[kyblue]

Thinking of getting a Kindle - for those that have them - what do you think? And would you buy it again if you did not have one. Pros/Cons?

[missypie]

Originally Posted by kyblue

Thinking of getting a Kindle - for those that have them - what do you think? And would you buy it again if you did not have one. Pros/Cons?

Good question

[Pturner]

Love my Kindle. I Kindle daily.

Pros:

• Read in any type size that fits your eyes. Easier to read than either print or backlit screen.
  Highlight any word in any text to look it up in dictionary.
  No matter how many things you are reading, it opens each one to where you left off.
  Search any text. Highlight, add note and bookmark pages all easy.
  Virtual books don't take up bookshelves full of space, but you can still keep all your books, magazines, newspapers, etc.
  Lightweight and easy to carry. Take your library with you where ever you go.
  Books are cheap to free and can be shared.
  I'm sure I left some out.

Don't know any cons.

[Skybo]

I love my kindle...love, love, love it. I’ve read more books in the few months that I’ve had my Kindle than I have in the previous five years. I’ve always enjoyed reading, but I’m not very good about going to the bookstore or library. I’d hear about a book and think “I want to read that”, but then I’d forget about it before I got around to buying it. Consequently, when I did go into a bookstore, I’d end up just looking at the new best-sellers or for the same authors or genres that I’d read in the past. Since I got my Kindle, I’ve read and enjoyed so many different types of books. Sometimes, I’ll see something on TV that piques my interest, a historical figure for instance, and I’ll go looking for a book about them.

I especially like that you can download a sample (for free), which is basically the first chapter or two. That gives you an idea of whether or not you really want to buy it. I’ve decided against buying several books after reading through the sample, even though I was initially interested after reading the preface (which is normally all I would read in a bookstore before deciding to buy).

I also like that you can adjust the text size...very helpful.

Personally, I’d recommend getting the 3G, which allows you to download without needing an internet hook up. I’d also recommend getting the cover that has a reading light.

Best of all, the books are much cheaper than buying them at a bookstore.

[kyblue]

Is Amazon the only place you can download from? Or can you download from the library - any other site?

[vj1213]

I love my Kindle...I have an older one, got it when they first came out years ago, still going strong. My husband downloaded the Kindle app on his laptop so when he travels he logs into my account and can read any of my books. My only complaint is that some authors such as James Patterson has raised the prices of their books on the Kindle from $9.99 to $14.99, you can buy the new book cheaper. But they are so convenient to take anywhere with you.

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by Skybo

I love my kindle...love, love, love it. I’ve read more books in the few months that I’ve had my Kindle than I have in the previous five years. I’ve always enjoyed reading, but I’m not very good about going to the bookstore or library. I’d hear about a book and think “I want to read that”, but then I’d forget about it before I got around to buying it. Consequently, when I did go into a bookstore, I’d end up just looking at the new best-sellers or for the same authors or genres that I’d read in the past. Since I got my Kindle, I’ve read and enjoyed so many different types of books. Sometimes, I’ll see something on TV that piques my interest, a historical figure for instance, and I’ll go looking for a book about them.

I especially like that you can download a sample (for free), which is basically the first chapter or two. That gives you an idea of whether or not you really want to buy it. I’ve decided against buying several books after reading through the sample, even though I was initially interested after reading the preface (which is normally all I would read in a bookstore before deciding to buy).

I also like that you can adjust the text size...very helpful.

Personally, I’d recommend getting the 3G, which allows you to download without needing an internet hook up. I’d also recommend getting the cover that has a reading light.

Best of all, the books are much cheaper than buying them at a bookstore.

[herbaru]

Originally Posted by Skybo

=
Personally, I’d recommend getting the 3G, which allows you to download without needing an internet hook up. tore.

What else can you do with the 3G?
Can you read mail through say yahoo or gmail?

Thanks...

[Skybo]

Originally Posted by herbaru

What else can you do with the 3G?
Can you read mail through say yahoo or gmail?

Yes, but it is cumbersome and not user-friendly at all. They need to work on that feature.

[cappyjon431]

My wife and I are voracious readers and when we moved to Panama (which has very few books available in English in either bookstores or public libraries) my wife and I bought Sony Digital Readers which are very similar to Kindles but preceeded them by a couple of years.

We love our Sonys for many of the same reasons that most posters have noted above. I particulaly like being able to increase font size (and avoid wearing my glasses!), the portability of having about 200 books in a package smaller than most paperbacks, and the really long battery life (I presently get about 700 pages before having to recharge the battery). The main advantage for us (and the reason we bought them to begin with) is it allows us to have access to tens of thousands of books while we are out of the country.

When we move back to the States (moving to TV in just over two weeks) we will keep our Sonys until they die and then we will consider changing over to either the Kindle or Nook (a Barnes and Noble product). My wife has researched all three and she is leaning towards the Nook.

It's funny, but I came into the digital book world kicking and screaming. When I taught English at University of North Carolina-Wilmington I had some students who were doing a research project on the advent of digital media (this was pre-digital readers, but books were just beginning to become available online). They interviewed me in my office (on videotape no less) and I loudly proclaimed that I would NEVER enjoy reading a book electronically--I would miss the feel, smell, and comfort of curling up with a genuine "paper" book. Years later I am a digital book convert.

[jackz]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Love my Kindle. I Kindle daily.

Pros:

• Read in any type size that fits your eyes. Easier to read than either print or backlit screen.
  Highlight any word in any text to look it up in dictionary.
  No matter how many things you are reading, it opens each one to where you left off.
  Search any text. Highlight, add note and bookmark pages all easy.
  Virtual books don't take up bookshelves full of space, but you can still keep all your books, magazines, newspapers, etc.
  Lightweight and easy to carry. Take your library with you where ever you go.
  Books are cheap to free and can be shared.
  I'm sure I left some out.

Don't know any cons.

Agree with analysis by PTurner above.

Wife and I each have our own and when one buys a book it can be downloaded to the others kindle.

Wife has cover with the light and enjoys it when reading in bed.

I find I read much more since acquiring the kindle, on average 2 - 3 books per month. You can also lend out any of your books to another person with a kindle or even if they do not have a kindle they can read the book on their computer. The lend period is for 14 days.

In the near future you will be able to borrow kindle books from your local library for 2 week periods.

All in all, the kindle is an outstanding devise and I recommend it highly.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by kyblue

Thinking of getting a Kindle - for those that have them - what do you think? And would you buy it again if you did not have one. Pros/Cons?

Absolutely LOVE our three kindles. Purchased the larger sized Kindle a few Christmases ago for my hubby........he used it daily. This past Father's Day I bought him the smaller Kindle..........ditto. It's lightweight. I recently bought myself one with a different colored cover so that we don't mix them up. Reading light is powered by a battery in the kindle.....ease of ordering a book from Amazon. Nothing not to like about it.

He read "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair (a book I had read back in 1971 and always wanted him to read)......and couldn't put it down. I've never seen him read a book that quickly.......but he said it was very disturbing to him.
The immigrants working in the Chicago meatpacking industry did have it rough.

One nice feature is the "voice". When his eyes would get tired, he'd "listen" to it as he read along. I prefer to just read without the "sound".

I just downloaded "The Emigrants" , a very old book on Swedish immigrants which I will read once our family leaves, but also last evening downloaded "The Help"........which is lighter reading about nannies.

You can set the print size to whatever is comfortable for your eyes.

It's great. After all the years of having books all over the house, this does cut down on the book clutter.......plus you can save so many right on the Kindle. Fine for reading in bright sunlight out on the back deck.

Also, "The Help" was an impulse buy late last evening. It immediately came onto my Kindle. This morning when I checked my emails, the $9 fee was showing on my credit card......saving approx. $14 + off the hardcover version.
The older book was only $8. Many books are FREE.

Once it arrives (very quickly) you have to charge the Kindle by plugging the power adaptor into an electrical outlet.........once that is done, just slide the power switch at the bottom edge of the Kindle and you can read the USERS GUIDE right on the screen...........or read the instruction booklet that comes along in the box. IT IS REALLY SIMPLE. A CHILD COULD DO IT.

You can type in any book you wish to order and read an explanation of it or you can check out the New York Times Best Seller List or the Amazon best seller list........and just HIGHLIGHT the book you want. That's it. It comes right onto your Kindle. It is charged to your Amazon account. If you are a frequent shopper at Amazon.com they will have your information.

It is really a nice invention for those who love to read. The instruction book or on screen instructions are simple and straightforward.

Yes, I would buy them again. They've come down in price, but both of these new ones are the ones with 3G connectivity and Wi-Fi of course.
Do buy the cover as well...........when you order the Kindle.

For more information just GO TO AMAZON.COM and read all the folks' comments. We only know one person who has the Nook and they are thinking of getting the Kindle. Good Luck !

p.s. Hubby just bought TIME MAGAZINE and it was immediately on his KINDLE.

[3puttharry]

Originally Posted by kyblue

Thinking of getting a Kindle - for those that have them - what do you think? And would you buy it again if you did not have one. Pros/Cons?

Don't know much about the kindle and never thought I wanted an ereader THEN fathers day kids gave me the new Color Nook. I LOVE IT.

[vclaes]

Love my Nook Color. I download from my library as often as possible. Anxious for more books to be available through them; however, in the meantime, I continue to appreciate the convenience of instant purchase of a book.

[LELANDJANE]

I agree with all. I LOVE my kindle. One of the best things is always having it in my purse, small and light enough, so when I have a 10 minute wait in an office, etc. I have it. I also read much more than I did before getting it.