Who has a Kindle? (wireless reading device)

[Tarheel Tink]

Tarheel Tink- Can I ask you when did you order it? I order on 11/18 for my Son for Christmas and It's not looking good to receive for Christmas, I'm so upset.

I ordered it 11/8 and was supposed to receive 12/1-12/5 and got it 11/23.
Love it!

Can anyone tell me the difference and/or reason for putting it to sleep versus turning it off and your preference?

 

[Tarheel Tink]

OMG! I'm cracking up because last night my husband asked, "So, how is your Precious?" in HIS best Gollum voice!

I love this darned thing. I had a hair apppointment last night. I stuck it in my purse and, instead of passing the time reading trashy magazines while I waited, I was able to read several chapters of my book. I never would have brought my big book along and it certainly wouldn't have fit into my smallish purse.

Me too! At my hair appointment today I got several chapters read (and got to show My Precious off ).

 

[DVCLiz]

I got my Kindle when I arrived in the States on Thurs night. What Amazon DOESN'T tell you is that you need to have access to a Sprint cell phone tower. They do not have that where my mother lives. So instead of downloading books as I wonder through Barnes and Noble, I am downloading them on the laptop first. The same thing I'll have to do in Belgium.

If you had posted that on the Amazon Kindle discussion forum you would have been roasted alive for not looking at the coverage map before you ordered. Since this is the kindler, gentler DIS, I'll just point out for others that there IS a coverage map on the Amazon website, and it always pays to check it so you will know whether you have Whispernet coverage or not before you order. As Briarmom has found out, not having Whispernet means you have to use an alternate method to download books to the Kindle.

Also, Amazon will not knowingly sell to anyone outside the US.

 

[DreaminDisney]

I, too, am LOVING my kindle and am reluctant to take time away from reading to figure out all the cool stuff it does besides show me my book text in font big enough for my very bad eyes.
Maybe I missed it on this thread, but can someone tell me how to find free books to download and how I get them to download to the kindle? I know, I know, I should read the directions. But our home computer crashed and I have to do it from work and while I may have time to get some books downloaded today, I don't have time to research how to do it and then to do it, if that makes sense.
TIA!!!

If you go to kindle books at Amazon and list books lowest ot highest you'll see there are a few books you can download onto kindle that cost $0.00.

 

[sigafoos]

I was wondering if any college course books are available it would be so much easier for students and cheaper for us parents!

 

[DVCLiz]

I was wondering if any college course books are available it would be so much easier for students and cheaper for us parents!

Some but not all yet. Check the Amazon website if you have specific titles. I think the textbook market is slow to the party because some of their profit will be given up if/when they embrace this technology.

But there's no question this would be great for, say, a literature major. My oldest daughter is majoring in English and most of her texts this year could have been gotten in Kindle form. Because she is so far through her program I didn't buy her a Kindle - I will when a new version comes out in the next couple of years, probably - but it would be a great thing for students who need a lot of books and don't want to have to take up bookbag room with all the paper books.

 

[lulu71]

I have definitely decided that I like reading my cover-less, but I ordered this sleeve to carry/store it in. It's very cushioned and I'm very happy so far. SO much more secure than that case it came with.

http://www.amazon.com/Kroo-Reversib...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227634735&sr=8-2

Ooh, I really like that cover and I haven't seen that one before. Now I'm torn between the one you got and the red cover one that I could also use to store the booklight.

 

[DreaminDisney]

Ooh, I really like that cover and I haven't seen that one before. Now I'm torn between the one you got and the red cover one that I could also use to store the booklight.

I just got the notice the red cover I ordered has been shipped.

 

[Briarmom]

If you had posted that on the Amazon Kindle discussion forum you would have been roasted alive for not looking at the coverage map before you ordered. Since this is the kindler, gentler DIS, I'll just point out for others that there IS a coverage map on the Amazon website, and it always pays to check it so you will know whether you have Whispernet coverage or not before you order. As Briarmom has found out, not having Whispernet means you have to use an alternate method to download books to the Kindle.

Also, Amazon will not knowingly sell to anyone outside the US.

It never dawned on me that there would be anywhere in the US where there would not be coverage. Even when Jeff Bezos (sp) was on Oprah, it was never mentioned. If it had said 'you need Sprint' I would have known that here in BF North Dakota, it wouldn't be possible to use the whispernet. Come to think of it, they didn't even mention the Amazon map when I called customer service...hmm.

I was and am fully aware that I wouldn't be able to use it in Belgium without downloading the books onto my laptop. I'm fine with that. I'm making a list to download while I'm sitting in the Minneapolis airport next weekend. I think they have Sprint.

ETA: I, too, really dislike the cover it came with.

 

[kaseyC]

I just got the notice the red cover I ordered has been shipped.

My M-Edge Red Leather cover came on Wednesday. It is absolutely beautiful. I will probably go ahead and order the e-luminator booklight that is compatible with it. Pre-orders for the light ship in Jan.2009.

 

[DVCLiz]

It never dawned on me that there would be anywhere in the US where there would not be coverage. Even when Jeff Bezos (sp) was on Oprah, it was never mentioned. If it had said 'you need Sprint' I would have known that here in BF North Dakota, it wouldn't be possible to use the whispernet. Come to think of it, they didn't even mention the Amazon map when I called customer service...hmm.

I was and am fully aware that I wouldn't be able to use it in Belgium without downloading the books onto my laptop. I'm fine with that. I'm making a list to download while I'm sitting in the Minneapolis airport next weekend. I think they have Sprint.

ETA: I, too, really dislike the cover it came with.

I think many of the really unhappy reviews have come from people who thought exactly the same thing. They discover after the fact that they live in Montana or Wyoming (the two states they list as not having coverage) or they live, like you do, in an area that doesn't have coverage.

I don't think it is fair to really scold people for that - I think most people are caught up in the marketing they read and hear and the fine print just isn't as exciting!! Then, people are mad because Whispernet doesn't work - or they think they can't use a Kindle because they don't get Whispernet but they don't realize they can download to their computer and THEN to the Kindle. There have been some really vicious posts about the whole subject - it would never be allowed on the DIS!

By the way, have you seen some of the prices people are asking for on Amazon and Ebay now that the Kindle is sold out for Christmas??? WOW!!!! Makes me think I should dust mine off, sell it for double what I paid, then buy two when they are back in stock!! Nah, even if I made that much I wouldn't
want to be without it for 3 or 4 months!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Oh dear... it's sold out for Christmas??

 

[DVCLiz]

Oh dear... it's sold out for Christmas??

Yes, the estimated delivery dates are 11 to 13 weeks. There is apparently only one factory making the eink screens and they are limited in the number they can produce.

However, if you really need one now, they are selling refurbished ones on the Amazon website for $329.00. All new packaging, power cord, etc. and the same 1 year warranty and 30 day return.

Honestly, if I had wanted to buy one and hadn't been able to, I wouldn't have bought a refurbished one. It would have been crushing to know I had a "used" Kindle.

Now that I have it, though, I realize that refurbished would be just fine. They are not going to sell you one that is in any way dirty or banged up, and the components are all new. I'd order a refurbished one in a minute now - if it comes and you can in any way tell the difference you can always return it within the 30 day period or call Customer Service with your complaint and see if they will send you a new one to replace it when they come back in stock.

I LOVE my Kindle and it is by far the best electronic "toy" I have bought myself this year!!!

 

[WDWBarb]

By the way, have you seen some of the prices people are asking for on Amazon and Ebay now that the Kindle is sold out for Christmas??? WOW!!!! Makes me think I should dust mine off, sell it for double what I paid, then buy two when they are back in stock!! Nah, even if I made that much I wouldn't
want to be without it for 3 or 4 months!!

Just yesterday, Amazon had refurbished Kindles for $329 that were readily available. New packaging, same warranty, etc... but alas, they are now gone.

 

[DreaminDisney]

By the way, have you seen some of the prices people are asking for on Amazon and Ebay now that the Kindle is sold out for Christmas??? WOW!!!! Makes me think I should dust mine off, sell it for double what I paid, then buy two when they are back in stock!! Nah, even if I made that much I wouldn't
want to be without it for 3 or 4 months!!

I can't believe what they're going for on ebay!! When I ordered mine, I got it in 4 days. Had I known what a huge seller this would be this Christmas I might have ordered a couple more to sell on ebay myself.

 

[WDWBarb]

Yes, the estimated delivery dates are 11 to 13 weeks. There is apparently only one factory making the eink screens and they are limited in the number they can produce.

However, if you really need one now, they are selling refurbished ones on the Amazon website for $329.00. All new packaging, power cord, etc. and the same 1 year warranty and 30 day return.

Hey Liz - we were posting at the same time. I just checked Amazon and they are out of refurbs for now.

 

[DVCLiz]

Hey Liz - we were posting at the same time. I just checked Amazon and they are out of refurbs for now.

Hi Barb - great minds!!! I hope they have some more refurbished ones so people have a chance to get them as Christmas gifts.

If you have someone on your list who MUST get a Kindle and you won't pay the Ebay prices, consider going ahead and ordering it for them. If it comes early, great - if not, you've moved them way ahead in the line, since they will be filling orders on a first come first served basis.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Wow! I looked on Ebay to see what was happening and I saw $650.00 on one!!!!
Thanks to this thread I got in early and got mine! I'm going through about a book a day.

 

[kaseyC]

Like others, I'm amazed by the prices on Ebay. Most of them have alot of bids. I'm so glad we ordered mine right after the Oprah show, I would have been a sad sister if we would have waited until right before Xmas to order.

 

[DVCLiz]

Wow! I looked on Ebay to see what was happening and I saw $650.00 on one!!!!
Thanks to this thread I got in early and got mine! I'm going through about a book a day.

There's one on Amazon for $1,500.00. I am going to watch and see if he gets it!!!