E-reader/Kindle

madlyn

I don't want to say the "C" word, but I am thinking of getting my Mum an E-reader for Christmas.
I have done a quick search and it looks like it would be cheaper to buy a Kindle than a stand alone E-reader.
For this purpose only would a kindle be good enough as an E-reader? and are they simple to use? as my Mum is 74 and not that hot with technology.

pamsdish

It would be fine, you can do initial settings, registering with Amazon so she can purchase and download books, a kindle unlimited subscription would be good if she reads a lot, print size can be altered, the paper white is a swipe motion to turn the page, easier for arthritic hands. I love mine.

Linton

Kindle refers to a range of products. Some Kindles are tablets (Kindle Fire) others are stand alone E readers. Tablets are more complex and OTT if all Mum wants to do is to read books. Tablets have a much shorter battery life and arguably perhaps are less easy on the eyes.

The key point about Kindle stand-alone e-readers is that they are completely tied in to and required to read Amazon e-books. Other E-readers use the Epub format. Tablets including the Kindle Fire can read both formats. In many areas you can borrow e-books from your local library - these I believe are in epub format rather than Kindle. On the other hand Amazon has the largest choice of e-books. So pluses and minuses.

madlyn

My parents don't have the internet at home so she would only be using it to read books.

bouicca21

If they don't have internet how will she download books?

madlyn

I would do it for her.

Syman

i personally would go for the e-ink type reader. Kindle being the most talked about but there are others.

They need less frequent charging.

The "e-paper" is much kinder on the eyes than a tablet with an app.

As she is not going to have any internet connection, a tablet would be overkill.

flashg67

I have a Kobo glow (with back light for reading in the dark) which I think is great. Long battery life, reads popular formats (except Kindle files!) and is readable in the sun. Kindle fire and similar tablets are hard to read in bright light.

mac.d

madlyn wrote: »

I would do it for her.

Where would you get the books from to go on the e-reader?

If you already have an Amazon account and plan to buy the books from there, then a Kindle obviously makes sense. You'd register the Kindle to your account and then any books you buy can get delivered via wi-fi onto the Kindle.

If you plan to buy books from elsewhere (Kobo, WH Smith, Google) and if you want to be able to borrow library books too, then consider buying a Kobo ereader. Also, if her eyesight is not so good, Kobo have ereaders with a bigger screen (though more expensive).

Just be aware they are all touch-screen now, and while fairly simple to use (especially if you set it up and load the books on it for her), that might be an issue for her.

Frozen_up_north

I have had a 3G Kindle for some years, it’s the older type with a keyboard and without the backlight. The battery is still the original and it’s used every day to read “The Telegraph”, costs £9.99/month for the “paper”. The battery still lasts 2 or 3 weeks on a charge.

We spend several weeks a year in Spain and having the 3G capability means we aren’t tied to WiFi and get a daily paper quite a bit cheaper than the printed edition.

Be aware that some publishers have a dislike of either Amazon, or the whole e-reader idea, and charge silly money for the electronic version, often more than a hardback!

debitcardmayhem

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

I have had a 3G Kindle for some years, .......

Be aware that some publishers have a dislike of either Amazon, or the whole e-reader idea, and charge silly money for the electronic version, often more than a hardback!

Usually because of VAT and the dislike of ebboks