Shall I buy a kindle?

Scrubby · 03-14-2014, 08:11 PM

Hey guys,
So I've recently I've really developed an interest in reading books but I don't really like having to hold a book above my face while I'm in bed with the torch from my phone on as a reading light and trying to turn the page with dry fingers etc.
I am wondering if it's worth buying a kindle?
I've been looking in to them and they look great. The one I'd want is the paperwhite because it has the backlight and I mainly read in bed.
Does anyone recommend them? Does anyone have one and have anything to say about them?

P.S I love how most of the miscellaneous chat is still about hams

HollyHamster · 03-14-2014, 08:53 PM

I have a Kindle Fire and I love it. Its more complicated than the Kindle Paperwhite, as you can download various apps from Kindles "Apps for Android" store on their website. Or, if you're feeling really ambitious, and know a trusted site with an app that isn't on the "Apps for Android" store, you can download it as a third party app, so long as you've gotten the option to do so checked off on the "Settings" tab.

Anyways, I enjoy downloading the apps, but I don't have very many, I mostly just use the device to read. Its very handy because you can preorder a book and Amazon will send it to your device via "Kindle Whispernet" the day its released, which beats having to physically go to the store, find it on the shelf, and such.

There is also a built in dictionary so if you come across a word you don't quite know, you can look it up right then and there by taping and highlighting the word, and then selecting the "Dictionary" option. Much more convenient, and faster, than having to search for a physical dictionary and looking the word up that way.

Paperwhite has something that the Fire doesn't, an E-Ink display, which can be read even in the brightest of sunlight, which is handy for when you're at the beach, or poolside or some other place outside.

Unfortunately, there isn't a technology yet invented that makes E-Ink in color, so the Paperwhite is grey scale. It isn't bad if you don't want to download apps and play some more advanced games, but it'll do basic games like Scrabble.

Like you said, the screen glows via a back-light, so it will come in handy for reading in bed. Saves time getting up and shutting off the lights, or even a lamp on a nightstand, or a torch/flashlight, like you're using.

Amazon has excellent service and if your Kindle breaks down, for any reason, they usually will replace it free of charge with a new on that is the same model (so long as you send the old broken one in to them within the time allotted, which is a generous several weeks).

Amazon even has a service called Amazon Prime, which goes really well with the Fire line. This service instantly allows you to watch thousands of movies and TV shows for free, after paying the service fee of course. It used to be $69 but they've recently upped it to $99, which I think is a little much. However, being that you want a Paperwhite, it won't play videos, so this service really isn't needed to enjoy the device to its fullest.

Another thing you can do with the Paperwhite is surf the web, but what web pages it can access might be limited, due to the E-Ink grey scale display.

Don't know what else there is to say about Kindles, but I hope I've made you're decision a little easier now.

SoapyVP · 03-14-2014, 11:36 PM

I almost bought a kindle a couple of years ago. It's a very nice piece of kit. However I decided that I don't travel enough (or at all really!) to make it an essential. Also, I read in the bath a lot so didn't think it was a good idea for me!

JBH316 · 03-15-2014, 09:31 AM

I am a complete bookworm and have yet to succumb to the temptation of a kindle. Mind you, if I trip over one more box of books then I might just give in!

I read on a book blog recently that if you were just wanting to read books on it, it was better to stick to the simple e-readers like the normal kindle/paperwhite/nook/kobo etc rather than the newer ones like the kindle fire that are more like tablets.

**DrKMcK** · 03-15-2014, 09:51 AM

Hi Scrubby. I have a Kindle and I love it. I also bought my sister the Nook and she loves that. They are both good. I prefer the Kindle myself. When I was young, in the 3rd grade, I had an 11th grade reading level. I actually got in trouble for reading. Recently my sister came across all our report cards from when we were little. My mother had saved them. Right there, in writing, were comments from my mother and my teacher about how wonderful it was that I was reading less!!!

I love books and cannot imagine my life without them. Get a Kindle. You won't be sorry. There are tons of free books that are classics that are wonderful.

HollyHamster · 03-15-2014, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Hi Scrubby. I have a Kindle and I love it. I also bought my sister the Nook and she loves that. They are both good. I prefer the Kindle myself. When I was young, in the 3rd grade, I had an 11th grade reading level. I actually got in trouble for reading. Recently my sister came across all our report cards from when we were little. My mother had saved them. Right there, in writing, were comments from my mother and my teacher about how wonderful it was that I was reading less!!!

I love books and cannot imagine my life without them. Get a Kindle. You won't be sorry. There are tons of free books that are classics that are wonderful.

Haha!! I can identify with getting in trouble for reading, DrKMcK.

I would get in trouble for reading in class, usually Math class, or "pleasure reading" in the evenings instead of doing homework. I even got a certificate in 2nd grade that states that I was the best reader in the class!! I was reading "grown up" books like Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park" by 5th grade. I guess I am still quite the bookworm.

flogging_molly · 03-15-2014, 10:00 AM

Definitely worth it!

kimlck · 03-15-2014, 10:10 AM

Yup you should.
I have a bog standard kindle didnt want a fancy one as i have a smartphone , i have always loved reading and just browsing the book isle, ( tho now kinda not so much as i now run a book department and its surprising how handling books can make your hands hurt) but thats not the point.
Yes buy a kindle

Clairealex · 03-15-2014, 11:17 AM

I adore my kindle.

I got a basic one when I was at Uni. I studied English Lit so needed loads of books but didn't want to break my back carrying them - problem solved with my little kindle!

I now have the paperwhite which is awesome. You can put the light off for daytime reading and I have the backlit on very low for reading in bed. I like the basic ones better than the Fire as they're designed purely to read books on. I have an iPad for tablet stuff and an iphone for everything else, so don't need to overcomplicate books too!

It's genuinely one of the best purchases I've ever made!