Hubby just gifted me with a Kindle....your experiences with it?

[demtenjeep]

suggestions,

[UTUSN]

1. Weeks of fun with a new toy have died off for me

There are an astounding number of free books available, plus games like Free Cell and Scrabble.

That said, some of the charm is gone. The commercials mostly show it without the cover, an incredibly thin and light tablet. It's not comfortable for me that way. So the cover is on all the time and it gains a lot of weight. I fold the front cover back around the back and loop the cord to keep it that way. The light doesn't really reach well the bottom of the "page". In a darkened room, the lettering on the keys (for Free Cell) don't show up. The only place I would sit up to read would be on a plane, which is about never. Reading in bed, I get my hands cramped up holding the STIFF leather-covered tablet upright.

I modify things in an "inventing" sort of way. I drilled holes in the cover and threaded leather lace-up (like laces for boots/shoes) through a piece of elastic to put my hand through, like a handle. I've seen tablet computers or whatever they're called that have a handstrap on the back for holding onto it. That's what I was aiming for. Mine works fairly well, albeit homemade.

But my reading habits might just be weird.

[demtenjeep]

2. so can you "share" books?

That is the only draw back I see about this. Buying a "real" book, I can share when I am done. Can you share or trade books?

[UTUSN]

3. I'm an infamously low tech dude. Each Kindle has its own e-addy

that I've only used for getting notifications from Amazon. I know that Amazon has a feature that allows you to access the Clippings (highlights) from other readers. I turned that feature off. But as for sharing, do you mean YOUR books? I think the things for sale have to be paid for by each individual, but somebody will soon correct this if I'm wrong.

I'm being too negative. Lots of people here and on the Amazon Reviews rave about this machine and I really do like it for all those things that are positive about it.


It was fun learning to download books from The Gutenberg Project and the "Many Books" website. For one of those, there was a "Mobi Reader" thing to download, one of the formats to pick from.

[nolabear]

11. Yes, now you can loan a book for two weeks.

Then it goes away on the loanee's Kindle.

[seaglass]

4. I have a nook but clearly it's the same principle. I believe there is a LendMe feature

that you can use to share your books with other Kindle users (or they could probably read them using the Kindle App on their PC if they don't have a Kindle - you'd have to check) but the publishers control which books can be lent - so the number of books with the feature are limited. Also the book can only be lent once for a max duration of 2 weeks. Kindle is also going to have a feature (that nook already has) for borrowing books from the public library through Overdrive.

Lots of info in the Kindle Forum at Amazon.

I have been a voracious reader for years and love books - though I have no attachment to their "smell" or "feel" - it is the content that matters to me. There are certain books I would not order on my nook and would only get the dead tree version - mostly non-fiction or graphic intensive. I also won't pay over $10 for a an electronic version of a book.

I have had my nook for about 1.5 years and what I have found is that using the nook to read is 100x more comfortable than reading a DTB - I now find reading hardcovers/paperbacks extremely annoying.

[seabeyond]

5. love my kindle. dont drop it. but if you do, call support and they will send a new one free

my husband has an iphone and has been sharing my books. my friend that we share, wont get a kindle so i have to hand over mine with certain books.

there are free ones. a lot are new authors or old authors with just part of a book, so be aware. many are real small. a lot of errors. a lot of authors that dont develop character, not real good writing. so make sure you dont spend too much. i get mostly free books. or find the under $1.00 books that have been rated well by many people and are big enough.

i love my kindle.

enjoy.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I just inherited one, and I like it.

I still prefer the "feel" of a real book, but the Kindle is nice because I'm a book junkie and I end up collecting way too many of them - the Kindle takes up a lot less room than a whole damn buttload of paper books. And if you want to get a new book, the Kindle version is cheaper than the paper one.

[ikri]

7. Love mine

I'd have a look at Calibre, it's a great tool for managing your library from your computer & you can use it to convert ebooks from other formats into the Mobi format that the Kindle can read in case you come across an ebook that's not available on Amazon.

[retread]

8. Have you added plug ins to Calibre? Makes Calibre essential for ereaders. Also

suggest Sigil, if for whatever reason the formatting of Calibre converted files is not to your liking, I have found Sigil to be extremely useful to change things like margins, font families, font size, bold font, etc.

[ikri]

10. Not tried them yet

So far, the formatting in every book that I've converted has been acceptable and I've not tried to convert any ebooks that contain DRM.

[retread]

13. Not just for DRM. For example, if you have a Kindle you can add a plugin to do the following

This Calibre plugin allows you to manage your Kindle collections and settings.

Main Features

* Create collections automatically on your Kindle using Calibre Authors, Series, Tags, custom columns or categories
* Preview changes before saving them
* Customize which collections are automatically created - include or ignore specific collections, add a prefix to sort collections, set minimum books counts, and even rename collections
* View a report of your Kindle collections and books - including collections sorted by most Recent, collections and books sorted by Title, books per collection, collections per book, and any duplicate, invalid, or uncollectable books
* Edit collections on your Kindle - add/remove books from collections on your Kindle without needing to use Calibre to store or manage your books
* Import collections from your Kindle into a custom column in Calibre
* Modify your Kindle settings including horizontal margin, justification, and fonts
* The plugin does not modify your Kindle books or Calibre information when creating or editing collections or settings

or if you have a big library you can:
add Reading List
This plugin is for a number of users who have requested a "Reading List" ability for their library, allowing them to keep track of which books they would like to read next and in which order.

You can have multiple lists (e.g. if keeping track for different users or genres). The list is viewable in the main library view sorted in correct order, for convenience with sending to your device.

Main Features of v1.1:

* Create one or more independent lists of books, per library
* Move books up or down the list, retaining order
* Optionally specify a tag or custom column value to be added to books on list and removed when taken off list
* View the contents of your list in the library view sorted correctly
* Shortcuts customisable in a configuration dialog

[Dappleganger]

23. +1000 for suggesting Calibre

[MicaelS]

9. Tons of legit free books out there...

From Amazon, Project Gutenberg, and Baen Books (Science Fiction). Got over 150 free books on my Kindle. Gutenberg and Baen have to be downloaded in Kindle form (.mobi), then copied over using your Kindle's USB cable.

My advice, install Kindle Reader on whatever computer you have. Set up you account with Amazon and keep them on you computer as a backup.

I THINK, you can lend books, IF you're computer savvy.

You would have to copy your books off your Kindle onto you computer using the USB cable, or out of your Kindle reader app, then email them to someone else. Then they would to hook their Kindle to their computer, and copy them over. Never tried this with a paid book.

There's also some free apps out there to help convert PDF, Word, HTML and other document types to a Kindle friendly version.

This one is the best...Auto Kindle eBook Converter http://sourceforge.net/projects/autokindle/

[nolabear]

12. Love it love it love it. And I love paper books.

But I can stick the Kindle in my bag and have endless reading available. And though I'm never ashamed of what I'm reading I kind of like that no one can tell.

Get a good lightweight cover, preferably with a light, and have a blast!

[TreasonousBastard]

14. I have a Nook and would never be without it.

[retread]

18. I have one also(the "classic"). Looking at the new touch and waiting for more hands-on reviews

from actual reader/users.

Have you tried this library? All the books I have borrowed from here are very readable on the Nook.

http://freelibrary.lib.overdrive.com/9E07FF06-52E0-4FCE-99A4-FBE5E4A052B2/10/381/en/Default.htm

[TreasonousBastard]

19. I'll wait untl my "classic" breaks before getting the new one, but...

I did get a cheap Android color tablet/reader and downloaded a Nook app to it.

That library looks interesting-- I'll have to check it out further. Our local library lends ebooks, and, of course, there's loads of free downloadable stuff all over.

(Not surprisingly, Dickens, Aristotle, and St. Augustine are in the public domain.)

[sarge43]

15. Love it.

Very convenient, can have a library tucked in the purse. Those free or very inexpensive books are great, plus newspapers and magazine articles. What's not to like?

[Patiod]

16. We got one at Christmas, and haven't used it yet

I should say my SO got one from his sister, and since he's notoriously tech-phobic, he hasn't touched it. Generally when sis gives him technology, I let it sit 6 months, and then claim squatter's rights (that's how I stole his iPod)

But my dad's only form of entertainment anymore is Large Print books from our library (and the county system), so I'm at the library twice a week anyway for him, and just borrow books for myself from the library and inter-library loan. Since I'm there anyway, I can't see the point of spending even $10 on a book for Kindle. Maybe if I need it quickly for my book club and there's a waiting list at the library...

Also, if I need an obscure text for work that's not available at the library, it generally isn't available for Kindle either.

My friends swear by their Kindles, but they buy books; I discovered an old friend is OCD when she told me she loves her Kindle and won't touch library books "because they're full of germs".

[retread]

17. When kindles finally support the epub format you can borrow ebooks from the library.

pdf are available also.

http://freelibrary.lib.overdrive.com/9E07FF06-52E0-4FCE-99A4-FBE5E4A052B2/10/381/en/Default.htm

[dixiegrrrrl]

27. The beauty of Nook or Kindle is you can set the font HUGE if you need to.

I discovered that at night, my need is for larger fonts than it is in the morning.
Old eyes get tired, they do.

[Patiod]

29. That's a nice feature

But my dad goes through 5-6 large print books a week (as he becomes deafer and more immobile, they have become his primary source of entertainment). It just works so much better to go get the books from the library, for free.

But as it becomes possible to "borrow" books for the Kindle, that's a nice thing to know about the print. I'm getting older myself, and don't want to have to hold the Kindle on a stick in order to get it far enough away for me to read it!

[Lucian]

20. Far better than the nook.

You can't read on the nook for very long. The battery only lasts eight hours on a charge and you're constantly recharging it. I had to bring it back because I didn't like it. I then bought a Kindle and will never go back to a nook. I charge it up about once a month so I can read anytime and anywhere without having to worry about recharging it.

[Dappleganger]

22. Apparently you had a bad battery...

The battery on my Nook lasts well over a week with regular reading. The latest Nook which comes out in a week or two will last two months on its battery.

[Lucian]

24. I just checked out the new nook...

and I have to say I'm impressed. It's out now, by the way.

But I think I'll stick with the Kindle.

[Dappleganger]

21. Also have a Nook...

but in my opinion they all have their pluses and minuses. Still enjoy a good paper book from time to time as well.

[Rob H.]

25. I really like mine

I've had it since September of last year and one reason I got it was to have a big selection of books in a small package (fewer physical books to clutter up my already cluttered apartment, too). It's nice to visit my parents across country and not have to pack for the plane ride thinking,"Okay, I can only take two or three books with me to read on the way there and back. Hmm...."

Be sure to check out the Kindle Daily Post in the Kindle Store, too. I've stumbled across a few authors I wouldn't have discovered otherwise and they often list recent books on sale for as little as 99 cents.

I also got the Built neoprene sleeve for mine. It adds protection against drops without adding much bulk, and the Kindle stays put inside it.


Edited to add: there's also supposed to be a software update later this year that will enable Kindle users to borrow books from participating libraries. :D

[Beaverhausen]

26. I like it a lot. I got a case with a built-in light

As one who has way too many books lying around the house and in boxes in the garage, I love this.

[Old Troop]

28. I love mine. I spend a lot of time in airplanes and trains and it is light

and easy to carry. The array of available reading material is unbeatable and pretty cheap.

[blueamy66]

30. It doesn't smell as good as a real book.

nt

[MS68]

31. If you like to read in the tub

Put it in a big ziplock bag.