All e-reader related queries...

[Rebecca]

Smitha wrote: "May not be due to the cover.
you may ask anyone who repairs laptops and mobiles to have a look. A stuck button should be repairable"

I have shown it to a few people who say that it may have to be opened which iam not ready for. Anyway the left button is intact. so I can flip the pages. Thanks for the advise.

[Ahtims]

welcome. Someone says Nook is available in India for as less as 2500.

[Lavanya]

No no, Smitha in UK. Not in India?

[Ahtims]

Yes, UK. I was confused :-)

[Mohamed]

I want to buy a charger for my Kindle Paperwhite 2. But the Amazon one is too costly. Is it OK if I use my mobile charger for charging it. It has input voltage of 150-300 V AC. and 0.15 Amp current. Output is 5 V and 1 amp current. Is this OK to use? Any suggestions or experiences?

[Sumit]

Yes, it should be totally fine. I've been using a common charger (with different cables) for my iPhone, iPad, Kindle, and my Nexus 4. No issues for over a year. :)

[Ahtims]

I too occasionally use a charger, though they ask us specifically not to.Mostly I charge via us cable

[Mohamed]

Thanks Sumit and Smitha

[Ahtims]

I saw online that the new software update to the Kindle ereaders is a must, to be installed by March 22. Otherwise we will be unable to buy or download books via Kindle store. My Basic Kindle which I purchased last year, got automatically updated when I connected it to Wifi. But the older Kindle Paperwhite 5 is not getting updated. Initially I thought maybe it doesnt need an update, but later found that it is under the versions to be updated.
I bought it from Canada. Is it the reason?
Someone please help.

[Ahtims]

There's no version number on the device. I checked the back too... :/

[Janhavi]

I've been reading ebooks on my tab - on the Kindle app all this time, and now thinking of getting a Kindle for myself.
Just checked amazon in, and saw 3 versions of it. Kindle, Kindle paperwhite and Kindle Voyage. All 3 have slight variations in their specs.
Confused as to which one to buy. Any pointers? Which one is the 'better' version? Obviously the price difference between all 3 is a lot. Also paperwhite and voyage have a better resolution, and built in light.
Thanks.

[Ahtims]

Thanks a lot, Abhay. Shall try
Janhavi - paperwhite if you read a lot in dark (when others have to sleep and light is a disturbing factor)
Otherwise Basic version is best and cost effective. It appears brighter and more clear than paperwhite
(I have both)
No idea about Voyage.

[Ahtims]

Abhay wrote: "See if this link helps

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custome..."

My version is 5.6.1.1 [2689890035]
Informations given are for version 4 in the page.
I will just google and see..

[Janhavi]

Ahtims wrote: "Thanks a lot, Abhay. Shall try
Janhavi - paperwhite if you read a lot in dark (when others have to sleep and light is a disturbing factor)
Otherwise Basic version is best and cost effective. It app..."

Great!! Thanks :) I'll probably go for the paperwhite version. Yes, reading at night is the main factor. I also travel a lot so paperwhite makes a lot of sense, for reading in the train or bus at night.

[Ahtims]

It seems my paperwhite has the latest update. But in Basic model the update caused the screen to change its format. Hence I thought this one also should be like that.
Let me wait and see what happens after March 22 :)

[Srividya]

Ahtims - Your query got me worried as well as I also have the 5th generation one and I never got it updated or anything! :P

Thanks Abs, your link really helped and I also have the latest update! :D

[Ahtims]

high five, Sri.

thanks a lot, Abhay.

[Sumit]

Janhavi wrote: "Ahtims wrote: "Thanks a lot, Abhay. Shall try
Janhavi - paperwhite if you read a lot in dark (when others have to sleep and light is a disturbing factor)
Otherwise Basic version is best and cost ef..."

Janhavi, I strongly recommend the Voyage. It is much lighter than the others - 25 grams might not seem like much, but it's a major difference when you're holding a device for long hours of reading.

Also, the flush bezels create the feeling of a larger and smoother screen. And I love the 'page press' technology as well. It took me a day or two to get used to it, but now when I sometimes use my iPad to read, I find myself pressing the edges to turn pages. :|

If you're not too sure, you can also order one of the devices from Amazon and try it for a few days. Since they offer a 30-day return policy, you can always trade your device in if you don't like it.

[Rebecca]

Nook lovers is Nook as good as a kindle? Heard that it is only Rs 3000 in U.K. Planning to buy one for my mother. How are books loaded into it and which formats? Does it read mobi format?

[Ahtims]

Nook is good. it reads Epub not Mobi
but Epub is the commonly available format and it is easily available. or there are free converters which convert formats into one another
no Nook service centre in India

[Rebecca]

Is there a kindle service centre in India?

[Rebecca]

Thanks Smitha

[Glen]

Nook has stopped it's eBook store in UK. Better to buy a kindle or a kobo

[Glen]

kobo was sold by croma and crossword. But croma doesn't stick it anymore and crossword bookstore is closing due to flipkart. so kobo service may not be dependable.

[Ahtims]

I don't know of a service centre, but I guess India bought kindled will be repaired if you go through Amazon.in website.

[Rebecca]

When my kindle had problems both amazon india and amazon .com were not of any help.

[Ahtims]

Oh, never knew that. Then Nook and Amazon are at par.
The advantages of Nook over amazon (I am talking about Nook Simple Touch - the basic model without backlight)
It is ergonomically pleasant - it is sloped such as to give the feel of a book in hand
You can read Epubs - the most prevalent form online (because most Ereader apps are made as to handle epub and epubs abound online)

At par
batteries are quite long lasting in both
clarity is really good - I read in hot sunlight, and there is zero glare
I never get any eyestrain as opposed to reading on Kindle, mobile phone, laptop screen etc.

[Rebecca]

Thanks for that detailed summary Smitha. But just now found that the price is for a refurbished one. Not taking chances so will wait for amazon to give offers on Kindle paperwhite.

[Sumit]

Rebecca wrote: "Is there a kindle service centre in India?"

Within warranty period, Amazon will give you a free replacement/repair. After that, I presume you will have to go to a local repair person, in case things go wrong. (Although, I've owned 3 different Kindles over the last 6 years and nothing has ever happened to them - reasonably sturdy)

I tried a Kobo and a Nook as well, but didn't enjoy the experience as much. Overall, it is a pain to buy books from the B&N store and transfer them to the ereader(s).

Amazon has the largest library and the one-click purchase is what I really like. In addition, the Goodreads integration, dictionary, and sharing options are absolutely brilliant too.

[Rebecca]

My basic kindle had its background becoming dark with the consequence that the letters were not clear. It became difficult to read most of all in dim light. it may have been because I used to charge it with my mobile charger directly rather than from my laptop.

[Chandan]

Hi guys,

What is your opinion about eBook readership in India? Though there has been a lot of hype since last few years, I personally feel that majority of the Indian book readers prefer paperback version and the % of eBook readers is a small single digit one in our country (I may be wrong). What do you think and why is it not picking up fast?

BTW, I have switched 100% to Kindle 3 years ago.

[Ahtims]

I read many ebooks... though I prefer collecting physical books. Have many friends who read ebooks too..
Don't know what percentage of total readers use ebooks.