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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to buy my DP a kindle for his birthday?

15 replies

houseworkwhore · 28/04/2011 11:17

Right you techno geeks! gimmie some info!

What do i need to know? what type is best? how do i get books on it? and where from?

OP posts:
delillah247 · 28/04/2011 13:08

I am no techno geek, however we do have a Kindle 2 in the house and I can tell you that it is fantastic. Probably the easiest gadget i have used. I got mine from amazon, but have noticed that Tesco are selling them for the same price. You download the books from the Kindle itself, so its really simple. All you need is an amazon account and wifi. The more expensive Kindle allows you to download books wherever you are, but I didn't think it necessary as you can have 1000+ books on there at one time, so if you are going away on hols, you just download before you go. You can put music on it too, and access some basic internet stuff. Alot of free books to download, and even new releases slightly cheaper than buying an actual book. The battery life is amazing, lasts about a month. I got a silicone skin for ours as its nicer to hold, (imo). Can't fault it at all. You can even have it read to you when you get tired !

Batteryhuman · 28/04/2011 13:09

Why is this in AIBU? There are loads of threads about Kindles.

IgnoringTheChildren · 28/04/2011 13:19

I've just requested that my DH gets me one for my birthday! Well actually I said I wanted one and he said he'd get me one for my birthday and I said great and then I remembered that my birthday is months away... Sad If I can't wait that long I will definitely be raiding the Tesco clubcard vouchers to get one!

I'm also not convinced it's worth buying the more expensive 3G version if you have access to a wireless network at home, but I still need to do a bit more research. As far as I can make out the most important accessory (certainly that I'll need!) to get is a water-proof cover for reading in the bath! Grin

stillfrazzled · 28/04/2011 13:25

YABU - get one for yourself first!

I have the 3G version and it is my Best and Favourite Thing.

fedupwithdeployment · 28/04/2011 13:28

3G is probably not necessary, but when you are on the train / tube / the beach / not in a wfi area, it is pretty useful. But I am a bit disorganised. I think it is well worth it. I got kindle at end feb, and love it! I am also a total technophobe, and it took me 5 minutes to work it!

fedupwithdeployment · 28/04/2011 13:29

The disorganised bit refers to the fact that I like to be able to browse when I finish a book - I don't like to download lots in advance.

Clytaemnestra · 28/04/2011 13:30

I have one, and I bought one for my technophobe mum and they're both very well used and loved. I highly recommend them :)

posterofagirl · 28/04/2011 13:32

Best birthday present I ever had. Super simple to use. Brilliant in bright sunlight or if you get eye strain and 100's of free or super cheap books that you can download in seconds. I havent found a drawback yet.

You can even read them in the bath (don't tell DH I do this!)

stillfrazzled · 28/04/2011 13:33

Useful freeware includes Calibre and Kindle Collection Manager. There are lots of book collections for sale on eBay; not sure of legal status but they don't get removed so hopefully OK.

notremotelyintofootie · 28/04/2011 13:39

Dh got me one a week or so ago from carphone warehouse for same price as amazon (£111) and I didn't have to wait for delivery - it was a lovely surprise and I love it! You can email yourself pdf's to it too so I have research papers and journal reports alongside my horror books! It's fab!!!!!

Original poster
houseworkwhore · 28/04/2011 14:14

Thanks ladies. How much do the books cost? My dp is madly into geeky manga comics does anyone know if I could get them for him on it?

OP posts:
confuseddotcodotuk · 28/04/2011 14:51

The cost varies for books. You can get loads of books for free though so look out for those, any classics are free too. Look out for the free downloading sites as well as they are brilliant :)

I haven't yet got one but I have the kindle app on my laptop and got my Mum into it as well to convince her that paying towards one for my birthday is a good idea Grin Less than a month left until I get mine! squee

I just need to decide whether the wifi or 3g would be better for me...

Dozer · 28/04/2011 14:54

Ipad is better, though pricier. New books cost almost as much as hard copies.

anonacfr · 28/04/2011 15:04

I don't agree. You get promotions on new books with Kindle- for instance I got The Discovery of Witches (which has just been released as a hardback) for 4.49.
It's worth checking Amazon regularly as the prices go up and down.
You can also download first chapters of books for free, which gives you a chance to get a feel of the books you're buying.

The great advantages of Kindle are the battery life- if you're not 3G connected the battery can last up to a month, and that's with daily use (I read about an hour a day). You also get all your buying history saved on the Amazon website, so if you lose/damage/change your Kindle you can get all the books you've bought back for free.

I got one for Xmas and it's the best gift I ever got! I absolutely love it.

cecinestpasunepipe · 28/04/2011 15:25

I bought my DH one for his birthday in March from Tesco, and was so jealous that I had to buy myself one too. So able to get loads of Clubcard points and Schools Vouchers too!! I'm going through a huge Anthony Trollope phase at the moment, and they are all free!
We've just been away for a few days, and they were brilliant. Its the first time I haven't crammed my suitcase with books,and given myself backache from lugging them around. 3G meant I could play around in the Kindle Store getting samples when I didn't feel like reading the books I have already downloaded.
I LOVE MY KINDLE!!

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