Just got one of these as a gift.
I never really wanted one, but now that I have it, it seems pretty cool. The lack of a touch screen makes it kinda clunky for anything having to do with the internet, but as a pure reader, I think that it'll be cool.
Those of you who have one: how do you use it? What does it do well besides being a reader? Anything? You like it?

Is it the wi-fi or the 3G model? Guessing 3G since you mentioned the web.

I think that it's the Wi-Fi model. Not sure how to tell the difference, but I see nothing on it that mentions 3G.

i really want one. just haven't been able to pull the trigger for reasons that are not entirely clear to me. i can tell you what i would do with it though... jam it in a ziplock bag and bring it in the damn bathtub with me. yeah, you heard right.

Interesting. Thought only the 3G came with the web browser. I was discussing with my wife as to whether I'd use it or not. My issue is always that I've got a stack of books around the house constantly, or when we go on vacation/travel I have to pack 1-2 books--and I always get in the mood for something else. Having a way to dl quickly a book to my hands is kinda of cool. How is the "ink"? I've read its pretty in-tune now.

The "ink" looks pretty good. It was hard to tell that it wasn't actually printed on the screen, at first. The glare is minimal, too.
What I am hoping for is that some out-of-print books that I've been looking for will become available for the Kindle. (I want that Brian Eno diary.)

That's what is very cool, the idea that small publishers could put out product without having to print physical product. Much like digital music, authors and publishers need to embrace it. The only downfall is the price of ebooks. Still, a little high-priced imo.

Suggestions:

1. Become a fan of Free Books on Kindle on Facebook. Then new freebies via Amazon (and other websites) will automatically show up on your feed. It is an easy way to keep on top of limited time freebie offers.

2. Utilize Guttenburg.org . They're a well-known site that has public domain books in various e-formats, including Kindle. Most of the titles are also available on Amazon for free, but Guttenburg has a document that lists all of the titles they have, which makes it easier to browse from your kindle. The document has links, so all you have to do is click the link and the book will download.

3. Amazon will convert other file formats into Kindle format, so if you acquire a document that you want for easy reading on the kindle, Amazon will take care of that for you. (For free they'll send it to your email, for a fee they'll send it right to your kindle.)

4. The Kindle also reads PDF documents and a few plain text documents. (I'm wanting to say .doc files, but don't quote me on that). Rumor has it the performance isn't quite as great for these other files, but if you experience any problems, again, they can be converted.

I personally really like my Kindle... love the way text looks on the screen. Really does look similar to a book page.

I've sort of wanted a kindle, but have been holding out for a tablet. (Probably a cheap Android one instead of an iPad.)

i just hope used/refurbished models are branded as "rekindle"

Kindle Owner's Lending Library

This is pretty cool if you have Amazon Prime. Also, I'd imagine you need to be into more "mainstream" books. This is ideal for someone like my mother-in-law who just buys whatever is on the NYT bestseller list.

I've never heard anyone who owns one say a bad thing about them and there are many who absolutely love them. Still, I can't see my getting one anytime soon because:

(a) I love physical books and having bookshelves full of books both read and unread
(b) I buy more books than I really have the time to read so I probably have a backlog of about 10 years worth of books to read
(c) I can typically find a used book for cheaper than an ebook
(d) I'd be really pissed if my battery died while I was on a flight or at the beach or anywhere else I couldn't just plug in and that would happen
(e) I like being able to go to the beach and just set my book on my towel and go for a swim or a walk and not worry about someone stealing it.

All valid worries--

I own one and really love it. However I think that when you have one you prepare for instances. I mean, one could worry about a laptop on a flight as well.

I live in Maryland, don't go to the beach often, and can't stand just sitting and marinating in the sun on the beach reach, so that's a non-issue with me. I love having physical books, bookshelves, and all that stuff. The problem is, room becomes a premium. It just becomes stuff, you know? I've begun to wonder why we have extensive libraries in our homes when we rarely go back and re-read the same books.

Used bookstores are some of my favorite places. But it became problematic when I noticed that I kept adding to that infinite "to read" pile. So, ultimately space is/was/will be the big motivating factor for me. We have 5 bookcases overflowing with books. I've become quite adept at figuring out configurations for fitting more and more books into them.

Well sure...but what's the non battery powered substitute for a laptop? a typewriter? pad and pen? sliderule? Or all three? I don't think it's the same situation. I also don't find myself working on my laptop on a plane unless I absolutely have to.



Space is obviously an issue and there's really no reason to keep every book you've ever read. I'm not the type that goes and re-reads whole books again although I know that there are people who do. I do go back and read sections of a non-fiction book to refresh my memory of some fact that I found interesting but couldn't recall the details of or the rearm myself with an argument that I found particularly persuasive. I'll also pick up a novel that I loved and find a passage that I really enjoyed and just read that again. I've only read Bukowski's HAm on Rye once but I've probably read the passage where he riffs on the suburban family life, 9-5 jobs and corporate picnics 50 or more times and chuckled to myself everytime. I dunno I also just like books and I like having them on bookshelves. They are an expression of who you are and the passages of your life in the same sense that family pictures and other personal mementos are.

There are a ton of free e-books. And, you know, no shipping or anything, so FREE, free.
Right now I'm reading Oliver Twist, and just finished A Christmas Carol.
So, getting onto a Dickens kick, and every damn one is free, as are most classics. But there are a bunch of others that are free, too.

Yeah, I never ever would have bought one for myself. But, as a gift, it was one of the best that I've gotten.

Does kindle do college textbooks fairly extensively? If so, how's the price compared to the physical? We were thinking of getting one for our oldest son for Christmas for this reason, but these things have to be answered for it to be practical.

You are kidding, right? The free books are weak. They are all shit that I was forced to read in school. I have very different taste in music.

This is basically the same problem I have with buying mp3s. Used cd's and books are often much cheaper and I have something of value afterwards. I also hate to rely on the battery.

With that being said, I have a nook with android on it and really like it for the extra capabilities such as movies, internet, and games. Being able to carry 1,000 books at once is also a big plus. I just wish the battery lasted longer and that it was heavier.

The English major in me is appalled.

These all apply to me, and I will add to the list

(f) I love reading a good book and then handing it to a friend.
(g) I love getting books handed to me by friends.
(h) nobody figures the cost of the reader into their supposedly 'free' books
(i) I've struggled through some difficult yet rewarding books for years, putting them down for long stretches before picking them back up, finding my old bookmark, and continuing. I don't see this happening with ebooks - out of sight, out of mind.

Fixed

Some are much cheaper, some are only $10 cheaper.

Personally, I wouldn't get one for textbooks (and have shied away from them in my grad classes) for the simple fact that many times you sell back textbooks, so you'd at least get back some of your money. Secondly, depending on what your son is studying the illustrations won't be as legible. Don't get me wrong, pictures look fantastic on a kindle, but its also a 7" screen. If he's a bio major, I'd probably go the print route.

I really think at this point, its hand-in-hand for me. I was given one for my birthday by my wife and mother-in-law. I hunt and peck and find deals on books. I've found books on amazon cheaper on kindle than used, and vice versa.

But I will say that its a heck of a lot easier to read a 500+ page book on a kindle than in print form.

You guys keep bringing up battery life. Do you have friends who complain about this or is this something you are just perceiving. Honestly, I maybe have to charge mine twice a month when I'm sleeping or at work (doesn't take that long--just when I'm not using it). The battery life is actually pretty burly. One of the things that helps is turning off wi-fi/3G when yr not using it.

Speaking of connectivity, one of the great things is being able to post sections to twitter/FB. Or to keep notes, and highlight.

As someone who keeps moving around and living in different countries at a somewhat frequent interval it's a godsend for me. Also since where I live English isn't the language, it makes my life a lot easier. When I go back to the states it will also mean that I won't have to deal with a bunch of books I can't fit into my suit case.

It also occurred to me that you can't read these at takeoff/landing during flights, which is probably when I get the most reading done.

Now you are just looking for reasons

I am referring to the battery life on my nook color and the projected Kindle Fire. It basically gets only 8-12 hours of life, but it comes with it's benefits.
Benefits: (Color images, read at night, smoother UI, app market, games, videos, music, pdf's, web surfing, etc.)
Negatives: (Weight, glare, battery, not as easy to read as the soft text.)

I am contemplating getting the nook simple touch when it drops to $99 as a companion to my "tablet" reader. My problem is that I don't get to read as much as I'd like to. It pretty much only happens when I travel, otherwise the laptop or tv is on.