Kindle

[agriffith]

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone that has a Kindle would be willing to share their experience, and if they feel it is worth the price. I absolutely love to read, and like the idea of instant access to a book. Please share any insight! TIA!

 

[JamesMom]

I LOVE my Kindle.
Got it for Mother's Day last year and so far have read 24 books on it - about half were free.
It does take some getting used to not having a physical book, but i like to read hands free and this helps alot. get a booklight since it is not backlit (like a real book)
You can adjust the type size as you wish. You can store tons of books so you can change what you are reading whenever. Plus I am a writer and any document that you can read in *.txt format can be downloaded to your Kindle. I do this all the time to proof my work since I can make comments and store them on the Kindle. You can even have it read it back to you in a Stephen hawking-esque voice to catch more typos. I also like to read fanfiction. Copy and paste the stories into *.txt documents and hook up your kindle and voila - read on your kindle instead of the computer. did the same with train schedules when i was traveling over the summer. Uses are limitless.
I carry it with me everywhere - sitting outside DS6 religion class, sitting while DS4 has gymnastic lessons, reading while the car is worked on, etc. Even read it on the camping trip and while my sons swam at the pool this summer (put the kindle inside a ziplock bag for protection from water).
Book pricing. Dan Brown latest was $16 at bookstore, $10 on Kindle and it was delivered by 4am on release day.
Almost every Tuesday there are 4 new 'free' titles. Older books by established authors in various genres that Amazon wants you to get hooked on and buy more. You can see them in the Top Kindle Books or browsing the Kindle Discussions.
Classic books out of copyright can be found for free on Amazon or web.
Just beware that you cannot share books on Kindles not linked to the same Amazon account. My mother-in-law and I share an account and thus we can share books.
Now that the Kindle is $90 cheaper than when I got it just 5 months ago, for a reader it's a no-brainer.

 

[miksilver]

LOVE my Kindle. I bought it before the price drop for all the travelling that I do and the instant book downloads. It is great! Can't rave enough about it. There's nothing better than finishing a book in a series and being able to download the next one right there and then. Instant gratification at its finest.

 

[Justsyd2]

Just a quick note...if you have an iPhone, there's a Kindle App for it that works just the same. I don't own a Kindle, but I use the App on my iPhone, and I just love it!

 

[polkadotminnie]

Are there books on it for young teens? How much do they cost?

 

[tanyabanana]

I love my Kindle too.
I have had it since June and love it just as much now as I did then. People look at me like I am crazy that I spent $359 (at the time I bought) for a 'book'. But these are the same people that buy every new Ipod that comes out, pay lots of money to be on rec-league sports, and have hobbies that they spend money on. I look at reading as my hobby and the Kindle as a tool that helps me enjoy my challenge.
Another thing I have noticed is that people think if I have a Kindle I don't buy paper books. I do buy books in addition to the ones I read on Kindle. Again, this is my hobby and I have more than one way to enjoy my hobby
As for wondering if any young adult, or for that matter any type of book, is available on Kindle, the answer is yes. I HIGHLY suggest before purchasing a Kindle to go to Amazon and research the books available there. Not all books by every author is available, but by researching you will have an idea what you are getting into. HTH

 

[simonsmom]

I have the first version and love it! I think it's a must for someone who reads alot. Plus no more trying to find room for books. If mine broke I would buy another one the same day. most books are about 9.99 that I have found-although there are some that are less. But if you mainly buy paperbacks -sometimes you can find a paper back cheaper in the store

 

[Handbag Lady]

I love my Kindle 2.

I got it at the end of September and Amazon honored their pricing policy and credited us $40. YAY for Amazon.

I read a lot.

I've read 8 books on it so far and some of them were free. The most I paid was $9.99 a book.

It is easy to see what is a Kindle book by going to Amazon and looking in the Kindle store in their book section.

I LOVE the covers they have. Mine is fuscia and leather.

One of the things I love best about the Kindle is that you can carry many, many, many books around and just have this thin device to use. No more heavy bookbags! I am currently reading Bob Newhart's memoir but I am also re-reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I can switch between the two with two clicks and it takes me exactly where I left off in each.

 

[Ephany]

Are there books on it for young teens? How much do they cost?

I've purchased books that range in price from 'free' to $9.99, although there are a few out there that more more expensive. Like other posters have suggested, your best bet is to go to Amazon and change the search option from all department to kindle store. Once in the kindle section, search for the books/authors you're interested in to see if books are available. I know that the Maximum Ride, Percy Jackson, and the Pendragon books are available if your child enjoys those.

 

[The Princess]

I just got mine and downloaded only 1 book. I love it !!! I love to read and am a gadget person so its a great fit!!!! My DD told me she is jealous~might have to get her one for Christmas. shhh...

 

[badblackpug]

I don't have one, but I bought one for my mother for mother's day. She loves it. I don't know how many books she has downloaded and read by now! It is very easy to set up and use. I set it up for her and she has no problem downloading.

 

[RitaE]

I have the Kindle 2 and I really enjoy it. I do all my reading on the Kindle now, hardly ever pick up a physical book.

You might want to wait a couple of weeks though. Best Buy is scheduled to start selling an iRex reader by the end of the month that will download ebooks from Barnes and Noble AND also ebooks from many libraries Overdrive Media system - which are books mostly in the ePUB format. The early reviews on it are pretty favorable.

You can get library books onto a Kindle, but it takes some file manipulation and Python scripts .... and is kind of a pain in the butt.

If your library offers ebooks - the iRex might be a great budget option.
Sony also sells Readers which work with the libraries and they have a new model coming out in early December.

I'm buying my Mom something for Christmas, but I'm holding off until I can see the iRex to make my decision.

 

[agriffith]

Thank you all for the information! I am very excited to hear such great reviews! Also, I was not aware that there were library materials available through download, so I will definitely will check out the new product from Best Buy, too.

 

[chiefdragon]

Do have to admit that I love my Kindle and have read a number of books on it already. I have even downloaded some for my DD (who is 4) and we read chapter books together.