Kindle

[Herb]

Do you have any experience with Amazons electronic book. I am interested and would like to hear about it. Thank you, Herb

[Boomer]

Do you have any experience with Amazons electronic book. I am interested and would like to hear about it. Thank you, Herb

Hi Herb,

I know of one person among my reader friends who wants one of these things.

They are pretty expensive I think.

It does seem like it would be great for somebody who travels a lot, especially traveling constantly for business and spending life in airports and on planes.

I don't want one right now. I like having actual books around, and I have to wonder about how often the battery goes dead.

So anyway, I really don't know anything about the Kindle. It is an interesting idea though, just probably not something I would like.

Heck, I would probably drop it and smash it into smithereens. And many years ago, I dropped "The Shining" in the bathtub. I had to dry it with a blow dryer and the pages were all wavy forever after. (I did get out of the bathtub before using the blow dryer.) Also, I used to have a dog who chewed up a book or two. Actually though, I believe dogs do that because the glue smells so good to them and they think it is delicious. I guess Kindles don't have glue anywhere.

Oh well, I need to stop sitting here this morning, drinking coffee, and thinking up "WORST CASE SCENARIOS!" for potential dangers to a Kindle if one came into my life.

If you get one, please let us know how you like it.

Boomer

[Herb]

Yes Boomer all you say is true. Ive always wanted a dictionary built in to every book but then to have an encyclopedia as well, heaven!
It seems I spend a lot of time waiting and always have a bag of diversions. To have two hundred books... You can mark passages and make notes. Yes pricey about 350 then if you fill it another couple of thousand. Still what a great toy. Thanks for being the voice of reason but if the price drops after the (dismal, I suspect) holidays I fear I will be unable to show restraint. Again I appreciate your thoughts. Herb

[Boomer]

Hi again, Herb,

Earlier this evening, I was in a bookstore. These things were on display there. Two people were talking about them and I was eavesdropping. I admit that sometimes I do that.

Anyway, one of them was talking about how he was thinking of getting one for his dad who loves to read but was beginning to have some vision problems. He was interested in learning about whether the font could be changed and if the color and contrast could be adjusted to make reading easier.

I did not hear the rest of the discussion so I don't know if that is a possibility with the Kindle. But if it is, that would certainly be a wonderful thing for so many. I hope that is something that the Kindle can do.

Boomer

[Herb]

Stop it Boomer, You're peaking my interest yet again. Yeas you can change the font size and it is easy to read in direct sunlight. However it is not back lit so it can't be read in the dark. I had no idea they were sold in a store, I thought it was available from Amazon only. They show a good video (sales pitch) on the Kindkle with celebrity reccomends. I'm told that Oprah gushed ab out it on her show but I don't believe I have the budget she does. Herb

[Boomer]

Hi Herb,

I just talked to some guy at the bookstore a few minutes ago. I was calling to order a book. He did not seem to know much about this, but he said it is a Sony. He said it is $299 but that a new version is coming out for $399.

Well, I went to Sony's website and this is the best I could do to find info. But I will confess that I only spent about a minute looking. The guy said "e-reader" but I did not see that word on the site. It might be there somewhere though.

One of the things I was trying to figure out was if the different ones limit where you can get the books. I would think you would want broad access to titles and not just something that is proprietary. I am not sure if that is the case. I did not research far enough to find out. With the Kindle being Amazon, that would be a good sign I would think. But the lighting of the screen would be important, too.

Maybe it is early in the game and they have not figured out stuff quite yet.

This is all so new. It does seem to require a bunch of homework.

But here's the link that I found that might help you start a further search if you are interested in what may be the competition.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644523779

Boomer

[jojo]

My seatmate on the plane was using the Kindle this week. Appeared to be fairly large print. He said he likes it. He was so busy reading I didn't interrupt him with questions.

[Herb]

The Sony and the Kindle are two different animals. The review for sony is not very good while the Kindle seems to gather raves. If you go to amazon.com they have videos and pages of info on the Kimdle. Approx 200,000.00 books available with more being added asa well as papers and mags. (I'm typing my way back to it again) It will also play music while you read and will handle audio books. Impressive to me.Now lets talk about something I can afford like penny(probably$.25)candy. Herb

[mdwriter]

I have a Kindle and I love it. The only issue is that a new version may be coming out in January. So check with Amazon.

[BBQMan]

I have been using my Kindle since it came out last year. It is a wonderful device that despite being expensive 'out of the box' will save you money on books, newspapers and magazines. It also means a lot less to lug around with you. You can store about 200 books on a Kindle in this nice slim 10 oz package. Most NYT best sellers are $9.95 and the classic books cost only a dollar or two. You will never lose your place in a book again and you will be spared the drudgery of moving boxes of books!

I urge anyone who is interested to go to Amazon.com and then click over to Kindle. The product has been very well thought out and is a breeze to use. BTW Font sizes are easily changed but the color is B&W only. I'll check back if someone has questions.

[Herb]

You folks have convinced me that a kindle is in my near future. I believe I will wait until Feb to see if a new one comes out. While reading is it easy to switch to dictionary or encyclopedia and switch bac k to reading? Thank you for your input.

Soon to be poorer, :) Herb

[Boomer]

You folks have convinced me that a kindle is in my near future. I believe I will wait until Feb to see if a new one comes out. While reading is it easy to switch to dictionary or encyclopedia and switch bac k to reading? Thank you for your input.

Soon to be poorer, :) Herb

Herb,

Be sure to let us know how it goes. I must say that as this thread went along, I got interested in finding out more about this for myself. Too often I have found myself somewhere where I have a long wait, and although I have a book with me always, the lighting is often terrible in waiting areas.

I wear contact lenses most of the time, but to read I have to put reading glasses on over them. I can't do the bifocal contacts. I am too nearsighted. And I need really good lighting. If I thought the Kindle would cover those situations where the lighting is too dim for me to read, I would be in line to buy one, too.

I saw what you said here about direct sunlight. That would be important to me, too. My cell phone screen drives me nuts in sunlight. But when you said that it cannot be read in the dark, I thought maybe I would wait until they figure that part out. I hope it's on their list for the next model.

Boomer

[VillageMaidService]

Herb,

I saw what you said here about direct sunlight. That would be important to me, too. My cell phone screen drives me nuts in sunlight. But when you said that it cannot be read in the dark, I thought maybe I would wait until they figure that part out. I hope it's on their list for the next model.

Boomer

I think the Kindle has some kind of new technology that says it's paramount to having "liquid paper" inside the reader, so reading it in sunlight isn't a problem at all! This is my one and only thing on my X-mas wish list and I've been giving Hubby hints for months, so I'm sure to get one!! I'll let everyone know what I think about it, but it has been absolutely RAVED about by the critics and has none of the viewing issues of the PC. I'll probably need the insurance plan (if it comes with one) because I can definitely see myself dropping it or breaking it down the road...YIKES! But I know I'll save a fortune on best sellers from now on....not to mention I can download them in only a minute from almost anywhere on the planet, it has different technology from the cell phone...more like satellite I think.

Here's the amazon link for anyone interested in reading more about it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/ref=amb_link_7645962_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0FKE2QF8NAEX4RGE53ER&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=464710631&pf_rd_i=507846


oh no..it's sold out!! I hope my hubby's already bought mine! I guess I'll have to wait if not...

[Herb]

Yes when I get one I will give you a full report. One of the poists suggested a savings on books but I think they will cost more. Just think of all the books you pass on to friends. After the kindle when you come across a page turner you will have to purchase a hard copy to pass around:) Herb

[BBQMan]

Herb - I don't want to sound like a shill for Kindle (although I think I am) while your objection is well-founded it ignores other advantages of the Kindle. The first and foremost is that you will never need to purchase a book for a second time. You will always be able to redownload that book and read it or refer to it again as you please.

The second is that it does not prevent you from purchasing a copy of the book in either hard or soft cover from the many remainder stores selling on Amazon. For friends I wish to share a book with, I have often purchased one for $3.99 postage and handling plus from anywhere from $.01 to $5.99 for the book. Amazon, not just its Kindle department has truly revolutionized book purchasing/owning.

[mommullr]

I have not used kindle. Do not like anything from Amazon. But find audio books to be wonderful. I have used my Ipod and downloaded books from Itunes. I am a subscriber to Kitabe from whom you can subscribe to downloadable books on a mp3 format. I have a cheap MP3 player that I use just for this.

[Herb]

I think Amazon is my most used site. I have purchased too many different items to count and have yet to be disapointed. (IMHO) Herb

[nedisthatu]

i saw the kindle in action and it was great but am waiting to after the holidays to check out the nook from Barnes and Noble as I am aways there.
i love amazon have not had a bad experience from them so that is a plus
do not want the Sony E-reader. Hope after the holidays some body has brought the Nook and give some feed back on it :read:

[SNOK]

Here is a current review of the Nook.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=52&articleid=20091215_52_E2_Acusto92314

[barb1191]

Love our Kindle!!!! Don't believe that anyone has mentioned that there are many classic books that are FREE!!!

Another great feature is the ability to request a book's first few chapters for free and if you enjoy, then you can purchase; if you find it uninteresting, no charge.

Haven't tried the magazines or newspapers yet but both hubby and I feel that it was a great purchase. Here's an Amazon link to purchase the Kindle light:

http://www.amazon.com/CLEAR-iLITE-LIGHT-Kindle-Booklight/dp/1593592094/ref=sr_1_48?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261224575&sr=1-48

[Alarm Team]

I too have been using the kindle since it came out last year. I am able to get newspapers and magazines at a fraction of the price and best sellers for only $9.95.

The Kindle the only way to go - You can wait for the price to drop or buy an imitation, but you will miss the opportunity enjoy the benefits which are being offered now by the worlds largest book seller, Amazon.com

The Kindle is fast, easy to use and economical over the long run. You're gonna love your kindle.

[Pturner]

Go for it!

Hoping it will help you decide, here are exerpts from the review I posted on Amazon around May 2008, shortly after purchasing the Kindle 1:

Oh for the love of Kindle! In the month I've owned it, I've spent at least an hour a day (often more), dog at my side, cat in my lap, Kindle in hand, lost in a good read. It has exceeded my expectations because:

* It's easy to read on Kindle. I hate reading text on a computer screen. Reading Kindle is in some ways easier on the eye than reading a print book. For example, pick the size type you want. I read Kindle with its cover on, so it feels like holding a book-- except lighter.

* Need to look up a word in the dictionary? You're a scroll and two clicks away. One more click returns you to your place in the book. As a result, I look up more words that I'm unsure of than I used to.

* Want to read an endnote? Again, you're a scroll and click away--and another click returns you to where you were.

* You can bookmark pages, highlight text and take notes. These are all saved for easy retrieval. Want to search for something in the book you didn't highlight, bookmark or make a note about? No Problem. You can type in a search.

* There's no need to bookmark the page you stopped on. No matter how many different items (books, magazines, blogs, newspapers) you might be reading, when you open an item, it opens to the page you left off.

* With these and other capabilities you would think there would be a learning curve. Not. It is remarkably intuitive and easy to use immediately.

* Kindle is easy to carry in my purse. Waiting at the doctor's office or standing in a long line is no longer irritating. I just turn on Kindle, select content-- and feel content. Wow.

* Wirelessly downloading content is a breeze. It's amazingly easy to find what you are looking for. You can read reviews or download just the first chapter for free before deciding whether to buy. You can save items to buy later, then return to your saved items easily.

* Subscriptions are delivered before you wake up in the morning. Wake up, get coffee, start reading the morning paper. To think you used to have to throw on something decent and go to the end of the driveway!

* It takes two hours to charge and the charge lasts a week even with a lot of reading. Battery life is less when you download content.

Kindle was worth every penny I paid. Let me be the first to make it a verb it: I Kindle daily.

[Boomer]

What's this I hear???

Here's what happened at our house on the night before Christmas.

We were headed out the door to go to our daughter's house for Christmas Eve when I said to Mr. Boomer, "Did you get the red Kendall? I want to take it along."

And Mr. Boomer said, "What! You did not say anything about wanting a Kindle. And do they come in red now???"

And I said, "Darlin', what I want is the bottle of Kendall-Jackson Merlot that is there on the wine rack."

And that's what really happened.

(I do not have a Kindle and I am not sure I am ready for one. But Pturner's review here in this thread is making me think a little more about it.)

Boomer

[faithfulfrank]

I personally would not want one.
They are black and white, not color, and I would not like being on the hook to amazon to buy my books at $10.00 a piece.

Next month the Apple tablet will come out. I already read books on my ipod touch, and the tablet will be 100 times better then that.
Much about it is still a secret, but it is a fact that many publishers are gearing up for it. It will do far more then a kindle can do.

Frank

[Ooper]

Don't know too much about the Kindle but I have had a Sony Reader for almost 2 years now. Sony has a number of models to choose from... but I love it. It actually reads better in strong sunlight than dim light and there are 1000's of titles to choose from... everything from the classics to new releases. New titles are generally in the $6 to $10 range. It will hold many books although I don't know why you would have more than just a couple at a time. You can also download pictures and music, it has a headphone jack. You can keep your library of titles in your computer or delete them. Sony keeps a database of titles you have bought and you can re-download them any time you want. I am sure the Kindle works similarly but Sony was the original and has been around a while longer and has worked out any problems that may had existed. I think the Kindle has only been around for less than a year. Got mine for about $50 a couple years ago.

[jazzy48]

My husband is a reader, and he loves his books. It was with a great deal of hesitation that I decided to order him a Kindle for Christmas, but I knew I could return it to Amazon.com if he didn't like it.

OMG, he has hardly put the thing down since Christmas morning. He's downloaded the WWII novel he had on his Christmas list (yes, for $9.99), as well as several free books he's interested in reading. I've lost count of the number of times he's commented on how much he loves his Kindle.

One of my friends received the Sony Reader for Christmas. She couldn't download anything until today, because, according to their customer service, their computer crashed. Once she was able to download today, she said it took about an hour to do so. Hubby downloaded his novel in less than a minute.

[Ooper]

Once she was able to download today, she said it took about an hour to do so. Hubby downloaded his novel in less than a minute.

I'm not plugging either manufacturer but I think your friend must not know what she is doing or there is something wrong with her computer. It generally also only takes me less than a minute to download titles with the Sony. I think they are so similar and probably contain the same bells and whistles, (such as thousands of free titles) etc., it doesn't matter which you buy. The important thing is the convenience... no more lugging heavy and hard to read books that cramp your hand trying to hold them open.

[KayakerNC]

I purchased my refurbished Kindle Klassic (original Kindle) as an early Christmas present for myself.:pepper2:
I got the original for 3 reasons.
1: SD card slot for additional storage and organization.
2: Replaceable battery.
3: Price ($150 for the refurbished unit)

All in all, I am extremely happy with the Kindle. It traveled with us on a cruise vacation a few weeks ago, super convenient.
Tons of free books are available, lots of them by new and independent authors. E-book technology is a boon to unpublished and wanna-be authors.

[joannej]

My daughters bought us a Kindle for Christmas, and after a quick tutorial with my daughter, it looks so easy to do & easy on the eyes. We travel a lot too so I like the fact that I don't have to lug around a lot of books or worry about getting books back to the library on time. Just think too of all of paper we are saving by going electronic. I would have never thought to buy this for myself! There are many free classic books available (free because their copyright date expired!). There's no fee to use this, other than to buy books or download newspapers.

[dominick]

Not that it means anything, but the latest issue of Money Magazine rated the Barnes and Noble Nook over the Amazon Kindle and the Sony ebook versions.
I guess that I'm "Old School" in this respect. I read a lot, and I really enjoy going down to Barnes and Noble to spend some time and buy a book. I know that I could browse the books using the ebooks, but I suspect that I wouldn't like it as much. I like the "feel" of skulking around B & N and picking out a new book.
One question though, and this could easily change my entire perception of book buying---(always looking for a deal) I read mostly non-fiction new releases and best sellers. I'm in the B & N club and receive 30% to 40% discounts on most purchases that I make, plus regular coupons for an additional 15%. This brings down the out of pocket price for a newly released book from $28 to $15 - $16 (including tax). What would be the price of a similar book using the ebook devices???

[Avista]

I have the Nook on order. It allows people to share books. (one time only for 14 days) I really liked this feature.

[nedisthatu]

i believe it would be $9.99 same as amazon.com

[Pturner]

Not that it means anything, but the latest issue of Money Magazine rated the Barnes and Noble Nook over the Amazon Kindle and the Sony ebook versions.
I guess that I'm "Old School" in this respect. I read a lot, and I really enjoy going down to Barnes and Noble to spend some time and buy a book. I know that I could browse the books using the ebooks, but I suspect that I wouldn't like it as much. I like the "feel" of skulking around B & N and picking out a new book.
One question though, and this could easily change my entire perception of book buying---(always looking for a deal) I read mostly non-fiction new releases and best sellers. I'm in the B & N club and receive 30% to 40% discounts on most purchases that I make, plus regular coupons for an additional 15%. This brings down the out of pocket price for a newly released book from $28 to $15 - $16 (including tax). What would be the price of a similar book using the ebook devices???

New releases and best sellers are $9.99 for Kindle download. Don't know for other ebook devices.

[katezbox]

My fabuloso son-in-law gave me a Kindle for Christmas. New books are 9.99 - but some classics (like my fav Jane Austen) are FREE!!!!!!!!!!!

Love it love it!

[Lynne2387]

Do you have any experience with Amazons electronic book. I am interested and would like to hear about it. Thank you, Herb

I've owned a Kindle for over a year now. The only I don't like is that I cannot share my books. I understand that you can share books on Barnes and Nobles' "Nook".

[jblum8156]

I have not used kindle. Do not like anything from Amazon. But find audio books to be wonderful. I have used my Ipod and downloaded books from Itunes. I am a subscriber to Kitabe from whom you can subscribe to downloadable books on a mp3 format. I have a cheap MP3 player that I use just for this.

I wonder what this means, "do not like anything from Amazon." Do you mean you don't like to order from Amazon; or you don't like what they sell? They sell books, they also sell just about everything else you can think of, usually at reduced prices and often with free shipping.
I love Amazon. I have never been disappointed with anything I've ordered. I love getting a package delivered to my door - it's like getting a present! And I do want a Kindle, I'm just waiting for the price to go down again.

[Avista]

Check out Nook at Barnes and Noble. It allows you to use library books. I was buying the books at $8-$10 a pop. Now I use the Philadelphia Free Library. I've heard ebooks are coming to our library in The Villages.

Best thing I like about E Books is the ability to adjust font. I got mine in Feb and love it.

[KayakerNC]

I just got my Kindle3. The new screen is the greatest for reading.
No ePub yet, but my library doesn't have ebook capability, so not a deal-breaker.

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/shasta/photos/slate-shasta-main-wifi._SX320_SY240_CR0,0,0,0_V188702412_.png

[ohiogolf]

I just took my Kindle on a work trip to England that called for a lot of airport and airplane time. the Kindle is great. It sure beats hauling books. It is so convenient. I have not tried the wifi yet but will on a trip to Italy next month to get the USA Today so i can follow football news.

[dblwyr]

My husband and i both have Kindles. The price of the newest generation is $189..which has both WiFi and Wireless delivery. There is a $139. version for WiFi only. Yes, the print/font size can be changed. It holds thousand of books and the battery life is long..a couple of weeks if you read it without the wireless tirned on.

THe Sony requires a computer to transfer the book to the reading device, as does the Nook from Barnes and Noble. I have had a Kindle for 2 years, and just got the newest generation which has made some nice improvements. It is very convenient, you can mark passages, put bookmarks, look up words and listen to music while you read. Two thumbs up on Kindle.

[Avista]

Those of you who do not have a library near that offers e-books, you can always get a library card at Philadelphia Free Library for $15 if you live out of state.. That is what I did as The Villages Library does not yet offer e-books. Phili uses a system called overdrive. You must download Adobe Digital Editions to your computer. The rest is extremely easy. You have your book for 21 days.
http://freelibrary.lib.overdrive.com/676C1C42-DB27-4F70-96F6-4EC9DFFCDACB/10/354/en/BrowseeBooks.htm

[Endless Summer]

Hi all!! I've had my eye on the Kindle as well. So far I've been able to hold off purchasing one by using our local library and, imagine this.....it's free. My question (since we're also TV wannabees) is how large are your library's and do they have a plan to recriprocate with other library's?

I've been reading other threads and I was also wondering about all the homes for sale and for rent in TV but I see now that changing needs of the current home owners result in homes either going on the market or being rented out.

See you in Oct when we come for our first lifestyle preview. Gotta run, the Colts are on..............-Sue

[Lynne2387]

Do you have any experience with Amazons electronic book. I am interested and would like to hear about it. Thank you, HerbI bought A Kindle when they were $399.00 they've come down in price. I do enjoy being able to buy books instantly no matter where I am. However, you cannot share your books. My friend was given a Nook as a present. She can share her books with other Nook owners. I love having a built in dictionary and I love that I can make the font as large as needed. I purchased a book light to read when there is not enough light available.

[djplong]

You can share your books but only with other Kindles that you register on your account (I *think* the limit is 6 but don't quote me on that). So I can share any of the books with, say, my daughter if she had one.

[soldjudy]

Love my Kindle - have had it only a week so am still getting use to it. I did get a leather case for it that have a built in light so that helps in darker areas.

Will be taking on a flight next week so am looking forward to see how it does. The one I have is the $189 model.

[K9-Lovers]

THe Sony requires a computer to transfer the book to the reading device, as does the Nook from Barnes and Noble.

Took a look at the Nook (poetry, ahhh), last week at Barnes & Noble and you no longer need a computer. It has 3G technology now. All library books are free. I'm a gonna get one!!!

[Maude Hall]

I have a Barnes & Noble "Nook" and love it. Books can be purchased online via Wifi or 3G through Barnes & Nobles, they offer "free" books(5 every Friday just by going to a B&N), sell in bundles, can get books through various libraries, and other online sites. If you have trouble using it, where do you go for assistance....Barnes & Noble, which TV has on site. I received my as a gift from spouse prior to being in TV, so I am not pushing it because of B&N being in TV. We researched The Kindle, iPad, and Sony prior to purchase. The Nook was the best for me, and I would highly recommend it!

Good Luck!!

[nedisthatu]

herb
i have the nook from barnes and noble -- was looking into the kindle like it alot also Love amazon for their books- both are easy to use and i brought it in jnune 2010 already have 70 books on it a lot of them are the old classics that were for free. It was a hard decision to make which one to choose - as the knidle was the first and I was introduced to that by a friend, but i am always at Barnes and noble buying books plus the battery
you can change yourself and it only $30.00 as opposed to shipping it to amazon and they do it ( time withoput your books ) and the cost is aprx $80
the way both recieve the books the same way but with Barnes and noble some time you have in store specials with the nook. I am not knockingb the Kindle you will be very happy with it if that is how you choose to go, enjoy reading all the books you can --- the prices for E books are aprox the same from eighter .

[Pturner]

I still have the original Kindle. Still love it. Still Kindle daily. Price on the latest one has dropped. You can buy one at Target for about $150, I think.

[Avista]

We are a 2 Nook house. I've had mine since Feb. Husband kept wanting to read my books, and of course I wanted to read at the same time.

So back to B&N we went. They put both books on same account. I purchased George Bush's new book for $9.99 and the day it was released last week it flew into both of our Nooks. Any book ordered will go to both Nooks.

B&N continually has Nook classes in case anyone has questions.
Just call for day and time.

Best thing about e-readers is font size can be adjusted. I don't know about you, but I am now more comfortable with a larger font.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I know Nook can use library ebooks, and I don't believe the Kindle can access libraries.

Anyway, I love my Nook.

[jblum8156]

The basic Kindle is $139, there is a newer fancier one for $189. The Sony is much more expensive. The Kindle battery life is supposed to be 3 weeks, 1 week if you leave it turned on all the time. It comes with a charger.

[K9-Lovers]

Took a look at the Nook (poetry, ahhh), last week at Barnes & Noble and you no longer need a computer. It has 3G technology now. All library books are free. I'm a gonna get one!!!

Got my Nook from Barnes & Nobles and love it. It has wifi capability, can browse the internet, and can also use Verizon wireless (cell phone signal) for free.

I decided to get the e-ink rather than the color screen, because the color screen is back lit like a computer and the e-ink is easier on the eyes to read. Reading is why I purchased the nook. Just like a book, if you want to read in the dark, you use a little book light. If I want a device to browse the internet, then I'll get an ipad or notebook, not a watered down tablet.

So far, all the books I've downloaded have been FREE either from the library or from google/books! Love that.

[Pturner]

So, we can conclude that you'll find great books behind every Nook and Kindle.

[whartonjelly]

My Doctor has one and she loves it. She spends lots of time waiting to deliver babies. I want one too!

[cwnavy1]

My wife and I bought Kindles about a year ago and basically have been very happy. Her kindle has died five times, but each time they automatically replaced it without question within two days. Mine has been pefect the whole time. The battery charge holds for many, many days. We have found them to be wonderful.
Another advantage is that the books are transferable. We were able to download an app on our Iphones that would bring in our Amazon Kindle accounts. We could bring up any book we were reading and somehow it went right to the last page I had read on my Kindle. It worked in reverse as well.

Recently we got Ipads, A moment of weakness, and were able to get Amazon Kindle apps for them too, so our whole libraries were transferred over. The Ipad is so much more, book, computer, movie player, mp3 player. I was looking for something to take to conferences which I could use for storing documents, take notes, check facebook and email and read books. The Ipad does it all, and it has a lit screen and is in color.

[Mudder]

You can go to Staples and see a Kindle there.

[K9-Lovers]

cwnavy1 -- I have a question for you. Now that you have your ipad, do you still use your kindle to read?

[jblum8156]

price of a downloaded Kindle ebook is about $9 - $10

[Avista]

price of a downloaded Kindle ebook is about $9 - $10

Same with Nook, although both offer free books. With the Nook one can get library books and can purchase from other sources. (For example, Smashbooks, Kobo etc)

[billnterri]

I have been using a Kindle for the past two years and I love it. No matter where you are you can access Amazon's book store and download a book in just a few seconds. Fits well in your hand and is much easier to hold than a book.

[cwnavy1]

I still use the kindle when I run out of battery in yhe Ipod, or when I leave it at work. Since my place is saved regardless of th reader used, it's no problem. We are giving thought as to which of our kids could use our kindles best.

[jackz]

Wife and I each have the latest Kindles and use and enjoy them regularly. I like the fact that when either of us order a book, they can be downloaded on both kindles at no extra cost. Also, one of the newer kindle covers comes with a built in light that works off the kindle battery and does a great job.

[brostholder]

Google just announced that they will be offering ebooks to compete with Amazon. I have owned a kindle for about a year now, and I love it. But Google's ebooks will be able to be downloaded on iPads, iPhones, and the Barnes and Nobel Nook, but not on my kindle. I think that if I had to do it all over again, I would just get an iPad. Again, I have been very happy with my kindle but would also like to have access to all the books that google has scanned into their database.

[faithfulfrank]

I downloaded the free Amazon app for Kindle on my macbookPro. I already have over 25 books downloaded, many of them free. I've really enjoyed reading these books on my laptop.
I'm holding out for the next generation ipad....which according to recent rumors will be out within 100 days......

Frank

[tudacee]

I'm also waiting for the next gen of the iPad...guess I'll have to start counting from 100 on down.

Part of me also wants the Kindle, but if I get the iPad, it just seems like wanting too much and getting greedy.

what do you think will be in the next IPad???

[jblum8156]

Not that it means anything, but the latest issue of Money Magazine rated the Barnes and Noble Nook over the Amazon Kindle and the Sony ebook versions.
I guess that I'm "Old School" in this respect. I read a lot, and I really enjoy going down to Barnes and Noble to spend some time and buy a book. I know that I could browse the books using the ebooks, but I suspect that I wouldn't like it as much. I like the "feel" of skulking around B & N and picking out a new book.
One question though, and this could easily change my entire perception of book buying---(always looking for a deal) I read mostly non-fiction new releases and best sellers. I'm in the B & N club and receive 30% to 40% discounts on most purchases that I make, plus regular coupons for an additional 15%. This brings down the out of pocket price for a newly released book from $28 to $15 - $16 (including tax). What would be the price of a similar book using the ebook devices???

I have a Kindle. The price now is $139 for the standard Kindle, $189 if you get it with built-in 4G connection and WiFi. I downloaded 6 new books this morning for a total cost of $59. Most new books are $9.99, some are less, some are $14 or $15. There are thousands of classics (expired copyrights) that are free.

[faithfulfrank]

There are many newer books that are also free. Some of them are a first of a series, as they are hoping you buy the rest of the series.

As to the next ipad, strong rumors suggest it will be face-time capable, with both front and rear facing cameras. It may also have a SD card slot.

We'll see this spring!

Frank D.

[BBQMan]

Google just announced that they will be offering ebooks to compete with Amazon. I have owned a kindle for about a year now, and I love it. But Google's ebooks will be able to be downloaded on iPads, iPhones, and the Barnes and Nobel Nook, but not on my kindle. I think that if I had to do it all over again, I would just get an iPad. Again, I have been very happy with my kindle but would also like to have access to all the books that google has scanned into their database.

IIMHO, Google has made serious mistakes getting into the ereader market. The Alex is nearly three times the price of the entry Kindle ereader - Kindle 3. They use the same technology for reading, E ink, though Kindle has a newer and better generation. Alex has the same size-reading screen as Kindle 3 and B&N nook - 6". The critical difference is that Alex and Nook they have the same battery life, 6 hours. Kindle 3 has a battery life of 28 DAYS.

Alex also tried to compete with Apple's iPad. The iPad is nearly the equal of a laptop and easier to carry than any laptop including the Mac Air. Failing to use full capable MS applications is its greatest shortfall. Alex falls so far short of this that it is no contest. Again, Alex has a 6 hour battery life and iPad has a ten hour life (I have verified that for the iPad).

Google tried to find a 'sweet spot' between Kindle and iPad - they discovered by trying to be all things too all people, they failed and the result was an ereader that did nothing particularly well and fell short in all too many areas.

If you want a reader - get Kindle. If you want a multipurpose tablet, get the iPad. Sony, Barnes & Noble, Google, etc. are similar to Commodore and Radio Shack in the early days of personal computers.

As for the libraries, Kindle books can be read on computers, iPads, iPhones and Android phones and readers. Google, for some reason, has chosen not to make its books unavailable to Kindle owners. Making your books unavailable to more than 75% of the market makes no sense to me.

I've used every generation of Kindle as well as recent generations of iPhones and iPads. I take my iPhone and iPad nearly everywhere I go. I take my Kindle 3 when I need something smaller than the iPad and want to travel light. It is lighter, fits into the side pocket of my blazer and never needs a charger during the trip. Just my input to the discussion.

[iandwk]

After looking at the Kindle at Staples and the Nook at B&N, we decided to splurge and buy an ipad. You can get free apps for the Kindle and the Nook, plus ipad has their own store for books. I have a very difficult time trying to type on the keyboards that come with the Kindle and the Nook, but can type very well on the ipad. Plus the ipad does a lot of the things that I customarily do with a desktop. Also, since my wife and I both bought one (our Christmas gift to one another), we can both download the same book at the Kindle store since we are using the same Amazon account. You pay a bit more but you get a lot more imho.

One great advantage we have found with an e-reader is the use of the Bible. It's free, it's searchable, and has many other unexpected features. Great for taking to church. Often during a sermon or Bible class something is said that reminds me of a passage, and I seldom can remember where it is. No problem with an e-reader. Just type in a couple of the words and all passages with that combination of words comes up. I think the same feature works with other books, also.

I still like to sit with a book in my lap, but I love the ipad.

[faithfulfrank]

ianwk,
I also have about 3-4 versions of the Bible on my ipod touch. I also use it in church and sunday school.....I suppose some folks think I'm rudely texting on a phone or something, until it's my turn to read a verse or two......and I think the teens get a kick from seeing an "old guy" be tech savvy.....:)

[joannej]

I have been using my Kindle since it came out last year. It is a wonderful device that despite being expensive 'out of the box' will save you money on books, newspapers and magazines. It also means a lot less to lug around with you. You can store about 200 books on a Kindle in this nice slim 10 oz package. Most NYT best sellers are $9.95 and the classic books cost only a dollar or two. You will never lose your place in a book again and you will be spared the drudgery of moving boxes of books!

I urge anyone who is interested to go to Amazon.com and then click over to Kindle. The product has been very well thought out and is a breeze to use. BTW Font sizes are easily changed but the color is B&W only. I'll check back if someone has questions.
______________________________________________

I love my Kindle. There are also offers for free books from time to time that can be downloaded on a Kindle. There are also games, like Scrabble, and newspapers & magazines that are downloadable. If you buy the Kindle that does not use whispernet to download books, it only cost $139. There is also a cover that is lit for reading Kindle in the dark.

[Pturner]

IIMHO, Google has made serious mistakes getting into the ereader market. The Alex is nearly three times the price of the entry Kindle ereader - Kindle 3. They use the same technology for reading, E ink, though Kindle has a newer and better generation. Alex has the same size-reading screen as Kindle 3 and B&N nook - 6". The critical difference is that Alex and Nook they have the same battery life, 6 hours. Kindle 3 has a battery life of 28 DAYS.

Alex also tried to compete with Apple's iPad. The iPad is nearly the equal of a laptop and easier to carry than any laptop including the Mac Air. Failing to use full capable MS applications is its greatest shortfall. Alex falls so far short of this that it is no contest. Again, Alex has a 6 hour battery life and iPad has a ten hour life (I have verified that for the iPad).

Google tried to find a 'sweet spot' between Kindle and iPad - they discovered by trying to be all things too all people, they failed and the result was an ereader that did nothing particularly well and fell short in all too many areas.

If you want a reader - get Kindle. If you want a multipurpose tablet, get the iPad. Sony, Barnes & Noble, Google, etc. are similar to Commodore and Radio Shack in the early days of personal computers.

As for the libraries, Kindle books can be read on computers, iPads, iPhones and Android phones and readers. Google, for some reason, has chosen not to make its books unavailable to Kindle owners. Making your books unavailable to more than 75% of the market makes no sense to me.

I've used every generation of Kindle as well as recent generations of iPhones and iPads. I take my iPhone and iPad nearly everywhere I go. I take my Kindle 3 when I need something smaller than the iPad and want to travel light. It is lighter, fits into the side pocket of my blazer and never needs a charger during the trip. Just my input to the discussion.

I agree with your assessment about the ereaders. I haven't sprung for an iPad. I've used one, but I can't get passed it being just a bigger iPhone without the phone and camera. As a mini-computer, a netbook is more versatile, assuming you already have all those cool iPad/ iPhone apps on your iPhone. Guess I'm in the minority on that one! :duck:

[barb1191]

I agree with your assessment about the ereaders. I haven't sprung for an iPad. I've used one, but I can't get passed it being just a bigger iPhone without the phone and camera. As a mini-computer, a netbook is more versatile, assuming you already have all those cool iPad/ iPhone apps on your iPhone. Guess I'm in the minority on that one! :duck:

Well, I join you in the minority. I have found it tempting to go for the iPad and then pause to rationalize that my laptop serves most of my online interests and do I really need that iPad? I continue to feel, nope really don't need it. I have the Kindle and am pleased with that and can watch television and movies on my laptop, so my toys are just fine, as we speak.

barb

[BeeGee]

After looking at the Kindle at Staples and the Nook at B&N, we decided to splurge and buy an ipad. You can get free apps for the Kindle and the Nook, plus ipad has their own store for books. I have a very difficult time trying to type on the keyboards that come with the Kindle and the Nook, but can type very well on the ipad. Plus the ipad does a lot of the things that I customarily do with a desktop. Also, since my wife and I both bought one (our Christmas gift to one another), we can both download the same book at the Kindle store since we are using the same Amazon account. You pay a bit more but you get a lot more imho.

One great advantage we have found with an e-reader is the use of the Bible. It's free, it's searchable, and has many other unexpected features. Great for taking to church. Often during a sermon or Bible class something is said that reminds me of a passage, and I seldom can remember where it is. No problem with an e-reader. Just type in a couple of the words and all passages with that combination of words comes up. I think the same feature works with other books, also.

I still like to sit with a book in my lap, but I love the ipad.

I've asked "Santa" for a Kindle this year for Christmas. Have been going back and forth Nook - Kindle. But have decided that the Kindle would meet my needs (that are outlined very well in this thread). I, too, like the idea of taking the Kindle w/me to Church. I've read some reviews, however, about the "print" wearing off the keys on the Kindle. Has anyone experienced this? Thanks

[logdog]

Go for it!

Hoping it will help you decide, here are exerpts from the review I posted on Amazon around May 2008, shortly after purchasing the Kindle 1:

Oh for the love of Kindle! In the month I've owned it, I've spent at least an hour a day (often more), dog at my side, cat in my lap, Kindle in hand, lost in a good read. It has exceeded my expectations because:

* It's easy to read on Kindle. I hate reading text on a computer screen. Reading Kindle is in some ways easier on the eye than reading a print book. For example, pick the size type you want. I read Kindle with its cover on, so it feels like holding a book-- except lighter.

* Need to look up a word in the dictionary? You're a scroll and two clicks away. One more click returns you to your place in the book. As a result, I look up more words that I'm unsure of than I used to.

* Want to read an endnote? Again, you're a scroll and click away--and another click returns you to where you were.

* You can bookmark pages, highlight text and take notes. These are all saved for easy retrieval. Want to search for something in the book you didn't highlight, bookmark or make a note about? No Problem. You can type in a search.

* There's no need to bookmark the page you stopped on. No matter how many different items (books, magazines, blogs, newspapers) you might be reading, when you open an item, it opens to the page you left off.

* With these and other capabilities you would think there would be a learning curve. Not. It is remarkably intuitive and easy to use immediately.

* Kindle is easy to carry in my purse. Waiting at the doctor's office or standing in a long line is no longer irritating. I just turn on Kindle, select content-- and feel content. Wow.

* Wirelessly downloading content is a breeze. It's amazingly easy to find what you are looking for. You can read reviews or download just the first chapter for free before deciding whether to buy. You can save items to buy later, then return to your saved items easily.

* Subscriptions are delivered before you wake up in the morning. Wake up, get coffee, start reading the morning paper. To think you used to have to throw on something decent and go to the end of the driveway!

* It takes two hours to charge and the charge lasts a week even with a lot of reading. Battery life is less when you download content.

Kindle was worth every penny I paid. Let me be the first to make it a verb it: I Kindle daily.

The Nook does everything a Kindle does plus you can share books and check out library books with the Nook. Also, you can take your Nook to Barnes & Noble and read best sellers for an hour at a time for free and they usually offer free smoothies, candies and some other treat when you show your Nook. B&N offers free ebooks every Friday. Most don't appeal to me but there are one or two keepers every month. The Nook also has expansion capability and allows you to change your batteries. The current Kindle has to be sent back to Amazon if the battery dies.

If you like to read for long periods of time, buy a Kindle or Nook (black & white versions). They are both good but I like being able to access library books with the Nook. Dedicated black & white e-readers are easier on the eyes. You can't read them in the dark without a light but neither can you read a regular book in the dark.

If you're an occasional reader, get one of the many color pads. They are much more versatile. You can compare several models plus the Nook and Kindle at Best Buy.

[BeeGee]

I, too, like the idea of taking the Kindle w/me to Church. I've read some reviews, however, about the "print" wearing off the keys on the Kindle. Has anyone experienced this? Thanks
Anyone have any trouble w/keys wearing off?

[logdog]

Anyone have any trouble w/keys wearing off?

Another plus for the Nook is that there are no keys. The color screen below the black & white reading pane turns into a keyboard when you need it. The color screen also shows you book covers and lets you see web pages in color.

[mrbillmidlo]

Agree with logdog. We bought the Nook because the local library had lots and lots of free downloadable books. Liked the Kindle, but the best buy for us is the Nook. Too bad Sumter library does not do digital books.

[Lynn222]

I have had one for several years and love it. What can I tell you about it?

[Avista]

Agree with logdog. We bought the Nook because the local library had lots and lots of free downloadable books. Liked the Kindle, but the best buy for us is the Nook. Too bad Sumter library does not do digital books.

I've talked to the folks at The Villages Library. They do not have e-books, but plan to have them in the future. Meanwhile. I use the Philadelphia Free Library. It is $15 if you live outside of PA, and they have many, many e-library books. This library has really saved me a lot of money. I always check them first. Only if they don't have the book I want do I buy it.

[Midge538]

Do you know if we 'Sumters' can then use our affiliation with the wider Fl library system to D/L E books?

[BeeGee]

I have had one for several years and love it. What can I tell you about it?

Well, I've researched enough to know that the Kindle is what I want....I'm just wondering if the print on the keys has faded or come off, and if so, has this been a problem? Thanks

[LittleDog]

Some people on the Kindle board which I frequent (http://www.kindleboards.com/) have mentioned in the past that it was a problem on some Kindles but personally we have not had that problem and I haven't seen any recent posts on this issue.

John

[BeeGee]

Thanks! That's what I was hoping. :thumbup: Now if only Santa listened...Appreciate your input!!! Merry Christmas!!!

[Pat_RI]

I got one today for an early Christmas present and downloaded a couple of books from Amazon and 3 free books from the site also. Can't wait to have it on the plane flight tomorrow morning down to TV. I just hope I can get use to not turning pages. Should make the airport shuttle ride a bit more enjoyable also. I like the fact that it can store all of the books that you read. I find that I can never remember if I have read a book before and after reading a few pages realize I have already read it.

[Pturner]

Well, I've researched enough to know that the Kindle is what I want....I'm just wondering if the print on the keys has faded or come off, and if so, has this been a problem? Thanks

Mine will be 3 years old in April. No problem here. You're gonna love it!

[natickdan]

I've had my Kindle for over a year and I just purchased the new Kindle for my son and my wife as a xmas gift.

I truly enjoy my Kindle. I use it while flying, on a cruise, on hot sunny days at the beach as well as cold winter days in front of the fire place. It's a great and convenient technology.

[BBQMan]

One of the most overlooked pluses on a Kindle is the ability to have up to six readers (not periodicals) have access to the same account 'library'. For example, in my case it means having my kindle here at home and each of my four kids can have a Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone, etc and still be able to read all of the same books. By sharing the costs, you can build an on-line library at 1/6th the cost of each having his or her own collection.

[BeeGee]

Thanks again for all the good advice. Can't wait for mine!!!

[StarbuckSammy]

You will like the Kindle...easy to use and a lot of fun. I rec'd one as a gift and use it daily. Thanks to the members of this Forum for their insight and knowledge I was able to add WIFI to my cable and was able to download in home instead of going out to a WIFI site such as Starbucks.
I also used their "help" section and talked to a tech a few times....it was not them...it was..well...operator error, if you know what I mean. Service was terrific.

[Avista]

Just got back from a 2 week cruise with my Nook. I had it loaded with library books. Love this feature.

Am not sure if Kindle can download library books. (e-Pub).
Most have said no, but a couple have said yes.

So, you kindle users, have you been able to download library books?