Tell about your kindle

[hinodis]

I want to purchase a Kindle. I see there is a couple of different kinds. Is it possible to get a deal on a kindle?

 

[pezaddict231]

I got one for Christmas and I love it. While there are not really any deals on it, the price is pretty much the price. I have seen promo's at bestbuy if you buy the kindle you get the case for free and at $40-$50 that is a good deal.

There are two versions, one with wifi and one with 3G. The wifi one is cheaper and is perfectly fine depending on how you plan to download books. I mainly use it at home, so I use my own network to download books but if you travel a lot the one with 3G would be better. It is a flat fee, so it's just $50 more for as long as you use it, it's not a monthly fee.

There are lots of free / cheap books for it. Even new books are cheaper than buying from the bookstore and it is so easy to download them. I didn't think I would like it because I like to have a physical book, but the kindle is so light and easy to read. It really does look like a page.

 

[LynneyPooh]

Kindle's- Oh what can I say? I love it, love it, love it!!!

I'm not too sure you can get better than the $139 price. The only time I've seen the price drop is when a new version is being introduced.

However, that said, I (well DH) paid well more than that for mine, and you don't have enough money to get mine from me

I have a 2nd generation, and the ones out now are 3rd generation. The $139 to my understanding does not include wi-fi, the higher priced version does. I have wi-fi on mine and NEVER use it. The whispernet that allows you to buy books instantly is all I need. It allows me to view books, and buy without ever going to my laptop and downloading. As of last night, lying in bed, I bought yet another book.

DH loves it because he's no longer tripping over paperbacks, hardcovers or any other reading material. He just moves my kindle off his side of the bed when I fall asleep reading it.

Good points about kindle:
The gray technology it uses helps prevent eyestrain, because there is no backlight and no glare; this also allows you to read it outside with no glare. Mine has been by the pool and at the beach and NO PROBLEMS reading it...
It has the feel of reading a book also because of this technology.

I would recommend a good cover to help protect it. Mine goes everywhere, and the M-Edge cover has helped to save it more than once, (most recently at the gym on the cross-trainer).

IF you read at night either in bed or in the car, you will need to buy a light for it. The new 3rd generation has covers with a 3M light built in. I highly recommend this. IMHO the 3M edge light is the best, and I was using a clip on light from B&N that was really good.

I tried to cover the highlights..any more questions- please just ask- I'm going to work my way over to the amazon site to see if I can get on their payroll for endorsing them over the other e-readers

 

[LynneyPooh]

Other points to consider: Buying directly from amazon means your book is there literally within 30 seconds (depending on connection).

It's really easy to get free books this way also ( YES, REALLY, TRUELY FREE- NO GIMICKS!). While you can still get these books on other readers, it's easier (IMHO) on the kindle.

PLease double check on the wi-fi and 3G on the 3rd generation, I'm not 100% on the 2 versions because like I said, I have a 2nd generation.

It is really light weight, and a good case doesn't change the weight too much.

Also it's easy to control with the buttons postioned for easy access to flip pages, and move about within the kindle store...

 

[travelbug]

I'm thinking of buying a Kindle too. Can you give me any idea of the price range of book downloads? I know that some downloads are free. Are those older books or more obscure books, or what?

Also, are there newspaper or magazine downloads available for the Kindle?

 

[WINTER]

Love my Nook. I especially like the feature of downloading books from my public library.

 

[LynneyPooh]

I'm thinking of buying a Kindle too. Can you give me any idea of the price range of book downloads? I know that some downloads are free. Are those older books or more obscure books, or what?

Also, are there newspaper or magazine downloads available for the Kindle?

Books literally range from $0.00 to 14.99. Often the bestsellers/new realease start @14.99. If you're willing to wait they'll drop to either 12.99 or 9.99, usually within a week or so. Also they will allow you to pre-order alot of books. Sometimes@ good prices, sometimes @ what I consider a higher price (14.99)

Books that are often listed @ 9.99 can be bought for appox 5.99-7.99. It will show a 20% to 40% discount. Go to amazon, and click on the kindle store and they have 2 lists. Top 100 bestsellers one paid and the other free. That will let you see what's there now, and what their prices look like. I haven't figured out a rhyme or reason as to when they put out new freebies. Sometimes new ones everyday, then nothing for a couple of weeks.

Yes magazines and newspapers are available. I do not have any experience with either of these- I use my $$$ on books.

A new feature they recently added is sharing books with another kindle owner. You can lend a book for 2 weeks, and then it comes back to you automatically.

The freebies are often older books. I think they use an authors older book to promote their new one. Sometimes within a series, sometimes not. Also a good many are classics that are considered Public Domain. I have found a good selection of genre's and authors. Everything from christian to sci-fi to best sellers.

 

[luvthemouse71]

The $189 one has Wi-Fi and 3g. The $139 version has only Wi-Fi.

 

[princessnoelly]

I have a 3G and LOVE it! Buy it directly from Amazon. Mine stopped working and they replaced it. Then I tripped over the dog going out side to read and it FLEW across the yard the inside screen was cracked. They replaced it again.
I wish I could read library books. My husband has an Ipad and other than angry birds all he does is read off my kindle account.
I also have the kindle app for my phone. Love that I can read on my phone at lunch and then pick up at the same spot at home.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Love my dh's Kindle. One thing though, be careful with what kind of cover you buy for it. When I bought one for my mom and one for dh for Christmas, I also bought the leather(unlighted) cover Amazon sold for 49.99. My mother had problems with her Kindle from the beginning and my dh's started a couple weeks after he got it. It took me weeks to figure out that it was the cover that was causing the "shortages". Something about the metal used in the cover was causing the "short". It is a known issue by Amazon but they never recalled them. They were saying that it was only the unlighted leather cover, but apparently it is both.
Since removing it from them from the covers and resetting them, we haven't had any more problems. We have the 3g, which I think is really worth it.

 

[Kycha]

I wish I could read library books. My husband has an Ipad and other than angry birds all he does is read off my kindle account.
I also have the kindle app for my phone. Love that I can read on my phone at lunch and then pick up at the same spot at home.

Would you be able to read library books using the Nook app on your iPhone? Does anyone know?

 

[luvthemouse71]

I don't think so- but Im not 100% sure. I found that ebooks from the library are hard to come by- often, you're on a waiting list. And Adobe Digital Editions is crap software and you have to use it to get the books on your reader. You can't download directly from the library.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The iphone and ipad have an Adobe Digital Editions app where you can download library books directly to the device itself, no need for a computer at all, or the Nook app.

Would you be able to read library books using the Nook app on your iPhone? Does anyone know?

 

[JoanGirardi]

Love my dh's Kindle. One thing though, be careful with what kind of cover you buy for it. When I bought one for my mom and one for dh for Christmas, I also bought the leather(unlighted) cover Amazon sold for 49.99. My mother had problems with her Kindle from the beginning and my dh's started a couple weeks after he got it. It took me weeks to figure out that it was the cover that was causing the "shortages". Something about the metal used in the cover was causing the "short". It is a known issue by Amazon but they never recalled them. They were saying that it was only the unlighted leather cover, but apparently it is both.
Since removing it from them from the covers and resetting them, we haven't had any more problems. We have the 3g, which I think is really worth it.

One of my co-workers had a problem with her unlighted case, and amazon gave her a credit for the case so that she could purchase one that wouldn't cause her kindle to reset. I would contact Amazon to see if they'll give you your money back on the case as it definitely is a known issue.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

Yeah, it's pretty difficult to find one at a deal. Even on eBay it's hard, although a friend of mine did get one for $75 on eBay. She also found one locally someone was selling but I don't know how much. I've seen them on craigslist too, but not usually much of a deal if at all.

As for which one, I have the wifi/3G and wish I had saved the $50... it's just not worth it, esp. once we got the smart phones. My above mentioned friend likes having both to download books anywhere, but I don't see how that's worth $50 when I can wait till I'm home to get the books. I'd never pay for the DX either, although I guess it's got a bigger screen and holds more books, don't see it being worth twice as much.

I do LOVE my kindle. Although I haven't actually used it much, still trying to finish my paper books up, I can see how it's going to be so very helpful. I have put a lot of my own files on it and just love love this feature. We home school and I've put my files for work pages on it so the boys can do some of that while on the go! Very exciting!

 

[hinodis]

Can you get college textbooks on a kindle for a lower price then what you have to pay at school?

 

[MrsPete]

Several comments from a long-time Kindle lover:

Remember that the Kindle was over $300 only two or three years ago, so $139 is a pretty amazing price.

Yes, you'll get lots of free books -- but you'll probably also buy more books than you do now. I do anyway. When you buy books, they're usually cheaper than paperbacks.

Yes, classic books are always available for free, but many other books appear on the free list too. New authors put their work out to garner interest, authors coming out with a new book put their old books out for free to attract people, etc. LOTS of new books appear for free FOR A SHORT TIME -- just enough time to get on the best seller list -- and then they become "for sale" books.

Right now not many college textbooks are available, and they aren't all available at the fictional bestseller prices; however, I personally think this will change in the future. I predict this benefit'll be available before my daughter graduates from college (she's a junior in high school now).

Definitely plan to buy a case right away for your Kindle. You'll want to protect your expensive investment.

 

[dhardawa]

I have a Nook and love it. I went with the Nook over the Kindle for a few reasons.

1. Uses the universal standard ePub format. This means you can buy from Borders, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, etc. and can also use the ever expanding list of library books. If you want to buy a book from Amazon, you can download some scripts and strip the DRM encryption and reformat to ePub. (There are also sites you can download books from, but we won't go there.) With the Kindle, you're stuck getting all books from Amazon.

2. Expandable storage. You can add a SD card (or maybe it is a micro SD card) to add additional storage.

3. Barnes and Noble has a whole section setup for the Nook. If you have a question or problem, they will help you. They also offer free classes.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I wish the Nook's screen was as nice as the Kindle. Perhaps one day. I am debating whether to order one of my daughters the Sony touch screen so she can read library books without me having to reformat them for the Kindle.

I have a Nook and love it. I went with the Nook over the Kindle for a few reasons.

1. Uses the universal standard ePub format. This means you can buy from Borders, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, etc. and can also use the ever expanding list of library books. If you want to buy a book from Amazon, you can download some scripts and strip the DRM encryption and reformat to ePub. (There are also sites you can download books from, but we won't go there.) With the Kindle, you're stuck getting all books from Amazon.

2. Expandable storage. You can add a SD card (or maybe it is a micro SD card) to add additional storage.

3. Barnes and Noble has a whole section setup for the Nook. If you have a question or problem, they will help you. They also offer free classes.

 

[dhardawa]

I wish the Nook's screen was as nice as the Kindle. Perhaps one day. I am debating whether to order one of my daughters the Sony touch screen so she can read library books without me having to reformat them for the Kindle.

I looked at both side by side before I bought and I thought the screen was every bit as nice as the Kindle.