The Kindle

jdorsey said:

Has anyone here used a Kindle? I researched it on Amazon. My mom wants one, but she is not very computer savvy. I'm wondering if it is hard to use, and if people are glad they bought it. Any help?

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Sorry,but I never saw the attraction in such a device!
When I read,I like to curl up in my recliner with a real book,and not have to worry about if the lighting is 'just so' to avoid glare,or other visibility problems. I won't even consider reading a book on my computer,because when I want to read,that means my recliner is the only place to do it.

So I'm probably not the one to answer this,but I am curious,can anyone tell me 'WHY' they would consider going to such an expense to read an electronic book,over a real paper-page book? BTW most of the books I read,I get from my library,the majority that I buy are non-fiction Christian inspirational,and several Christian fiction by Frank Peretti.

soblessed53 said:

Sorry,but I never saw the attraction in such a device!
When I read,I like to curl up in my recliner with a real book,and not have to worry about if the lighting is 'just so' to avoid glare,or other visibility problems. I won't even consider reading a book on my computer,because when I want to read,that means my recliner is the only place to do it.

So I'm probably not the one to answer this,but I am curious,can anyone tell me 'WHY' they would consider going to such an expense to read an electronic book,over a real paper-page book? BTW most of the books I read,I get from my library,the majority that I buy are non-fiction Christian inspirational,and several Christian fiction by Frank Peretti.

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You don't have to worry about glare, and the Kindle reads largely similar to reading a real book. An advantage to the Kindle is that you can have all of your books on one device. You can also get subscriptions to nearly any newspaper/magazine delivered right to your Kindle as well.

I don't know if I'll get one as I like having a large collection of books to show off , (I also don't mind the idea of adding to the author's income) & give away... but I definitely see the advantages of this device.

My friend has one and she really likes it. She likes to be able to download books on the spot. She buys enough books that in the long run it will save her money because the downloaded books are cheaper. She says it's now like her American Express - she "never leaves home without it."

Shabby said:

You don't have to worry about glare, and the Kindle reads largely similar to reading a real book. An advantage to the Kindle is that you can have all of your books on one device. You can also get subscriptions to nearly any newspaper/magazine delivered right to your Kindle as well.

I don't know if I'll get one as I like having a large collection of books to show off , (I also don't mind the idea of adding to the author's income) & give away... but I definitely see the advantages of this device.

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Thanks for that info,I didn't know any of that,but after doing some more research,at $359.00 for the Kindle, how many books are not available in ebook form,the fact that it takes electricity,and all the money that would be down the tubes if it was stolen or dropped,there is still no way I would even consider ebooks,and an ebook reader.

As of today, there are, or will be, 2 models of the Kindle. The KlassicKindle, as most of the original Kindle owners are calling it, and the Kindle 2, which was introduced to the public on February 9th.

I have the Klassic, and I love it. As someone said, "I never leave home without it". Unlike most models of eReaders, Kindle reads more like a book than an electronic device. As a certified "Bibliomaniac", a term I heard on a Sunday morning show, I have already downloaded hundreds of books into my Kindle, and will continue to do so. Not that my hard copy books have dwindled in any way, it is very convenient to carry "one" thing than "tons" of books on a trip. Plus, there are books I've downloaded into my Kindle that I wouldn't buy a hard copy of.

One of the great features of my Kindle, is the ability to choose the font size I want to read the book in. As a person with a slight visual impairment, it can be sometimes difficult to read 10pc font, especially when the print is rather faded which sometimes happens.

Another thing is I am able to curl up on the couch and read. No difficulties there, which was one of my big hangups in deciding to get a Kindle. It weight is no different than a regular hard copy book, plus the glair is virtually minimal. And unlike most eReaders, there isn't a built in back light to the screen which can sometimes make reading difficult. In any case, if you want to read in the dark, get a book light.

Granted not all newly published books are available for Kindle. However, major novelists are slowly moving into the 21st century. Stephen King has put out his current book in Kindle format, and John Grisham has FINALLY agreed to put his works in Kindle format.

Okay, the K1 is currently unavailable for purchase since the K2 was launched last week. The 2 main differences is the K2 doesn't have an external slot for an sd/hc storage card, and the new addition of a text-to-read feature has been added to the K2. Contrary to some belief, especially the Authors Guild of America, the "text-to-read" is not an audio book and is not advertised as such. It's simular to the device used by the visually impaired, however, this device instantaniously converts the book which is downloaded in the K2 to a computerized voice almost instantaniously from the point where you stopped reading. Then, when you decide to continue reading, you can pick up where the device has left off.

If you want to check it out, visit amazon.com to watch the demo video on the Kindle 2.