General Chat

Make sure you have a good wifi where you live....... or you will have to download the books to your computer, then download them to your kindle/ereader..... not difficult, but annoying.

I have the 3G version and have rarely had any trouble downloading books. Sometimes takes a bit longer in Tenerife but does it ok.

I agree with MarieCeleste when she says the Kindle has broadened her horizons as to what she reads.
I have read books I would never have even looked at in the library because I wouldn't have been looking on those shelves!

As someone who is an avid, no rabid reader and lover of all printed matter (will read the back of a matchbox if bored) and who was horrified when I first saw the ebooks. Looked on them as the devils handiwork.

Well a couple of years down the line I bought a Kindle and have never looked back.
After the initial spend, this is probably the cheapest way to buy books. Not new ones by big authors though.

I read around 3-6 books a week, so the self printed less than £1.00 are ideal for me. The local charity shops just could not keep up with my demand!!!

Now I spend about £20.00 a fortnight (around 15 books a time, depending on the author). The only books I now buy are hardback reference books and the odd fiction hardback of a few favoured authors (these are not to be read by OH who can leave a book looking like it has been around for 100 years!!!).

Bought OH a Kindle for Christmas as well, he like me was not too keen, now mentions just how easy it is to read. One flick of the thumb and the pages turn, simples....

:-D :-D

Hail the Kindle, best thing since sliced bread was invented.

Quick question.
Would I be able to download newspapers & magazines from a basic Kindle or would I need a Kindle Fire.
I know I can download to my laptop, but it´s not too handy to take to the local bar for my morning coffee.

I download all my books via USB. At the time when I bought it I did not have WiFi

Now have WiFi but continue to use the USB.

If all you want is to read books, newspapers etc. the ordinary Kindle is for you

If however you want to use it as a tablet (like an iPad) then the Kindle Fire is the one.

Mine is the really old one with a keyboard ont he bottom, now nearly 3 years old... :-D

Thanks.
That will save me a few bob on the purchase.

mine came complete with a cover, but it was a black cloth cover and kept getting covered in hair from my cat - then a saw a lovely red leather Tula cover in McArthur Glen, about a tenner - brilliant

If you buy a Kindle from Curry's you can get a lifetime guarantee with it which costs nothing - my first Kindle suddenly started showing only half a page, took it back to Curry's and they gave me a new one and downloaded from the naff one to the new one

You don't get a replacement if you lose the Kindle, but if it stops working or you damage it somehow, then they replace

All these replies may convert me as I really love my iPad and rarely use my computer except to sync iPad or look at certain pictures that are bigger on there.
I read my newspapers online,but as I only read a book when I go to bed and that is never longer than half an hour wondered if it was worth it.
When my OH was housebound we had our library lady who brought about 25 books every month and he used to order all the newest ones from the list in the Telegraph...
Wonderful service!
I wonder if everyone has kindles ,will it make more libraries close?
I still use the library.

Brenda I would hate to think that the libraries would close, what an awful thought :-( Will I go on a mission alone to keep the libraries open I wonder? no Kindle for me OR throw in the towel and join the club hmm! getting very near to deciding especially as almost all love their Kindle ...we shall see! :-S

This might be of interest Nolls - was just on Norfolk Library website and you can borrow library books on the Kindle Fire. Apparently the app isn't available for earlier versions of Kindle, but you can download on to other ereaders :-S

Don't let my post about libraries influence you Nolls .they will probably have more computers installed!.
3 of my great grandchildren ...6-10 years have kindle fires...but they still like their books.
Think it's a good idea,especially being able to adjust size of type to stop eye strain and the light .
My daughter has a kobo as well as an iPad.think this is a cheaper option,but don't know too much about it.

Ah things are getting better and better Thank you Lindi and Brenda for clarifying that for me ..Phew! was not looking forward to standing outside my library with a placard those days are really long gone ...But if needs must you might just have seen me there!
On a serious side I didn't realise how much info there is about Kindles or the number of different ones or what you can or can not do a lot to take in now a lot to digest have still got till Aug to make up my mind but by the looks of it I think I just might! ........................................................................................... or maybe not LOL!

I think the Kobo is the WH Smith one and is possibly a different format to the kindle but not sure.

i love my kindle i have the Kindle Paperwhite 3G it has a built-in light
Free 3G wireless

but i will say if you are looking in to getting a kindle
then all so have a look at the nook books as i understand that you can downlowd
library book to them.

pluss thay are going for around £30 in some well known shops
my daughter has got one for christmas for her very young son that love readying

So does the Kobo & Nook Books do the same as the Kindle can you download from Amazon ?

The Kobo, the Sony E-reader and possibly Nook all have a diferent format to the Kindle, you cannot download books from Amazon for them. But there are plenty of places you can get them from. I was told that you can get a free program to convert kindle files to Epub but I have not found it yet.

I wouldn't be without my Sony though, had it for about 7 years, light wirght and easy to use/download etc.

And I still use a library and buy books. I tend to use my reader for those books I read over and over, I have over a hundred on there at present

Edited to add: The trouble is Amazon are beginning to limit authors to ONLY having e-books in kindle format, that srtikes me as trying to get a monoply in this field. Thankfully some of the better authors are not using Amazon for this very reason

Do not think ebooks will sound the death knell for libraries.

They are now in some areas of the UK more popular than ever, with people using their computers. Remember most have Ancestry and other FH programmes, and this has made them so popular that in some libraries you have to book your hour. And there is no going over as often there is someone waiting to use it.

They do storybook clubs for mums and toddlers.

I do understand that in some areas some will have to close, but in my area it is the really old ones with leaky roofs etc. and our new modern Library in Woolwich Town Hall is truly superb. (not used it myself, but had to visit the town hall a few months ago and saw the new library and its facilities then) and the new one in Southwark also looks very good and both very poplular with the locals.

Gawd I went on a bit there!!!! ;-) :-S :-S :-D :-D

I work in a library DazedConfused
Kindle and E readers have had a huge impact, but many owners still use the library to borrow books too.
Many use our Wi Fi too.

We offer a huge variety of activities for children, and adults alike.
We even offer themed Biirthday Parties for children in one of our newly decorated meeting rooms.
For adults, we have book groups and knit and natter groups ( it's really a coffee afternoon or evening for anyone who knits, crafts or sews)

At least once a month we hold a themed event.
We have various outside groups come in and set up stalls and provide info on a wide range of things.
For Example: we had Health and Well Being Day.
The local college sent beauty therapy students to give manicures and massages.
The sport centre also had a stall. A martial arts expert gave a talk. We baked healthy cakes and muffins and handed out the recipes.

We even had a jazz night!
A jazz band offered to come along and play to help with the Community
They played well into the evening, and we provided wine, tea, coffee and nibbles for a small entrance fee.
The band even said that a library was the perfect place to play and would love to come back
All those books helped to soften the sound.

Pop along to your local library.... you may be surprised at what's on offer!