Amazon Kindle

[Mark J]

So it's my birthday soon (turning 25 for the 21st time - feel free to send presents ), and I couldn't think of what to put on my "list." Finally I came up with the idea of a Kindle. I just got it and it's a pretty cool little contraption. So I wonder, does anyone else have one? What are your impressions? How much do you use it?

- Mark

 

[JatMat]

My daughter got one for Christmas and can not put it down, loves being able to download the books for so much cheaper than paperback or hardcovers. She took it on an Alaskan Cruise and had trouble getting places to download. So not so good for traveling out in the boonies. Other than that, she loves it. BTW: daughter is 43.
Jim

 

[stitchawl]

If you live in the US the Kindle is a very good e-book reader. If you live outside the US it can be a bit of wasted money. About $150 of the cost goes for the wireless download ability, and that is only available in CONUS. Every report I hear about the Kindle gives it good reviews. For more information, advice, free books, free software to convert formats for books, and good camaraderie, check out the 'MobileRead' forums, especially the 'Kindle' forum. Nice folks there!

Personally, I use a Sony 505 as I don't want DRM'd books from Amazon, plus the I prefer the ergonomics of the Sony. But regardless what brand or model e-reader, you certainly can't beat the price of the books! Plus, there are dozens of sites on the Internet (such as Project Gutenberg, public libraries, etc.,) offering hundreds of thousands of free books for download! If you have no objection to 'the darkside,' you can find all the newest titles for free in rapidshare or other torrent sites too. Right now I have 185 books inside my reader (and 978 songs to listen to) so when I finish one book I can immediately start on another, even if I'm on the train. It doesn't weigh any more to carry a lot of books at one time!

I've never read quite so much as I do since I got my e-reader! I can't put it down either! Please enjoy yours!

Stitchawl

 

[stitchawl]

By the way, there are two other folks from BladeForums who post to the MobileRead forums too!!

Not all knife-knuts are knuckle draggers LOL!

Stitchawl

 

[mrmaigo]

Happy 21st, lol

I might just go with the Sony, they have a new touch screen out the end of the month that looks good. Same size screen and price as the Kindle2 but with an SD slot and smaller form factor. Doesn't have the free internet though

 

[Blues]

I put off getting one for a long time but I must say that it has turned out to be a very useful purchase that I get a lot of use from on a daily basis.

Truth be told, I probably could've gotten by without the whispernet service since I tend to download the books to a program on my laptop and then transfer them via USB when I'm ready.
(But that's primarily because I'm downloading "free" books online for the most part. When I want to purchase a book from amazon, the whispernet service is a convenience though not a necessity.)

 

[m_calingo]

Barnes and Noble offers a similar program where ebooks can be downloaded to your iPod, blackberry, or PC. No additional hardware required.

I'm holding off on getting a Kindle until the prices come down even more.

 

[tedwca]

I use the Kindle app on my iPod and I love it. I may never buy a real book again, unless the book has color images in it.

 

[stitchawl]

Every day I download another 5-10 free books from the Internet. Today I loaded four Dorothy L. Sayers mysteries (Lord Peter Wimsey series) from Project Gutenberg Canada, and 5 "Bulldog Drummond" stories from there as well. Before getting an e-book reader I read about 1.5 books a week. Since, I read almost three books a week. It's nice to have the luxury of choosing 'the next book' without having to run back to the book store. I keep a good variety inside the reader. And if I don't care for a book after the first few chapters, I have no regrets about dumping it and starting another. With most of the better e-book readers you have a 'bookmark' feature so you can read several books at the same time. The reader keeps your place and opens the book you want to read at the correct page automatically.

Stitchawl

 

[Gollnick]

I use the Kindle app on my iPod and I love it. I may never buy a real book again, unless the book has color images in it.

My younger brother basically reads for a living. He has a kindle, but has abandon it in favor of the kindle ap on his iPod Touch (iPhone without the phone.) An iPod Touch is a lot cheaper and can do a lot of other stuff.