Using a Kindle

[Stoek]

On December 9th (or soon thereafter) I will be the proud owner of a Kindle Touch. I was excited at the idea of an ebook reader ever since seeing the PADD on TNG. When they started to become a real thing I followed their developments very closely. In time I chose to focus all of my attention on the Kindle, for two main reasons. One was the HUGE library of titles that Amazon had available for it, and two was the fact that with their various apps, it meant that even without a kindle I could still buy and read books from them. I downloaded the kindle for pc and tried reading some free books on it and really found it quite an enjoyable experience. The patience point for me (it's like a sticking point, but since I knew it wouldn't last forever I just had to have some patience) was that the price was still just a bit too steep. Then they launched the kindle with special offers. I was poised to buy but something told me to wait. And I'm glad I did.

Now as for why, storage space is a big one, but also, well I'm very bad about losing books, or getting them dinged up, plus I sometimes have more than one book going at a time. (Sometimes I'm in a Star Trek mood, sometimes I'm in the mood for a book on politics, etc etc) so with kindle I will have an easier time switching between them and not losing my place.

Plus I am subscribed to emails from a website called E-Reader IQ and I get daily (sometimes twice daily even) updates about free kindle books. Sure often they are self published junk. But not always. I've found some great books on science, and history, and even some good fiction through this service. I have built a library of over 300 books and am eagerly looking forward to getting to read them on a kindle device. The app for the computer is and was nice but having to unplug from everything to take it into the bathroom got old really quickly.

 

[Kopernikus]

My wife and me bought us a Kindle last week and we're both quite enthusiastic about it. The display indeed looks more or less like paper, you can easily read for hours without getting tired eyes. And the small weight of the device is really a boost in comfort. my wife is currently reading the latest Ken Follett novel, roughly thousand pages. Reading that in paperform would be quite an effective Fitness-excercise, but most likely not a pleasant reading-experience. My first ebook on it was Christophers ebook-only-Novella "Typhon pact - The Struggle within", a very good story and since it's not available in print, I thought was a good choice for my very first ebook.

 

[CaptainDonovin]

I finally borke down & got the Kindle 3G on black Friday & love it. Kind of wish I had waited for a Fire since I have been sucked into comics but I love the kindle. I don't have to worry the book I'm looking for won't be @ the store or wait for it through the mail. Plus being able to lay in bed or the recliner & not worry about losing my page if I fall asleep.

 

[bfollowell]

I finally borke down & got the Kindle 3G on black Friday & love it. Kind of wish I had waited for a Fire since I have been sucked into comics but I love the kindle. I don't have to worry the book I'm looking for won't be @ the store or wait for it through the mail. Plus being able to lay in bed or the recliner & not worry about losing my page if I fall asleep.

True, but you you still have to worry about that nasty night drool getting into the sensitive electronics and fouling something up and I don't want to think about what rolling over on it might do to the screen. So basically, just different worries!

Enjoy your new toy. I love my K3 wi-fi. The only thing I can think of that would improve it would be if Amazon sees fit to eventually update it to be compatible with the new KF8 format, but from what I'm hearing, it doesn't sound too likely.

- Byron

 

[aaon80]

I'm currently spending two years abroad in Korea teaching English, and since I've been here I've read very nearly 100 books...
Seriously though, the thought of transporting a library with me when I move to a non-English speaking country? No way. For the amount I read, I'm so glad to have an e-reader.

I am in exactly the same position living in France. While English books are available, the pickings are slim, especially since I don't live in Paris. Having a Kindle has let me continue reading what I want (including Star Trek Books, which I have never seen on sale here), without having to have a massive library that I would eventually have to ship back to the United States. Plus, the kindle is fantastic on a train or plane, since I read quickly. Having to take multiple paperbacks with me on every trip was a pain!

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I'm mostly a fan of real books -- I love the feel, the smell, etc. I like being surrounded by them in my own home and checking out what's on the shelves in other peoples homes and offices. I use the library a lot to control the expense and storage space.

That said, I LOVED having access to e-books this year. I went from hospital to rehab to a friend's house with just my iPad. If I ran out of reading material, I didn't have to order a book online and wait for it to be delivered or to ask a friend to go shopping for me. It was only one item to risk losing or being stolen, instead of several. And it took up so much less space than even a handful of paperbacks.

(Plus, as a computer, it was lighter and more comfortable to use flat on my back than a laptop would have been.)

So, yes, there are advantages. Even for those of us who overall prefer real books.

 

[James R]

I have Kindle on my computer i got it this year and i really like it. It's easy to use and it really saves space for me. I like it so much i'm looking at getting a proper kindle reader.

 

[JWolf]

Sony has the PRS-T1 on sale for $99 during most of December. That is a good deal for anyone looking for a reader.

 

[Caesar753]

I got a Nook a few months ago and love it. I'll never buy a paperback again.

 

[RAMA]

Perhaps I'm a bit of Luddite (I've been called worse) but can anyone actually give me a good reason why anyone would want to read a book on one of these, as opposed to just reading from a book. To me, all of the advertised advantages appear to be just clutching at straws - "In the time it takes you to read this review you can download an entire book"????? So what???
The only possible advantage I can think of might be for large unwieldy text books for students.
I never felt over the years that my reading was in any way hampered by having to do it from a pesky old book.

OK, keep in mind I have re-discovered buying physical books at least up to a point...but eventually I don't see why there is a reason NOT to go all Kindle/e-book reader. They can contain 1000s of books, not just one, saving space; they have access to millions of books and magazines; they can change font size, aiding in readability; they are editable/notation capable; they keep great bookmarks; they don't hurt your eyes with e-ink; the can be re-transmitted or stored for others to read without them ruining your copy; you can hold multiple copies of the same book, or re-edited versions, which are enhanced by updated info......there are really so many reasons. I have roughly 200-250 real books (at one time I had many more than that) and 550+ e-books now.

 

[JWolf]

OK, keep in mind I have re-discovered buying physical books at least up to a point...but eventually I don't see why there is a reason NOT to go all Kindle/e-book reader.

There's some good reasons not to go all Kindle. Like other companies make better readers. Like ePub is the #1 format worldwide. Like you'd be locked into the house of Amazon with no way to get out. These are good reasons to not go Kindle only.

 

[garamet]

As others have already said, storage and portability, i.e., the ability to store an entire library on the coffee table and have it at your fingertips. There's something heady about, for example, having an entire collection of Dickens, along with whatever book(s) you're currently reading, squirreled away in your bag on the bus or at the airport.

Also, for the compulsive among us, the search function. When you've gotten to page 273, you don't have to flip through an entire paper book to remind yourself "Um, wait, it was the candlestick in the library, wasn't it? Or was it poison? And was it in Chapter 3 or Chapter 5?" Key in "library" and there's your answer.

Lastly, but no less significant for those of us with wonky eyesight - a choice of font sizes.

This is not to say I'm about to trash my entire library of dead-tree books, but as more become available for Kindle (and the prices go down - the one downside of Kindle books is some publishers' insistence on pricing them the same as dead-tree books), they will be replaced. My local library will receive the donation, I'll get the tax write-off, more people will have a chance to read the books I find worthwhile...everybody wins.

 

[Lee]

garamet, will your "Others" series be available soon on Kindle? I read the first book several years ago and loved it. I would dearly love to read the whole series on Kindle.

 

[JonLuck Pickerd]

Getting a KIndle Fire for xmas, currently have 1400 semi-legally obtained MOBI files ready to go. will let you know how it works out

 

[JWolf]

garamet, will your "Others" series be available soon on Kindle? I read the first book several years ago and loved it. I would dearly love to read the whole series on Kindle.

ePub first would be nicer.

 

[Kateno]

As others have already said, storage and portability, i.e., the ability to store an entire library on the coffee table and have it at your fingertips. There's something heady about, for example, having an entire collection of Dickens, along with whatever book(s) you're currently reading, squirreled away in your bag on the bus or at the airport.

Also, for the compulsive among us, the search function. When you've gotten to page 273, you don't have to flip through an entire paper book to remind yourself "Um, wait, it was the candlestick in the library, wasn't it? Or was it poison? And was it in Chapter 3 or Chapter 5?" Key in "library" and there's your answer.

Lastly, but no less significant for those of us with wonky eyesight - a choice of font sizes.

This is not to say I'm about to trash my entire library of dead-tree books, but as more become available for Kindle (and the prices go down - the one downside of Kindle books is some publishers' insistence on pricing them the same as dead-tree books), they will be replaced. My local library will receive the donation, I'll get the tax write-off, more people will have a chance to read the books I find worthwhile...everybody wins. ​

...everybody wins..... except for the used bookseller. We are seeing our livelihood slowly but surely circling down the toilet.
​

 

[JonLuck Pickerd]

As others have already said, storage and portability, i.e., the ability to store an entire library on the coffee table and have it at your fingertips. There's something heady about, for example, having an entire collection of Dickens, along with whatever book(s) you're currently reading, squirreled away in your bag on the bus or at the airport.

Also, for the compulsive among us, the search function. When you've gotten to page 273, you don't have to flip through an entire paper book to remind yourself "Um, wait, it was the candlestick in the library, wasn't it? Or was it poison? And was it in Chapter 3 or Chapter 5?" Key in "library" and there's your answer.

Lastly, but no less significant for those of us with wonky eyesight - a choice of font sizes.

This is not to say I'm about to trash my entire library of dead-tree books, but as more become available for Kindle (and the prices go down - the one downside of Kindle books is some publishers' insistence on pricing them the same as dead-tree books), they will be replaced. My local library will receive the donation, I'll get the tax write-off, more people will have a chance to read the books I find worthwhile...everybody wins. ​

...everybody wins..... except for the used bookseller. We are seeing our livelihood slowly but surely circling down the toilet.
​

Along with the buggy whip salesman, you'll adapt.

 

[CaptainDonovin]

I finally borke down & got the Kindle 3G on black Friday & love it. Kind of wish I had waited for a Fire since I have been sucked into comics but I love the kindle. I don't have to worry the book I'm looking for won't be @ the store or wait for it through the mail. Plus being able to lay in bed or the recliner & not worry about losing my page if I fall asleep.

True, but you you still have to worry about that nasty night drool getting into the sensitive electronics and fouling something up and I don't want to think about what rolling over on it might do to the screen. So basically, just different worries!

Enjoy your new toy. I love my K3 wi-fi. The only thing I can think of that would improve it would be if Amazon sees fit to eventually update it to be compatible with the new KF8 format, but from what I'm hearing, it doesn't sound too likely.

- Byron

I generally sleep on my back so there I'm safe, unless it ends up under my wife's side of the bed or if my lab jumps up & nails it then I'd be in trouble.

I have found it addicting to use, the only thing I will miss is the nice colorful covers. I'll still hit the B&N for the bargan book section if I'm in a mall so I won't miss that buti do have to be careful, I let my wife take it to work to show a coworker who wants one & she almost bought "The Help" by mistake.

 

[Jim Gamma]

Kindle books

Ok, so I'm getting a Kindle - after years of saying EBooks are hard on the eyes, I finally bit the bullet. Now the problem is: what do I put on it?

Definitely getting Slings and Arrows; been wanting to read it for a while. I have read most post-2000 novels and a few pre-2000 novels (I think I started reading Trek a year or two before the numbering stopped).

I have enjoyed most of the recent novels, although New Frontier got too confusing and surreal after book 7 or 8.

So… any suggestions for Kindle books? (Mostly Trek but other advice also welcome.)

I assume any Kindle book is available in the uk if it's in the us store?

Thanks!

 

[BrotherBenny]

Re: Kindle books

Most books are, yes.

Subscribe to Pixel of Ink and Ereader News Today for daily emails of free and bargain Kindle books.

Are there any novel series you like, Dresden Files, Honor Harrington, Pern, Wheel of Time, you could get those.