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Original poster

TO buy a kindle or not to buy a kindle?

68 replies

ATruthFestivelyAcknowledged · 27/12/2011 21:09

Disclaimer: (No doubt this has been done before, please feel free to direct me to previous threads if you know where they are Smile)

I'm a book lover. As in, I love the books themselves as well as the contents. Our house is stuffed full of books. Our biggest challenge after moving was finding enough bookshelves. Because of this I always swore I'd never get a Kindle.

However (there was always going to be a 'however' wasn't there?!) my mum and best friend (who always felt as strongly as me about kindles) have both been given them as gifts over the last six months or so and they both now LOVE them. I've got some Christmas money burning a whole in my pocket and my hand is hovering dangerously close to the 'add to basket' button on Amazon.

So... should I do it? Why? And if I do it, which one should I get?

How do the 'touch' ones work? I've read reviews that suggest it's hard to work the controller to type anything. If that's the case, can I buy books on my computer and transfer them to my kindle? How?

What else do I need to know?

Thank you.

OP posts:
PersonalClown · 27/12/2011 21:15

I got one this Christmas. Like you, I love my books.

But now I can read what I want and if I love it that much, I'll buy the physical copy.

DonkeyTeapot · 27/12/2011 21:18

I don't know anything about the "touch" one but I have just been bought the one with the keyboard for Christmas and I think it's great!

You can:
Buy kindle books on your computer and they will automatically be sent to your kindle, assuming you have wireless switched on, or you can search the kindle store through your kindle
Subscribe to newspapers / magazines, or buy single copies
Get quite a lot of free books, and some very cheap, eg Jane Austen's complete works for about 86p.
Get onto google and wikipedia (and obviously other sites too but i'm not sure if you can save favourites yet, I'm still exploring)

I'm a book lover too, and wasn't sure how I'd feel about a kindle, but I am so impressed with it, I'd say get one.

EsmeWeatherwax · 27/12/2011 21:30

Think of it as your portable library. I'm a librarian, my whole professional career has been devoted to books, but I got my Kindle last christmas, and I can tell you I wouldn't be without it.
I've got the keyboard one, so obviously would recommend that, can only imagine the touchscreen one would be a bit of a faff to use if you were browsing the store from your Kindle, as opposed to ordering books online.

It really is the most wonderful gadget for a booklover as far as I'm concerned, I have read tonnes more than I normally would since I got it, and am really enjoying reading again. The facility to download free taster chapters is a huge bonus too, I've been reading so much more widely since I got it. In fact, I would say it's biggest downside is its costing me a bloody fortune in books!

mummylin2495 · 27/12/2011 21:31

I also got one for Christmas,i have not fully investgated it yet but i have managed to get 14 free books on it so far.It looks to be a great thing and so easy to take around with you.When i find out how it all works im sure i will love it.

Original poster
ATruthFestivelyAcknowledged · 27/12/2011 21:32

Thanks ladies. I suspected that's what you'd say.

I've just realised I'm not talking about the 'touch' (I can't actually find one of those anywhere. Do they exist?) but the Wifi Kindle with five way controller. Anyone any experience of those?

OP posts:
Original poster
ATruthFestivelyAcknowledged · 27/12/2011 21:35

Ooops, cross posted. Thank you too. The size, taster books and fact you can get newspapers are three of the things that appeal. I have a new baby and rarely time to read, but I suspect if I had something small enough to take anywhere then I'd be more likely to read during his naps (rather than faff around trying to find a paper shop or regretting leaving my book at home)

OP posts:
TararaBOOMdeay · 27/12/2011 21:56

I don't think the touch ones are available yet.

The one we have is the new cheaper non-keyboard one. Apart from downloading books you don't type anything in at all, and it's easy to buy books on a computer and send them to your Kindle via your Amazon account.

It's great, haven't had much chance to use it yet, but sooo slim and easy to cart around as opposed to a hefty paperback.

If you have a smartphone, you can download a Kindle app which works just the same, might be worth trying to see if you'll use it?

MsHighwater · 27/12/2011 22:01

I am also a book lover and I adore my Kindle for all the reasons listed above. I will say that, if you get one, do get a cover for it as well. DH dropped my Kindle and it broke. (Fortunately, Amazon replaced it FOC as it was still under warranty). I now have a nice case for it that doubles as a stand.

You'll still need "real" books. Some books aren't available as Kindle editions and, if you have a partner, you can't both read it at the same time so it's not the end of paper books (entirely).

tribpot · 27/12/2011 22:02

I completely love my Kindle and recently bought it a bag to live in so I can read it in the bath. I haven't bought any paper books for myself at all since I got it, but have spent a ruddy fortune on electronic books. I do wish there was a way of renting them for less money, no doubt that will come in time, in the same way you can rent stuff on iTunes or download things to the iPlayer desktop for just a period of time.

Well worth getting a Kindle app, either for your phone or laptop or both, to see how you get on with that first (they are free).

I always buy the books on my laptop and have them sent to the Kindle, and really like the fact that they are kept in sync across my different devices - so if I'm reading something very gripping, for example, I can dip into a bit over my lunch break (as I drive to work now there's not much point taking the Kindle with me just for that amount of time, when I can read a bit on the iPhone).

Original poster
ATruthFestivelyAcknowledged · 27/12/2011 22:14

Oooooh, our whole household just got excited by the 'read it in the bath bag', thanks tribpot.

You've all convinced me Grin I've backed slowly away from the Amazon 'buy' button, but am going to go to Tesco first thing tomorrow (so that I can get clubcard points too)

So... book recommendations?

OP posts:
tribpot · 27/12/2011 22:22

This is the bath bag in case you were wondering Grin.

And disturbingly I see that Amazon have a sale on eBooks at the moment. .

SenoritaViva · 27/12/2011 22:26

Got mine for Christmas and loving it already. It will never replace my much loved 'real' books but I also read books that I don't necessarily want to keep nor to clog up my small cottage.

Love the fact that I can change my booksize, that I can read samples and go to a 'bookshop' in bed and have a few books on the go for my different moods. Also love being able to hover over a word and get a definition (love dictionaries).

DH gave me the Kindle, didn't think I wanted one especially. I'm now obsessed.

Original poster
ATruthFestivelyAcknowledged · 27/12/2011 22:28

hover over a word and get a definition

Really? Ok, now I'm really convinced! I can download all the books I teach at school and never again have to blag when i don't know a word (am an English teacher with an embarrassingly small vocabulary!!)

OP posts:
malakadoush · 27/12/2011 22:41

I also love books and have hundreds...but I also have a kindle and I absolutely adore it. It is fabulous and means I can read anywhere when I have five mins.

I highly recommend it!

NotaDisneyMum · 27/12/2011 22:43

TararaBOOMdeay - thank you! I've just read your message, downloaded the Kindle App to my iPhone and have "bought" 13 free books Xmas Grin

This could either be the best thing I have ever read on MN, thank you Grin

ZacharyQuack · 28/12/2011 01:22

I got the cheap kindle for christmas, it's fantastic. It has the 5 way controller, not a keyboard, which is a bit of a hassle to type anything, but I just use my computer to buy books and the next time I switch the Kindle wifi on it automatically downloads any new books.

I also have the Kindle app on my Ipod, and Amazon automatically keeps the two in sync.

There is another kindle thread in Chat at the moment, with lots of tips on covers, finding free/cheap books etc.

Fishpond · 28/12/2011 04:21

Touch screen - do you guys not have the Kindle Fire in the UK? Confused

I got a Sony eReader when they FIRST came out, and hated it. I hated hated hated the e-ink display, the buttons, not being able to feel a book in my hands, etc.

However - I have an iPhone which I love, and so I think the color, brightly backlit, touch screen Kindle Fire would be a winner for me. I haven't bought one yet but am considering doing so.

Dustinthewind · 28/12/2011 05:06

Kindle Fire is only available in the US ATM.

SenoritaViva · 28/12/2011 11:03

i realised I said I could change the booksize, I meant font size.... (some prints are so small).

I don't have a keyboard but a 5 way controller and have only used my Kindle to purchase books etc. It isn't as easy as a keyboard on a computer but it's not dreadful either. The only thing I have found is that you default to touchscreen and feel like a bit of a muppet pressing the screen when nothing happens Smile

Cheeser · 30/12/2011 13:18

Just the thread I was looking for Grin

Does anyone know if the cover with inbuilt light works with the basic Kindle? The cover product spec goes on about it being compatible with the Kindle Keyboard but I would rather have the cheaper model I think... not convinced having the keyboard is worth an extra £50

mnistooaddictive · 30/12/2011 13:27

I am waiting for the kindle fire which is due to be releases in uk in february( just before my birthday!)

fivegomadindorset · 30/12/2011 13:33

Mines just turned out, jury slightly out at the moment.

tribpot · 30/12/2011 13:39

Cheeser, my feeling is probably no unless the holes the cover fits into (it has metal 'pin' things to attach it to the Kindle) are very far apart on the keyboardless Kindle. However, it would make more sense if it was compatible with existing accessories (not for the makers of the accessories perhaps, sigh).

It isn't worth, IMHO, getting a keyboard Kindle now if you're buying new. Literally the only thing I use mine for is to press the 'Sym' button to go to the onscreen keyboard to type in a number when I want to go to a particular page in the eBook. (The actual keyboard has no numbers on).

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 30/12/2011 13:57

I am waiting for the Kindle Touch to be released in the UK.

I have no need for the Fire as I have an iPad.

elfyrespect · 30/12/2011 14:07

I really fancy one. But not a Kindle, I want a different make so that I can get the library books on it.
I've not looked into it enough yet, but am thinking of a Sony.

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