Does anyone have an Amazon Kindle?

i like to see my progress thru a book,as in number of pages i have read, might order it today so i have a few weeks to get used to it,thanks.

I have had mine for a month now, and have done one overseas trip with it.

The connectivity is fabulous - I have subscribed to the Daily Telegraph and the Economist, and they just arrive every morning, even when I was in the USA. I like being able to download sample chapters to check if I like the book, and again, can just order them up from the Kindle if I want to read the whole book.

Some of the free books are very badly formatted (complete works of Jane Austen with no way of navigating between books, anyone?), and even the periodicals are very variable - you don't get photos or pictures with the Telegraph or the Spectator, for example, but then they are very cheap. The Economist charges a lot more, but has done a decent job of the file conversions so you get a much clearer read out of it.

I have also found that Baen will sell you e-books direct in a Kindle format, even though they are not available through Amazon - some are free, and all of them can just be e-mailed to you through your Kindle e-mail address. That is fabulous!

Only thing I do find is that I miss the change of weight and pace and font you get when swittching from magazine to newspaper to book to book.

I am just off again, to Asia this time, and am looking forward with some interest to see if all the comms tech works as well there. I have plenty to read downloaded aleady!

was really keen to get one until i read the negative reviews on amazon . im away for a long time over xmas and would need about15 to 20 books. some reviews have mentioned that the kindke had died on them. now confused.

" do you have to put a light on?"

Like any other book you need a light to read it in the dark. It's not a backlit screen so it's relaxing on the eyes. My cover has a light incorporated and I use it a lot.

Text colour doesn't change but you can increase font-size if you need to. Kindle quite keen on feedback so the coloured filter idea might be something they'd like.

Can you get trashy 'chic lit' on them....

habe = have

I was lokking at a friend's and it seems to be black on white like a normal book, which I like, but for reading in bed, I wonder how does the Kindle work in the dark? Can the screen light up, or do you have to put a light on?

Also, can you change the colours, I'm wondering if it might be useful for some children who habe that eyesight problem which is helped by coloured filters.

thanks infin i might get one - i think that i will miss the 'feel' of a book IYKWIM ......

have only heard good things about the kindle

No, most are not very expensive. Many seem to be cheaper than the corresponding paperback or hardback (if they are not yet published in paperback). Most of the classics (Hardy etc) are free as are a random selection of more up to date titles, most of which I've never heard of! Not all books availble in kindle format yet though.

I love my kindle and have read more in the past month that I've had it than than I have in years...probably due to novelty factor, ease of reading in bed with one hand and ease with which it slips into a handbag...so much better than a chunky paperback!

Treat yourself!

just seen this and i am interested in getting a kindle - is it expensive to buy the books?

I have the kindle2 which was only 3G. I definitely need it as I take it on holiday and often run out of books. If there is a chance that you will be elsewhere and want to download a book then I would go for 3G.

There are lots of children's books too. I have several for DD and it was great when we were on holiday. She would sit and read while we waited in restaurants to be served.

I may pass the kindle on to the kids at some point and upgrade to the Kindle3.

I have the 3G Kindle because I travel a lot, I'm not always near a WIFI connection and, however many books I pack, I always end up needing another one. For the person choosing between Kindle and Sony, the Amazon site has a video review done by a customer who has both. He does a bit of 'compare and contrast' in the course of his review and it's worth a look.

Endorse the 'case and light' comment. The light makes all the difference!!

My gut feeling is that different formats of ebooks will continue to exist side by side. It can't cost much to convert them into different formats as there's no physical object unlike the battle of Bettamax vs VHS. Or Blueray vs whatever the other one was.

But I do think that kindle will become the market leader unless Sony sort out their pricing issues both of the e-readers and also of the e-books for that format. But then Sony don't have any control over the ebook prices I don't think.

Unlike Amazon who can set prices within reason for their e-books.

Plus I think that the Kindle has better features than the Sonys.

I really love mine - so easy to get your books loaded onto the kindle. However I did have to buy a case and a light to go with it.

That seems to be the one he likes. Every time I go on the amazon website and the kindle is plastered across the first page he makes a big point of looking over my shoulder and saying "Oh that looks good"

thanks Sandy - you're right, he could easily connect at home. They've done some clever pricing though which makes it not a completely clear cut decision!

mememe - go for the kindle - i've done lots of some research and it sounds amazing - they've thought of everything!

not until, I mean unless duh

You've all convinced me to get one for my hubby for Christmas but don't know whether to go for the kindle or one of the others......I'm confused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure DH would just connect to your wifi at home and download until he travels a lot??? I think if you are based at home you really don't need the 3G.

Hi Sandy - thanks for your message - why's that?!

Dunder: I really don't think you need the 3g version at all.

I'm going to get a kindle for my dh for christmas - should i bother with the 3g version?

I can't really imagine he's going to be a 'download a book on the beach' user but will i kick myself for not spending the extra £40?

I would expect that the library terms of lending prohibits conversion of books.

However, you could encourage your library to source books in multiple formats... such as having it in Kindle or MOBI format.

is it legal to convert a library book and put it on a kindle or is it piracy?

i am v tempted by a kindle but would like the option of buying from elsewhere and downloading library books.

what's the view on the future? will kindle win over sony and eventually have to allow other e-books to download from amazon and kindle's download from other sellers...and libraries?
or will kindle be shackled to amazon for ever? (surely not if they get to the stage of having an effective monopoly)?