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Original poster

Does anyone have an Amazon Kindle?

256 replies

paranoidmother · 03/01/2010 19:42

Dh gave me a Kindle for Christmas and I have managed to get a few books via Amazon.com although a few authors are not signed up for this yet.

Doe anyone have any hints or tips on using a kindle.

So far I love it and am thrilled to have one. It's meant I will be able to take loads of stories with me everywhere as I can get through a book an evening sometimes if there is nothing else to do.

OP posts:
spongefingerssavedmylife · 27/01/2011 13:10

Hello Kindlers! Glad to have found you! Had a kindle for Christmas, blue cover with light arrived yesterday and I am v happy (but read far too late) DH happy too as no longer annoyed by me having the light on.

I love reading on it - more comfortable than a book but I'm finding it a bit weird getting used to choosing books. Still think I might browse book shops to see what I like then try and find on amazon. Am enjoying some old classics I hadn't read for years.

Anyone know where you can get PGWodehouse for free / cheaply?

roisin · 27/01/2011 17:14

"But at the moment, all those things are already being undertaken for print versions of books before the eBook is even thought of. I would be surprised if whatever kind of file you end up with once all those tasks have been undertaken isn't very easily and quickly converted into an eBook."

But using that argument you could say that when a book is reprinted, instead of charging £9 they should charge £4, because all the costs are accounted for.

The point is the successful books are the ones that make the money for publishers, that allow them to take risks on publishing unknown authors or unusual texts. Most books are not a success, most books do not reprint.

dyzzidi · 27/01/2011 20:52

Does anyone have any websites were you can download boooks from. I really like crime one.

jimmylesante · 27/01/2011 21:23

Hi Sponge i believe Project Gutenberg has at least one free Wodehouse book,"Start Over"

Horton · 28/01/2011 13:49

I just think that it's not possible to argue that the costs of producing a physical book and an eBook are the same, roisin. It can't be true. How could it?

Reprinting a book does seem different to me because there are still the costs of materials and distribution. When a hardback goes into paperback, the costs and price drop, presumably because the materials and distribution costs (you can fit more books into the same physical space as they are smaller) are less. How can this not be the same for an eBook?

dyzzidi, there are a fair number of very cheap or free Kindle books in the crime genre on Amazon. Some are not necessarily from well-known authors but lots are very good. I've noticed too that if there is a series, often the first book is discounted in the hope of getting you hooked!

ChippyMinton · 28/01/2011 23:34

have been playing around and found mumsnet mobile works ok on the kindle. m.mumsnet.com

Lilymaid · 30/01/2011 11:16

If you have a non-lighted Kindle cover purchased from Amazon and you are having trouble with the Kindle freezing, you should read this. My Kindle has been freezing at least four times an hour this week, so have dashed off an e-mail to Amazon.

TheFoosa · 30/01/2011 13:30

bet you'd be pissed off after shelling out 50 quid for a cover when you can get a free upgrade for the non-lighted one

BecauseImWorthIt · 31/01/2011 16:16

Does anyone have the cover with the inbuilt light? How heavy/bulky does it make the whole thing?

I don't want to have to shell out £50 to discover I don't like it!

muminlondon · 31/01/2011 23:06

Really interested in this debate about eBooks as I'm on the verge of buying a Sony reader. I hate buying hardbacks because they take up a lot of space both in the house and to lug around. Often the price of an eBook is around the same as a paperback but available before the PB comes out.

The reason why publishers don't want to price their eBooks LESS than a paperback is because eBooks attract 20% VAT. Any saving on printing and distribution is completely swallowed up by the money shelled out to HM treasury. In France I think VAT on eBooks is coming down, but no sign of that in the UK. Why are we being taxed on reading eBooks and not on paper books?

Horton · 01/02/2011 10:54

Ah! That makes sense, muminlondon. Thanks.

amazonianwoman · 01/02/2011 13:47

BIWI I have the Amazon cover with the built-in light, tis a thing of beauty Smile

It makes the kindle about the size of a thin paperback, and probably about the same weight? Not too cumbersome at all and nice to hold. And it just smells so leathery!

The light is brilliant. I regularly read til 1am and DH isn't disturbed.

Expensive but definitely worth it.

BecauseImWorthIt · 01/02/2011 18:39
RMCW · 01/02/2011 18:44

Yes.

Got one for xmas

I love it with a love surpasses understanding Blush

CountDuckula · 01/02/2011 18:52

Websites with free books

www.smashwords.com

www.getfreeebooks.com/ may duplicate some of the ones at smashwords

www.baen.com/library/ baen free library - mainly scifi and fantasy

www.starry.com/free-online-novels/index.htm

if you email any pdf files to your free kindle address and put convert in the subject heading, the books will be converted to the kindle format

Horton · 01/02/2011 19:38

Oh, I didn't see BIWI's question. Yes, definitely worth it! I love mine and DH loves it too as I don't keep him awake when I read in bed. It's heavier than holding just a kindle obviously but not actually heavy.

Thanks for the links, CountDuckula! Off to investigate.

BecauseImWorthIt · 03/02/2011 18:38

I'm nearly finished my first 'paid for' Kindle book, if anyone wants to borrow it? It's "Redbreast" by Jo Nesbo.

Horton · 04/02/2011 20:52

Oooh, I would love to borrow it. I have really enjoyed the other Nesbos I've read. What do I have to do?

I could offer

Never Let Me go by Kazuo Ishiguro

lots of Patricia Briggs (the first five Mercy Thompson books, but am only on the third one so far so prefer to lend either of the first two)

Worth Dying For by Lee Child

Room by Emma Donoghue

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies (both Scott Lynch)

An Empty Death by Laura Wilson

They were all good reads.

Scootergrrrl · 07/02/2011 09:45

Hooray - my Kindle is on it's way. I've already ordered some books on my iPhone and am very excited. There's one free one I'd recommend called William Walker's First Year Of Marriage which is a bit fluffy but a really good read. And it's free!

Any good tips for me fellow Kindlers?

PositiveAttitude · 07/02/2011 19:21

Had mine a week now and totally love it!! I am addicted. I'm interested in what others are reading on theirs, so marking my place.... Smile

Horton · 07/02/2011 19:37

Thanks for the tip, Scootergrrl.

I can't think of any sensible tips right now. Oh yes, here's one - apparently, if you download books to your PC from non-Amazon sources, Calibre is a really good way of converting them (and free). I haven't actually tried it yet!

Batteryhuman · 07/02/2011 19:47

My Kindle did the freezing thing. I emailed Kindle and they rang back witin 10 minutes and have refunded the problem leather cover and gift certificated the difference so i can ge the lighted cover.

It hasn't frozen since I took the cover off and I am v impressed with the customer service. I love the Kindle and please keep posting book recommendations, especially the less well known but cheap ones.

I am currently read Bad Science by Ben Goldacre and have read Room by Emma Donoghue, The Hanging Room (can't remember the suthorbut near the top of the bestseller lists and I enjoyed it immensely) and I will come back a nd post more.

HowAnnoying · 07/02/2011 19:48

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I keep having to reset my Kindle, does anyone else have this problem?

p.s. reading Lustrum (follow up from Imperium) by Robert Harris at the mo which I'm enjoying.

HowAnnoying · 07/02/2011 19:49

oK x-post just read re. the cover. thanks

amazonianwoman · 07/02/2011 22:23

Just to reassure, I haven't had any problems at all with the lighted cover. It's expensive but so worth it!

Am reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles, have read the Kite Runner, Room, Pride & Prejudice, and the Millenium trilogy (Girl with the dragon tattoo etc) all in the space of a few weeks.

Love it! Am happy to loan any of the paid ones if anyone is interested.