Not a "Geardo" but...

[IrishTN]

Not really a techno geek but I've wanted one for some time now. A Kindle. Any opinions? And for those that do have one, what are some good accesories to add to the little note headed to the North Pole.

Thanks,

Irish

[Hockeyfan]

Not really a techno geek but I've wanted one for some time now. A Kindle. Any opinions? And for those that do have one, what are some good accesories to add to the little note headed to the North Pole.

Thanks,

Irish

I'd add the note saying simply this. "GET ME AN iPad".

[Electriclime]

My wife got a Kindle as a present from her friends at work. The advantage of the Kindle is that the clarity of the screen is great and has little to no glare. The size is good, light and easy to hold. The one thing missing is any type of light source, so you're screwed if you want to read at night or in bed. You either need a clip on light or a case that has a flip out light built in; either way not convenient.

If you can spring the extra dough, an iPad would be preferable, but that's a lot higher price point. Amazon does have a Kindle app for the iPhone/iPad, so you still have access to all the same materials.

[silviomossa]

Lots of people like the new version of the Nook as well, so it's worth comparing.

http://news.cnet.com/kindle-vs-nook-vs-ipad-which-e-book-reader-should-you-buy

For those on a budget, there are only two good choices, it seems. I know some who love them, but I'd like to try one first by reading a full book on it, as I like the feel of books and can't see giving them up. Still, the price isn't bad on the Kindle and Nook, so who knows.

[IrishTN]

Thanks for the quick reply's!

Right off the top, I'm a book guy too. Unfortunatley thanks to Dave Ramsy I cut my budget for hardcovers and waiting for the paperbacks is infuriating sometimes so I decided on a kindle for the simple reason of cost. I also like the "pearl" display. As for the lack of a back lit screen it's a plus for me, no squint in the sun and I don't know how many headlamps there are laying around the house but enough that I could lay my hands on one for some night time page turning.

For those that swear by those "i" thingies, never comes to mind with any product proceded by "i". Sorry, but any thing from the fruit corpiration is taboo in this house. ;-) Another simple reason, I just have no need for something like that, I just want to read my book and download another when done.

As for the PC/Blackberry app, no thanks. I have yet to find a decent carry bag for my 17" laptop and the battery life stinks. For short trips to the doctor or waiting in the pick up line at school it's just too bulky. For the phone, no dice. My display is just too small and it's backlit so any sunlight washes it out.

The biggest selling point for me aside from the price was the one month battery life with the Wi-Fi turned off.

[Mark B.]

as I like the feel of books and can't see giving them up.

Me as well. I like seeing the bookmark to see where I am at as I go along.

[ScottyG]

My wife has a Kindle, which I steal pretty often for my own nefarious purposes. It's great. Yes, something like an iPad would do "more stuff." But more isn't always better. The Kindle is particularly nice because:

1. The screen is actually magnetized ink, not a "screen" per se. So it's not at all tiring on the eyes, and very much like reading a book.
2. This sounds dumb, but it's really really nice to read entirely with one hand. It's easy to hold the Kindle and turn the pages, both with the same hand. When my daughter was a baby and liked to nap ON me, that was a life-saver. Sleeping baby in one arm, Kindle in the other.
3. Lots of titles available, many of them very cheap. If you're interested in classic literature, or really anything that's old enough to be public domain (I think the rule is 85 years old, or something like that), those things are almost all available for free.

The only downside, in my opinion, is that the pages are (by necessity) shorter than regular pages, and there's no way to find out what the real page numbers are. So you get a book and there are 5,612 pages or something, and it's a little disorienting to know, for instance, how far you have until the end of the chapter.

[Hockeyfan]

I'm posting this from an iPad. It's awesome. I can read on it day OR night for hours. I'm not limited whatsoever.

Kindle(?). There's an app for that.

[Quiesco Viduata]

Yes, I said the same thing - anything you can eat, I really don't need as a computer system. But then I bought an iPhone . . . big mistake. Then I bought my wife an iPhone. Now I have an iPad . . . . . and when it comes to replacing a computer, it will be something with a fruity name.

I really like my iPad. I was worried about the backlight and reading (I have an astigmatism). I was worried that I would get headaches and such from reading on the iPad. So far, so good. I can read the paper, books, websites, this forum, email, you name it. The nice thing is with an iPad you aren't restricted to just Kindle for reading. I can download any ebook and read it (perhaps Kindle isn't restricted to just Kindle sites either).

Are you able to download kids books/pictures with Kindle (again, I'm not up on all that Kindle has to offer). A nice feature with the iPad is that I can use it with my 3 yo when we are out and about and we don't have a kids book at hand. Can read him stories, or use the flashcard apps, drawing apps, game apps etc. While on long trips in the van, I can plug the iPad in and play movies through the media centre in the van - a life saver for the 6 hour trips to visit grandparents.

I do have to say I was a skeptic when iPad came out and I said, "I won't be getting one." Well, yes I have one and I really enjoy it. Is it a necessity? No - not yet anyway. LOL!!! But, it sure is nice to have. To me it will never replace books, but has many advantages. I know if I had a kindle, I wouldn't use it near to the extent that I do the iPad - only due to Kindle's limitations.

I hear where you are coming from; as I was the same way. But, as they say . . . . Don't knock it until you try it.

PS. forgot to mention photos - a big one for an iPad. I don't have to carry pictures around with me to show Grandparents, can give them a slide show right then and there. LOL!!!

[Hockeyfan]

Yes, I said the same thing - anything you can eat, I really don't need as a computer system. But then I bought an iPhone . . . big mistake. Then I bought my wife an iPhone. Now I have an iPad . . . . . and when it comes to replacing a computer, it will be something with a fruity name.

I really like my iPad. I was worried about the backlight and reading (I have an astigmatism). I was worried that I would get headaches and such from reading on the iPad. So far, so good. I can read the paper, books, websites, this forum, email, you name it. The nice thing is with an iPad you aren't restricted to just Kindle for reading. I can download any ebook and read it (perhaps Kindle isn't restricted to just Kindle sites either).

Are you able to download kids books/pictures with Kindle (again, I'm not up on all that Kindle has to offer). A nice feature with the iPad is that I can use it with my 3 yo when we are out and about and we don't have a kids book at hand. Can read him stories, or use the flashcard apps, drawing apps, game apps etc. While on long trips in the van, I can plug the iPad in and play movies through the media centre in the van - a life saver for the 6 hour trips to visit grandparents.

I do have to say I was a skeptic when iPad came out and I said, "I won't be getting one." Well, yes I have one and I really enjoy it. Is it a necessity? No - not yet anyway. LOL!!! But, it sure is nice to have. To me it will never replace books, but has many advantages. I know if I had a kindle, I wouldn't use it near to the extent that I do the iPad - only due to Kindle's limitations.

I hear where you are coming from; as I was the same way. But, as they say . . . . Don't knock it until you try it.

PS. forgot to mention photos - a big one for an iPad. I don't have to carry pictures around with me to show Grandparents, can give them a slide show right then and there. LOL!!!

Well written essay my man. I give it an A+. Not necessary, but so so sweet once you have. I couldn't live without it. My kids love it, wife loves it. Great for all sorts of "media". Hee hee hee. The only kicker is if you can't afford it. Then again if you can get a kindle, you can hold off a few days, weeks or months and save up a bit extra. Well worth it. I wont buy any computer that doesn't have a piece or fruit on it.

[IrishTN]

Again thanks for all the input, it's appreciated and I'll file away the glowing reccomendations for the "i" thingies in the "gifts for others" file. :icon_lol:

While I am a big fan of one thing that can do just about anything, tools, vehicles etc. I'll have to draw the line here. I learned a little while back that relying on one system for everything invites disaster when it's gone. Case in point was a laptop I had that was our goto item for everything mentioned in this thread. Problem was "Insured by Smith and Wesson" only means that when you are home.

So I guess for simple 'ole me it will be the Kindle on Christmas day! :dumb:

[Electriclime]

As for Kindle accessories...
I picked up a clip on LED light at Target for my wife's Kindle last night. She does a lot of reading in bed and also wanted to be able to use it while on road trips. They have a couple of cases there too, including one from Amazon that has a built in flip up light.

[IrishTN]

As for Kindle accessories...
I picked up a clip on LED light at Target for my wife's Kindle last night. She does a lot of reading in bed and also wanted to be able to use it while on road trips. They have a couple of cases there too, including one from Amazon that has a built in flip up light.

Funny you should mention the case with the "telescoping" light, according to my recon( read this as peeking over her shoulder), that paticular item got bundled with the Kindle while ordering it. :icon_wink: