get a kindle - yes or no?

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I've always held off getting a kindle - as I have always been a real book person- but recently I've found a number of American magazines that are expensive to ship but much cheaper on a kindle version- if you have a kindle, what do you think of it?

Yes, I love mine. I have over 700 books on mine. I read every day. I can't imagine owning 700 books.

I use my kindle all the time, but if you want to read magazines, a tablet with a Readly subscription would surely be better. Also check your library membership - you can often access loads of magazines and newspapers for free through PressReader or similar.

You can use a free Kindle app on your smartphone or even use Kindle via your web browser on a laptop so I assume you can do the same thing on a tablet.

I do have a Kindle but I almost never use it, I read on my phone instead.

No! But hear me out. I wouldn’t buy a kindle but I have the kindle App and kindle unlimited across a few devices.

I use my existing tablet or phone to read. Wouldn’t spend the money for a standalone kindle if you have a tablet you could use

I like it as it's easy to transport and stays looking good mine has an option for reading in sunlight.
I know what you mean about real books though🫤. You can also have multiple books on your kindle.

I love mine. You can still read paper books, it is not all or nothing, it is not second class reading because it's on a screen.

I can carry 1000 books in my bag on holiday for less than the weight of a paperback, I usually average one a day on holiday so this gives me way more room in my suitcase. Once I was on the beach, saw that a book I really wanted to read was 99p, within 5 minutes I was reading it thanks to the beach bar wifi.

I find the kindle app eats battery on my phone or tablet. But my kindle stays charged for ages.
I love mine.

I do have a Kindle but I read magazines, including American ones, on the Libby app using my local library login. Might be worth checking to see if the ones you want are on there. It's totally free.

Love it and use it a lot. Particularly enjoy the free sample option. And DH and DS also have kindles so can read same books simultaneously if they want. It’s great not having to take a stack of books on hols too. Also like proper books - one downside of kindles is not having the ability to visualize the book. I read a lot and can’t always remember the title or author as it’s not there infront of me!

hmmm good point- I do actually have an ipad - maybe I should investigate the kindle app on that instead. I hate reading on my phone so that wouldn't work for me. I was thinking of a kindle as a device to always leave in my bag- (My ipad is quite big and I don't always carry it around)

Yes. I love mine, rediscovered it last year and haven’t put it down. And the battery life is phenomenal

if you like audiobooks you can have them on there too and Amazon have this whisper-sync technology so if you have the book and audio book you can switch between both and keeps in line with wherever you are in both.

so I can still keep up when washing dishes or driving.

Oh and you can read the kindle in the sunshine. Can’t do that on phone or a tablet. Well, I struggle!

My DH bought me one years back and I hated it to start with. I read fast and like to flip back when to check things and I struggled with that on the kindle plus it felt wrong / different somehow.

But I started using it a lot in the pandemic and got into it. Now I only read real books if they are ones I own already, only buy new on kindle. You can use it in the dark without putting a light on, change font size, store lots of books (useful to take on holiday) instantly buy books whenever you want a new one etc.

I prefer the app on my phone.

Love my kindle! I need high prescription glasses but I can read kindle in bed without glasses - blissful as so much more comfortable!

I use the Kindle app on my tablet. I still love a real book best, but sometimes the convenience of the Kindle version outweighs it. I wouldn't buy a specific Kindle device, though, as the tablet is used for other things, too.

I use the Kindle app on my iPad, makes it very easy to take loads of books on holiday. I would not buy a dedicated device "just" for reading.

I held off for a few years, even when I was given a second hand one in 2017. I work away and always used to scour second hand shops and get a couple of new ones in the airport.

I had to replace it last year and have the new Paperwhite, I love it! I always turn my phone off when airport gates are called, don't want to run out of charge! I just get the Kindle out instead.

Love my paper-white kindle. It's great for travelling with loads of books especially if I only have carry on. The battery lasts forever and the books are cheaper. It doesn't replace my love of real books but it's great for light fiction books which I would only read once and give away anyway. Downside is if I buy a Kindle book I don't own it, can't lend it to friends and can't annotate or turn down pages, but if I like a book that much I can always buy the paper version later.

Yes to a kindle. I love mine.
I was like you and was a real book fan. I was very unsure but I have never looked back.
Reading on a paperwhite is a very different experience to reading on a phone or an iPad. Something to do with the front-lit screen I think.
I can't remember the last time I read a real book.

I have a kobo, you can use it with your local library to download e books. I use the 99p deals all the time. The light is better for your eyes than a phone or tablet too.
I got mine for holidays really but I use it all the time now.

I love mine! Like you, I was sceptical, and I do still love reading proper paperbacks/hardbacks.

These are the things I love about it:

• Being able to instantly buy a book when I’ve run out.
• Being able to easily search and research other books by the same author.
• Trying out a sample for free before buying.
• Less physical clutter.
• Easier to take in the car/on hol.
• The light! I can read in the dark without disturbing sleeping DH/in the car in the dark when he’s driving.
• Being able to search a character name and all the sections with references coming up so you can easily find and re-read bits as new info comes up that you want to go back over.

They are fab and you can still enjoy real books too 😊

No, get a Kobo instead. Amazon can delete or change your books even after you've bought them and you can't link it up to borrow ebooks from your local library.

You won't look back. Easy, simple, doesn't strain your eyes and you can read in any light. Love mine. It's now 13 years old and still going strong.

I was always anti-kindles.

Then I got one and now refuse to use regular books.