Anyone own or use a Kindle - what's your review?

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As title - link to Kindle on amazon.co.uk.
Thinking of getting one but can't really justify it.
Someone asked about Xmas present ideas for me and I wondered if they'd be wasting their money.

Just what are the features?

Have tried to read the iPad thread but found myself loosing the will to carry on
I already have a laptop, netbook, PDA, mobile phone and PC so can't really justify anything like the iPad either (besides I just hate the Apple iTunes lock in and business model).

Thanks in anticipation
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[UnknownStuntm...]

It's a paperless book. The text is remarkably easy to read, and it doesn't strain your eyes the same as a pad or phone based device. Fonts are very smooth. Low power consumption. A great many books available, but beware there have been some non-US customers a bit peeved at certain books being more expensive than US customers get.

All that said, I've not read a book on one, just used it at work, we're trying them to replace PDAs in certain circumstances. At just over the ton, they're much better value than the devices we currently buy.

[Fawbish]

Cant offer any advice, but just as a normal comment on ebooks - I genuinely do enjoy sitting down and reading a book properly - pages on the finger tips etc.

I'm only 21 and even I think it's a shame how technology steamrollers everything nowdays. Useful most definitely - but I reckon by the time I hit my 50's and my joints are so fucked the only decent thing I'll be able to do is read - books will be gone!
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

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[UnknownStuntm...]

Well, it has a browser you can get to in the 'experimental' section, but I reckon this may disappear and you'll have to pay for it some time soonish... What I said about replacing PDAs... Well, if you write a book, you can have hyperlinks in the book. So we did that.

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The 3G version has an email client that doesn't cost anything to use abroad unlike the horrific roaming data charges on mobile phones.

[Albion]

Just came across this as it happens,

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/reviews/2010/11/kindle-3-e-book-readers-go-mainstream.ars
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A2 Passed on 07/05/08, CG125 bought on 21/07/08.

[chris-red]

[panrider_uk]

I've just bought a Sony PRS-350 which uses the same e-ink screen as the new Kindle.

The quality is excellent - far superior to previous generations of screen.

E-ink screens are far better than LCD screen for reading books on and they don't get washed out in sunlight.

Personally I bought the Sony (£160) rather than the Kindle (£109?) for 3 reasons.

The Sony is made of aluminium and looks and feels much nicer.
The Sony has a touch screen.
The Kindle locks you in with its DRM - the Sony supports the ePub format. Yes I know you could faff about stripping the DRM out but for the sake of a few quid its really not worth it.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[Stevie GooGs]

I know a couple of people that have them, one of them loves it but the other prefers the old books as once you are finished you can give them to a friend and vice versa. The Sony PRS models are proofing to be very popular the 350 and the 650 look like they will be great sellers.
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[Pernig]

[JonB]

I wouldn't pay for one, just because I downloaded the kindle app for free on my Android phone and it is good enough for the nights alone at a hotel on business. Surprisingly good selection of free books aswell!
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[panrider_uk]

[CptBlack]

Mine arrived this morning. Looks good so far. Slightly dissappointed with the refresh rate. It's okay waiting a second going from page to page, but navigation is slightly awkward waiting for the cursor to reappear at the next spot, quite easy to get used to though by making several moves and then seeing where it appears.

You can view pdfs also. I 'acquired' a few pdf's of open source books, and used amazons free service to convert them to the best format, so I could share them drm free but they're still in the best format for the kindle.

My biggest concern is its fragility, I read a few reports that it only takes a small knock to ruin it. I have a case on order, but I'm weary of taking it on the bike this weekend, may stick with a traditional book.

[panrider_uk]

[Ichy]

Sorry not a kindle but I have owned a Hanvon Wise reader N516 since May. I travel a lot and can read 2-4 books a week.

The concept of carrying several hundred books around with me on a device that I charge once a month is superb. Its light, fits in a pocket and works well in bright sunlight. I've dropped it a couple of times and its still working.

I have installed openinkpot , https://openinkpot.org/ , as a different OS simply based on reviews and I've not had a problem using any book formats at the moment.

If you decide to go for one then take a look at calibre, https://calibre-ebook.com/ . It does a good job of organising you library and synching your device. More importantly it converts between different formats and its free

[panrider_uk]