Anyone use Kindle onboard instead of dragging books?

[dkis4nu]

I know this has probably been talked about in some thread, but I couldn't find it. I'm interested in getting a Kindle at some point, and I wondered if anyone had experiences with it on a cruise. It seems like the perfect answer to packing books in our already tight luggage!
But a few questions. How is it in the sun? Is it handier than a paperback while dozing in a deck chair?! Do you have to be very careful with it as far as packing and using?

Thanks for any help.

dk

 

[JKSWonder]

I've never been on a cruise, but I do have a Kindle and I plan to take it with me on the cruise.

It is not bulky, much smaller than a hardcover book and lighter too. It comes with a cover. You can read it in the sun. If you are going to read in the dark, you need to purchase a separate clip on book light. You can hold it and turn pages using just one hand. You need to be as careful with it as you would an Ipod or a small laptop. I would put it in your carry on luggage, not your checked luggage if for no other reason than it is not a cheap thing to replace. Make sure to pack the power cord so you can recharge the battery. If on the beach, I wouldn't leave it lying in the sun...put it away in a bag when not in use. Also, avoid direct contact with sand and water, the same as you would with any other electronic device.

 

[lbgraves]

Our friend brought one to the beach this summer and put it in a ziplock bag to keep the sand and water away. That seemed to work well for him.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I take my Kindle everywhere I go. I bought the leather case for it, but other than that I just throw it in whatever bag I'm taking. I'm not very careful with it and have had no problems.

I was on the 8/20 Wonder and used it on CC. No problems.

I leave wireless off and though I read every day for at least an hour I can go a couple of weeks between charges.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I take my Kindle everywhere I go. I bought the leather case for it, but other than that I just throw it in whatever bag I'm taking. I'm not very careful with it and have had no problems.

I was on the 8/20 Wonder and used it on CC. No problems.

I leave wireless off and though I read every day for at least an hour I can go a couple of weeks between charges.

I keep my wireless off too. It's amazing how long that battery can go without charging.

Only place I don't take it is to the beach because I'm afraid of the sand and water. However, my DD never lets me sit still for long at the beach anyway so I usually just toss in a magazine.

I plan on downloading a bunch of books before I go and then won't need to turn on the wireless at all.

 

[tea for girls]

Does anyone know if you can purchase children's books (early teen) for the Kindle?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Does anyone know if you can purchase children's books (early teen) for the Kindle?

Yes you can. My boss's 14 yo has her own kindle and my 9 yo DD has downloaded books onto my kindle when we are some place and she is BORED!! Easier for her to pick a book and read than for me to listen to "Mommyyyyyy, I'm boreddddd. When are we going to (fill in the blank)."

 

[kaseyC]

I don't go anywhere without my Kindle!! Its well protected in a gorgeous purple Oberon leather case. I took it on our recent Aug. 1 cruise and it was awesome. I'm the person who is usually trying to figure out how to pack 5-6 hardback books without going over the luggage weight restrictions. So it was wonderful to have acces to all of my books as well as my Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Magazines.

 

[poohs4me]

I also took one on our recent trip. I did bring multiple waterproof cases (ok, ziplock bags like someone else said). They worked perfectly. My biggest concern with bringing it was the sand and water. No problem when I used the bags.

I am a HUGE kindle fan and highly recommend them to everyone IF you read a lot. I too have to take several books on vacation and this is the best way to do it.

 

[BethA]

I just got one and am so excited to take it with me-I usually back quite a few books. What does everyone do for a cover? There are so many covers, cases, skins-I am totally confused and wonder if I need them.

 

[clten]

I have a Kindle and brought it on our last few cruises. It is great in the sun -- no problems with reflection on the screen. With the e-Ink it is like reading a paper book in the sun. As far as reading on deck, it is as convenient as a paperback. It is not as delicate as you might think but as with any expensive electronic equipment, you'll want to handle it carefully as much as possible. I'd recommend a cover. I'd agree with the other posters about using a ziploc bag if taking it to the beach. I've done that and had very little problems with bringing my Kindle just about everywhere on my cruises.

 

[KellyMB]

Another Kindle lover here! I use Ziplock bags all of the time (I read in the bathtub) and I definitly recommend getting a cover!

 

[mrp4352]

I don't have the Kindle - but I have the Sony Reader and I have to echo everyone's comments above about how wonderful and lightweight a portable reader is. My upcoming cruise is my first cruise since I got the reader, so I appreciate hearing about the ziplock bag trick.

 

[kaseyC]

I just got one and am so excited to take it with me-I usually back quite a few books. What does everyone do for a cover? There are so many covers, cases, skins-I am totally confused and wonder if I need them.

I don't use a skin but I do use a cover. I have a few M-edge leather covers in fun colors. But my favorite cover is the purple leather Roof of Heaven from Oberon Designs. It's gorgeous and the texture of the leather gives you the feeling of holding an old embossed leather covered book.

http://www.oberondesign.com/shop/ca...&v=&id=&sortBy=undefined&search=&shopByPrice=

http://www.buymedge.com/

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I have a Patagonia cover. Its a fully zipped cover. I commute a long day and toss it in my bag while changing trains, etc. I wanted it fully protected. You can buy it off Amazon, of course.

 

[BethA]

just saw some from javoedge that look great, but they all seem to be pricey

 

[Queenofthecastle]

I too have a Patagonia one that is fully zippered. I just toss it into my purse whenever I leave the house. I love it, but boy those Oberon ones are just gorgeous! Quite pricey (could play a whole round of bingo onboard for that, hehe), but they seem to be very well crafted. Hmmmm isn't Christmas coming up?

 

[disney minnie]

My husband downloads his books to his Blackberry Storm.

 

[binky1]

I'm hoping that Christmas comes early (cause we're cruising Nov. 14th) and I'd love to have a Sony Reader. Unfortunately the Kindle will not download books for Canadians.....anybody know why that is?!???

 

[pjpoohbear]

I'm hoping that Christmas comes early (cause we're cruising Nov. 14th) and I'd love to have a Sony Reader. Unfortunately the Kindle will not download books for Canadians.....anybody know why that is?!???

I always have the outside pockets of my suitcase stuffed with paperbacks, I have been reading on my ipod touch since January and I am liking it very much, a bigger screen is my only desire. If Apple doesn't bring out a larger ipod Touch like device soon, I will be looking at the Sony reader as well, I would love a kindle, but I am in Canada. A positive part of the sony reader is that on the Overdrive Ebook system, you can take out ebooks from your local library and load them to the sony reader for free!

Search Libraries that are participating, http://www.overdrive.com/search

Pj