Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[craftyhunnypie]

Hi - I'm thinking of buying a Kindle. Seen the 3G & the Wifi versions - £159 & £111 in PC World. Don't think I need the £G version, as I've got Wifi at home & would load it up with books before travelling. What else can you do with it, with it having Wifi - does it have a web browser? Where else can you buy the books from apart from Amazon & can you get magazines?

Anybody know cheapest & best place to buy from? They all seem to be same price.

Any info greatly received! Or is there something better than the Kindle as an e reader?

Cheers Emma.x

[stoice]

I get by with the Kindle app on my ipod touch. The only downside is the small screen. (Although my OH has just got himself an ipad so it could be fab on that!) I'd say as far as e-readers go though, Kindle is the most popular so I guess it's pretty easy to use.

[chickric]

Definitely buy one, I did It's fantastic.

 

Didn't know that you could get them anywhere else apart from Amazon, so can't advise on best place to buy but I would think the prices would be pretty much consistent.

Amazon costumer service is VERY good though, exchanging damaged Kindles even when it was the users fault (not me, my mom, she fell asleep reading and dropped it Amazon exchanged it even knowing the circumstances )

 

It does have a very basic browser and music player.

 

So far I have only bought books from Amazon (lots of free ones as well) but know a lot of people who use other sources.

 

I have the kindle app on my HTC phone which is very useful when stuck waiting around, it is very good and they sync between devices so that you are always at the right page.

[craftyhunnypie]

That's very positive - thank you!

Will see what others say too.

Emma.x

[gongladosh]

if you buy a kindle from PC World, it may well be worth doing it through quidco - 1.5% off.

[BarbaraJ]

YES YES YES YES

 

I had the sony ereader and dropped it , it broke and bought a wifi Kindle from Amazon £111. Similar looking and screen etc but Kindle is so much better in a few ways.

1. Downloading books on the kindle in seconds rather than connecting it to laptop

2. If i don't know a word you can scroll down with buttons and there is a dictionary and most words are on it

3. Amazon kindle store has SO many books i don't even bother looking elsewhere, lots of free ones too!

4. At the end of a book it gives you books you might like, related to what you have just read

5. Lots of nice skins to put on them, this is mine:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gelaskins-Protective-Latest-Generation-Kindle/dp/B0041G6A4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307485600&sr=8-1

( as it is a bit of a dull colour and the cases are rather expensive).

 

hope this helps, any other questions just ask.

[Seagazer]

I love my kindle (had it since March) and must admit to hating reading a 'normal' book now - it feels too uncomfortable.

 

I've only downloaded books so far but I know you can do magazines, newspapers and that you can play music on it. You can also open pdfs with it too (was told this by another user on my biking weekend - we both agreed they were excellent when you're short on luggage space)

 

I've seen them for sale in John Lewis but the price is always the same. I always check on Kindle to see if there are any free books available and download them even if I don't think they're my type of book. You never know until you start reading.

 

I also have the app on my iphone. Love my Kindle

[Cinnamon]

Yes,do it,buy one,it is without a doubt the best thing I have bought in the last 5 years,gadget wise

 

I totally love mine,& the HUGE advantage of it over the Kindle apps on ipad,iphone & the like,is that there is zero screen glare,so it can bea read in the brightest sunlight. it looks exactly like a book page - quite remarkable.

 

I have a lot of books I can send to you if you like,which need converting with Calibre & installing on to your Kindle.

 

Really,I cannot recommend it enough

[Princess Leia]

If you are going to read a lot, then the Kindle is waaaay better than the iPad or iPhone. Because the iPad screen is backlit, you may get eye-strain after a while. This doesn't happen with the e-ink display on the Kindle. Also, the iPad screen is very difficult to read outside when it's bright. Kindle battery lasts over 3 weeks on one charge, so no need to take the charger on holiday as well! A Wi-Fi only Kindle with a case which has a built in reading light is what I have - the case/light is an M-Edge one. Kindle make a case with a light than runs off the Kindle battery but it's very expensive.

 

Diane

[chick wiggle]

Sorry, can i gatecrash your thread and ask a few questions as im also thinking of getting a kindle.

 

Mother clucker, you mentioned a reading light - does this mean you need a light to read it in the dark as the screen isnt back lit?

 

Cinnamon, you mentioned sending books you already have, does this mean you can still share books with friends who also have a kindle, like you would pass on a 'normal' book?

 

Thanks

[freddie]

Cant say I'm keen, purely because I love my bookshops, and the library, I read in the bath, at the beach, and with wine. When a chain as big as Waterstones starts to suffer, due to technology advance, then I worry. Books dont run out of batteries, and I get great joy from passing them on, and having books passed to me , they make bridges of friendship.

Gentle, slightly worried rant over!

[Princess Leia]

Sandy,

 

You do need a reading light for the Kindle if (say) you want to read in bed with the lights off. One of the best things (IMHO) about the Kindle is that the screen looks exactly like a book page. Have a look at the Kindle section on Amazon - there's a lot of info there and pictures of the screen. Also, having no back-light = humongous battery life.

 

Diane

[Egluntyne]

I absolutely love my Kindle and wouldn't be without it.

 

I would recommend that you get the cover which has the built in light.

[chicken bark]

I'm a real fan of the Kindle. I've just finished reading Wolf Hall in paperback and it felt cumbersome to hold in my hand after reading books on the kindle. I've not bothered with the reading light as I only read in well lit places. Also the battery lasts for a really long time - very impressive.

[craftyhunnypie]

Reserved one & getting hubby to pick it up later from PC world. We have way tooo many books & as much as I love them - storage is a problem. So I've bought a Kindle. Have already got my eye on...1. The secret by Rhonda Burne &....2. Miss Peregrines home for peculiar children. Any other recommendations? Cinnamon what was that funny chicken book?

Presume I can pass these e books on after I've read them?

Emma.x

[Jennifer Jane]

Just want to add my voice in favour of Kindle. I got one for Xmas and I love it because I read loads of books on my commute and I hate throwing them away - so we are overflowing in books. This way I get to keep my book and my living space.

 

I do sort of share freddie's concerns about book shops. I love to browse and the downside of the kindle for me is the lack of cover and blurb, but the upside is that it is so light and portable and immediate. I want a book and I have it seconds later.

 

I have the 3G version and used the web browser on holiday in Italy last month to check train times - it worked pretty well. I did nearly lose it there on the train though - fortunately a nice honest lady chased after me and returned it .

[craftyhunnypie]

So can you swap kindle / e books? Oh & where is best to buy accessories for it - cases, skins etc?

Emma.x

[Cinnamon]

Chick Wiggle: Yes,you can,but you need to download them from somewhere like The Stacks,then convert them via a programmes such as Calibre.

Calibre is great & its so simple that even Christian used it last week with no problems

 

Freddie: I too read in the bath for an hour or so every day & I have a great waterproof cover for my Kindle. Its really secure & will also give me peace of mind next to the pool in Menorca next month,where I will have my entire library at my fingertips

Battery life is massive - I read a lot & charge only once a week. Its the same charger as my HTC Desire phone,which is very handy,& the charger also acts as a USB for connecting to the computer when you move books from Calibre to your Kindle.

 

Craftyhunnypie: It is 'Chickens,Mules & Two Old Fools' - fab read, & the author has just friended me on Facebook. her blog is vastly entertaining...she is living the life I aspire to.

I can also recommend 'The difference a day makes' by Carole Matthews,which I bought per Kindle PURELY cos it had a hen on the cover

 

You can personalise your Kindle too - my last one which broke was called Hector,this one is Boris

 

I can get quite evangelical about Kindles - I am sure my colleagues at work are fed up with me raving about it,but I can honestly say that apart from it being in colour & maybe having more organising options,there are very few improvements I would make.

[Seagazer]

I can recommend 'Chickens' Mules & two old fools' too - I'm currently halfway through it. Lovely book.

 

I shall have to read up on Calibre as I've not done any sharing yet.

[Sheilaz]

Yes,do it,buy one,it is without a doubt the best thing I have bought in the last 5 years,gadget wise....

 

...and I bought mine on the strength of Cinnamon's recommendation, knowing that she was a dedicated booklover and yet loved this too.

I now feel just the same, it's yes, yes, yes from me too.

 

I shared Freddie's concerns and nearly didn't get one. I remember the same worry about info. on the internet replacing the need for reference books. Lovely, lovely books. It didn't happen quickly at first, but I would say it has happened to a large extent now.

So, in the last 6 months my view has changed. I'll always love books, and buy some, but I'm accepting the new technology. The world has changed and I can't turn back the tide, I'd rather embrace it and be part of it.

 

I like reference books, yet when I've needed instructions for something new (eg. what's wrong with my broken toilet) it's been the internet that's helped, my household book was outdated.

 

So, I accept that I like the instant info, and it's the same for me accepting that the Kindle suits my lifestyle.

Our family will always have hoardes of books, and enjoy them, but I no longer feel the need to keep every one.

I wasn't keeping the bookshops going when I bought 2nd hand or used libraries (that's another story).

I still buy books for presents for young children, there is nothing like the feel of a book, I don't want to see a world without any books.

 

I love the Kindle, although as a former Luddite I need to slowly learn about Calibre etc. But I shall be reading and rereading Cinnamon's posts for that.

 

Emma, you'll love it!

[..lay a little egg for me]

Thumbs up for some kind of e-reader from me too. I love my sony, which I have had for 3 years now and have got over 200 books on it. I take it everywhere with me.

 

My best friend fairly recently got one too and said to me that she had looked at the Kindle and the Sony but felt the Sony was more robust (just a thought). I actually quite like having to get the downloaded books on my pc first and then transferring to the e-reader as I know all my books are backed up should I drop the e-reader.

 

I am longing for the day when my local library makes their books available in ebook format...

[rachel19]

I love my kindle (even though OH has stolen it for the last few months ) and wouldn't be without it. I like the fact that you don't need to back up on the PC as Amazon knows what you have bought and you can download any book previously bought whenever you like for free if you delete it for any reason. Also like the fact that you can have mone than one kindle on an account so can share books between them at no extra cost. Buy buy buy!!!!

[craftyhunnypie]

It will be here within the hour! Hubby collecting it after his hair cut!

I've seen a book The chicken chronicles too, which sounds nice. There are also some knitting books I fancy, plus cook books and.. and and..!!!

I've got a feeling hubby will knick mine too! Hmmm.

Emma.x

[Leicester_H]

Presume I can pass these e books on after I've read them? Emma.x

 

No - not if paid for, from Amazon (they are registered to YOUR kindle) - I bought the Omlet 'must read' , chickens, mules ...etc. and it won't work on OH's Kindle.

 

I recommend this cover http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004JIL7VA/ref=oss_product.

I got a red one, my OH a brown one (they come in many colours)

Unless you want to pay a fortune, these are fine with very speedy delivery.

 

H

[craftyhunnypie]

I like those gel covers as recommended earlier & love the designs - those are more me.. a bit whacky!

Am making a shortlist of books I fancy taking in the caravan with me next week.

The girl in the painted van.

Tears behind the veil

Chicken, mule & two old fools

The chicken Chronicles

Miss Per??? home for peculiar children

&.

.

.

??

 

Emma.x