Don't like my Kindle!

Be_Happy

What's wrong with me, I don't like my new Kindle!

I read the blurb and thought it sounded great and, egged on by OH who's a gadget addict I agreed that he could get me one for my birthday.

First problem was finding a book. The new books seemed expensive, considering that if I bought a paperback, I would read it then it would pass round family and friends. Yes, there are free books, but trying to find one you would like to read is mind-blowing - where do you start?

Secondly the actual Kindle. It is so uncomfortable to hold. The forward button should be much higher up so that you can hold the machine and page-forward without twisting your hand.

Lastly, having bought a book and got into reading it, I find that I can't concentrate on the flow of the story with only seeing such a small section at a time.

Do things get better the more you use it? What am I doing wrong if so many people think it is wonderful?

penrhyn

To me the page turning buttons are easy to operate, I tend to hold mine with my left hand and use my thumb to turn the pages.
Just downloaded the life and times of Thomas Telford for free.

Beware though if you download too many books you wont be able to lift it!!

soolin

I am a bit of a technophobe and held off for ages buying a kindle as I thought I would hate it. However i tried one and loved it and now use mine all the time.

I browse the top 100 free books every week but also buy books (only if they are cheaper than a hard copy).

I don't know what to suggest really though, I got on with mine straight away it just feels so comfortable . Do you think you will get used to it, or is it worth selling ?

scubaangel

1. Don't worry about if you like the free books or not....'buy' them if you dont like it delete them and forget about it, I've found a few authors I wouldn't have considered that way, plus finally read alot of the classics I felt I 'should' read but could never be bothered to read.

2. I found that holding it and operating the buttons with my thumbs much easier but did take a bit of getting used to. At first I would have advocated having the forward button on one side and back button on the other (user controllable as to which is which) but am now happy and comfortable with the twin sets of buttons as I can hold it in either hand happily.

3. Have you set the font to the smallest avaliable setting? I find that it's almost exactly the same size and quanitity of text as in a typical average sized paper back book - the screens are designed to be the same size as a book so it shouldn't actually be block of less text as the usual book typeset.

4. I know its another expense but would getting a cover help? I found that my cover makes it feel much more booklike so more natural to use and hold, although being a leftie I'd prefer the Kindle to sit on the left leaf of the cover rather than the right, but it def helped while I got the feel of it, but I only use the cover now if I think I'm going to need the light on it.

Liam002

You have to realize that you have a new tool in your hands, and you can't compare the Kindle with books anymore. No you won't have the nice feeling of turning the pages. You won't be able to pass it around to friends. But you have in this small gadget the opportunity to read thousands of books whenever and wherever you want, without lifting them
Personally, I prefer holding a book, or going to the bookshop to browse what they have. I just love it.

S0litaire

They ARE bringing the ability to "share" books in the next update.
You will be able to send a book you've bought to another kindle owner for up to 2 weeks (depending on publishers licence agreements)

Also Amazon are about to get Kindles access to library lending in the US (With the same company that does it in the UK libraries) so give it a few months and they might start it over here...

I love my kindle... ^_^

Enterprise_1701C

soolin wrote: »

I am a bit of a technophobe and held off for ages buying a kindle as I thought I would hate it. However i tried one and loved it and now use mine all the time.

I browse the top 100 free books every week but also buy books (only if they are cheaper than a hard copy).

I don't know what to suggest really though, I got on with mine straight away it just feels so comfortable . Do you think you will get used to it, or is it worth selling ?

Where do you browse the top 100 free books please??

scubaangel

Jane_Blackford wrote: »

Where do you browse the top 100 free books please??

On the amazon kindle store home page, there is a list on the lower the right hand side of the screen 'Top 100 books' with a second tab which should change it to display the top 100 free books - you'll prob need to scroll down to see it as mine shows the top kindle accessories at the moment.

Or you can do a seach in the kindle store and order it by price cheapest to most expensive which should give you pages and pages of free books too.

ailuro2

I'm another one who loved it the moment I got my paws on it, I bought it without seeing someone else's first.

I get free books from Amazon and if I don't like them I delete them within a few chapters, though I've had some really good ones. When I look through the free books on Amazon I find the ones with a picture or illustration on the cover are the ones that are more recent, compared tot he ones with a cream coloured header and plain coloured cover below.

I have read quite a few older books too, discovered I really didn't like Anna Karenina (Tolstoy) but love Mark Twain's take on life around the Mississippi.

I also downloaded some Robert W. Service poetry that I'd heard quoted on holiday, so I found it for free and enjoyed reliving that part of my holiday. I'd never have done that if it was a real book.

My vocabulary is expanding all the time, as I find out the meanings of words I've often seen in books but never really bothered to look up in a dictionary ( esoteric and antidiluvian, anyone?:))

If I'm reading at a table during my lunch at work I usually have my Kindle propped between both palms. If I'm reading it while eating my evening meal it will be resting against the salt and pepper cellars. If I'm in bed it will be lying flat on the bed with me face down, one arm available to turn the page. As you can see I adopt my grip according to how I want to sit/lie. with a book I would always need two hands, or ( heaven forbid it!) break the spine a little to allow me to read it one handed.


The BEST thing about having an ereader is having lots of wonderful books available and not having to pass them on by the boxful to stop the house being a fire hazard....

One final thing... you can download "adult" books or even pulp fiction you'd not normally be seen dead reading, and read them without anyone being able to tell what you're reading, unless of course they're looking over your shoulder, or you have a red face.:o!

renegade

Would not have one even as a free gift. Can't beat the feeling and smell of books. My library has all I need,I can reserve books,read the list of the latest books to be coming in, chat with the librarians, have a cup of tea, what more could you want and at no charge?

kwikbreaks

... until your local council closes it.