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#1 Oct 08 2009 at 2:04 AM Rating: Good
So, the Kindle is finally available in the UK. I am really tempted to get one, but I haven't heard anything about it directly.

Do any of you peeps have one? If so, what's the verdict?

I have 2 concerns about it. One is the price. Seems a bit expensive considering you have to buy the books on top of that.

The second concern is that it's not really all that different from an Iphone that would have a Amazon-Book-App, is it? I mean, what would the difference be between a Kindle and an Iphone with an App that enabled you to download books and read them there and then? And is that difference worth $250?

Opinions please.
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#2 Oct 08 2009 at 2:49 AM Rating: Decent
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RedPhoenixxx wrote:
Do any of you peeps have one? If so, what's the verdict?


You should talk to Hellboy about it. He was uber excited to get one and posted a few threads about it in =28.

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=28&mid=123672599217565324&page=1&howmany=50#m123672599217565324

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=28&mid=1207891493248457880&page=1&howmany=50#m1207891493248457880

So yeah... Ash and HB.

Quote:
The second concern is that it's not really all that different from an Iphone that would have a Amazon-Book-App, is it? I mean, what would the difference be between a Kindle and an Iphone with an App that enabled you to download books and read them there and then? And is that difference worth $250?

Opinions please.


I suppose, but do you really want to read books on your phone? Listening to music and watching movies is one thing, I however would get extremely frustrated with the amount of text visible and the constant changing of pages. Squinting at a tiny screen would not allow me to suspend my disbelief to really immerse myself.


Edit: Adding to this, I'm sure many bibliophiles agree: I love the smell of a book and the feel of the paper between my fingers. Especially the recycled, older variety. Some of the newer books just don't really do it for me. I love to go to the library (although I sometimes hate the wait times) or to a used bookstore for my books. In fact, I prefer my books to be used. Just something about sitting in a warm, secluded room with a blanket over my legs (I ddon't object to a fire going) with a mug of hot coffee next to me makes me feel completely relaxed and at ease with the world around me.

Reading from a digital screen, no matter how many options they add to it to make it seem more like you're actually holding a book could do this for me.

Edited, Oct 8th 2009 5:58am by Paskil
#3 Oct 08 2009 at 2:55 AM Rating: Good
Actually it isn't too bad on the iPhone. I use Stanza quite a bit, most recently when I bought a book about Ruby on Rails. I'm sure it would be nicer on a bigger screen, but one of the things that has always bothered me about the Kindle is that it's screen is black and white. I'd rather see a color screen, might actually read newspapers again if I could get them digitally that way.
#4 Oct 08 2009 at 3:03 AM Rating: Good
Haha, thanks Paksil. I remember reading the LJ thread about it. But well, I'm keeping alive the tradition of the EU being a year behind the US in terms of tech stuff.

The black and white screen does kinda suck, though, I agree. Hmmm. I'm tempted to wait for a bigger screened IPhone that would have a Kindle App in colour. But that might be a few years away. Hmmm.
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#5 Oct 08 2009 at 3:08 AM Rating: Excellent
RedPhoenixxx wrote:
The black and white screen does kinda suck, though, I agree. Hmmm. I'm tempted to wait for a bigger screened IPhone that would have a Kindle App in colour. But that might be a few years away. Hmmm.


The Apple Tablet you mean? Smiley: grin
#6 Oct 08 2009 at 3:13 AM Rating: Decent
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Wint wrote:
RedPhoenixxx wrote:
The black and white screen does kinda suck, though, I agree. Hmmm. I'm tempted to wait for a bigger screened IPhone that would have a Kindle App in colour. But that might be a few years away. Hmmm.


The Apple Tablet you mean? Smiley: grin


That does look pretty awesome, but I'll never pay Apple's inflated prices on their products. Even though that may be a realistic price (700-900 as per the article), it's too much considering I could get a very decent laptop or even parts to build a second PC in that same range.
#7 Oct 08 2009 at 3:23 AM Rating: Good
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#8 Oct 08 2009 at 4:31 AM Rating: Decent
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RedPhoenixxx wrote:
So, the Kindle is finally available in the UK. I am really tempted to get one, but I haven't heard anything about it directly.

Reportedly, the price is coming down. I'd hang tight for a bit.

Edit - Nevermind. I guess the price drop corresponded with it going international.





Edited, Oct 8th 2009 2:41pm by Elinda
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#9 Oct 08 2009 at 4:32 AM Rating: Decent
Wint wrote:
RedPhoenixxx wrote:
The black and white screen does kinda suck, though, I agree. Hmmm. I'm tempted to wait for a bigger screened IPhone that would have a Kindle App in colour. But that might be a few years away. Hmmm.


The Apple Tablet you mean? Smiley: grin


I'm actually way more excited for the MS Courier and it's impending Don't Panic! cover which I WILL totally get.

I do have the Kindle app for my iPhone and it's great in a pinch when I'm taking the "L" downtown. Granted the screen is small but it works well in landscape mode.
#10 Oct 08 2009 at 5:40 AM Rating: Good
Kaelesh wrote:
Wint wrote:
RedPhoenixxx wrote:
The black and white screen does kinda suck, though, I agree. Hmmm. I'm tempted to wait for a bigger screened IPhone that would have a Kindle App in colour. But that might be a few years away. Hmmm.


The Apple Tablet you mean? Smiley: grin


I do have the Kindle app for my iPhone and it's great in a pinch when I'm taking the "L" downtown. Granted the screen is small but it works well in landscape mode.


So, basically, the Kindle App works the same way as Kindle? It allows you to buy and download books onto your Iphone from anywhere with 3G signal, and then read it? The only difference with a real Kindle being... the smaller screen?

The Apple Tablet does looks pretty awesome, thanks Wint! Smiley: grin
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#11 Oct 08 2009 at 6:07 AM Rating: Decent
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I know the Kindle (and others) allow you to take a vast array of books with you in a small device, but I can't get away from the fact of the price.

The majority of books I buy are programming manuals, they cost me a few pounds each as I tend to buy them second hand off Amazon/Ebay. $279 is a wedge of cash for a fancy reader.
#12 Oct 08 2009 at 6:14 AM Rating: Good
Kaelesh wrote:
Wint wrote:
RedPhoenixxx wrote:
The black and white screen does kinda suck, though, I agree. Hmmm. I'm tempted to wait for a bigger screened IPhone that would have a Kindle App in colour. But that might be a few years away. Hmmm.


The Apple Tablet you mean? Smiley: grin


I'm actually way more excited for the MS Courier and it's impending Don't Panic! cover which I WILL totally get.

I do have the Kindle app for my iPhone and it's great in a pinch when I'm taking the "L" downtown. Granted the screen is small but it works well in landscape mode.


Actually I am too. Contrary to what I'm sure is popular belief, I'm not an apple *****, more of a tech ***** in general. The Courier looks fantastic, I hope it's a sexy as the photos show.

Edited, Oct 8th 2009 9:14am by Wint
#13 Oct 08 2009 at 6:26 AM Rating: Excellent
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RedPhoenixxx wrote:
So, the Kindle is finally available in the UK. I am really tempted to get one, but I haven't heard anything about it directly.

Do any of you peeps have one? If so, what's the verdict?

I have 2 concerns about it. One is the price. Seems a bit expensive considering you have to buy the books on top of that.

The second concern is that it's not really all that different from an Iphone that would have a Amazon-Book-App, is it? I mean, what would the difference be between a Kindle and an Iphone with an App that enabled you to download books and read them there and then? And is that difference worth $250?

Opinions please.


I have a Kindle but not an iPhone, so I can't answer that.

I can tell you that I love my Kindle and have gotten ridiculously dependent on it, and pissy when a book isn't available for it yet.

Books range from about $5 US (paperbacks available in, er, paper space) to about $15 US (newly released, only hard covers available in paper space). I have probably saved the cost of the Kindle by buying books at 40-60% of what I'd pay for a hard copy.

Drawbacks: you can't, or if you can I haven't figured out how to, organize your book list other than by a simple sort. You can make notes but it's a bit kludgy (newer Kindle might be better since it's meant for text books).

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#14 Oct 08 2009 at 6:31 AM Rating: Good
If you get one Red, I would be curious to hear your thoughts on it. My wife has been looking at them too.

One other drawback to using the iPhone is that it still has abysmal battery life. Sam, how is the battery life on the Kindle?
#15 Oct 08 2009 at 6:41 AM Rating: Excellent
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The charge holds for about 48 hours of use. I recharge mine about once every 10-14 days. Takes about an hour to recharge. The "charger" is a plug, it's pretty cool.

I have no idea what the actual battery life is, as I haven't even had mine for a year yet.

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#16 Oct 08 2009 at 6:41 AM Rating: Good
I'm a bit torn, to be honest. Were it $100-150, I would take it without hesitating.

For $250, I'm wondering if I'm not better off gettig the Kindle App on the Iphone, and waiting for a device that does both...
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#17 Oct 08 2009 at 6:47 AM Rating: Excellent
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If money is an issue, by all means hold off. Maybe ask for it for Christmas.

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#18 Oct 08 2009 at 6:49 AM Rating: Decent
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I don't think there is a Kindle app for the iPhone, there's Stanza and iReader... unless the search is selling me short.

I agree with the battery life problem, especially if you use the iPhone for, god forbid, phone calls.
#19 Oct 08 2009 at 7:09 AM Rating: Excellent
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cant answer your second question but I can answer your first.

I've had a Kindle since May and I can honestly say if you're an avid reader, the kindle more than makes up for its price in a short while. I'm like Sam, ridiculously dependant on it now. While the initial payment for the book is steep, when you buy books online they cost a lot less than paperbacks or hardcover books. Plus you dont have a bunch of books cluttering up your home when you're done reading them. I've even found a few books that were actually a good read offered for free through amazon. I've probably saved about $150 on book costs alone since May. I figure by December the Kindle will have already paid for itself.

It's easy to read, easy to charge, you can read while it's charging. If you never turn off your kindle the battery lasts 48-72 hours. You can get on amazon directly from the book, along with the internet. I've even been able to access most of my favorite websites on the kindle.

I have the Kindle 2 which stores up to 1500 books, blogs, newspapers, and magazines at one time. It also has voice read, which you can turn on and have the book read to you.

I really think it was the best thing I've ever received.
#20 Oct 08 2009 at 7:15 AM Rating: Good
Samira wrote:
If money is an issue, by all means hold off. Maybe ask for it for Christmas.


I can't, I've already asked Santa for a Vespa
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#21 Oct 08 2009 at 7:16 AM Rating: Good
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Never tried a kindle but I have no problem whatever using my iPhone & iPod Touch for reading - font & page size are eminently readable, and the wealth of material from Project Gutenberg etc. mean there's more content than I could dream of reading.

So far I've read a heap of ******** Hugo, Balzac, Perez-Galdos & Cervantes using Stanza. Yes, battery life can be an issue, but I keep my Stanza Books synched on iPhone and Touch - happily read all through a recent 4 hour flight (a rather good translation of the Q'uran) and switched from iPhone to Touch after about 3 hrs to save battery on iPhone.
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#22 Oct 08 2009 at 7:16 AM Rating: Excellent
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RedPhoenixxx wrote:
Samira wrote:
If money is an issue, by all means hold off. Maybe ask for it for Christmas.


I can't, I've already asked Santa for a Vespa
Pouffe
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#23 Oct 08 2009 at 7:18 AM Rating: Good
Nobby wrote:
RedPhoenixxx wrote:
Samira wrote:
If money is an issue, by all means hold off. Maybe ask for it for Christmas.


I can't, I've already asked Santa for a Vespa
Pouffe


Well, technically, Pouffé.

And you use Stanza for the Iphone? Is that the best book app?

Edited, Oct 8th 2009 3:20pm by RedPhoenixxx
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#24 Oct 08 2009 at 7:18 AM Rating: Excellent
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RedPhoenixxx wrote:
Samira wrote:
If money is an issue, by all means hold off. Maybe ask for it for Christmas.


I can't, I've already asked Santa for a Vespa


Haha! Smiley: inlove

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#25 Oct 08 2009 at 7:19 AM Rating: Excellent
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Nobby wrote:
Never tried a kindle but I have no problem whatever using my iPhone & iPod Touch for reading - font & page size are eminently readable, and the wealth of material from Project Gutenberg etc. mean there's more content than I could dream of reading.

So far I've read a heap of ******** Hugo, Balzac, Perez-Galdos & Cervantes using Stanza. Yes, battery life can be an issue, but I keep my Stanza Books synched on iPhone and Touch - happily read all through a recent 4 hour flight (a rather good translation of the Q'uran) and switched from iPhone to Touch after about 3 hrs to save battery on iPhone.
What app are you using? I did a search on ereader and got a B&N one and a fictionwise ereader, but I didn't see any amazon app. The first two seem fairly similar.

found stanza, which seems to be linked to gutenberg.


Unbelievable. I looked up the international Kindle and check out which countries aren't supported

Quote:
Kindle is currently not available in the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chad, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
Smiley: madSmiley: madSmiley: madSmiley: madSmiley: mad

Edited, Oct 8th 2009 10:57am by Xsarus
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#26 Oct 08 2009 at 8:12 AM Rating: Decent
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Isn't there a new Kindle? Or is this the new one that went international?

If I were going to do books in an electronic format, I'd just want it audio. With Neil Gaiman reading, whatever it is.
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