Author Topic: Kindle? (Read 6557 times)

jcarter · « **on:** March 20, 2009, 02:29:12 PM »

I was reading about the Kindle electronic book reader things on Amazon today.
There are a lot of pros and cons.
And I dont know anyone who has one around here, so no way to actually see one live.
So I was wondering if anyone here on TS has one, and if you like or dislike it.
Thanks,
Jane

kimmer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2009, 04:08:45 PM »

I've considered one, but it's too pricey for my budget.

I have friends who love their Kindle.
I have friends who wish they'd never bought their Kindle.

Possibly not an issue in your area, but double check the "download" map at Amazon before you buy. My one friend went ahead and bought the latest Kindle, even though she's in a non-download area. You couldn't tell her ... so now she has to get in the car and drive up or down the road to get a signal. Kinda dumb, if you ask me.

jcarter · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2009, 04:31:34 PM »

Thanks for the info,
I guess I will wait a while, there are a lot of cons for this device for the price.
I did check the download area map for sprint and found we are OK, but my cell phone service, AT+T here is not good. We are on the coast, its flat, but the nearest tower is up beyond the moraine.
My husband did say, he would rather have the book, as we donate them to the library or swap them when finished.
Jane

danf63 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2009, 07:21:56 PM »

On the last MacNotables podcast, Chuck Joiner had Tonya Engst from tidbits.com and they were talking about the Kindle. She's had one for awhile and likes it a lot, but reccommends to wait before buying any ebook readers just yet. If you want to listen, it's here: http://www.macnotables.com/wordpress/

Dan

jcarter · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2009, 07:35:28 PM »

I kept getting advertisements, so never found the actual review.
But I am going to really hold off on that Kindle, as its not really what I though it would be.
Thought it would be great to download lots of good books and take it on vacation. But its just as easy to get all the paperbacks.
I know I always can get the best info here, and I sure will wait on that Kindle thing,
Thanks again,
Jane

kimmer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2009, 03:23:17 AM »

QUOTE(jcarter @ Mar 20 2009, 01:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I did check the download area map for sprint and found we are OK, but my cell phone service, AT+T here is not good. We are on the coast, its flat, but the nearest tower is up beyond the moraine.

Jane, I don't believe the Amazon download is dependent on your cell phone service carrier. It's something Amazon has set up, and it's supposed to be "free"

(other than the price of the book you are downloading and the purchase of the Kindle.) If Amazon's map shows you in a good area, then you should be good to download books from them. We live in a black hole for our cell phone service, yet we would be able to download Amazon books -- if I had a Kindle.

Honestly, if I had spare cash, I'd probably splurge on one. Lots of books that I can't get from the library and at $9.99 they'd be "buyable" for me -- but my hubby's "Scotch-ness" has rubbed off on me and so no Kindle.

jcarter · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2009, 07:18:27 AM »

Yes, Amazon's service is Sprint, which is OK here. My phone is AT+T, which is marginal, unless I am upstairs.

I do think I will wait on the Kindle for a while anyway, as I can see a lot of things in the reviews that could very well be fixed in the next version. Like the shades of gray, and the font sizing problem and other little potential improvements.
Though it sure would be nice to have a load of books in one little gadget to take on a trip. When we do go to islands though, we always take a load of paperbacks and when we finish them, we leave them behind for others to read, or donate them to their tiny libraries.
In poor places like Belize, we left our clothes, towels and stuff for the people too. And left our American peanut butter, as its a delicacy in parts of Belize.
Jane

gunug · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2009, 07:19:26 AM »

I suppose someday everyone will have something like a Kindle for their reading needs but I wish it were a little less pricey and less mercenary about keeping control of what can work with these things and how. I think it ought to be a jack of all trades about file formats without worrying about getting stuff into it or converting things. I want to read anything I can get my hands on; I also think it is stinky of them to block attempts at 3rd party utilities (which are inevitable).

jcarter · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2009, 08:16:20 AM »

Wouldnt it be nice if Apple came up with something similar to Kindle, and then we could get all the add-ons and goodies like they do for the iPhones.
Jane

RNKIII · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2009, 10:57:09 AM »

There currently is a "Kindel" application to run on the iPhone/Touch... reviews are weak...say it is 'missing' some of the important functionalities of the original..

Bob K. rnkiii

jcarter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2009, 12:27:52 PM »

I would need bigger screen, preferably in color. That would be a great idea, a Mac-Kindle in color. (with music)
Jane

Bbob · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2009, 06:30:28 PM »

I seem to be the only person in this discussion that has a Kindle. I received it as a Christmas present and I love it. It is easy to carry, just a little larger than a paperback book. It is incredibly easy to buy books and have them downloaded in less than a minute. I have been re-reading a number of classics I haven't read in many years, such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Huckleberry Finn--and these were free. Being the frugal person (tightwad?) that I am I always look for freebies.

One of the oddest things I had to get used to was NOT turning pages. On the Kindle you just press a bar on the side and the next page pops up almost immediately.

The text is easy to read. The "inkless ink" screen is very legible. There are about six sizes of type to choose from (but only one type face).

I have about fifteen books on my Kindle, and it will hold up to fifteen hundred.

One of the drawbacks is not being able to share books with other users. I figure some hacker will come up with a way around that before long.

Pictures don't look very good with the four gray levels, but the newer version has sixteen gray levels, which will make black and white photos tolerable, at least.

One of the features I love is the ability to turn off the Kindle, and when powered on again the exact page you were on reappears. You can also do bookmarks.

Yep, I love it.

dboh · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2009, 06:00:19 PM »

My local library loans out Kindles. Books can be downloaded for free for 14 days. You might want to check your library and see if you like them.

jcarter · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2009, 07:03:44 PM »

Wow, that is a great idea, though our library is tiny and funds might not be there for goodies like this.
But I sure will check, as Ive a book to return this coming week.
I'd love to try one before buying!
Thanks,
Jane

kimmer · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2009, 11:08:52 PM »

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). You can keep them for 14 days and then the key expires. So far most of the books that I want are "win only", and the few books available for the Mac are "checked out" and I am on a long list. Having Kindles through the library would be cool.

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Author Topic: Kindle? (Read 6557 times)