Kindle?

[sokukodo]

I bought a Kindle2 at the beginning of March, and so far have read nine books. It is soooo easy on the eyes! I used to try and read books on-line, but the eyestrain was too much (try reading something like Dickens' "Bleak House" on-line: you'll be blind halfway through it). As I live in a small town, the local library is seriously limited ... the books available through Kindle are good, and many are under $5, though current best sellers are priced at $9.99; also when done with a book, it's moved to an archive (presumably a server) where it can be retrieved at any time for re-reading. I absolutely love it.

[kimmer]

QUOTE(sokukodo @ Mar 22 2009, 10:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... also when done with a book, it's moved to an archive (presumably a server) where it can be retrieved at any time for re-reading.

Server as in it's no longer on your Kindle?

[jcarter]

Our library is open today, so I will see if they have one, if not, there is the main library in town.
Have to go to town tomorrow to have our well water tested, so will go to the library afterwards.
The fact that the Kindles are easy on the eyes is great for me, as my eyes do get tired reading stuff on my computers after a while.
Jane

[Bbob]

>Server as in it's no longer on your Kindle?

That's right. It is stored by Amazon. All the books you buy are stored on their server. You can delete them from your Kindle, then download them at any time.

Here's another feature that hasn't been mentioned. You can put your own documents on your Kindle. Simply save them in Word as a .doc file, email them to your Kindle address, and they will be converted and downloaded to your Kindle.

[daryl66]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Mar 22 2009, 11:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(dboh @ Mar 22 2009, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My local library loans out Kindles. Books can be downloaded for free for 14 days.

Wow. My library has audio books on CD (and I can pop them into iTunes and keep them as long as I want - although that's not kosher). They also use the OverDrive Media Console for download-able books, and then you listen through iTunes (or on your iPod).

Due of the amount of time "SHE" spends at airports and in airplanes  a couple of times a month, the desire to put AudioBooks on the IPOD Touch was emphatically  expressed. Our library system is great here with 8 county and city libraries all interconnected with loads of books on cd. HOWEVER the "Overdrive" software is the only option for downloading, and it has the large caveat "NOT AVAILABLE FOR MAC" in big letters. We are still using G4's so a Windoze option is just not an option.

Kosher or not, I have began checking out a book or 2, and ripping it to Itunes. I return the book and remove it from Itunes all within the 3 week checkout period.  I guess that is as close to 'Kosher" as I can come.

And that is my story and I am sticking to it.  

Daryl

[jcarter]

Hi Daryl,
Thats a great idea!
We dont travel as much as we used to, but if we did, I would do this too.

Tomorrow I will take a look at the Kindle.
Thanks,
Jane

[Mayo]

I have the impression that downloading library audio books for a Mac/iPod is more trouble than it is worth... It's a shame that they hobbled the Mac side while keeping things simple for Windows users. Ripping audiobook CDs into iTunes seems like a good option.

[kimmer]

QUOTE(daryl66 @ Mar 23 2009, 09:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Our library system is great here with 8 county and city libraries all interconnected with loads of books on cd. HOWEVER the "Overdrive" software is the only option for downloading, and it has the large caveat "NOT AVAILABLE FOR MAC" in big letters.

It's not the software, it's your library system. I have the Overdrive software and it works fine. However, my library has yet to "purchase" very many Mac titles.

Here's the info on Overdrive for the Mac from their site:

QUOTE

Mac System Requirements

    * Intel® or PowerPC® processor
    * Mac OS 10.4.9 (or newer)
    * iTunes® v7.6.2.9 (or newer) (download iTunes)
    * QuickTime® v7.4.5 (or newer) (download QuickTime as part of the iTunes download

Talk to your local librarian and ask, urge, plead, chant, rant for the support for the Mac. That's what I did, and so now it's there. Now I'm asking, begging, urging, pleading, chanting and ranting for more Mac titles.

Mayo, I agree with your conclusion. It's like so many things that available as win/Mac and companies just ignore the Mac side for whatever reason.

[Xairbusdriver]

I thought that "OverDrive" thing sounded familiar. <Take a gander at this "review" of the process by a fairly intelligent Mac user.>

[daryl66]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 24 2009, 11:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought that "OverDrive" thing sounded familiar. <Take a gander at this "review" of the process by a fairly intelligent Mac user.>

ABD:   It was this article that firmed up my decision to go the "ripping" route. There is another rendering that I cannot find that explains in detail the  DRM (By MS BTW). After downloading "Overdrive" I visited numerous libraries hoping to find one I could use. No such luck.

You must give them their due.  They still have (most)of the world believing its the only game in town.

Daryl

[kimmer]

First, I owe you 2 gents an apology. What I kneweth I no longer knoweth and nothing worketh like it dideth.

When my library first started the downloadable books, we were promised all books would be available for the Mac, but that it would take a bit of time to purchase the Mac copies. Okay. I bought that.

When a book was there and available to for the PC download but not available to check out for the Mac, I was told the wait was because they would buy 1 win copy and 1 Mac copy and if the Mac copy was "out", I'd have to wait. Okay. I bought that.

I was able to download one book that I wanted, and yes, I went through the stuff that the guy speaks of in his article, but I thought it was my library district that had set up all the hoop jumping. I will admit that I copied the book to my iPod to listen to, so when the expiration date rolled around, it was no biggy to me. I don't plan on sharing the darn thing with anyone and once I'm through, I'll trash it (it's a long and somewhat boring book that would take several renewals to get through).

Having read the TidBits article and your comments, I stopped at the library today and had a nice chat with the librarian. I had to bite my tongue to not say the wrong thing. What a load of garbage. Now we're being told to contact Apple and complain because it's all their fault with their proprietary software.

I realize there are 2 sides to this whole digital copyright issue, and I can see both sides ... but I'm frosted that Mac users are "punished" for having a superior computer system. I can see why the Kindle is such a big thing, and like I said ... if I had the money I'd own one. Shucks, I'd probably buy some audio books if I had the money.

[jcarter]

On Fast Money today on CNBC, they interviewed a financial guy, and he was really touting technology and had a lot to say about Kindle.
I didnt see all of the interview, my husband called me out of the kitchen, but looks like they are very very impressed with it and expect it to make a lot of money.
Though libraries are not happy with the thing.
We stopped in to our main library today and they dont have any, not in the budget, but they have friends who say they are great.

I really really hope that Apple comes up with their own Kindle thing, why not?
Just because it wasnt their idea to start with, they really should do it and get on the stick now before its too late.
Jane

[Xairbusdriver]

kimmer, I find it useless to discuss computer hardware/software/security with almost any kind of 'clerk' and it's not always easier with the 'computer geeks' who know nothing about a Mac or even that there is something besides Windows. This "Over Drive" company probably already had some kind of library software and an "in" with several important libraries or respected leaders. This allowed them to 'snow' most of the rest of the group, most of whom have never seen a Mac purchase by any library. And I doubt that they would even see a Mac laptop coming in the door. Computers are just not their area of expertise. They are only there because patrons started demanding them. Computers are a problem, not a solution.

They used to take umbrage at the idea of xeroxing a page, copyright and all, you know! That's all most of them have ever known - text on paper. Then came records, no problem, no one can copy those things. Oops, what is this cassette tape thing? WARNING! COPY PREVENTION FLAGS AT FULL STAFF! And now these kids are talking about 'digital rights?' Don't they have digits on the left, too?!

Trying to explain that their Over Drive "system" prevents nothing is like trying to explain the workings of an aircraft to people who've never even seen a bird. As much as libraries have done for America nd freedom, not to mention education, I fear that the current model will become more and more of a dinosaur and will be hard to find in a few scores. I only hope some form of free access to information remains available for all citizens. And Google® ain't it!

[jcarter]

Very interesting about what could happen next.
http://www.minyanville.com/articles/appl-g...1824/from/yahoo
Jane

[daryl66]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Mar 24 2009, 07:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What I kneweth I no longer knoweth and nothing worketh like it dideth.

I must admit that I have "Been There" and "Done That"  at least one time in my life.

No Apology necessary.

Daryl