Kindle
 

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

agreed
 

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

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

Kindle
 

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

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/...52921644523779

Boomer

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.

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

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.

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.

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

high-resolution screen looks & reads like real paper
 

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/B00...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...

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

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.

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

Kindle
 

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:

Here is a current review of the Nook.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/a...E2_Acusto92314

Kindle Go for it...
 

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:

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

The Kindle is "Great Stuff"
 

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.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Kindle all the way!
 

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

kindle
 

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

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

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!

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".

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.

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.

Kindle, Latest Generation
 

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/image...188702412_.png

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.

Kindle
 

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.