I really love books, but am really running out of room for them (and I can't get rid of them). My wife has said I can get a Kindle if it means not buying books that we don't have room for. On the fence about it - feel like it's cheating somehow. Anybody here have one, opinions about them?
I just went through this two weeks ago. Finally broke down and picked up the Kindle. Great decision. I am simply amazed at the quality of the text and the comfort of holding it, not to mention the instant access to new books. The strangeness of reading my favorite authors in electronic format wore off in about 45 minutes.
I love old, dusty out-of-print books and there are still plenty of new books I will physically buy, but the Kindle is well worth it.
Did you get the big one or the little one?
I picked up the newest 6'' ($139), wifi only. The 3G one didn't seem worth an extra $50 to me. There are alot of options for text size/spacing on it so I'm able to get it set just how I like it.
So it's basically paperback size? Gonna go with that one, don't need 3G.
Yep, paperback sized, maybe oversized paperback
The wife's an avid reader and we have and full book cases all over the house. She picked one up a while ago and really digs it. The only minor complaints she's had is that the 9.7" may have been a bit nicer to wield and the no back-light thing is kinda sucky.
Received the 3G one at Xmas. I love books and was a bit skeptical, but wow, it's really a cool thing. It's as thin as can be and doesn't weigh much at all. petrerlies is right, it's really comfortable to use, you can adjust the fonts, text size, rotate the screen and all kinds of cool stuff.( it will even read aloud to you if you are too lazt to actually read) Built in dictionary(s) and thesaurus that are easy to use. (I can finally know what the big word I read really means and not use it too out of context when trying to impress) The lack of back light is, I supposre, a drag, but then again, I never had a book that was back lit. It's also really cool to look at. By that I mean the screen isn't like looking at a computer screen. It's electronic ink on electronic paper. Don't ask me what that means, but rest assured, it's easy on the eyes. Also, if you like to read in bed, or while reclining, it can't be beat. So light and easy to turn the 'pages'.
My girlfriend (who bought it for me) is way more into technology than I am, and decided to go with the 3G. From what I can tell, the main advantage is being able to download stuff anywhere. You don't have to be in a wi-fi type zone. Oh yeah, besides books, you can get magazines and blogs and it's also an mp3 player. It can surf the web and there is no monthly or extra fee for being 3G. When my g-friend started asking me if I wanted one, I was fairly skeptical and was pretty much against it. I love books and only use a cell phone as a phone. I figured this would be some goofy ass gadget that would just make me mad. This was one time where I am happy to be wrong. I love books and the asthetics of reading one. I am just as stoked on the Kindle. Shit, you can put the fucker in the inner pocket of a jean jacket and not even knoew it's there. I no longer feel impatient when anyone or anything is delaying my deal, as I always have something to read with me now, and it's super compact and convienant.
Whoa, sorry for the sales pitch. (kinda caffinated) I think either way you go, you'll be stoked. Let us know what you decide deaner33. I'd be interested in what you think about it.
Well I probably won't get one until June for my b'day. I could have gotten one now, but needed a new cell phone more and honestly I have at least 25 books I still need to read before I get one. Saw the 3G model at the cell phone store - looks to be a good size, but will get the model without 3G.
deaner33--if you get the chance, pick one up and give it a test run and see what we mean about the weight and versitility.
I fooled around a little with the one at the store. It's so light it almost feels like a toy. I do like the electronic ink screen-although I wish it did color (but then again, most novels ain't in color). I'll get one, just depends on finances and the mood of the old lady. The only question I have about them now is the durability - didn't really seem that flimsy, but it's so light...
Well...as a lifelong klutz/stoner, I have to say that I have droped mine a few times already with no adverse reaction. I do have a cover on it when I'm lugging it around (usually in my backpack) and it's taken some abuse in transit. Again, no problem at all. Not sure how it would hold up to getting wet or submerged. Then again, my girlfriend (knowing my spastic ways) also included an extended warranty on mine.
I know what you mean about the color thing. Some books like the Keith Richards bio had a series of color pictures and I was glad I had the book version because of that. On the other hand, many of the other books--in particularly music bios--that I have on the Kindle, reproduce the pictures in pretty fucking sharp quality. In the end, I think as a reader, you will strike a balance with both "real" books and stuff on a Kindle and be stoked to have such a handy device.
http://kinboox.com/
Book lending site for your kindle.
Thanks dg!
I'm still learning about places like that. Apprieciate the link.
No prob. I don't have an eReader but I happen to run across an article that mentioned that link. Also I heard Public Libraries are uploading their books for rental. No more late fees.
Well I pulled the trigger today - it should be here Tuesday. Now to decide which book to put on it first...
Killer!
From what I've gleaned here, you are a reader and I think you will totally dig this gadget.
Let us know man.
Ha! For some reason that is amusing - guess there are so few readers nowadays. I like the idea of having a couple (or more) of books on there at a time cause I always seem to be reading a couple of books around the house now.
Damn, I wish the Goldmine priceguide book was available for it...
So how does it work with computers and phones? If you get the Kindle version, you can look the book on all of your devices?
Well it came in today, first book ordered/downloaded is Game of Thrones. Away I go...
I just wanted to point the one issue I've had with the Kindle is I used it for a book for college and when it came time to write a literary analysis of said book the Kindle currently has no page numbers and it takes awhile to page to what you need so I had to rebuy the book. That being said I abosolutely love mine but if any of you are in college I might hold off on buying your books to read until they add at least page numbers. I had a bunch of passages highlighted for my papers and I had to re-look all of them up.
Hey deaner33
How's it going with the Kindle?
Inquiring minds and all that.
Absolutely no complaints so far. Reading Game Of Thrones right now. It's the only book I've bought for it so far, but I've loaded a lot of the free classics available. Charged it when I got it, have been reading it about half an hour a night for the last 2 weeks and the battery is at 3/4ths strength. Love the screen and it works well in all of the lighting situations I've been in.
Highly recommended.
Cool!
Good to hear that Man. I have been digging mine and I'm stoked to know that it's working out for y'all.
The only thing that is irritating is that there are still plenty of books not available on the Kindle (true crime books especially), but that may not be Amazon's/Kindle's fault.
Yeah, I have been bugged at that a little. I figure since this is a somewhat new technology it may be a while for everything to be on there. I also wonder if publishers pay attention when people click that button saying that it will inform the publisher that folks want it in Kindle form, or if that's some sort of placation type thing.
Usually I don't mind, as I still enjoy a "real" book.
I sure click that button every time. I think the problem with true crime books are that for the most part they a paperback only releases done on the cheap. Probably not much incentive to put those on a Kindle. I've been meaning to check for guitar tab books for the Kindle - seems like it would work well for that, but who knows?
I love real books, but we are really out of room for them. I've been toying with the idea of sending some of my old books to Amazon for gift cards. They pay for postage and I've got tons of boxes and packing material.
Genius!
I did not know they do that.
Thanks for that tip. I dig how amongst the jackassery and whatnot, I still learn stuff by hanging out here.
They buy back some DVD's too. Pennies on the dollar, but nowhere local buys books or DVD's & it ain't worth ebaying most of the shit I have. Figure I send enough back to get some blu-rays or CD's.
"...but nowhere local buys books or DVD's & it ain't worth ebaying most of the shit I have..."
Same thing out here. Thanks again for the suggestion. Pennies on the dollar beat paying to store the archives.
I have an iPad I load books on...love it! Sucks to move with sooo many books...I finally had to get rid of them...and on an iPad I can make the print larger.
...and on an iPad I can make the print larger.
Perhaps one of the most attractive features of the Kindle, for my poor, bi-focal-needing eyes.
I love reading novels via Kindle app on iPad and iPhone. Life changer.
My sister gave me that Steve Martin paper book and it references a lot of art - I find myself thinking of getting the ebook version so I can do what I normally do - look up stuff on the Google that intrigues me. Paper books suck now. Need glasses on. Need the light on.
Quote from: mertz on January 16, 2012, 10:52:15 PM
I have an iPad I load books on...love it! Sucks to move with sooo many books...I finally had to get rid of them...and on an iPad I can make the print larger.
You shouldn't have to use reading glasses for these. they should make the print adjustable therefore deleting the need for glasses. Do they use this as a marketing tool?
Maybe in the future they will make windshields like this too.
Picked one up today and am loving it so far. Downloaded Conan's "Red Nails" and the H.P. Lovecraft collection for free through Amazon.
I was a little skeptical of Kindles at first, since I love to have physical copies of my books. But once I ran out of bookshelf space, and my apartment space is getting a bit cramped, and bookshelf was not an option, I gave in and bought it. Don't regret it so far.
just picked one up with leftover birthday money, and a gift card i really had no use for (office max?)
all sorts of excited to dig into this.
I was thinking - back in the day, it was a mission to sneak the Ayn Rand rubbish out of the girlfriend's bookcase (and female friends) and throw them out went they weren't looking.
Now you can delete it to to archive page and then delete out of the archive. The perfected crime.
If you get an Amazon Prime subscription you get access to their lending library of a billion free books. iPad has a bunch of Apps that give you free access to 1000s of classics.
It's a nice resource to poke around in famous novels without getting committed to owning the damn thing or pretending you're going to finish it.
I have maybe a 100 sitting on my iPad waiting for some downtime. I actually bought a Kafka, Don Qouitxe, and a Proust to upgrade from the public domain versions to a better translation or version. How about that? Wonder who gets the money.
What do you think of Kindle Singles and Apple's new iPublisher thing? Write a novella and make yourself a million dollars. Field is still wide open for now. I've purchased a few essays and rather like it.
Do any of your books ever misfire? The footnotes are broken on the one I am reading now.
I like the singles deal. I can read articles from magazines without having to get the whole magazine or check out some fancy pants essay. Not bad for just a few cents. I also have had some books "misfire". Sometimes it's the font and other times it'll bookmark something that I didn't bookmark (or maybe i was screwing things up when using the dictionary).
I went to look for free books for kindle on Amazon and I couldn't figure it out.
With Kindel singles, no matter how I sorted it they all looked uninteresting or stupid.
On iPad - The free books app and iBooks easily click to 1000s of them effortlessly.
Quote from: MadJohnShaft on February 06, 2012, 09:36:02 PM
I went to look for free books for kindle on Amazon and I couldn't figure it out.
With Kindel singles, no matter how I sorted it they all looked uninteresting or stupid.
On iPad - The free books app and iBooks easily click to 1000s of them effortlessly.
I had the same issue...I'll try iBooks. What other sources do you use?
The Library - our local library has ebooks that you read on the blue fire app.
Quote from: mertz on February 06, 2012, 09:43:46 PM
I had the same issue...I'll try iBooks. What other sources do you use?
torrents.
One day the iPad kicked all of my stolen books out of iBooks. Those Nazis! I buy books instead of stealing them like music.
Having a kindle rocks. Public domain books all over the place. I haven't shilled out the money for the prime membership yet, but it's definitely worth the annual fee. I've only payed full price for one book so far. Ton's of kindle versions of history, philosophy and just in general classic literature. All the best ones!
Yeah, I got a prime membership and got it back in shipping and books quickly
Quote from: MadJohnShaft on July 02, 2012, 08:39:02 PM
Yeah, I got a prime membership and got it back in shipping and books quickly
Hey, we actually agree. Prime is the way to go.
I pre-ordered a Kindle Paperwhite cause it looks cool and the backlight thing is appealing. Plus the one I use is my kid's and he wants it back.
(http://cdn2.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/kindle-paperwhite-specs.jpg)
Edit: got it yesterday, it's really nice and the one to get. The light makes all the difference.
Paperwhite vs. Nook Simple Touch w/ GlowLight
Convince me one way or the other! GO GO GO!
Amazon is taking over the world. Go with that.
Quote from: The Bandit on November 20, 2012, 04:03:09 PM
Amazon is taking over the world. Go with that.
But it's got ads and shit. $20 to turn 'em off. Gets my dang ol' goat, that does. >:(
It has an Ad on the off screen, not really intrusive at all....
I like the paperwhite, it's really nice.
Quote from: MadJohnShaft on November 20, 2012, 04:41:47 PM
It has an Ad on the off screen, not really intrusive at all....
I like the paperwhite, it's really nice.
Too bad they don't they don't have a trade in deal to upgrade. I would send in my regular kindle and 1st gen Fire to get the paperwhite and the Fire HD.
WTFAMAZON
"We have good news! We're able to get this part of your order to you faster than we originally promised:"
Not good news, now my wife's kindle paperwhite will be sitting at her Grandma's house for three weeks instead of wrapped under our tree.
>:(