Buying a Kindle

Snakey

I never thought I'd like a Kindle but I got one a couple of years ago and I love it. It's easy on the eye even for long periods (mine's one of the "standard" ones, not a Fire or anything, and it's basically like a book in that you need to put the light on to read it, this may not suit you) and it's super-easy to read in bed - my about-to-fall-asleep routine, along with my awake-in-the-small-hours routine, has been transformed by not having to hold a proper book up/open or turn pages.

I notice that, similar to when television comes up in conversation and everyone falls over themselves to tell you that they hardly ever watch theirs, it's considered a superior point of view to still love proper books the best. Personally, if they'd had Kindles back before I ever bought any books then I would not own a single paper book right now. You can always splash out on paper copies of ones that you want to be seen to have read.

You can get so many free books on Amazon. I find that if I download five then two will be more or less rubbish, two will be readable but not memorable, and one will be pretty good. I suggest dropping any silly self-inflicted "rules" about how you have to finish a book once you've started it, so that you can get rid of the dross immediately and just read the three reasonable/good ones.

I can get through a book a day and don't usually re-read any, so the ability to download new books for free at a faster rate than I get through them (even if I delete some as being atrocious) is wonderful and I don't feel that I lose out by not being able to keep them on my shelf for ever more.

Other advantages:
1. Taking it out with you - I have around 1,300 books on mine at the moment. It's so nice not to have to try to guess in advance how many books you'll get through or what you might feel like reading and you aren't ever stuck with a dud.
2. Nobody can see what you're reading, so if you fancy re-reading Anne of Green Gables or something then you can, even in public! This also stops that annoying thing where you get accused of "not really reading it" on the grounds that you're turning the pages too fast (i.e. faster than they would ever be able to keep up with).

Useful information:
- the charger is just a normal Blackberry charger, so don't buy the special one unless you are absolutely sure you have nothing in the house already that does the trick.
- battery life is good but not endless, the stats on the site where it tells you it'll last for a month are based on something ridiculous like one hour's use a day. I find that if I'm going somewhere for a long weekend I'm fine but for any longer than that I would take the charger. Turn off the wireless function to get a lot longer out of it.

JournalGirl

I avoided one for a long time, because my source of books was always the charity shop (nice and cheap!)

Bought a kindle last year because I was travelling every week, and have never looked back.

melanzana

Paper white user here. Never thought I would give up the real books. But I move between the two depending on where I am.

Paper white is great, massive storage, and a back light, so i can read in the dark! That has to be the best thing ever!

And it's a great device for travelling. Never again will I have to worry if I have enough books on holiday! I'm sure many have had that worry....and the suitcase had more books than clothes.

DCFC79

Its not a Kindle but a nook but an e reader still, can pick them up really cheap now, I didnt think Id like it but its quite good.

System

whitewing wrote: »

I have a kindle but I don't use it. I love paperbacks. The quality of reading is the same but I very much missed the pleasure of seeing an open book on the arm of the chair, or the teetering pile on the bedside table.

same here ,im selling my kindle on ebay as I must admit I found reading on it difficult.

penon

Ever since I got my Kindle I think I read more as its just so much easier. Download a book and away I go no more having the cashier if i want chocolate, stamps, phone topups etc.... in WHsmiths

gik

Do speed readers really take the detail in?

pelo_2

I bought a Sony E reader. It's simply an e reader, does nothing else but it's fantastic. I advise everyone to get whichever model/make they prefer and red away.
For me it'll never replace a real book, when Terry Brooks brings out a new book I buy it in hard copy but most others I get e book.

whitewing

gik wrote: »

Do speed readers really take the detail in?

Yes, for me, it is exactly the same in terms of the content of the book. I still pause in it sometimes to daydream off at a tangent. I would still remember it if I started to read it again.

It is just the physical sight and feel of the book I miss and also books on bookcases. I would have a look at a good friends bookshelf, but I would not dream of delving into their kindle.

MomKnowsBest1

This is a great question! I love the smell of a new book and the way it feels in your hands as you flip through the pages. However, using a kindle is good for night time reading and makes reading a lot more fun. However, I am very traditional so I do not have a kindle myself, but I've always wanted to try it! Let me know what you think!