Kindle for PC

[BearcatsFan]

My beloved Kindle Keyboard died today. Of course, it's literally JUST outside the warranty, so I can't get it replaced. I called and they had me run through the soft/hard resets, but no luck whatsoever. It's dead.

I have a ton of books stored (including one with a recipe I wanted to use for Thanksgiving ), and Amazon suggested I download the PC version.

If you use Kindle for PC, how do you like it? Easy to use? Problem-free?

 

[Imzadi]

I only have ever had the Kindle for PC. Will get a tablet eventually (with all the extras a tablet can do,) as the Kindle for PC works fine for me. I have no need to get a separate Kindle.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I only have ever had the Kindle for PC. Will get a tablet eventually (with all the extras a tablet can do,) as the Kindle for PC works fine for me. I have no need to get a separate Kindle.

That's exactly what we talked about last night - getting a tablet rather than replacing the Kindle, especially since it was so much money and only lasted a year.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[mjkacmom]

I know it's out of warranty, but I'm surprised they won't replace it. Dd's kindle is one month away from warranty, and stopped charging. They sent me a replacement, which stopped charging in two days. They're sending another replacement.

Amazon is known for great customer service. Nintendo (another company with great CS) sent us a replacement Wii outside the warranty. I think if there are known issues, they should be flexible. These products should last more than a year.

 

[Imzadi]

That's exactly what we talked about last night - getting a tablet rather than replacing the Kindle, especially since it was so much money and only lasted a year.

Thanks for your reply.

Once tablets came out and I realized that I can load on the Kindle for PC, the Nook for PC app and the Adobe Digital Reader for public library eBooks and have all 3 apps to read ALL the eBook formats, I knew I would never get a dedicated reader. There is no point.

Plus, I can load on the Calibre converter software onto the tablet and convert any eBooks right on the same hardware. No going to a regular PC, converting then having to transfer the eBook onto the Kindle.


The only downside that I know of is that for Amazon Prime members who get one free Kindle eBook to borrow per month, that doesn't apply to the Kindle for PC, only those with real Kindles.

 

[Piper]

I use the Cloud Reader through Amazon as well as the Kindle. My Kindle just died, too (after many years of use) and I am not in a big hurry to replace it. I just use the Cloud Reader!

 

[BearcatsFan]

I know it's out of warranty, but I'm surprised they won't replace it. Dd's kindle is one month away from warranty, and stopped charging. They sent me a replacement, which stopped charging in two days. They're sending another replacement.

Amazon is known for great customer service. Nintendo (another company with great CS) sent us a replacement Wii outside the warranty. I think if there are known issues, they should be flexible. These products should last more than a year.

No, they wouldn't replace it at all. The CS reps I spoke with were very nice and tried everything they could think of to get it going again, but in the end offered us nothing in the way of replacement. When I asked, they said because it was out of warranty there was nothing they could do.

The problems I'm having (screen freeze/having to reboot/not connecting to wi-fi) seem to be common ones. I looked around some this morning on Amazon's website, and most of the 1-star reviews are due to these issues.

I agree - they should last much longer.

Once tablets came out and I realized that I can load on the Kindle for PC, the Nook for PC app and the Adobe Digital Reader for public library eBooks and have all 3 apps to read ALL the eBook formats, I knew I would never get a dedicated reader. There is no point.

Plus, I can load on the Calibre converter software onto the tablet and convert any eBooks right on the same hardware. No going to a regular PC, converting then having to transfer the eBook onto the Kindle.

The only downside that I know of is that for Amazon Prime members who get one free Kindle eBook to borrow per month, that doesn't apply to the Kindle for PC, only those with real Kindles.

Good to know about all the apps I can download. Are the Nook and Adobe ones free like the Kindle one is? Thank you for the info.

I'm not a Prime member. I had thought about it, but now I'm glad I resisted!

I use the Cloud Reader through Amazon as well as the Kindle. My Kindle just died, too (after many years of use) and I am not in a big hurry to replace it. I just use the Cloud Reader!

Which Kindle were you using? Perhaps it has better ratings/reliability than the one I had, and I have a sneaky feeling Santa is going to want to replace mine.

 

[scrapquitler]

No, they wouldn't replace it at all. The CS reps I spoke with were very nice and tried everything they could think of to get it going again, but in the end offered us nothing in the way of replacement. When I asked, they said because it was out of warranty there was nothing they could do.
.

Barnes and Noble replaced my out of warranty Nook.

Honestly, in your case, I would call back and ask them again. I have read on a lot of different message boards about how GREAT the Amazon customer service is that you m ight have just had a lemon of an agent answer the phone....calling back and asking someone different might get you different answers and results (it works with Disney, why not with Amazon? )

If you have a smart phone, try downloading the appropriate Kindle app for your phone.

 

[Imzadi]

No, they wouldn't replace it at all. The CS reps I spoke with were very nice and tried everything they could think of to get it going again, but in the end offered us nothing in the way of replacement. When I asked, they said because it was out of warranty there was nothing they could do.

I would call again, early in the day, when you would be sure to get a definite U.S. rep and not an "overseas' one who is basically just reading off a manual. The U.S. rep might be able to waive something to get your Kindle covered even though it's beyond warranty.

Good to know about all the apps I can download. Are the Nook and Adobe ones free like the Kindle one is? Thank you for the info.

Yes, you can get the Nook & Adobe apps free.

I have about over 1000 free Kindle eBooks and about 300 Nook eBooks - only because I started collecting them later. Best sellers I can get from my public library which work with the Adobe Digital Reader, if it doesn't come in mobi (Kindle) format.

Since you are in/near Cincinnati, you might have a good public library eBook program. It's worth checking out. Google your public library's website online, then look for a link for downloading eBooks.

The apps:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sa_menu_karl3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/free-nook-apps/379002321/

Adobe Digital Reader: (for library & PDF eBooks)
http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/


Free ebook listings:

The most comprehensive Kindle listings: (Includes novella & short stories): http://www.ereaderiq.com/free/

Books on the Knob: (Nice assortment of free & cheap eBooks in the various formats with the book descriptions in posts. But NOT a full list each day of ALL the free eBooks out. Only a selected few, full length titles in each genre per day.)
http://blog.booksontheknob.org/

Free Nook EPUB eBooks: (Sort by subject, then click "newest to oldest" for new listings.)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/Free-eBooks/379003078

 

[BearcatsFan]

Thank you both for the suggestion to call back - I will try tomorrow morning. Hopefully something can be done.

And Imzadi, I appreciate all the links and information. I have been downloading library books to my Kindle through the Ohio E-Book Project. Sometimes there's a huge wait-list, but I'd rather do it that way than buy a new release.

 

[wilma-bride]

My DD's Kindle keyboard died a couple of months ago. She'd already had it replaced once (screen freeze/not charging) and the second time it was just out of warranty (apparently the warranty counts fromt eh original purchase date, NOT the date of replacement). They allowed her to pay a one-time payment of £30 ($45) for effectively a warranty extension, which enabled them to replace the Kindle. I would imagine now that you can buy a new Kindle for not much more than that. It is my understanding that the newer style Kindle (I have both an old keyboard style and a new, smaller one - not the touch) is much more reliable.

I woudl defintiely call back and see if there is anything at all they can do.

 

[Imzadi]

Thank you both for the suggestion to call back - I will try tomorrow morning. Hopefully something can be done.

And Imzadi, I appreciate all the links and information. I have been downloading library books to my Kindle through the Ohio E-Book Project. Sometimes there's a huge wait-list, but I'd rather do it that way than buy a new release.

Your welcome. Glad I could help.