Kindle

My button certainly springs back immediately - Now we just need them to get a little more choice for downloads and query why the kindle edition often costs more than the paperback of a book, sort the editing out and line up and shoot the (sometimes) clear publishing employees who give rave reviews about a fifth rate piece of trash that's so wet you couldn't start a bonfire with it if you tried.

On the other hand it's a marvelous bit of kit in its own right and I've got stacks of decent reads for 79p a pop

Are you guys using the 6" or the 9.7"?   If the former, are there any drawbacks?

I was planning to get one before leaving on vacation, but balked at the last moment because I couldn't decide if the larger version was worth the extra $260.

Thanks!

Hook

Jamie : I agree with you about the reviews and pricing.  Seems like I'll have to return the Kindle for replacement c/o power switch stickiness.  I've really bought it for holiday use to save taking lots of paperbacks with me.

Hook : I've got the 6" screen version.  Easily held with one hand, and I think the screen is big enough for the purpose.  Now if I could just stop pressing the left hand "next page" button when I'm trying to go back a page to check something.  I know why they've done it the way they have (to facilitate one-handed use by both left and right handers, I assume), but I don't actually find that particularly intuitive.

The other thing I'll say is that their web browser needs a bit of work, as it seems remarkably adept at locking up the machine, making it need a reset.  Don't think I'll be using that facility.

Just been talking to Kindle Support on their 0800 number.  You have to ring them to send back a faulty item for exchange.  A new one should be with me very soon.

While on line I asked them about "Treasure Island" which only allows delete, not archive.  Turns out I wasn't quite correct, and it was one of the the freebies (another was Pride And Prejudice) that came with the iPhone and PC Kindle apps, and these freebies can only be deleted, not archived.  Luckily you can just manually copy them into the appropriate directory.

Very happy with Amazon supports response this time, but just rather annoyed that I've got to go through the process of setting up "collections" and moving the appropriate books into them again when I get the new one.  That'll be another half-hour or so down the drain ...

Incidentally, the larger screen version is not available in the UK.  Even if it were, I would still have gone for the 6", as it fits in my coat pocket. 

Thanks Dungassin!   Have a dozen or so books left to read, and then I am going to take the plunge. 

Haven't read Treasure Island since I was a teen, but now I think I will make it my first 6" Kindle download!  Read "Pirate Latitudes" on the airplane last week -- a good, fun, escapist read!

Hook

Don't buy Treasure Island yet.  If amazon.com are the same as amazon.co.uk, just download the PC Kindle App, and you should get Treasure Island as a freebie!  There is a free version in the Kindle eBooks section, but it suffers from odd little highlights having been added (a little annoying IMO).

If you do as I suggest and then get a proper Kindle, just copy/paste the freebie Treasure Island from your PC Kindle directory (found in My Documents) to the appropriate directory on your Kindle (USB connection).

Just in case it's not well known, Amazon isn't the only kosher source for Kindle books. As usual Google is your friend if it's "free kindle books" you're after.

Sorry not sure how direct links would be regarded by mods.

I've had a Kindle since January, the 3G/wireless version. and I am extremely satisfied with it. Super if you travel and read alot. The only downside I would say is that not all the latest releases are available from amazon in Kindle format but there's still plenty to be getting on with.

The browser is in the "experimental" section so it is only in beta yet.

You can also drag & drop/copy pdf's over into the Kindle folder and they will be available to read.

Well, the replacement 3G Kindle arrived this afternoon.  I've done all the configuration and installed all my ebooks on it.  Then I got out the old one to prepare it for return to Amazon (de-register etc), and bugger me if the on/off switch isn't now working perfectly!   Still going to return it as it may turn out to be one of those irritating intermittent faults.   

Nice bit of kit, and much preferable to reading Kindle books on iPad/iPhone IMO.  After all, who wants an ebook reader you can't use in bright sunlight?

My wifi-only kindle arrived today. Looks good indeed! I doubt I was the first to have thought that the welcome text on the device was a sticker. In good light, it's perfect and I look forward to stress test it with the latest Iain Banks novel. Under dim light, the screen is not a patch on a real book, but any small flashlight seems to work well, and so does the nifty LED light in the leather cover.

Incidentally for reading a novel in the dark I find reflected light is much easier on the eyes than the back-lit screen of a tablet computer? Would be Interested to learn other people's experiences.

EJ