Kindle

[angrymissy]

Does anyone have a Kindle? I'm looking into getting one for when I have to travel for work, I always end up trying to buy a book at Hudson News or some crap and their selection is always the worst. Is the 3g version necessary? How much does a book generally cost to download? How long does the download take? How is the battery life?

[Zorro]

Does anyone have a Kindle? I'm looking into getting one for when I have to travel for work, I always end up trying to buy a book at Hudson News or some crap and their selection is always the worst. Is the 3g version necessary? How much does a book generally cost to download? How long does the download take? How is the battery life?

I have the second generation. All things considered it's awesome.

The only problem is that I used to read and then give the books away. "Can't do that no more"

Most books are around 9 bucks, but it really varies. (Apparently when Apple got into the biz they let the publisher set the price, so the days of a flat rate are gone)

You dont need the 3G, but then you can only download books via WiFi which can be a pain in the ass. Over the Amazon "whispernet" a book will download in a matter of seconds.

Battery life is so good it's not even an issue.

Lastly and what I find very cool is that if you own a kindle you can also read that same book, on your computer, phone whatever and the whispernet thing syncs it. So if you're sitting in the Doctor's office reading on the phone and then go to your kindle the system will go to where you left off.

[StanUpshaw]

Doesn't it have USB? Can't you load .txt and .pdf straight from your computer?

Oh, and is the Text-to-Speech worth a shit?

[Zorro]

Doesn't it have USB? Can't you load .txt and .pdf straight from your computer?

Oh, and is the Text-to-Speech worth a shit?

Micro USB. Never tried to download from computer. (All the books that are out of copyright and free on the web are also free on the kindle)

Don't know about the new 3rd gen Kindle but in 2nd Text to Speech is "experimental" or in plain English...useless.

2nd also has an experimental web browser, but in my experience you are more likely to browse the web through your kitchen sink than the kindle.

[Snacks]

what kind of file are the book in? What different files can you read books in or is it like an ipod and everything comes in a kindle only file?

[KnoxHarrington]

what kind of file are the book in? What different files can you read books in or is it like an ipod and everything comes in a kindle only file?

I'm not sure what the exact file type is, but it can only be read on a Kindle device or in one of the Kindle reader programs.

As noted above, you can download most stuff on Project Gutenberg or similar sites and laod that up. Get the Mobipocket file. You can then connect the Kindle to your computer and drag files into it, or email them to yourself, though there may be a small charge for that (10 cents a MB, I think)

[Snacks]

I'm not sure what the exact file type is, but it can only be read on a Kindle device or in one of the Kindle reader programs.

As noted above, you can download most stuff on Project Gutenberg or similar sites and laod that up. Get the Mobipocket file. You can then connect the Kindle to your computer and drag files into it, or email them to yourself, though there may be a small charge for that (10 cents a MB, I think)

I heard about project Gutenberg a few weeks ago and look forward to downloading some free books. Any suggestions? I cant think of anything I want to read from back in the day!

[StanUpshaw]

I heard about project Gutenberg a few weeks ago and look forward to downloading some free books. Any suggestions? I cant think of anything I want to read from back in the day!

Perhaps the Kindle is not right for you.

[badorties]

i got the nook as a gift, and love it ... super small, really long battery life, can downlad files from your PC & has a (limited) web browser

i loaded it with a few dozen books i found on-line (free or otherwise), because i was shocked to see how expensive they were from B&N

[Pitdoc]

Because there are a lot of newer "e-readers" being released for the holidays ,and some have different features you might want.For instance, I think the Nook & the Sony Readers can now SHARE books. and one reader, not sure which one, can actually get "loans" from a public library .It lasts 2 weeks on your reader, then vanishes.This is all going to shake out in the next year or so, but if the "loanable" file catches on,, all libraries will go with it, and reading is going to change.
I bought my niece a Kindle right before she shipped off to Afghanistan last year.Loaded it up with all the "True Blood" books, and some books on Afghani culture. She loved it,and every body was wanting to borrow her Kindle & read the latest book. I myself have an IPad, and downloaded the Kindle reader app to buy books on that (Ibooks so far has a limited library of books to buy)

[KnoxHarrington]

Because there are a lot of newer "e-readers" being released for the holidays ,and some have different features you might want.For instance, I think the Nook & the Sony Readers can now SHARE books. and one reader, not sure which one, can actually get "loans" from a public library .It lasts 2 weeks on your reader, then vanishes.This is all going to shake out in the next year or so, but if the "loanable" file catches on,, all libraries will go with it, and reading is going to change.
I bought my niece a Kindle right before she shipped off to Afghanistan last year.Loaded it up with all the "True Blood" books, and some books on Afghani culture. She loved it,and every body was wanting to borrow her Kindle & read the latest book. I myself have an IPad, and downloaded the Kindle reader app to buy books on that (Ibooks so far has a limited library of books to buy)

I love the Kindle reader on the iPad. Putting it in white-on-black rather than black-on-white really takes care of any eyestrain issues from the LCD screen.

This thread reminded me to put the books I downloaded from Project Gutenberg a while back on my Kindle. I now have the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe, and several novels by Dickens and Thomas Hardy on there. And all for free.

[angrymissy]

Because there are a lot of newer "e-readers" being released for the holidays ,and some have different features you might want.For instance, I think the Nook & the Sony Readers can now SHARE books. and one reader, not sure which one, can actually get "loans" from a public library .It lasts 2 weeks on your reader, then vanishes.This is all going to shake out in the next year or so, but if the "loanable" file catches on,, all libraries will go with it, and reading is going to change.
I bought my niece a Kindle right before she shipped off to Afghanistan last year.Loaded it up with all the "True Blood" books, and some books on Afghani culture. She loved it,and every body was wanting to borrow her Kindle & read the latest book. I myself have an IPad, and downloaded the Kindle reader app to buy books on that (Ibooks so far has a limited library of books to buy)

hmmm I have a GC for Amazon and the $139 price was very tempting. The new ones sound great, but if they're way expensive, I just wouldn't want to shell out the cash.

[angrymissy]

OK, so say I get just the Wifi version one.

If I'm at an airport, and it costs $$$ to use wifi, will I be able to access that and sign up and pay through the Kindle,

OR

Can I download a book on my laptop, and transfer it to my Kindle with a cable or something?

[KnoxHarrington]

OK, so say I get just the Wifi version one.

If I'm at an airport, and it costs $$$ to use wifi, will I be able to access that and sign up and pay through the Kindle,

OR

Can I download a book on my laptop, and transfer it to my Kindle with a cable or something?

You don't directly transfer a book you purchase that way. You'd buy the book on your laptop, and then later, when the Kindle can connect to a network, it will be downloaded in the sync process.

Plus, you can always log in to your Amazon account and tell it to re-download any book you might have lost, just in case something happens like you lose your Kindle or it breaks.

I would honestly, if you want to get one, just unass the extra $50 for the 3G model. There's no additional charge for 3G service, and you can always use its browser if you just want to do some basic web searching.

[KnoxHarrington]

OK, so say I get just the Wifi version one.

If I'm at an airport, and it costs $$$ to use wifi, will I be able to access that and sign up and pay through the Kindle,

OR

Can I download a book on my laptop, and transfer it to my Kindle with a cable or something?

OK, I decided to try this out for myself to see if it works. I downloaded a book through the Kindle app on my Mac. It took me to the Amazon page, and I told it to deliver the book to Kindle on my Mac. I first turned off the wireless on my Kindle to avoid having that grab the book.

Once it did, I found the file in a folder called "My Kindle Content" in the Documents folder of my Mac. I was then able to plug the Kindle in via USB and drag it into the Documents folder on my Kindle. And the book is there now.

I would imagine it's a very similar process on the PC. So, yes, it's possible.

I still say having the 3G is worth it.

[KnoxHarrington]

By the way, I posted this from my Kindle.

[StanUpshaw]

EVERY model has the Whispernet, right? Doesn't the Wifi/3G only come into play when you're trying to do internet functions?


By the way, I posted this from my Kindle.

Fuckface.

[Zorro]

EVERY model has the Whispernet, right? Doesn't the Wifi/3G only come into play when you're trying to do internet functions?

Fuckface.

Good question... I thought the "WiFi" only model did not have whispernet. If it does and you're using it to just read then why spend the extra $50.

As for Project G. I would like to give Amazon kudos for actually recommending free books. When I go to my Amazon kindle screen they have one of those "based on your selections" thing and included are many of the classics, Sherlock Holmes and even the Iliad and Odyssey.

[StanUpshaw]

Good question... I thought the "WiFi" only model did not have whispernet. If it does and you're using it to just read then why spend the extra $50.

It's confusing, because they're using terms like "whispersync," which since they just invented a new word, it can mean anything they want. In any case, I don't really see any need for 3G. It's not like I'm going to get caught off guard and wind up on vacation without any chance to prepare.