Thread: To Kindle or Not to Kindle?

I have never tried one of these, or even seen one. TD poster Rawlins suggested Kindle as a possible solution to the dearth of bookstores in the Philippines. I went on Amazon, and the Kindle Fire looked pretty neat, and at a great price. It was looking good until I read a review saying don't buy it if you live outside of the US, as you can't access the store or lots of other stuff. Can TD Kindle owner/operators give me any words of wisdom? I am low on the computer literacy scale, and am basically looking for something to read books or watch movies and old TV shows on that is not too complicated. Thoughts? Especially as to having problems accessing stuff from overseas. Thanks.

It is a no-brainer Davis because they have become so cheap.

You can afford to buy one just to see if you like it.

Once you try a regular Kindle you will never go back to carrying heavy paper books around with you anymore.

It is just like reading from regular paper and print.

^That was kind of my feeling. At $200, if I don't like it, I'll just give it to one of my kids. What was worrying, however, was the review stating that you couldn't access parts of it unless you were in the US. That type of stuff frustrates me, and generally pisses me off. That review was for the Kindle Fire, which otherwise looked really good.

I think the Kindle Fire has a backlit screen. For the real benefit of this device you need the regular black and white Kindle which looks like paper. You can read it on the beach or in the park or anywhere bright and sunny.

Get it. My kids school gives them one. It is so easy and cheap. Think of when you travel. Let the kids use it as well if they are into reading. Between an excellent, stern, and somewhat eccentric teacher and a Kindle they have learned to love to read.

I am old fashioned guy but when I saw the thing in action I was a convert. As I am to the wifes new I Pad. Lars showed us an app that you take it outside at night and hold it up and it becomes a planetarium. Each star, its relationship to earth the constellations. I am blown away by these two in particular, but just think when Davis and I were 10 the transistor had not been invented, nor the hand held calculator. Phones were rotary, and TV was black and white. What the hell is a satellite? What the Russians did it first!!!

Like others have said here basic kindle best for books
it,s not back lit so you can read it outside even in the sun
and that's all it can do,.
so no distractions ,ie wanting to check your email.
I have not seen the Fire -guess its best for colour mags and movies.

Loads of free books on the internet, for example that author you recommended
James Lee Burke
I downloaded 24 of his books ,for free from bit torrents sites
which you can do from where you are
I'm not great on computers either
but managed to master it easy enough
and plenty of people here to help if you have any problems '

To kindle meens you are a dipshit that pays for everything...

Originally Posted by bsnub

To kindle meens you are a dipshit that pays for everything...

Kids in High School, books they have to read and books they want to read. The school gives a free Kindle with all the books they have to read in it. They buy the books they want to read, as then they can keep them.

For me its win win, for any other parent as well that cant afford the cost of high school, and university course reading these days. Free from the school, free from a torrent or about a buck a book. It adds up especially when you have twins.

You are going to travel for a few months. One Kindle equal 20 magazines, and 6 books for the cost of a hardback and a couple of new editions. Like I said I am old fashioned, but they are the way forward in education, especially with the cost cutting going on.

Books you want to read and keep and savor will always be there to be loved. I sure as hell hope so anyway.

^ With Premium you can borrow books from other owners. I think BSnub's idea of a book has dots in it with numbers next to them.

Originally Posted by bsnub

To kindle meens you are a dipshit that pays for everything...

Your ignorance seems to know no bounds.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

^ With Premium you can borrow books from other owners. I think BSnub's idea of a book has dots in it with numbers next to them.

harry, if the school agrees can you do that service with the basic Amazon Kindle?

They don't look very big for 'long time' reading or am i looking at the wrong thing??

Amazon.co.uk: kindle books Kindle Devices

^

The 6" screen is about the size of a standard paperback page- I can read from one for hours.

Originally Posted by aging one

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

^ With Premium you can borrow books from other owners. I think BSnub's idea of a book has dots in it with numbers next to them.

harry, if the school agrees can you do that service with the basic Amazon Kindle?

OK, having delved further you can borrow a book a month if you have Amazon Prime, and in the US you can borrow from Libraries that offer the service.

You can only borrow stuff that is "Loan enabled" by the publisher.

So it's unlikely that a Phils school would offer this service.

But having said that, there are a ton of free books online (some out of copyright, such as the Gutenberg Project, others cracked).

Don't get the fire, as the others have said, standard kindle. Weighs less than a paperback, mine currently holds 1500 books, battery lasts about 2-4 weeks between charges. I haven't paid a cent for any book.

It does not do colour, it does not do pictures well. Basically for reading words.

Last question: It looks like the Kindle Touch is the way to go. What's the difference between a $99 Kindle Touch Wi-Fi and a $149 Kindle Touch 3G plus WiFi? Sorry, but don't know what 3G is/does. Should I pay the extra $50? Is 3G something I should have? Will this charge on 220, or do I have to get an adapter? Thanks to all.

3G is internet for mobile devices (generally used when there is no wifi connection available)- if you have wifi you don't need it.

The Kindle will charge through your computer's USB port- 220v is no problem.

You should buy the cheaper version without 3G. To download books all you need is a wi-fi connection. The extra money paid for mobile Internet connection with 3G is in no way justified as downloading outside a wi-fi area is not an essential need.

The original Kindle, as said above, is easily the best. Don't be tempted to buy a light for the Kindle. It's not supposed to be read in bed under the clothes You should invest in a leather case to prevent it from damage if dropped. My Kindle is absolutely brilliant and I have over 2000 books on it. Its ability to download via wi-fi meant that I could visit Gulliver's in Bangkok and download my copy of The Times newspaper at 2.00 pm each day.

Originally Posted by blue

I downloaded 24 of his books ,for free from bit torrents sites

I'm gonna have to pick me up one of these.

I love the bookshelf full of books in my living room, and actually reading a paper book, but here in Thailand with relatively limited sources, being able to download most books, presumably in a few minutes is too good not to get in to.

Cheers.

Do you connect it to your computer through a USB port like an iPod, to load stuff onto it?

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

don't know what 3G is/does

The Kindle does also have a browser and the 3G connection (which works anywhere for free) means you can surf the net/check your email anywhere for free.

But the standard Kindle does not do surfing very well because there is no mouse or pointing device and the keyboard is not very good. I don't know much about the Fire but maybe the 3G connection would be better value option on that device.

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Do you connect it to your computer through a USB port like an iPod, to load stuff onto it?

Yes

Cool. It looks like the $99 one is the way to go. Many thanks to all for their excellent input. Sounds like even I can figure this out. I love my books, but with over 1,500 in the house, my floor to ceiling bookcases in my office are full, as are the bookcases scattered elsewhere around the house. It's a big house, but I'm running out of bookcase room. Guess I need to jump forward a century.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Phils

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

But having said that, there are a ton of free books online (some out of copyright, such as the Gutenberg Project, others cracked).

Whats is Phils, my kids go to a British school here studying IGCSE's

Thats good advice thanks. I have to find out if they can download off campus as they were given them for course reading work. But for the I pad thanks. sorry... 555

^Phils = Philippines. He was working off of my post.