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A Kindle Newbie

14 replies

Gem2010 · 17/05/2011 15:17

Hi Everyone,

Just want some information really, thinking about getting a Kindle...right questions lol
Is there one type of kindle???
Do I have to buy all the books seperatly...just wondering why if I have to pay for the actual set itself or do I get free ones??
Can people send me books or can I send books to other people?? Not many of my friends have got kindles but perhaps on here am I able to have a book off someone or send one for free?? Like a swap??
Can I get different covers and stuff??
Can I just get any book I like?? I'm a complete fiction all time reader, really dont want to fork out for the kindle and then per book because it'll cost me a fortune and I like to read loads....

Dont understand the website lol a complete kindle newbie...someone please help! :)

Thanks
Gem xx

OP posts:
AnonymousBird · 17/05/2011 16:37
sonearsofar · 17/05/2011 17:37

Why don't you go on the Amazon website 1st, they've got a pretty comprehensive section on this, as well as a dedicated forum for any questions.

follyfoot · 17/05/2011 17:41

Cant help on the sending books bit, but there is a section on here for that - think you can do it by email.

You buy all the books as you want them, it doesnt come with any - there are plenty of free books on the amazon website, and some that cost pennies. Many of the old classics are free. Have a look on Amazon and you'll see how much they cost.

Not every book is on Kindle, some I have wanted arent, but most are.

You can get different covers - I've got one with a light as I read in bed and it points only at your kindle so doesnt wake DH.

I was in two minds about getting one, but I looooove mine now, and the battery life is astonishing, I charge mine about once a month.

follyfoot · 17/05/2011 17:44

Oh, missed your first question. There are two types of Kindle. The more expensive one has free 3G and Wifi so you can go on the website, choose a book and download it wherever you are (I do it in bed!) without being connected to anything. The connection is free although if there is a charge for the book, you do of course have to pay that.

Cinnamonthecat · 18/05/2011 09:19

follyfoot, could I please ask, where did u get your cover with the light or could you link to the details please? tia :)

follyfoot · 19/05/2011 22:20

Its this one. Not cheap but it works really well. There are other cheaper ones about these days too if you google, but the Amazon one is really good.

Eeek · 19/05/2011 22:30

I have the same and it's brilliant. Things to remember is that there is VAT on ebooks but not on paper books so sometimes the kindle version is more expensive. Sometimes it's cheaper if the publisher is taking a punt. If the book's old and out of copyright you'll get it free. About half the time my kindle version is cheaper, about half the time more expensive. But I read more now I have my kindle because I always have it with me.

I have the 3G version which is fab but you do need to remember to turn it off to get the month battery life. With 3G on it lasts about a week -still pretty good.

The kindle also has it's own email address so you can mail pdfs to it - brilliant if you're studying or getting stuff from work to read.

You can buy things for your own kindle or other people's but sharing between you is more difficult. BUT you can have 6 devices on one account and share your library between them. For us that means DH and I both have kindles and both have it on our phones (brilliant) and we still have 2 connections left over - which if we were nice we could give to other people. If you do this you have to make sure you read different books from each other otherwise it gets confused trying to remember which page you were on.

Eeek · 19/05/2011 22:32

Oh. One downside. Airlines make you turn the kindle off for take off & landing. A real b*gger if you're not keen on flying and it's an age to get through stacking into Heathrow.

simpson · 19/05/2011 22:36

I love my kindle Grin

Amazon have a top 100 of books (the paid & free ones) so I check this on a regular basis and often download free books I would never have thought of trying iyswim Smile

It takes seconds for the books to download but if you have the 3g kindle its best to tun off the internet connection when you have bought a book to prolong the battery iyswim.

I also brouse on my lap top for books rather than the kindle and make a note of what I want to download via the kindle.

The battery seems to last quite a long time (about 4wks) I don't have a lighted cover, just a basic one (the amazon ones can be quite pricey but there are cheaper ones on ebay and amazon too, although "unofficial ones iyswim)

simpson · 19/05/2011 22:37

Eeek - I was allowed to have my kindle on for flying as long as I proved the internet connection was off Smile

FeathersMcGraw · 19/05/2011 22:40

It is pretty impossible to share books that have been bought off Amazon because of the digital rights software on them (is a bit of a soapbox issue for me - you buy a paperback once and can lend it to as many people as you want but can't with an ebook grr!)

But the Kindle does support files in a Mobi format and these can be shared with other Kindles, saved onto your computer and either moved across via usb or send to the kindle email address.

My DH is a bit of a download fanatic and uses file sharing sites. He found a file that has 1000 mobi format books in it. Downloaded it to the laptop, sent a load of stuff across to the Kindle - result!!

Eeek · 19/05/2011 22:50

Bloody BA!

Eeek · 19/05/2011 22:52

It's the VAT that drives me mad, it's just so wrong to tax e versions when they don't tax the paper.

FeathersMcGraw · 19/05/2011 22:53

Eeek - yep the VAT makes me mad too!!

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