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Kindle?
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Lisa Julianna
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Nov 07, 2008 08:18AM
Does anyone have a kindle from Amazon? And if so was it worth the money, do you like it?
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I have had mine for 6 months and I love it. It has paid for itself in savings on books - I tend to buy all of my books (not much of a library user). I travel a lot and it is great to carry 20+ books with me. It is also great to be able to download books on the fly.
I have also found I read more quickly on the device. I was already a quick reader but it has increased my speed.
Your purchases can be deleted from the Kindle and re downloaded at a later date as well. Managing all the physical books was getting a little daunting so I also like the fact I now have a digital library vs. a physical one.
Jeff
I loves me my Kindle. Jeff's right- the books I read on the Kindle are finished a lot faster than good old paper books.Fiona, the price for Kindle editions varies depending on how new the book is. New releases that are only available in hardcover can be had for anywhere between $12-18. Books in trade paperback are normally between $8-14 and mass markets are normally two dollars cheaper than their physical counterparts- which is why I've been reading the Sookie books on the Kindle rather than buying the mass markets. All prices are in American dollars because I have no idea what Amazon.uk charges in Pounds Sterling.
Jeff & Logan, Do you still read the hardcopies? Or do you just stick to the Kindle?
My reading is split about 75-25 in favor of reading physical books still. I mainly only use the Kindle when I read series that I'm not sure I'll like or that I know I'll read incredibly quickly, because it's not worth buying the physical book. Also, I travel quite a bit for my job so it's made that significantly easier now that I don't have to pack a separate bag for books. It's definitely put a nice end to me buying crap from the airport simply because I only have 3 books for the plane and what if I want to read something else?!?!
i think I will never let Kindle take over my normal reading, holding the book I mean. But when I was in Edinburgh you could try one in Waterstones and I tried it. Even my boyfriend found it interesting(a non-reader!). It suprised me, looked much different than I thought. I think I wouldn't say no to it anymore. But in the end I would just add it to my normal reading but not swap it for it.
That is true. I think that if I traveled then I would buy the Kindle but I only train to and from work & school and that is not such a long ride where I would want to read more than one book but if I did EVER go anywhere then I would def make that a wise investment!
Fiona, me too. i would jsut be adding it on what I already do of reading, without changing anything to it. I told my boyfriend I wouldn't sya no to it anymore....if I would get it as a present:-))))) I adore being cheekie
uhm, I hope so...but then again, i do make it soooo easy for presents!!!!! But it was only a hint to him, you never know that it works!He fulfilled my dream of seeing a match of Ac Milan, so anything is possible now!!!!!
I like the idea of a Kindle for textbooks. But there is something really nice about going to a bookshop (mine!) and looking through the racks, pulling out books, putting them back. Even settling on a sofa with a pile trying to decide what to buy. In then end what goes into your head isn't any different book or Kindle, but I would so miss that bookshop pleasure.
I'm feeling iffy about the Kindle, too. Have thought about putting it on my Cmas list but then what about the gazillions of books on Mt TBR? I'm afraid I would desert them. I'm also addicted to the 'thrill of the hunt' at the thrift stores.
Mod
whats a girl to do...
PLUS, the prices of the books arent low enough for me yet. All im buying are WORDS, nothing more, and 12 bucks (heck, even 8 bucks) seems a bit steep for that.
oops so sorry everyone for making you repeat this thread....and Thanks Charity for linking it. :~)
It happens. :-) Just thought I'd tie the two together.
Lori - you aren't buying just words. Your buying the time it took for someone to write them. The author has to get paid, even a bit.From a professional point of view I am very anti- Kindle as its not going to help independent bookshops one bit. But practically I think textbooks on Kindle would be totally wonderful. My poor kid goes off to school every day with a huge bag full of weighty tomes and nowhere much to cram in all the necessities (DS, Game Boy, laptop, mp3 player, phone, etc). I would be happy with an all-electronic son.
Fiona, who: my boyfriend, the one I gave the hint by saying I wouldn't say no anymore if someone gave it to me as a present.Yes Ac Milan, the best football team in the world!!!!! :-))))
I adore it but probably because I grew up with it. My father used to be a goalkeeper and when we were little we had to go with my parents every weekend when he played.I hate it that 'thanks to' the so-called supporters who only cause trouble I can't go and watch my favourite football team. I should be one of the people being there instead of the oens who vandalize the stadion, hurt people or even kill them!!! They shouldn't be allowed in...but what can we do against the importance of money??
I've never watched football (too boring) but I do like to watch rugby with the sound turned down and some nice music on. Preferably the South African rugby team who are sooooo hot. This pic doesn't show them at their best, you have to see them in action for that.http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200710/r...
when i was on holiday in swansea, wales we went to watch rugby. It was great! Even if it was freezing cold and we were soaked afterwards.Would love to go and see the All Blacks play!
The day we were in Siena, Siena had a soccer (sorry, I'm American, I can't call it football) game against Rome. We sort of thought it would be cool to watch a game in Italy, but we don't know what we're looking at and we figured all the seats were sold out anyway. Plus, we were a little nervous that the crowd would get out of control. Even over here, we hear about how crazy soccer fans can get!
Even if it was freezing cold and we were soaked afterwards.
Italy have been catching up with the other rugby nations in recent years so it may be time to catch a game a bit closer to where you are.
Italy have been catching up with the other rugby nations in recent years so it may be time to catch a game a bit closer to where you are.
sorry, I'm American, I can't call it football.
Soccer is a slang word for Association Football and was used in England in the nineteenth century when the game became popular and was a way to distinguish it from Rugby Football which at the time was a more esthablished sport.
Soccer is a slang word for Association Football and was used in England in the nineteenth century when the game became popular and was a way to distinguish it from Rugby Football which at the time was a more esthablished sport.
Oh yes the Kindle. Not convinced yet but then I couldn't imagine going out without my ipod even though a few years ago all I bought was nice big Long Player albums. I haven't seen the Kindle but had a go on the instore Sony Reader in Waterstones and was put off by the blank screen as the page turned.
Out of curiosity Petra.... How many Barbie faces do you have on file?? lolI want a Kindle so badly I could cry. I don't think that it would stop me from picking up real books though. I love the feel and smell of them too much. But I don't go anywhere without my book and when I'm on a roll I read through them pretty fast. That being said, I hate to pick out my next book before I'm done with the one that I am reading... so a Kindle would be a sort of necessity to me... so that I could carry a bunch of books with me and make my choice from those.... I think it would quite help to keep my sanity regulated and my packing time down....
(How does that sound for an argument of why I should get one for Christmas....)
Jeane - we used to get the day off school when there was a rugby international. But then Wales takes its rugby seriously.Actually I don't like rugby (I like rugby players) at all. I used to go on Saturdays with my father and grandfather after lunch when my mother was in a filthy mood and likely to make me do the washing up and piss me off all afternoon instead of letting me read. Rugby, boring as it was, was a lot better than my mother looking for trouble.
Darla - I don't know how many Barbies I have, quite a few though.
lol... every time I see you, you have a different face :) 
My husband gave me a Kindle for my birthday and I love it! The best part is when I decide I want to read a book I can have it in mere seconds without leaving my home, and when I travel I can take a big part of my whole library with me and decide when I get there what I want to read. I have to confess that I struggle with paying $9.99 for a book I can't even hold in my hands, but that's just because I'm a cheapskate. And, I will still collect my favorite books in hard copy. Overall, though I love, love, love my Kindle!
My comment dissapeared.....I would really nt go from Italy to wales jsut for rugby, national rugby...I was on holiday there, as I wrote. So getting soaked and really cold was part of the trip and the possibility to see a rugby match in wales!!! Like Petra said, they do take it really serious there. (But a day off from school????)
OK..........Here is my take on this topic. I have BOTH the Amazon Kindle AND the Sony eReader. I've had my eReader for 2 years and the Kindle I received in early December as a "early" Christmas present from my wonderful (sigh) hubby.
I have both because my husband's job takes us all over the world and...most of the time, where we are living, there are no bookstores with books in English or a VERY sparse selection. SO.......My eReader has SAVED me!!!
Now I have a Kindle to compare with. First of all, I must say, I love this concept. Especially for someone like me who has a geographical challenge for obtaining books in English this is an absolute LIFE SAVER!!!
My opinion in a nutshell. I like the eReader better. And the only reason is because it is more user friendly for me. Here's why. No matter where you touch the Kindle you are in danger of turning a page. Literally....both sides of the Kindle are touch sensitive for turning back or forward or to the menu. I find this annoying since I am a mother of 3 and at times am accosted by my children and before you know it.....I am totally off my page. Unless I had recently put in a bookmark...which by the way takes an extra step to do in the Kindle, I have to try to navigate my way back to where I was. At times this is VERY annoying. My other reason is...how it fits into it's cover. I do a lot of night reading in bed and the way the Kindle is in its cover, there is nothing securing it there except for a little piece of plastic that hooks into a groove on the back of the Kindle. I've gotten 2 nasty bangs so far from it just slipping out as I was moving positions in bed...once on the bridge of my nose....OUCH!...and once on my collar bone...OOF! The eReader is so secure and snapped into it's cover you can shake it and it won't fall out. LOVE IT! And as far as turning pages goes, there are 2 convenient spots on the eReader handy and easily reached my your thumbs but do not take up the whole side of the contraption. Only rarely do I ever have an accident with turning pages on my eReader. As for marking the page, just press the button and it is marked...press it again and it is unmarked. The Kindle requires you to press for the menu then scroll down for the bookmark option and press that....and then the same to remove the mark. An extra step which can take too long with 3 kids pulling me sometimes. And I have no idea why this was designed this way but.....to turn the Kindle on and off you have to go to a switch on the BACK of it. Once that is done it is no longer in position in it's precarious cover and is just a nuisance. Bad engineering or design if you ask me. The eReader's on/off switch is right on the side...no feeling your way around the back.
NOW....there is a downside to the eReader. It is definitely more difficult to download to the eReader. The Kindle is VERY easy and user friendly in that aspect.
Upon comparison of prices and availability of books for either one, there are slight differences but...still in the long run I'd take user friendly and pay more than annoying and pay less.
SO.........that is my take on things. If anyone has any questions about both or either let me know. I know it is unusual to have both but for me it is a necessity. In my opinion.......BOTH machines are worth every penny.......PRICELESS!!!
I don't own a kindle yet, but my two books are published on kindle, and I've made sure they are very affordable! They are both around five dollars. Sales have been doing fairly well. Pigs get fat, Hogs get slaughtered! I love to be read!!!!
I got a Kindle for my birthday a couple weeks ago however it wont be delivered until March :-(The decision to get me the Kindle over the Sony was the fact that Sony doesn't work w/ Macs...
What about your eyes? Isn't it like reading a computer screen? Is that okay for the eyes?
just got mine for Christmas...i don't know how i have read without it. It doesn't hurt your eyes, It's just like reading from a book. The only thing I don't like is that there is no backlight to read while in the dark. Besides that, it's the greatest gift I've ever received.
You are right Jaime...the Sony doesn't work with Mac's and that is why my husband grumbles about it......BUT...I still prefer the eReader to the Kindle because it is more user-friendly for me. Luckily we have more than one computer so the Mac isn't our only option for downloading. THANK GOODNESS!!!As for hurting your eyes...NEVER. I've had the eReader for 2 years and the Kindle for almost 2 months and ALL of my reading is done on them. My eyes never hurt.
(Funny little tidbit...) At night I use a spelunkers head lamp that straps onto my head to read....you can find them in any sporting goods section or store in the camping area.
I do wish there was a lighting option with both the Kindle and the eReader. The eReader offers a new book cover with a lighted feature but...holy cow it is expensive!!! My $10 head lamp might not be very attractive but man does it work well....LOVE IT!!!
Pamela, I have one the new Sony Readers (700). And I love it! I've had for about 2 months now, and have read more books than ever have in recent history. It has a built in light so I can read at night without keeping my husband awake. Right now I have 42 books loaded up on. I've been buying my books from Sony and from Fictionwise. I don't mind having to synch to my computer to download. I feel like the Kindle's wireless is more for impulse buyers anyway.
Oh, for people that can download e-books. My thriller novel "The Family Bones" is availabe on this site for free download!!!It's a quick and easy read, has lost of twists!!! Read a few reviews, if you like what you see, go for it!!!!!
Feedback is welcome!!!!
OH KATIE...I agree. I have the Sony 500 which I think is one of the earliest models and......I would LOVE the new one!!! But...as long as mine is still working and it is I will go for it. I have both the Kindle and the eReader and love my eReader. It is so much easier to use for me just generally. I am not accidentally turning pages and fumbling with it like I am the Kindle. I have been encouraging people to test out an eReader before plunging for the Kindle. I think the Kindle really gained popularity when Oprah had it as one of her "Favorite Things." Love Oprah but have to disagree with her there......to me, the eReader is better. 
I love my Kindle! My boyfriend took advantage of Oprah's favorite things coupon ($50 off) in November, and while it arrived in early December he wouldn't let me open it until the holiday. So, my anticipation just grew and grew!The Kindle has completely changed my reading habits, truly in a good way. Let's take the Sunday Times. Before the Kindle, I routinely bought the Times, read the Book Review pullout, kind of browsed through the rest of it, and would put it aside to read " later" - but trash night would come before later did. Now, with the Kindle, I carry the Times around with me all week. With the push of a button, I actually look up words of which I've forgotten the meaning or never knew. I read articles based on subject matter, as opposed to a graphic that grabs my attention.
With books, I'm no longer choosing books by a cover - you can't really see the cover. Nor, am I concerned with how long they are, or in the midst of reading, how far I have to go to finish - time, schedule, get to this page by such and such - obsolete. Can't worry about what you can't see (there are no page numbers Kindle, just a progress bar on the bottom). And, for whatever reason, I guess it's a gadget - reading is new again. Same book - but, if I get to use my "toy" it's more fun to read.
And, my reading is more thoughtful. With the highlight function, I've been sending quotes to my clipping board, things that have touched me, or made me think.
The web is loaded with free e-book content, all of which are readable on the Kindle. My queue is backed up with free classics - books that I was supposed to read in college, but chucked and read the cliff notes, or read so fast just to get to my next assignment.
I can't even tell you how surprised I am that I have abandoned paper. I thought I would miss the feel of having a book in my hand - but the last physical book I read, The Given Day, was almost 800 pages, and this little gadget is such a relief. And the e-ink totally fools me - sometimes I even go to turn the page, that's how "booklike" this reader is to me.
I've had my Kindle since June of last year and would be absolutely lost without it. In fact, until last week, I hadn't picked up a 'real' book since i bought it!!I do find the page turning buttons on the sides annoying, but I don't have kids pulling me all different directions like Pamela, so it doesn't bother me overly much. And the whispernet feature that allows immediate downloads is my favorite function - it also lets you view websites in a primitive fashion.
Last fall I went out of town with my mom, leaving my husband and our mutts to fend for themselves. While I was gone, our town got hit with a huge storm and the phone lines were knocked out. Not being able to 'phone home,' I used my Kindle to send my husband an email and let him know we'd arrived safely.
In fact, I love my Kindle so much, I'll probably buy the new version that's due out later this year. Hubby is thrilled with that idea since he's been making noises about 'borrowing' mine....
Happy reading!
I didn't know they could send emails. That's a plus. I like having shelves and shelves of books though. I also enjoy book covers and being able to lend books to friends. I think I could use a Kindle as an adjunct, maybe for traveling, but I wouldn't want to give up the great pleasure of spending an afternoon in a bookstore.
My sister just got a Kindle and she likes it quite a lot. At some point I'll either be getting an eReader (Pamela!!!) or a Kindle, but I want to try both out first. The thought of giving up paper books is kind of scary, but it would be so nice to travel with eight or nine books and not have to carry the book weight around!
I know once in the future I will be having one, but still probably only if it is a present. But I know I won't manage to let it take over my books. Even if I might use it a lot, it could be just extra reading time...I hope.
I have the Kindle and I like it a lot. I thought I would miss paper but I don't. I also have Stanza (an e-reader) for the iPhone. Have any of you tried that? It is a free app. At least it was when i got it. I think it still is. I like that it is lit, so reading in bed is easy. Turning the page is easy with just your thumb on the touch screen. And it is super portable for times when you want to travel really light. Maybe on the bus to work, for example. There are a lot of free books available for Stanza too. Like the classics. Other books are a little more expensive than the Kindle editions, but you didn't pay for the reader. Assuming you already had an iPhone/iTouch.
I have an iTouch with Stanza. I have Tarzan of the Apes in it, but have only read a few pages. While Stanza is nice, I'd see myself using something more like the eReader or the Kindle more often since it's a little more "book-like" in size.
I still have a houseful of books - literally. My bookshelves have degenerated to stacks on the floor at this point. That was my number one reason for breaking down and buying the Kindle. Now I don't have to worry about where I'm going to put more books. I only buy the 'real' books of those authors that I truly treasure. New or series writers I relegate to the Kindle.
And I have the added advantage of my husband never knowing exactly how many books I've bought that month.... Arguments over 'where are you going to put those???' are finally gone!
I keep reading this topic and wanting a kindle more and more, but then I see if I order it, I probably would not get it until March, which is such a long time whereas I'd get a sony ereader a lot quicker and for 100$ cheaper. I know there are websites which argue which one is better, but those are people I don't trust, so would anyone out there say, get an ereader now while you are a student and get the Kindle later, or should I just buy the Kindle now?BTW I love TNBBC<3
April! I have both the Kindle and the eReader. I wrote a long message comparing the two on message #36. Of course, this is only my experience and opinion and I would suggest talking to others too. Also...I know that the new eReader can be checked out at Target and any or all Sony stores. Call your local Target and see if they have one on display. You can see how the buttons work and what the screen looks like and get a feel for how it is in your hands. My husband's biggest and only complaint about it is that it is not mac compatible. BUT...when he has his computer home, that's when I do all my downloading. I actually have a MacBook so I can't download to the eReader. My Kindle of course can. With my busy life and 3 kids who are usually orbiting me, the eReader has proven to be the choice for me. BUT.....honestly, there is SO MUCH MORE that the Kindle is ABLE to do...if you are a student.....having access to the web might be invaluable. These are things to consider. If you can find a Kindle somewhere you can look at and handle, to see what you think about the screen and the page turner bars and buttons.....just the extra bells and whistles might be worth the extra $100...and the wait. But certainly check both of them out. They are not a cheap purchase by no means. LOL!!! Read my earlier message #36 and I explain myself in more detail there if you are interested....and good luck! I hope this helps!!!
I checked out the eReader at Target the other day and like i quite a lot. I'm withholding on making a decision until I can take a peek at my sisters Kindle. I really liked the size of the eReader. I just wish that the lighted book cover was cheaper.
yeah....the lighted book cover is so expensive it is almost ridiculous. The book cover it comes with is "snapped" onto the back of the eReader so it is secure and will never fall out....AND it allows for a cheaper reading light to be clipped on to it if needed. REALLY...the lighted book cover is a really neat thing but a luxury add-on certainly. LOL!!! You can always just use a spelunkers headlamp like me! Just $8-$10 in the sporting goods/camping section of any discount store like Kmart, Target or Walmart and you have a WONDERFUL book light. Not very sexy though but.....my hubby doesn't complain! (huge guffaw!)
