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Post by brooks on Nov 22, 2010 18:53:34 GMT -5
I am thinking of getting one, the $189 one with the wireless connection. What are the draw backs if any? And how about print size? I wear glasses to read, is it really small? And most importantly  can I read in bed laying down? |
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Post by filly on Nov 22, 2010 21:03:16 GMT -5
Not sure about the kindle but I have the nook and LOVE it. I'm sure the same stuff is on there, Brooks. You can adjust the size and type of font so reading is no big deal. I also think they have a back lit stage. Mine doesn't which is fine by me but mind also had a much longer battery life on it. The pages are easy to turn (no buttons like kindle) bc it has a touch screen on the bottom. Whichever one you choose, they are sooo stinking awesome! Downloads instantly, free books, etc. I'm totally sold on mine. Bill got mine for Xmas last year and I was so surprised and so happy! I should sell the things because I'm always telling people they should buy one. ;D
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Post by Bara on Nov 23, 2010 1:09:13 GMT -5
What filly said. Mine is an Amazon and you can magnify the type and turn the page with a touch-screen. Much easier to read in bed! ;D I prop mine against my bedside table and get comfy, just one finger to change the page. No need for a bed-side lamp, because it's backlit. If you doze off, it times out and dozes off itself, saving battery. I think that's your perfect Christmas present, if  is listening. I'll always be grateful to Hokiethea for her first Kindle post. |
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Post by niaru on Nov 23, 2010 11:05:00 GMT -5
I am so torn about this because I love the feel of a real book, but I can see how it would save so much paper to use only those devices. And the no bed-side table lamp is a big plus to me!
but can you really download any book into it? Are you ever faced with wanting to download one and it's not available?
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Post by Bara on Nov 23, 2010 11:13:17 GMT -5
Probably, Claire - but you can still buy (or borrow, sorry, Ann!) a PROPER book! It's not like changing your religion, y'know!
And it's very much lighter to drop into your handbag for train or plane journeys, with half a dozen books stored on it.
Go on - you know you want to!
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Post by HokieThea on Nov 23, 2010 11:19:57 GMT -5
If there was a fire in my house, the Kindle would be saved before my children!
I tell people how easy it really is to read in bed, no balancing a heavy book and turning pages. But mine is not backlit, maybe because it is a first generation. It makes packing for vacation really easy, one Kindle instead of 5-6 books in the suitcase. And I keep a running list on an index card with the Kindle in case I need another book.
I have only run into a select few books that were not available. My Kindle was the best Christmas gift I have ever gotten, hands down!
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Post by adcooper on Nov 23, 2010 13:44:55 GMT -5
I could write a book! (An E book!)
Just keep in mind that you cannot (yet) download library books onto Kindles or Ipads, but you can on Nooks, Kobos and Sony readers. Yep. Libraries have digital collections, too, but they don't have unlimited licenses on all books, so you might have to wait to "check out" an ebook, and you do have to "return" it--meaning it will be automatically erased from your device after a couple of weeks.
As for the environmental impact, I am hating the thought of all these gizmos with their toxic metals ending up in landfills or shipped off to Africa to be "recycled." (For recycling in Africa, picture a toxic, smoking mountain of hell on earth.) Not to mention the horrors of mining on that continent for the minerals needed to create our technology.
My ecomania is showing!!
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Post by brooks on Nov 23, 2010 14:52:26 GMT -5
Thanks, I love the feel of real books to but not the weight of some of the bigger hardbacks. i love to read in bed and some of those real huge books are hard to hold up for long periods of time. I will be ordering my soon  |
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Post by niaru on Nov 23, 2010 17:11:38 GMT -5
Ah yes Ann, you're right...one the one hand, you save paper and trees, on the other hand...how WILL recycle all these electronic devices safely? It is mind boggling. Hopefully some day, someone will invent bio-degradable electonic components...
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Post by Einstein on Nov 23, 2010 17:33:17 GMT -5
I LOVE mine! Because I can't get out to get books was why I got it, once I got put on bed rest. Then I just fell in love, it is so light weight, so easy to down load anything, right from my bed it's perfect.
ONLY drawback I've had is my Dad wants to buy me books and have them sent right to my Kindle, we haven't found a way to do this yet, so he buys me an Amazon Gift Card for the book and lists the title he wanted to send me. You can download them to your computer then the Kindle if you want, or straight to the Kindle. I have so much on mine now I do have it backed up on the computer in case something happened.
Another plus to me is that it's paperless, no trees harmed by my reading compulsion! Plus, I have a small house so I usually have to give away books once read, no room to store them. Now I can go back and reread anything I want to, no storage space issues at all. AND, the price of books is less on Kindle, so that's a huge plus when I'm reading 2 or 3 novels a week.
I still have bought 3 baby books (hard copies), because they are huge, and I wanted to be able to mark them up, put in page markers and flip to something fast. I'm going to be a first time Mom, what can I say? But for novels, I love it.
I have the newest version, and didn't know you could have it back lit! How do you set that up, that's so cool!
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Post by adcooper on Nov 23, 2010 18:16:13 GMT -5
It's only a matter of time until I give in and get one, too. I know it.
But I just hafta say...don't forget libraries! All those books in the library belong to you, too. You don't have to buy anything to have access to hundreds of thousands of books. Sharing materials REALLY saves resources. AND, I don't know about your library system Michelle, but many have outreach for people who can't get in to the buildings. Let them know what you want, and they might just bring it to your door.
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Post by seeuatx on Nov 23, 2010 22:56:37 GMT -5
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Post by Einstein on Nov 24, 2010 8:13:26 GMT -5
Awesome seeuatx, thanks, I sent the link to my Dad, he'll love it!
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Post by filly on Nov 24, 2010 17:21:09 GMT -5
Ad, I agree, don't forget the libraries but out her in SoCal, the spend VERY little money on books for libraries. Ours suck. I can't tell you HOW many times I've gone to the library looking for a good book a newish book or a topic book and have come home empty handed. They don't even get new books until they are almost a year old. :-(
I gave up on them.
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Post by adcooper on Nov 28, 2010 11:09:45 GMT -5
Oh, filly, that would be disappointing. States have different ways of funding libraries, and I know CA libraries have felt the pinch for decades now. I visited a library in a neighboring county recently, and was shocked at how bare their "new books" shelves were. No wonder we've seen so many of their former patrons migrating to our system. At least we have good resource sharing systems. Sometimes there's a wait for materials, but we can get almost anything for people. CA must not have that. Rats. Haven't I told you before....come home!!!
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can I read in bed laying down?
