Kindle - more than a book reader?

VanMan2007

Guys,

We're looking to buy mum a special present for her 70th. She loves all the new technology stuff, so have narrowed it down to three: smart phone - probably a bit too much for her, it is for me! Laptop, probably perfect but at £350-ish, quite expensive.

Kindle - she loves reading books, so pretty ideal. But reading the feedback at Amazon, it seems you can do more than just read books. I just wondered if anyone has a Kindle and can explain what it's capable of?

Many thanks.

free4440273

VanMan2007 wrote: »

Guys,

We're looking to buy mum a special present for her 70th. She loves all the new technology stuff, so have narrowed it down to three: smart phone - probably a bit too much for her, it is for me! Laptop, probably perfect but at £350-ish, quite expensive.

Kindle - she loves reading books, so pretty ideal. But reading the feedback at Amazon, it seems you can do more than just read books. I just wondered if anyone has a Kindle and can explain what it's capable of?

Many thanks.

If she is primarily a book reader then the Kindle would be ideal; I love my Kindle -- nothing beats it imo . Some like the Sony Reader , so u might wanna check that out. But yes, the Kindle is a gorgeous device. I have the dual 3G + Wi-Fi device :cool: I suppose an alternative to would/could be an iPad or similar .

kwikbreaks

As well as being an e-book reader with optional text-to-speach it has a built in browser and a very crude MP3 playing facility.

You could also use it as a mouse pad or a plate however neither are recommended. What I would recommend is that you read about it on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Wireless-Reader-Wifi-Graphite/dp/B002Y27P46/

googler

Bear in mind you load the books onto the Kindle by connecting it via 3G or WiFi, typically by connecting into your home network - so if your mum doesn't have such a network, someone else will have to load it for her.

bevanuk

With a Kindle you could just get the 3G one if your mother doesn't have a next week.
I would look at something inbetween all these options - perhaps a netbook for her?
Simple to use, books on download, slightly more entertaining?

Linbox

free4440273 wrote: »

I have the dual 3G + Wi-Fi device :cool: I suppose an alternative to would/could be an iPad or similar .

Hmm. "alternative to would/could be an iPad or similar" eek!:eek:

Would your gran use the g3?
Does she have a computer/wifi to connect the kindle to and download the books?
Does she have the ability to do the above?

I betcha you'd be better off with the cheaper wifi one and load some books onto it for her and top it up as required.

cinderfella

This technology stuff is a bit boring for a 70th birthday.
Perhaps she would appreciate being taken to see a London Show or perhaps to see the Royal Ballet perform on a Saturday afternoon in September. Jewels would absolutely thrill her (RB).
Anyway good luck whatever you decide.
:beer:

Owain_Moneysaver

bevanuk wrote: »

With a Kindle you could just get the 3G one if your mother doesn't have a next week.

She's only 69 and there's no mention of any illness :rotfl::rotfl:

Hopefully she's have 'many happy returns'

VanMan2007

cinderfella wrote: »

This technology stuff is a bit boring for a 70th birthday.
Perhaps she would appreciate being taken to see a London Show or perhaps to see the Royal Ballet perform on a Saturday afternoon in September. Jewels would absolutely thrill her (RB).
Anyway good luck whatever you decide.
:beer:

:rotfl:
No, my mum would would think a London show was a waste of money. Great idea; wrong mum! But thanks for the suggestion. Your other ideas were also great. You just don't know my mum!

VanMan2007

Thanks for all your input guys. From what I've read here and on other forums, Kindle is the way to go. Heck, I might even have one for my birthday this year!

It seems simple, if you want to just read books; or capable of checking emails and other text-based internet tasks. I think part of the attraction would be to check her emails without going upstairs.

She's not a spacker, just lazy!
:rotfl:

Swan_2

googler wrote: »

Bear in mind you load the books onto the Kindle by connecting it via 3G or WiFi, typically by connecting into your home network - so if your mum doesn't have such a network, someone else will have to load it for her.

no, the 3G model doesn't need a home network