wilkes

You hate "Ipad"? It's super absorbent...and can protect you, even on your heavy days.

There are rumors that Amazon Prime members could be getting a free Kindle 2 before the Apple iPad comes out. I'm a Prime member and certainly won't turn a free one down. I'll still eventually get an iPad too; I will just probably choose to call it something else (Apple Tablet). Hate that name.

Just wondering if there is anything to the comment "If you ever lose your device, or Amazon quits supporting the devices, you lose your entire library." I haven't heard anything about this except on here. Also, I can pull my library up on the computer as well as the Kindle. You can use the PDF format and still keep your books. So that elephant isn't as big as you think RadioGiant. I still love my Kindle. The enlarged font helps me to read as I am visually impaired and when my eyes are too tired, the Kindle will read to me. It has brought me a delight that otherwise I would not be able to enjoy.

The new Apple tablet computer, if announced next week, could be a backbreaker for a lot of the digital readers that have been coming out. Sure it will cost a lot more, but just imagine being able to run Apps and computer functions on it. Can't do that on the other readers to the extent that will be possible on the Apple. I'm actually enjoying reading books on my Kindle App for the iPhone. I find that breaking the pages into smaller sections with a bigger font actually allows me to read faster and with less strain on my eyes. The white on black print works great when you invert it.

I have a sony e-reader, and am very pleased with it so far. Doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles like kindle, but if portability is what you want, for the price I'd say it's a winner. I bought the lighted book cover, because I read every night at bedtime. Beats trying to hold a paper back open, but I still have my favorites in hard copy.

I doubt the Amazon prices will vary much for quite a while. They have no trouble selling them at any price point right now, so why would they want to decrease the price any more? Like with gaming consoles, they aren't making much profit (if any) on the hardware. They just hope to sell you a bunch of digital books in the future. When the competition gets fiercer, Amazon may find a way to sell them cheaper.

I have been wanting one of these for a long time. I am just waiting for a good deal to come along. I think I would get alot more reading done. Gotta love technology

I would stick with the Kindle and Amazon's very simple download process for now, then consider the Barnes & Noble Nook as a good one when the improved 2nd Generation comes out. The Sony Reader is actually a very simple device too and there are many thousands of free books available via many online sites. The Sony just doesn't have the bells and whistles of the others (the touchscreen model has not received very positive reviews).

Just an FYI for you kindle owners.

You can find many books for free at manybooks.net

They are available in several formats, including the kindle.

If you don't have a kindle, you can download the books in PDF format.

It is a great resource, and I have made great use of it.

I think I'd rather buy one from a company with books to offer, like Barnes and Noble or Amazon, than more of a hardware company, like Sony.

It doesn't matter how slick the hardware is, if there's ntohing to read. The minidisc (from Sony) was a great piece of technology. Rather than being used to listen to music, today they're probably in more common use as papweweights!

I woudn't buy any of the newer entries into the market until the 2nd or 3rd generation devices come out. I know someone who played around with a Nook and said that the small screen really adds nothing to it. The Nook could become a competitive item by the 2nd Gen. Competition will be could for the big boys like Amazon, Sony, and BN.

I see the Nook from Barnes and Noble has a color screen at the bottom for general surfing, and a traditional "e-ink" greyscale screen to read from. I guess that's an improvement. I understand it does limit battery life.

Does anyone use their reader for anything other than reading books and magazines...like listening to mp3s or audiobooks?

Things will get better in the eReader market now that there is so much competition. 4 or 5 new readers have hit the market this holiday season alone. The pressure will be on Amazon to lower prices (which they recently did). For the reader on the go, the price may be worth it for one of the nicer models available. My problem over the years is that I've bought a lot of books and am running out of room. Electronic books don't have that problem, but it doesn't keep me from still wanting a physical book in my hands. Eventually (slowly) the book world will head digital. The eReader market is still in its infancy.

I understand that they are not worth the price you will pay. Too many disappointments.

RG, sorry I just saw the post asking me a question. The good thing about magazines on the Kindle is that they are automatically downloaded as soon as they are available. If you prefer color photos and holding the paper in your hands, you may not like it. If you just want to read the articles/stories, it's great. It also allows you to keep a library of back issues at your disposal to refer back to if needed. I'm still partial to paper, but the switch to digital has advantages that it's getting harder to ignore.

OKay, here's my take on the Kindle. We got one last year... my husband hasn't put it down since. He's never been an avid reader but with the Kindle, he is. He says he enjoys it because it "makes reading easier" because he can click to turn the page with just the thing on the side of the kindle. He likes the font, likes the page view.... he's read a ton of books on it since we got it.

I've enjoyed it too from the standpoint that... well, we're an hour away from a major bookstore. I'm the type that when I get into a series... (like I just finished the Robin Hobb "Farseer" series that started with Assassin Apprentice (Excellent series)) and when I want to go on, I don't have to "order" and wait for Amazon mail or treck all the way to Winston. I can just order the book and it's delivered in less than 60 seconds. I can be on a car trip and order it as we're driving along, as the Kindle is wireless.

The major plus with it also is that it's got a two week battery span, if you put the mode to "off" on it being wireless. Show me something you can use for two weeks without needing to charge it!!

We are going to be flying overseas and another great plus is that we don't need to pile a bunch of books into a suitcase and then PAY FOR THEM in terms of weight, the kindle will hold over 2000 books, and your not limited in how many you can have "out there" to retrieve at any time in your kindle account. I intend to take the kindle and that's it in terms of reading material. I can order more books while overseas or in the plane or in an airport.... just by typing in the name and ordering it as I'd do at home. And it's delivered wireless almost instantly!

There are a ton of free books available to kindle users. Many classics I'd wanted to get to but hadn't are free... Robinson Cruseo, the Bible.... you can load up a kindle on freebies. Go look at the list onine.

And you don't lose your books if your kindle is lost, stolen or damaged. You can call customer service and they'll transfer your books to another kindle free of charge, as long as you "stop" the old one. They won't do that for it if you already have it and are still using it because that would be like them selling a book to someone twice.

The arguement of "well, they might one day stop service" and my response is show me someone that keeps every book they ever own. Our homes are just limited in space and the kindle is a lifesaver for organization. No need to store hundreds of books you've read because you cringe at the idea of getting rid of them, "I might want to read it again one day." With the kindle, it's always out there for you to retrieve. If you choose, you can remove it from your kindle, but it's STILL in your account, so yes, you can go back and get it later. And it's not cluttering up your basement, guest room or bedroom!
Amazon
just such a huge name I doubt they'll stop servicing the kindle. I see this as a wave of the future, with more people realizing the helpfulness of larger font, unlimited storage and travel ease. And if they were to stop, I'm willing to take that risk... because I've bought books at Borders, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and so on and I'll never see that money again either. Once it's paid, it's gone.

Enjoy!

Localsportfan, do you subscribe to magazines or newspapers on the Kindle? That seems one of the most attractive uses. PC Magazine is no longer even available in print form. Several of my favorite mags are up to 10-12 dollars an issue (that's getting steep, when you read as much as I do). I just wonder if periodicals are enjoyable on the app. I DO NOT LIKE TO READ MAGAZINE-LENGTH ARTICLES ON A PC SCREEN! Tedious!

What's your experience?

The Kindle software is available for computers and iPhones now. The software and apps are free. Your purchases can be read on all the formats. I use it on iPhone and love it. I gave a Kindle to my mom last Christmas and I doubt she has used it even once. She's just not a gadget person. I gave it to her so she could change the font for easier reading. Would be great if she'd just shake the stubborn syndrome and use it. I love the convenience of digital books, but they will never take the place of actually holding a book in my hands.

panther, I'm just curious...does that idea that if you ever change devices (to one not from Amazon) you'll lose your entire Kindle Library bother you? The reason I ask is that I really like the idea of these devices. I'm a gadget freak. I love to read. And I'm visually impaired, so the ability to adjust the font might be really useful. But that "elephant in the room" (the proprietary library issue) sure makes my alarm bells go "clang, clang, clang!"

No issues with mine. I love it. You can increase the font for easier reading and it will read to you also.