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Original poster

What are the advantages of a Kindle?

41 replies

toptramp · 09/12/2011 17:19

Over a good old fashioned book? I love a good read me but I love my books. I can see why tha Kindle might save space but will it also save me money in the long run or is it just a gimmic. I can't imagine not having lovely old books around.

Can anyone explain in more detail how the kindle works?

OP posts:
moogster1a · 09/12/2011 17:23

I've jus ound out that our library loans out ebooks - I presume for free, I suppose it would stop me being lae returning them as they magically disappear when your time's up ( repared to be told that doesn't happen in real life).
In fact, the library thing might persuade me to get one. Before that, I didn't see the point of buying a book which wasn't physically "there"

YellowDinosaur · 09/12/2011 17:26

I always felt like you - I love actual books so didn't want one.

However I read books really quickly - even if I go away for a weekend without the kids I'd take 2 or 3 with me. So I'm going to get one for that reason - to save the space and weight of the books

SingingTunelessly · 09/12/2011 17:27

Best thing about it is the amount of books you can 'carry' round with you. I used to hang my head in shame at the weight of our suitcases going on holiday - 16 books I used to take at least. Now I've hundreds in one tiny little 'book'.

Also, our house was starting to look a bit cramped with all the books we have and bookshelves needed so something had to give tbh.

I love it now and as a true book lover I never thought I would.

silverfrog · 09/12/2011 17:27

I don't understand why everyone always assumes that owning a kindle=never buying another book again, or even getting rid of all your books Confused

I have a houseful of books.

I also have a kindle. (and kindle app on my phone, ipod and ipad)

I think it is marvellous. really bloody marvellous. I have over 200 books on my kindle, alongside my houseful of books.

the plus points of a kindle? ease of buying books - buy it, get it now (takes 10 seconds or so to download it). I have bought many many books that I would not have looked twice at in the shops - mostly becasue they were cheap, it has to be said, but most of them have been enjoyable reads.

It has been indispensable on holidays/weekends away. no more agonising over which good lenghty book to take, as I can have a whole library full.

It is not always cheaper to buy an ebook (all sorts of silly reasons why - ebooks are subject to VAT for a start), btu it is more convenient.

I have found it far easier to read big books in bed with a kindle - not as heavy, can easily hold with one hand, the kindle automatically saves your page when you fall asleep reading Grin.

I wouldn't be without mine. I have bought fewer actual books over the last year, but the ones I have bought were because it was not available on kindle, or textbooks.

specialagentmeh · 09/12/2011 17:29

Read with one hand on the tube or feeding baby. Light to carry in handbag. Buy a book instantly when you think of it. Books are a little bit cheaper - by a pound or two usually, once you've made the initial investment of the kindle. I find it easier to read in bed, say you're lying on your back, than a book as don't have the effort of turning pages!
No good for poetry or anything where layout on the page matters.

slavetofilofax · 09/12/2011 17:30

The biggest benefit I have found was on holiday, where I could easily have a choice of books to read, and I could easily lie on a sunbed and hold the kindle and turn pages with one hand.

It took a little getting used to, but now I prefer it to regular books.

SHoHoHodan · 09/12/2011 17:31

I'm like you and YellowDinosaur and have firmly resisted a Kindle- until now.

Only because I went to Venice for the weekend recently and accidentally left my (rather big and very heavy) book in my suitcase rather than in my hand luggage, and I got to thinking how much easier it would be for holidays if I didn't have to pack half a suitcase full of books to last me the time.

Plus, I believe you can change the font size. As I have also recently had to start buying goddam 1x magnifying specs I find it difficult reading some books in the bath (yes I do that too).

So a Kindle it is, for Christmas- in addition to the library books. I would never give those up, nor the lovely hardback copies of favourite authors etc.

specialagentmeh · 09/12/2011 17:31

Plus if you break it, they will send a new one for free, no questions asked!

working9while5 · 09/12/2011 17:32

The main thing for me is that I can read it more easily in bed. I am reading a great big stonking 720 page book right now and it is just so easy.. I prop it on its side and can flick the page easily.. I find I am reading for longer at night than I would have with "real" books when the effort of holding it up and page turning would mean I would fall asleep faster.

On the other hand, it did BREAK on holiday Angry. And two other family members have had theirs break randomly too...

FredFredGeorge · 09/12/2011 17:33

It's not a gimmick, it's just a tool for selfish people who don't want to loan books out or lend them to their children or partner and want to carry a ludicrous number of books around with them (I've spent months travelling, reading many books a week and never had a problem just picking up cheap english language books in 2nd hand stores all over the world)

If they allowed you to do the same with a Kindle as you can with a book then it might be worthwhile, but preventing you from ever sharing a book with another person to me rules it out as a horrible thing that should be campaigned against at every opportunity.

specialagentmeh · 09/12/2011 17:34

They break really easily if say you accidentally sit, kneel or tread on them.

noyouhavehadawee · 09/12/2011 17:36

im with you on the reading position thing i can lay and dont have to change position or get arm ache i just click the side button and it magically changes page - i still buy books because some things are just beter in a book form but as for novels i carry a large amount on my kindle and some for my dd on it too so she can read if were somewhere sheowuld be bored at (like a friends for a gossip trip). ANyway i love it - do they really change it easy if you break it ? i got some kindle vouchers as well which is good and also yes our library does free e books though i havent organised that yet.

HairyBeaver · 09/12/2011 17:36

I would really love one but I always buy my books in charity shops/car boots etc so I think it would prove rather expensive to buy all the e-books :(

Lizcat · 09/12/2011 17:38
  1. Less weight in suitcase
  2. Can hold kindle turn page and drink from cup of tea at same time
  3. They are actually lighter than the average paperback so for lying on back reading are easier.
  4. You can't lose your page
  5. For me the top reason is when you finish your book at 11.30pm or later and are not tired yet you can go to the 'store' and buy another one -FAB
2rebecca · 09/12/2011 17:39

I use both. I still use the library alot but the kindle is great for holidays and to quickly stick in my bag if space is limited. On the other hand if I'm trying to remember who a character is or what someone said a few pages ago it's easier to search with a real book. Some books on a kindle are set up so you can go from one chapter to the next others won't let you jump chapters.
My dyslexic son likes them because all books on my kindle can also be listened to with a very robotic american accent. I've also used this if driving long distances and really into a book. Also if you read about a book and think "I really want to read that now" and are near a computer to download it it is nice and instant. I still read 70-80% real books though

MNHQ
OliviaMumsnet · 09/12/2011 17:40

Hi there
We'll move this over to books. Thanks M towers.

Trills · 09/12/2011 17:40

I think everyone had said all my points already.

It's the carrying-the-books-around thing that does it for me. If you mostly/only read at home then there's not a lot of point

specialagentmeh · 09/12/2011 17:41

It is a bit easy to spend money as most are still around the £6 mark. However they do a different book deal of the day for 99p every day.

Trills · 09/12/2011 17:41

If you're going to move it shouldn't it be to e-readers Olivia?

(cheeky)

silverfrog · 09/12/2011 17:42

you can share books if you want to.

you just need to de/re-register your kindle to appropriate account and download.

you can de/re-register as many times as you like.

dh and I have a dedicated kindle amazon account, and any books/newspaper subscriptins are bought there, so we can automatically share if we want to. and i have 'lent' books to a friend by doing the same thing.

not particularly selfish at all.

NettoHoHoHoSuperstar · 09/12/2011 17:43

I have an e-reader on my Galaxy tab.
I can't get on with it at all.
It isn't a book, it doesn't smell like book, or feel like a book and I like to own books, but I haven't been on holiday or in hospital since I bought it, and I can see the use for that.

I think, other than space saving, it's not for me.

Want2bSupermum · 09/12/2011 17:46

I don't see the point of the kindle because I downloaded the kindle software onto my netbook for free. Why would I pay for kindle that can only be used for reading books. My netbook can do so much more.

I tried to buy a couple of ebooks for my brother who is in Afganistan and I couldn't figure out how to do it. It looks like I have to buy a gift card and then he has to buy the book.

GnomeDePlume · 09/12/2011 17:49

Nobody knows what you are reading

Trills · 09/12/2011 17:49

Kindles are very different to backlit tablets. It's not like reading a screen.

MadameGazelle · 09/12/2011 17:56

Sorry to hijack, but how do you do the sharing thing silverfrog ?