? I'm sure there was something about higher roaming rates for us kindles. I'd keep an eye on that if I were you.

Yeah JohnK, it has future hassle written all over it.

I'll pay attention to that and ask Kindle CS before attempting to buy a subscription to anything.

Calling all book readers - cheaper E-Book Kindle on sale soon.

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