CAJUNLAWYER
Member
ANyone have one? Pluses-minuses.
What's this "Kindle" thingy???
- Thread starter CAJUNLAWYER
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I think it's one of those eelectronic book thingies....
Looks kind'a like an I-Pad, if I'm not mistaken. Say you wanna read Tom Sawyer; just type in "Tom Sawyer" and there it is on the screen.
I've never actually held one in hand, so I might be off on this.
Looks kind'a like an I-Pad, if I'm not mistaken. Say you wanna read Tom Sawyer; just type in "Tom Sawyer" and there it is on the screen.
I've never actually held one in hand, so I might be off on this.
rewster
Member
I have the Barnes & Noble "Nook". Same idea. Very convenient holding the thing and changing pages. However !!
The ebooks were originally supposed to be up to $9.99 but now you have to pay as much as $14.99 with a lot at $12.99 for new releases. This is usually only a few dollars less than the hardcover.
I read a lot of history (Civil War/Custer/French & Indian War, etc) and there is always a lot of back and forth among the pages to re-read a section or check a fact and it is difficult to find specific passages. I've found it good for fiction.
It will be good for vacation which is coming up shortly.
The ebooks were originally supposed to be up to $9.99 but now you have to pay as much as $14.99 with a lot at $12.99 for new releases. This is usually only a few dollars less than the hardcover.
I read a lot of history (Civil War/Custer/French & Indian War, etc) and there is always a lot of back and forth among the pages to re-read a section or check a fact and it is difficult to find specific passages. I've found it good for fiction.
It will be good for vacation which is coming up shortly.
Sir, it's a book that requires batteries. 
I suppose it makes sense if you're really cramped for space but still want access to a bunch of books, but otherwise it just seems silly.
JMHO, FWIW.
Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.
Ron H.
I suppose it makes sense if you're really cramped for space but still want access to a bunch of books, but otherwise it just seems silly.
JMHO, FWIW.
Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.
Ron H.
Andy Griffith
Member
Do you lose all the books when the hard drive goes?
I can get all the used books I want for cheap.
Until they have the SCSW in electronic format, I ain't gett'n one. Even then, I'd use my 'puter.
I can get all the used books I want for cheap.
Until they have the SCSW in electronic format, I ain't gett'n one. Even then, I'd use my 'puter.
NFrameFred
Member
It's an electronic device vainly designed to tempt the non-reading generation to read, that will store thousands of books and lose them all when it fails . . . . .
nicky4968
Member
My son (20 years old) has one made by the Apple people, I forget the name. The technology is incredible. Many textbooks that cost $50-$300 can be had for under $10 over the internet (things where the copyright has expired). He can take notes on it by typing (a touch-keyboard appears on the screen, QWERTY format) during class and store them on a server separate from the device itself. If he loses the device, or it's stolen, he doesn't lose his papers or class notes.
You question was about the Kindle; my response is only dealing with the technology itself. I don't know what's available on the Kindle that's not on the Apple or the other way around. I want one desperately.
You question was about the Kindle; my response is only dealing with the technology itself. I don't know what's available on the Kindle that's not on the Apple or the other way around. I want one desperately.
My wife gave me one for Christmas when they first came out, despite me telling her that I didn't want one. (I am technically challenged...as well as just about any-other-thing-challenged.) I tried it to keep from hurting her feelings, and found that I liked it. You can store an amazing number of books on it, it is easy to use, you can adjust the font size so that you don't have to wear reading glasses, it remembers where you were when you want to change books, and so on. It does not lose your books if something happens to it; they are maintained online. There are a lot of free books available, including a good many of the classics. Battery life is very good. It is very portable and easy to carry.
The downsides (for me): some authors are not available for the Kindle, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who is or who isn't. Most of what I want to read has been available, but not all. I also like to keep hardcover editions of books I really like, so in some cases I've bought a Kindle edition and then later bought a hardcover edition. That is not completely a negative, though, since I can read a new book from some of my favorite authors on the Kindle as soon as it is released at a price lower than new hardcovers cost, and then later I can buy the hardcover edition either used or at lower cost when they have been out a while, and the total cost isn't much more than the new hardcover would be.
I really like mine, but several other versions are available now...you may want to do some comparisons.
The downsides (for me): some authors are not available for the Kindle, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who is or who isn't. Most of what I want to read has been available, but not all. I also like to keep hardcover editions of books I really like, so in some cases I've bought a Kindle edition and then later bought a hardcover edition. That is not completely a negative, though, since I can read a new book from some of my favorite authors on the Kindle as soon as it is released at a price lower than new hardcovers cost, and then later I can buy the hardcover edition either used or at lower cost when they have been out a while, and the total cost isn't much more than the new hardcover would be.
I really like mine, but several other versions are available now...you may want to do some comparisons.
cowboy117
Member
Another reason to get your money,IMHO.Get a used book.On a related note,all of the younger people text constantly.They walk around holding phones.What do you think they are doing while driving? ;(
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venomballistics
Member
I looked at this thread and thought "hey ... that would be rather handy at the electronics bench loaded with a pile of reference texts"
you think $14.99 sucks ... Ive seen a few titles tipping the scales at $240 !!!!!!!!!!!!
There's no hard drive, it's flash memory like a camera. Chance of failure next to nothing, and you can always back it up to your computer. Titles you have purchased you can re-download for free.
I have several hundred books on mine. I think two of them cost me anything. Lots of free stuff. Great to have a large choice of reading at your fingertips when traveling without lugging a stack of paper. Batteries? If I have the wireless turned off (which I usually do) I normally go two weeks on a a charge. Great little device.
I have several hundred books on mine. I think two of them cost me anything. Lots of free stuff. Great to have a large choice of reading at your fingertips when traveling without lugging a stack of paper. Batteries? If I have the wireless turned off (which I usually do) I normally go two weeks on a a charge. Great little device.
I have one, and like it. It will fit in my cargo pants. You can order books and they show up instantly. I think better for fiction, as someone else says, than for something you want to study, because i don't think flipping around in it, or studying pix or charts, is easy. It is monochromatic. It does not do anything other than let you read books so, no phone, email, or internet. It's great for someone living in a remote area (if there is cell acess) or abroad, because you can get your books whenever you want. A downside is once you have read a book, you can't give it to someone else. You can store books in it, and amazon archives as well. If you turn off the wireless, a battery charge lasts a couple of weeks.
If you want, you can get newspapers and magazines, too.
The kindle has been getting cheaper and cheaper. Started at around $350, second gen was smaller at $250, and the one now is smaller still, although same screen size, and maybe $160 or so. It is about the size of a paperback book, but thinner. Very light. I think you may need to specify if you want the one that works off cell towers, as I think there is one that you must connect to a computer, too, to download books. If you go to amazon.com, read all about it on their home page.
I bought mine after reading on the forum here someone's thread on 'em.
If you want, you can get newspapers and magazines, too.
The kindle has been getting cheaper and cheaper. Started at around $350, second gen was smaller at $250, and the one now is smaller still, although same screen size, and maybe $160 or so. It is about the size of a paperback book, but thinner. Very light. I think you may need to specify if you want the one that works off cell towers, as I think there is one that you must connect to a computer, too, to download books. If you go to amazon.com, read all about it on their home page.
I bought mine after reading on the forum here someone's thread on 'em.
I don't have one, but was told that for people with vision problems, they are easier to read.
writerinmo
US Veteran
Barnes and Noble just contacted me about putting my stuff in their inventory to be available on the Nook. The advantage for that for me is that I can publish my own work as I want it without beating down the doors trying to find a good agent who can sell your idea to a big-name brick and mortar publisher (and failing) and I can set my own prices for my work.
I don't have one... if I did I would PROBABLY buy the Kindle version personally, there are just too many rumors floating around that Barnes and Noble may be the next Blockbuster.
I don't have one... if I did I would PROBABLY buy the Kindle version personally, there are just too many rumors floating around that Barnes and Noble may be the next Blockbuster.
AZTim
US Veteran
Have had a Kindle for a year now and have read 30 to 35 books. I am hooked and don't know if I'll ever read a "real book" again.
Pasifikawv
Member
Got one for Christmas. Also hooked. Haven't bought a paper book since and I can keep up with new releases at a lower price. (Just got Jonh Sanford's latest last week with Lee Child and Vince Flynn each having a release in a few weeks.)
Being in the sticks, getting to the library or the bookstore is a chore. With a few pushes of a button, I have the book instantly for less.
The free web browser is still in experimental stage and most sites aren't Kindle (or any pda) friendly, but I found it useful a time or two when I needed a quick look up when traveling.
Being in the sticks, getting to the library or the bookstore is a chore. With a few pushes of a button, I have the book instantly for less.
The free web browser is still in experimental stage and most sites aren't Kindle (or any pda) friendly, but I found it useful a time or two when I needed a quick look up when traveling.
venomballistics
Member
I believe there was a program that'd convert PDF to JPG's ... so you could use a cheaper picture frame as an Ebook reader ... Ill have to dig that trick up
They have their place. I bought one of the Sony versions last fall and have used it from time to time. All things being equal, I prefer a traditional book and there are some books I like to buy, preferably hardback, and keep. With that said, they are excellent for travel, etc as you can take a LOT of reading material and take up almost zero space. I bought mine after being diagnosed with cancer. I knew I was going to have lots of drs. visits, surgery, chemo, etc, and thought one of these would be great and it has served its purpose well. But like I said, if I'm at home, I prefer a regular book.
As someone else pointed out the biggest drawback, IMO, is it can be a pain to go back and re-read something. Even in a fiction novel, I will read something and often find myself wanting to go back to check something I read earlier. With a book you usually remember about where it was and can find it pretty easy, with a reader there isn't a reference point and going back to re-read something can be a bit of a pain.
As someone else pointed out the biggest drawback, IMO, is it can be a pain to go back and re-read something. Even in a fiction novel, I will read something and often find myself wanting to go back to check something I read earlier. With a book you usually remember about where it was and can find it pretty easy, with a reader there isn't a reference point and going back to re-read something can be a bit of a pain.
