It's very good and for a good price. For the same quality of screen you'll pay almost twice as much at Sony's.
Amazon Kindle
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Originally Posted by Wetherby:
“Like everyone who posts I love books- the smell , the feel etc etc and swore blind I never resort to e-books or whatever you call them.
But this piece ot kit has got me sorely tempted-nearly every review in the media has been ecstatic, and you can get loads of stuff free.
Is it really that good?”
“Like everyone who posts I love books- the smell , the feel etc etc and swore blind I never resort to e-books or whatever you call them.
But this piece ot kit has got me sorely tempted-nearly every review in the media has been ecstatic, and you can get loads of stuff free.
Is it really that good?”
It really is. None of the others can connect directly to the Internet which puts Kindle way ahead on points. I don't know anyone who's not impressed by it.
Originally Posted by Wetherby:
“Like everyone who posts I love books- the smell , the feel etc etc and swore blind I never resort to e-books or whatever you call them.
But this piece ot kit has got me sorely tempted-nearly every review in the media has been ecstatic, and you can get loads of stuff free.
Is it really that good?”
“Like everyone who posts I love books- the smell , the feel etc etc and swore blind I never resort to e-books or whatever you call them.
But this piece ot kit has got me sorely tempted-nearly every review in the media has been ecstatic, and you can get loads of stuff free.
Is it really that good?”
I would say yes, it really is that good. Mine has a gorgeous green leather cover on it, which makes it feel and look like a lovely posh notebook, so you still get that tactile pleasure that you get from reading a proper book, plus it's really light and slim so you can take it anywhere, you never lose your place, you can have many books going at once. Books download incredibly quickly to it as well. Get one!
Originally Posted by Wetherby:
“Like everyone who posts I love books- the smell , the feel etc etc and swore blind I never resort to e-books or whatever you call them.
But this piece ot kit has got me sorely tempted-nearly every review in the media has been ecstatic, and you can get loads of stuff free.
Is it really that good?”
“Like everyone who posts I love books- the smell , the feel etc etc and swore blind I never resort to e-books or whatever you call them.
But this piece ot kit has got me sorely tempted-nearly every review in the media has been ecstatic, and you can get loads of stuff free.
Is it really that good?”
I'm tempted I've been ill for quite a while and is specifically affects my strength even to the point of lifting heavy books (Yeah I know it sounds pathetic), I've resorted before now to cutting books down the spine to make them manageable, which I find a horrific sacrilege to a good book.
Just have to get the money together.
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“It's very good and for a good price. For the same quality of screen you'll pay almost twice as much at Sony's.”
“It's very good and for a good price. For the same quality of screen you'll pay almost twice as much at Sony's.”
And actually own the books you buy, as opposed to essentially renting them from Amazon.
Originally Posted by Wetherby:
“Thanks- I think I 'm conviced.
”
“Thanks- I think I 'm conviced.
”
Do your research, Wetherby. The Kindle has lots of very big downsides as comapred to the other ebook systems that use the EPUB format,
With Amazon you don't actually own any of the books, so the price being lower is misleading. Yes, you get Internet connectivity, but the device is not designed for that, and the access is poor. You won't be using a Kindle to surf the net.
Check the reviews on Youtube for all of the ebook readers, don't buy into the Kindle hype alone.
Originally Posted by whip:
“I'm tempted I've been ill for quite a while and is specifically affects my strength even to the point of lifting heavy books (Yeah I know it sounds pathetic), I've resorted before now to cutting books down the spine to make them manageable, which I find a horrific sacrilege to a good book.
Just have to get the money together.”
“I'm tempted I've been ill for quite a while and is specifically affects my strength even to the point of lifting heavy books (Yeah I know it sounds pathetic), I've resorted before now to cutting books down the spine to make them manageable, which I find a horrific sacrilege to a good book.
Just have to get the money together.”
This was the tipping point for me too. I looked at a phonebook-sized H. G. Wells anthology I'd bought for about £4 from a charity shop and never read (just dusted occasionally) because of its weight and thought "enough already".
I now have all Wells' sf books for free, via Project Gutenberg, on Kindle without wrist damage. Result.
Originally Posted by Vennegoor:
“And actually own the books you buy, as opposed to essentially renting them from Amazon.”
“And actually own the books you buy, as opposed to essentially renting them from Amazon.”
What do you mean by 'renting' from Amazon? Even if you delete the book from the Kindle it is permanently kept in your Amazon account to be downloaded again at any time.
What I also love about the Kindle is that we are a two Kindle household, so all the books that I buy on my account are also on my husband's Kindle for the same price. It saves arguments as who gets to read the book first.
Although I love my Kindle and wouldn't be without it now, I love history and art books so shall still be buying print books too.
Originally Posted by nightstar:
“What do you mean by 'renting' from Amazon? Even if you delete the book from the Kindle it is permanently kept in your Amazon account to be downloaded again at any time.
What I also love about the Kindle is that we are a two Kindle household, so all the books that I buy on my account are also on my husband's Kindle for the same price. It saves arguments as who gets to read the book first.
Although I love my Kindle and wouldn't be without it now, I love history and art books so shall still be buying print books too.”
“What do you mean by 'renting' from Amazon? Even if you delete the book from the Kindle it is permanently kept in your Amazon account to be downloaded again at any time.
What I also love about the Kindle is that we are a two Kindle household, so all the books that I buy on my account are also on my husband's Kindle for the same price. It saves arguments as who gets to read the book first.
Although I love my Kindle and wouldn't be without it now, I love history and art books so shall still be buying print books too.”
Amazon can remove a book from your account/Kindle at their leisure. Read your T and Cs.
Originally Posted by Vennegoor:
“And actually own the books you buy, as opposed to essentially renting them from Amazon.”
“And actually own the books you buy, as opposed to essentially renting them from Amazon.”
I love my Kindle and I'm quite happy but you do have a point.
The ebooks are stuck to the Kindle(s) they were bought for and can't be sold or given away to a charity shop.
I don't know whether Amazon will ever be willing change this.
Originally Posted by Vennegoor:
“And actually own the books you buy, as opposed to essentially renting them from Amazon.”
“And actually own the books you buy, as opposed to essentially renting them from Amazon.”
You can always copy the books to your PC, strip DRM from them and copy them back. Amazon had removed the Orwell books from Kindle readers because of copyright issues, I don't think they have ever done that since.
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“You can always copy the books to your PC, strip DRM from them and copy them back. Amazon had removed the Orwell books from Kindle readers because of copyright issues, I don't think they have ever done that since.”
“You can always copy the books to your PC, strip DRM from them and copy them back. Amazon had removed the Orwell books from Kindle readers because of copyright issues, I don't think they have ever done that since.”
But they can, which means you don't own them,
I like the Kindle as a device, but people are bigging it up over others equally good or better devices based on price. I'm pointing out the price comes at a cost, including a proprietary system, and a lack of control over your content.
I'm suggesting people interested should do their homework to see which system does actually best suit their needs.
Originally Posted by Vennegoor:
“But they can, which means you don't own them,
I like the Kindle as a device, but people are bigging it up over others equally good or better devices based on price. I'm pointing out the price comes at a cost, including a proprietary system, and a lack of control over your content.
I'm suggesting people interested should do their homework to see which system does actually best suit their needs.”
“But they can, which means you don't own them,
I like the Kindle as a device, but people are bigging it up over others equally good or better devices based on price. I'm pointing out the price comes at a cost, including a proprietary system, and a lack of control over your content.
I'm suggesting people interested should do their homework to see which system does actually best suit their needs.”
You are not locked to Amazon though. I have my earlier epub DRMed purchases on my Kindle. I admit, it takes some effort, but it can be done with a bit of skills. I also bought a book in PRC format just yesterday, with no DRM included. There are shops on Internet that offer books in several formats and without DRM, so it's not necessarily Amazon only for Kindle users to legally get books.
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“You are not locked to Amazon though. I have my earlier epub DRMed purchases on my Kindle. I admit, it takes some effort, but it can be done with a bit of skills. I also bought a book in PRC format just yesterday, with no DRM included. There are shops on Internet that offer books in several formats and without DRM, so it's not necessarily Amazon only for Kindle users to legally get books.”
“You are not locked to Amazon though. I have my earlier epub DRMed purchases on my Kindle. I admit, it takes some effort, but it can be done with a bit of skills. I also bought a book in PRC format just yesterday, with no DRM included. There are shops on Internet that offer books in several formats and without DRM, so it's not necessarily Amazon only for Kindle users to legally get books.”
Indeed, so you need to weight up the options with regards the hassle their DRM gives the average user. You admit yourself, it takes some effort.
It doesn't if you have an EPUB format ebook like a Sony.
If you know what DRM is, and it's limitations then you're bound to know how to deal with it. 
Don't let it put you off, it's a fantastic device. DRM didn't kill iPods.
Don't let it put you off, it's a fantastic device. DRM didn't kill iPods.
Originally Posted by Vennegoor:
“Indeed, so you need to weight up the options with regards the hassle their DRM gives the average user. You admit yourself, it takes some effort.
It doesn't if you have an EPUB format ebook like a Sony.”
“Indeed, so you need to weight up the options with regards the hassle their DRM gives the average user. You admit yourself, it takes some effort.
It doesn't if you have an EPUB format ebook like a Sony.”
There's a free program called 'Calibre'. It's converts and manages titles on your Kindle. It's like itunes. No expertise needed.
Originally Posted by You_mo:
“There's a free program called 'Calibre'. It's converts and manages titles on your Kindle. It's like itunes. No expertise needed.”
“There's a free program called 'Calibre'. It's converts and manages titles on your Kindle. It's like itunes. No expertise needed.”
Yes there is, I use it myself.
You folk who are Kindle evangelists are being unfair on novice ebook users.
Give them the whole picture instead of a one device obsession becsause it's cheaper and has relatively pointless/poor Internet browsing..
Originally Posted by Vennegoor:
“Yes there is, I use it myself.
You folk who are Kindle evangelists are being unfair on novice ebook users.
Give them the whole picture instead of a one device obsession becsause it's cheaper and has relatively pointless/poor Internet browsing..”
“Yes there is, I use it myself.
You folk who are Kindle evangelists are being unfair on novice ebook users.
Give them the whole picture instead of a one device obsession becsause it's cheaper and has relatively pointless/poor Internet browsing..”
I tried Sony readers, too. I had PRS-600, the screen was a disaster, and PRS-300, very good, I put it to a good use before I gave it away to my niece when I got Kindle. But I think Kindle is a better solution for beginners than Sony readers. It offers you an easier way to buy books. A beginner will struggle with Adobe ID, Digital Editions, authorisation, etc. With Amazon all you have to do is create an account and you can start purchasing the books. I don't care about web browser, but wireless purchasing of books is a nice feature. I think that at the moment Amazon has a better product.
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“I tried Sony readers, too. I had PRS-600, the screen was a disaster, and PRS-300, very good, I put it to a good use before I gave it away to my niece when I got Kindle. But I think Kindle is a better solution for beginners than Sony readers. It offers you an easier way to buy books. A beginner will struggle with Adobe ID, Digital Editions, authorisation, etc. With Amazon all you have to do is create an account and you can start purchasing the books. I don't care about web browser, but wireless purchasing of books is a nice feature. I think that at the moment Amazon has a better product.”
“I tried Sony readers, too. I had PRS-600, the screen was a disaster, and PRS-300, very good, I put it to a good use before I gave it away to my niece when I got Kindle. But I think Kindle is a better solution for beginners than Sony readers. It offers you an easier way to buy books. A beginner will struggle with Adobe ID, Digital Editions, authorisation, etc. With Amazon all you have to do is create an account and you can start purchasing the books. I don't care about web browser, but wireless purchasing of books is a nice feature. I think that at the moment Amazon has a better product.”
I agree. I also bought a Sony device first, but find the Kindle far less hassle to own and manage. As for the permanence argument, so what? I usually buy paperbacks anyway and often read them once or twice and then offload them to a charity shop. If I wanted a book to last a lifetime I'd buy the hardback edition. I just don't have the room for all the books I want to read.
Originally Posted by Lyricalis:
“ I usually buy paperbacks anyway and often read them once or twice and then offload them to a charity shop. If I wanted a book to last a lifetime I'd buy the hardback edition. I just don't have the room for all the books I want to read.”
“ I usually buy paperbacks anyway and often read them once or twice and then offload them to a charity shop. If I wanted a book to last a lifetime I'd buy the hardback edition. I just don't have the room for all the books I want to read.”
I agree with that. The point for me is it's easy to use and portable. I didn't expect to love it as much as I do, but on a recent holiday it was brilliant to have all the books I wanted to read in one light little device rather than lugging a pile of books with me.
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“I tried Sony readers, too. I had PRS-600, the screen was a disaster, and PRS-300, very good, I put it to a good use before I gave it away to my niece when I got Kindle. But I think Kindle is a better solution for beginners than Sony readers. It offers you an easier way to buy books. A beginner will struggle with Adobe ID, Digital Editions, authorisation, etc. With Amazon all you have to do is create an account and you can start purchasing the books. I don't care about web browser, but wireless purchasing of books is a nice feature. I think that at the moment Amazon has a better product.”
“I tried Sony readers, too. I had PRS-600, the screen was a disaster, and PRS-300, very good, I put it to a good use before I gave it away to my niece when I got Kindle. But I think Kindle is a better solution for beginners than Sony readers. It offers you an easier way to buy books. A beginner will struggle with Adobe ID, Digital Editions, authorisation, etc. With Amazon all you have to do is create an account and you can start purchasing the books. I don't care about web browser, but wireless purchasing of books is a nice feature. I think that at the moment Amazon has a better product.”
Disagree on the screen of the PRS 600, I've had one for over a year and its touch screen functionality is terrific.
That aside, the PRS 650 and PRS 350 are the new models and both have touch screen functionality too, with improved screens.
Anyway, for newbies, PC Pro have reviewed a wide range of readers, so check them all out before going for one.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/ebook-readers
Originally Posted by Vennegoor:
“Disagree on the screen of the PRS 600, I've had one for over a year and its touch screen functionality is terrific.”
“Disagree on the screen of the PRS 600, I've had one for over a year and its touch screen functionality is terrific.”
I liked the touchscreen capability, even if I do not think it's essential for an e-reader, but I had problems with the glare of the screen. It was too much for me to read comfortably. I prefer when the main functionality is as good as possible without a compromise. PRS-300 was excellent though. What I like about the new PRS-650 that it has built in several dictionaries. I tried to get a German dictionary for the Kindle and ended up generating it myself, because there's none for European market
But I am afraid Sony prices are too high compared to Kindle to be competitive.
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“I liked the touchscreen capability, even if I do not think it's essential for an e-reader, but I had problems with the glare of the screen. It was too much for me to read comfortably. I prefer when the main functionality is as good as possible without a compromise. PRS-300 was excellent though. What I like about the new PRS-650 that it has built in several dictionaries. I tried to get a German dictionary for the Kindle and ended up generating it myself, because there's none for European market But I am afraid Sony prices are too high compared to Kindle to be competitive.”
“I liked the touchscreen capability, even if I do not think it's essential for an e-reader, but I had problems with the glare of the screen. It was too much for me to read comfortably. I prefer when the main functionality is as good as possible without a compromise. PRS-300 was excellent though. What I like about the new PRS-650 that it has built in several dictionaries. I tried to get a German dictionary for the Kindle and ended up generating it myself, because there's none for European market
But I am afraid Sony prices are too high compared to Kindle to be competitive.”
The glare can be annnoying, but as I say the funcionality wins for me.
The price of the Sony is dearer, but the ability to borrow books from your local public library on your ebook is a big thing for the future, quite a few already do it, and you need the EPUB compatible devices to do it.
Guess I just hate being tied to one format. Dislike iTunes for the same reason, even though I have an iPhone.
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