Edumacate me on Kindle

[scottmandue]

Out of the blue wife starts asking questions about the Kindle.

Anyone here have one? Do you like it?

Says it uses Wifi and 3G, do you pay a monthly charge for the 3G?

She thinks she can use the Wifi at her work... I told her she might need a password for that... If they even have Wifi at her work.

Live long and prosper!

[dd74]

Lost mine on a flight to Detroit.

Before that, it was cool, fast downloads and nice easy to read pages.

Since I lost mine, I've since found there's a Kindle app for the iPhone and iPod which allows you to use it in the same way as a Kindle. It works surprisingly well. The text can be made larger or smaller, and the page turning is simple drag and drop. I use it on an iPod Touch, and can't see going back to an actual Kindle machine.

FWIW, I do hear Kindles are super cheap these days.

[azasadny]

I think we're going to get our daughter a Kindle for Christmas this year...

[jjone20]

Wifey got one for Xmas last year from the big spender (me). Loves it. For an avid reader, the cost savings over paper is significant. They even tell you when your favorite authors have new releases. She's taken it everywhere, beach, racetrack, etc. Downside - it's kind of hard to get her to put it down. If you know what I mean.

[Amail]

Got one for my missus last Christmas. She tried it for a while, but could never get comfortable with it. We returned it and she's back to regular old books again.

[holtjv]

Just ordered the new 139.00 one and should receive it friday. The cheapest one is wifi only and the 189.00 has wireless and wifi. You do not pay for the wireless--it's included in the price of the book you buy.

I finally broke down when the price came down. My primary objection to any electronic book was/is that you don't have the tactile feedback that you're almost done with the book when you're nearing the end--and thus anticipating the plot rolling up. Know what I mean?

But, after giving away stacks of books 2x/year I thought I'd give it a try. That, and reading in bed should be easier without having to pry open a paperback with one hand.

We'll see..

[masraum]

< edit > Read holtjv's post above regarding pricing for the 3G vs Wifi models. < /edit >

Kindle, 2 sizes, 6" (a little bigger than the biggest phones) and 9.7" (same as an ipad).

Small size, <$150.
Big size $400

3G is free (you can download books any where, any time for free. (Many/most books are $10, prices seem to range from $6-15. I think Amazon rolls the price of the 3G into the book prices. OLD books are free, I think the date is late 1800s.

Kindles use a black/gray LCD, so no backlight, so no reading in the dark (she can't read if you turned out the lights and went to sleep).

Just for comparison.

iPad, they are all 9.7", color, backlit screen (you can read in the dark). Cheapest one (no 3G) is $500, and you have to use WIFI for downloads. If you want 3G, add $130 plus the monthly fee. I hear that reading in bright sunlight is pretty much impossible (no reading at the pool, unlike the kindle).

There is a free Kindle app for the ipad. It's pretty awesome. There's also a free Nook app (Barnes and Noble version of Kindle) and an app from Apple called iBook. You can read PDFs or books purchased from the itunes store.

If you're going to get the small screen Kindle, it seems like a pretty good deal, but you can only read stuff, but it's <$150.

If you want the big new Kindle (DX model, I think) then you're an idiot to NOT get the iPad. For $400 you can get the big Kindle, only read books, and have free 3G. For $500, you can get the ipad, read books, play games, surf the web, write documents, access/control your PC, spreadsheets, etc.... You loose the free 3G. Not to mention, the ipad comes with 16Gig of storage, the big Kindle comes with 4G of storage.

[id10t]

Except you don't own the books, and Amazon can (and has) retract books for any reason at any time.

Do it up and get a super smart phone. Dunno if the iPhone has a e book reader, but I'd get a Nokia N900 if I could... Nokia N900 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[masraum]

Originally Posted by id10t

Except you don't own the books, and Amazon can (and has) retract books for any reason at any time.

Do it up and get a super smart phone. Dunno if the iPhone has a e book reader, but I'd get a Nokia N900 if I could... Nokia N900 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dunno, I have perfect vision, but I don't think I'd want to read books on ANY smart phone that exists today. I could see a little smaller than the iPad being OK. I've got an iPad. I think it's a great size and love being able to use it around the house.

[Dottore]

I love my kindle. I read a lot, and the kindle has eliminated the need to bring an extra bag full of books along on travels.

And no, it won't be replaced by iPhones and iPads and such for the simple reason that the battery life is so sensational—and you can read it outdoors—and you have access to the whole Amazon library (almost).

And there's nothing quite like getting your Herald Tribune every morning without even leaving the bed.

[campbellcj]

I have the 2nd gen small version and really love it, especially for traveling. I don't have time to read much anymore when not traveling so I have gotten into audiobooks lately which I listen to ("read") in the car. My Kindle is loaded up with probably 2+ years worth of reading backlog at this point.

The free 3G, battery life, simplicity and high-contrast/low-glare screen really differentiate the Kindle from multifunction devices like the iPad that can also act as e-readers.

Interestingly, the e-ink screen actually requires a strong light source to be easily legible which is a negative IMO for folks who primarily read in bed or on airplanes, which is what I found myself doing quite a bit. I carry a small battery-powered booklight, but that's just another thing to carry and feed batteries. +1 for backlit LCD devices in that regard.

[azasadny]

My wife and daughter read constantly and I thought they would both like the Kindle because of the "back light" feature. I'm always on them about having adequate light for reading.

[cstreit]

I love mine. My first charge (because I turn the 3G off when not using it) lasted 2 months. I read every day.

Pluses (vs paper book and iPad):

1. Read in bright sunlight. The more light the better
2. Battery lasts forevah with the 3G turned off
3. Tons of free books. I've only bought 3, but have read over 25 since I bought it.
4. Light weight, simple to use
5. Screen is amazingly like paper, no glare
6. Cost, way less than the iPad (hey, I have a laptop already)

Minuses:
1. Black screened my first one. Hoping it doesn't happen again
2. No low-light reading (but only an advantage of the iPad
3. Even reading blogs and newspapers costs a fair bit.


Overall I'm quite happy with it. Have used it every day. I don't need the gizmos of the iPad. (Not that I don't love a good gadget). ...but the book cost can add up fast, lots of free books available.

[Steve Viegas]

It is cool. I have one. Much easier on the eyes than a screen that emits light. Of course, this means you need a light if you want to read at night.

Yesterday I purchased my wife a Sony ebook reader. Target is blowing them out. I cannot compare the two as we spent last night charging it and have not used it yet.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Dottore

I love my kindle. I read a lot, and the kindle has eliminated the need to bring an extra bag full of books along on travels.

And no, it won't be replaced by iPhones and iPads and such for the simple reason that the battery life is so sensational—and you can read it outdoors—and you have access to the whole Amazon library (almost).

And there's nothing quite like getting your Herald Tribune every morning without even leaving the bed.

Battery life on the iPad is good, but not nearly as good, and yes, the iPad isn't good in bright sunlight, but it is good in the dark. On the iPad, you also have access to the same books and publications that are available on the Kindle.

[scottmandue]

Thanks, lots of good info...

I'm hard core PC... but stopped at the mall and played with a iPad... very cool and I want one but need another gadget like a hole in the head.

Also feel like monthly charges are slowly nickle and dime bleeding me to death. Not going to activate my XM radio on my new car for just that reason.

So if the Kindle is a one time purchase that is a winner for me.

Wife said she doesn't need one, just thinking about it... but she emailed me the link... and her birthday is next month... need I say more?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by azasadny

My wife and daughter read constantly and I thought they would both like the Kindle because of the "back light" feature. I'm always on them about having adequate light for reading.

No backlight on a Kindle, so you'll still be fussing at them. I'm the same way with my wife. Her eyes are already bad and she continues to read in crappy light. She's even considered getting/using an iPad for the backlight.

Originally Posted by cstreit

I love mine. My first charge (because I turn the 3G off when not using it) lasted 2 months. I read every day.

That's pretty amazing.

Pluses (vs paper book and iPad):

1. Read in bright sunlight. The more light the better
2. Battery lasts forevah with the 3G turned off
3. Tons of free books. I've only bought 3, but have read over 25 since I bought it.

Have you checked out Gutenberg.org and some of the other free ebook sites? They'll be mostly old classics, but there are a bunch of them.

6. Cost, way less than the iPad (hey, I have a laptop already)

As long as you aren't talking about the DX

Minuses:
2. No low-light reading (but only an advantage of the iPad
3. Even reading blogs and newspapers costs a fair bit.

Overall I'm quite happy with it. Have used it every day. I don't need the gizmos of the iPad. (Not that I don't love a good gadget). ...but the book cost can add up fast, lots of free books available.

I have to say, I'm surprised that the ebooks/newspapers/magazines are so expensive. I'd have thought that they'd be considerably cheaper, but they aren't.


Kindle vs iPad in the sun.


You can read magazines in color on the iPad which is nice. I just converted my Road & Track and National Geographic subscriptions to digital subscriptions. Not all magazines are available digitally yet.

[Pazuzu]

Consider some of the other versions. We have the Sony Reader. Cheaper and smaller. No WiFi, but honestly, how often do you sit somewhere and say "dammit, I want to read XYZ right now!"? Sue loaded a bunch of public domain books (pretty much anything older than 1925) for free. The Reader can handle lots of formats (dunno if the Kindle does pdf, for example). She got a library card and can e-borrow books for 2 weeks at a time. All those books that you say "one day, I'm going to read this or that classic"...well, sit down, download a pile of them, and you'll actually read them.

There's also one from Barne's and Noble, but it seems restrictive (but, if you spend time and money there anyways, it's an option).

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Consider some of the other versions. We have the Sony Reader. Cheaper and smaller. No WiFi, but honestly, how often do you sit somewhere and say "dammit, I want to read XYZ right now!"? Sue loaded a bunch of public domain books (pretty much anything older than 1925) for free. The Reader can handle lots of formats (dunno if the Kindle does pdf, for example). She got a library card and can e-borrow books for 2 weeks at a time. All those books that you say "one day, I'm going to read this or that classic"...well, sit down, download a pile of them, and you'll actually read them.

There's also one from Barne's and Noble, but it seems restrictive (but, if you spend time and money there anyways, it's an option).

Does the Sony work off free 3G like the Kindle?

[Pazuzu]

No, the Sony doesn't have any wireless. You use a usb cable to grab stuff off of your computer. If she really want the wireless, then the Kindle is probably the more mature one.


edit: Looks like sony has their high end model with wireless, but it's big and expensive. The charm in the Sony's is that they're cheaper than the Kindle, and can handle a bit more formats.