talk to me about kindles

[clogged]

How much are books? Can you check them out or share (legally)? Is this going to be bleeding me dry every month if the owner burns through 2-3 books a week?

This would be a kindle purchased in the uk, for use in the netherlands. But there is a house, credit card, etc so if any physical uk presence makes it better, it's covered.

[potatopie]

perfect timing! I'm looking into one as well. though I'm looking to purchase when I go to the States for a visit in July.

Not to highjack the post, but I'd like to add a question of whether a kindle on its own is worth it. I'm debating between ipad or kindle.

[bjelle00]

I have a kindle which I adore and rarely leave home without. I know there are some controversies concerning publishers, amazon and public libraries, etc. I borrow ebooks from my home library in WA and Amazon has a list of free books that changes frequently. I rarely buy books unless there is a specific book I want that the library doesn't have.

Potato Pie: I like the kindle because it isn't backlit like the ipad. BUT this is mostly because I have light sensitivity issues and spending too much time with computers/ipads gives me headaches.

[allibally]

I love my Kindle. I use it exclusively for 97% of my reading. Occasionally I open the Kindle App on my photo to read a chapter. I like that it syncs your book to your devices. When I pick up my kindle later it's moved ahead to my pages.

For book... I get most of them now as library loans from my old hometown library system. The WI library system is awesome! Before they allowed this I read most of the free books. I follow a website that lets you know which ones are free and I just purchase whatever sounds intresting.

I find the book prices expensive especially now that I am back in the US. If I were to move back to a country outside US that would change. English paperback books in Zurich were up to $30!

The kindle for me is small and portable. Doesn't make my hand ache while trying to hold it.

[aMrsin09]

I love my kindle. I still buy physical cook books, but the rest are kindle.

The $ can seem kind of high, but compared to Australian book prices, the kindle is still a bargain

[potatopie]

Hmmm, the backlit thing is convincing me. Computers light really bothers me. And I agree with you ladies that it would be economical compared to book prices here.

[clogged]

The backlightn thing is actually a negative for me. She reads in bed at night so something backlit is more ideal. She also has an ipad- can she swap between the devices? That would solve that problem.

How about daytime viewing- can you read the kindle in full daylight? Like sitting in the sun in the train? You can't see the ipad screen because it's too bright.

Now to check out the free books at amazon!

[dorothyinAus]

You can read the Kindle in full sun. I have read mine outside and in the car with no problems. But I am more a paper book kind of person. I like the Kindle, but e-readers will never be as good as books to me. I have mine registered in the US, so I can take advantage of the Pixel of Ink daily deals and check out the free books. I find the free books are mainly "Christian" fiction, self-published works, and public domain classics, though occasionally there are free books that are worth having.

[allibally]

You can link the ipad and Kindle. Add the Kindle App. Then you could read a chapter on your iPad and then later turn on your kindle and sync to the furthest page read. Really easy!

I have a kindle that has a case with a light. That's what I use to read in bed. No problems in sunlight!

Pixel of Ink is great. Sometimes the free books are hit or miss. But other times I've gotten really great books. Check the daily email each day and you won't miss out! I noticed you said she. Is it for your oldest daughter? They have a Pixel of Ink Young Adult. They actually get some great free choices occasionally.

[allibally]

Oh and some books you can lend out. It depends on the published.

[clogged]

Ok, I'm sold! It would be for the eldest's 13th bday gift (not from me, but from the "buyin' the love" ex. lol). I just wanted to make sure it would be useable and not end up collecting dust.

The link to the app and being able to read in daylight make it perfect for how she would use it. It would be registered either in the UK or here so any USA program we won't be eligible for.

[potatopie]

sold. i'm going order from Amazon so it's waiting for me when I get to the States. Just wish I could have it for the flight over.

[allibally]

May 19, 2012 10:12:59 GMT -5 clogged said:

Ok, I'm sold! It would be for the eldest's 13th bday gift (not from me, but from the "buyin' the love" ex. lol). I just wanted to make sure it would be useable and not end up collecting dust.

The link to the app and being able to read in daylight make it perfect for how she would use it. It would be registered either in the UK or here so any USA program we won't be eligible for. [/quote

So apparently you can just go on the settings on Amazon and change this really easily. You just need an address to put in. Which really won't have anything sent or be used.

So theoretically it could be switched to the US. To get the Pixel of Ink offers. Or switched back to the UK to buy books.

I think you can keep it on the US and even buy with a foreign card.
Either cupcakes or ukyankee have talked about having it set to the US and even buying the books with a UK credit card.

Edit: So while I was in the manage my Kindle looking at this change country thing. I see it tells me I have around 900 books. I think I paid for 10 of them at the most. The rest come free as advertised by Pixel of Ink.

[centralperk]

Just another Kindle-lover chiming in! I love love love mine. And it's definitely far superior to reading on an ipad, the backlighting is so annoying. It's much easier on the eyes to read on a Kindle.

[crimsonandclover]

My list of plus's for my Kindle (I also didn't buy one for a long time because of book prices):

- TONS of free books on amazon, and not just classics with outdated copyrights
- Many libraries in the US now do e-lending, and with the Kindle you can do it from anywhere. I check out book from my hometown US library in Germany (If you need more details on how to do this, you can ask in another thread)
- If you're like some of us and your get a giant accumulation of books because you burn through them so quickly, the Kindle is a great way to keep a handle on that. I move too much to take 3000+ books with me or store them in my little European apartment.
- No back-lighting, as others have said
- DH has a cover with a built-in LED light and is getting me one for my birthday (he already spoiled the surprise b/c he wanted to make sure I like the color. sigh.) so we can read in bed, in a dark car or plane or train, etc
- It's a little heavier than a light novel, but considering some of the books I read on there are 1000+ pages IRL, it's a lot lighter than any of them would be, and it always fits in my purse.
- The search function is really convenient for some books I read (the Bible or more reference-type books)

I don't buy cookbooks or textbooks on my Kindle. Some things really are better on paper.

[pittpurple]

I am late on this but I have a kindle and an ipad and would never give up my kindle. It's fantastic in sunlight.

And it's me who has my account set to US using a UK credit card and address. Never had a problem with it. The books are way cheaper usually on the US site and there are tons more free ones. I have bought books on it (having the 3G version means that I can impulse buy which can be a problem!) but I typically use it to catch up on classics or read random free literature (with varying success).

I actually do use the kindle on my ipad too but mostly because I read on my commute and don't like carrying a kindle and an ipad. For reading more than a half hour at a time, I definitely would use the kindle first, the ipad gives me a headache eventually.

[BluegirlinOz]

I just bought a Kindle Touch from Amazon and it should be arriving tomorrow, but I've been using the Kindle for PC app for some time now and I'm registered in Oz. We just use the USA Amazon site. I've never had any problem getting any USA books so far and I've yet to actually buy a book. I read freebies all the time. You can just search the Amazon site for free books (although I mostly get mine from authors) - authors often have their books listed for free for a few days at a time to promote them.