Those of you with a KINDLE...

deniseg31

I am old fashioned and love to have and hold books in my hand. I actually love to turn a page as I read (so exciting). I also love to keep them afterwards as mini-trophies (yes I'm crazy like that) on my book shelves and I also think they look pretty as well.

For xmas I was gifted "The Pillars of the Earth" (yay!!!) (900+ pages - boo!) and the darn thing is HEAVY!!! I ride the train to and from work so I've been dragging that thing around for the past 2 days and I so envy the other people on the train that have those book-reading devices.

So I ask you Kindle lovers...how do they work? Are they expensive? Do you pay like a monthly fee to be able to keep the thing working? If so do you purchase an "internet" package like you do with the smart phones?

Let me know....

Thanks!

ElizabethRoad

The cheapest one is $79 I think. A bit much if you're getting it just for this one book, but a good deal if you're going to use it a lot. No monthly fee on mine, not on any of them as far as I know. You can get all the details at Amazon.

Chowder_17

I love my kindle and I'm reading more b/c of it! All you pay for it the price of it and the books you purchase. Some kindles have built in wi-fi, others you just connect to your computer to get your books. If you have Amazon Prime, you can also rent books for free and you can checkout book on it from your local library.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

rcrgirl84

Are you looking for just Kindle feedback or Nook as well?

I just treated myself to the Nook Tablet for Christmas - BEST GIFT TO MYSELF EVER!! I actually just posted on my Facebook that I'm still in love with my Nook. I've read 3 books since I got it 3 weeks ago. I've changed all my magazines that I buy over to subscriptions on the Nook - no more wasteful paper!!

They all range in prices - I got the Nook Tablet which was $249, but you can get the entry level Nook or Kindle for $79. Well worth the money!

natersmama

i have a kindle fire. its $200, but you can get a basic one for like $80. it has wifi. so i just connect it to the internet in my house to browse for books. you can download a sample before you buy the book. i also have games available to download on mine. like angry birds. lol. but its pretty awesome.

wellbert

all the pricing is fairly detailed at amazon... you buy the device and just buy books. 3g model includes lifetime internet. just good for downloading books. web browser is really awful.

CarolAnn0730

Just bought my daughter one for Christmas.... single mom on a tight budget!!

I got her the Kindle Touch $99 - there are different types. But the only time I pay is if we download a new book. She accesses the internet through my wi-fi at home - so no charge for that...

I need to research too - I hear some of the libraries are starting to go online with electronic check out. Might prove to be even better!!

She's shopped for some books - prices ranging from $0.99 to $9.99... nothing crazy.

Hope this helps.

melaniecheeks

Where are you? It might vary from country to country.

I'm in the UK. I got my kindle from Amazon last year for my 50th birthday. It cost £89 (though I also bought a protective cover and a charger). There's no monthly fee.

Books can be downloaded from Amazon and other retailers. Some are free.

I love it to bits - its so easy to read one-handed on the train, fits in my handbag and weights hardly anything, and it remembers where you are in every book.

UponThisRock

They can be very cheap depending on what kind you get, no monthly fee, no internet package

wendyannie1976

i downloaded the kindle app for android phone and read them on there no cost other then for purchasing the individual ebooks and I love it, i love books but haven't space for them all as i read one book a week generally

flodebbierida

I Love my Kindle Fire!! I got one for Christmas. You have access to books, mags, movies, music and much much more. You can download any book from Amazon. Go on your computer to kindle and read all about it. I did get the year sub to Amazon.com, but you don't have to. As for the Kindle itself, there are different kinds with diff prices, so you need to go on line and shop, or go to Best Buy or a store in your area and have a sales rep explain it all. I really did like the web site though, It will tell you everything you need to know!! I can assure you that it will be so much better to hold it on a train that the book itself!! Good luck!!

sailorsiren13

Like you i love my books but my hubby gave me a kindle and in 17 years it is the best thing he has ever given me!!! There is no monthly fee you just buy the books like you would any other amazon purchase and they download straight to your kindle. I am going to get a cover that looks like a cover for it to protect it. And they do offer many free books because it can get pricey after a while. I am probably going to get one for my daughter for her birthday even though she is resisting them because she loves her books as well. I got the touch so that i can read without the backlight hurting my eyes.

Enigmatica

I love my Kindle! I paid the few extra bucks for the built-in 3G access. There are no monthly fees. I have about 60 *free* books - a lot of the classics are available for FREE. I read a lot more since getting it.

SandyMilton

I've had mine for around a year and a half now - it's not the new style they have out now, nor the "touch" variety. I guess you would call it the second generation kindle.

It's simple, I love it.

Now, I know some books that have "graphs and charts" in them may not display that properly in the kindle, but I can open the same book on my kindle for pc and see it properly. I know the new "fire" can show them properly, although I don't know about the other versions.

I have the model that has the 3G connectivity so it doesn't rely on a wifi hotspot - I just turn on the wireless and it connects (I must assume it's as long as there are cell towers in the vicinity). I keep the wireless off unless I'm shopping - that way my battery will last longer.

When I decide to upgrade, I'll definitely get the fire version.... unless I have an ipad by then

graciehart1

For Christmas, my husband bought me the new Kindle Fire. I love it! You can download books, watch movies, play games, facebook, twitter, etc. To download things or use anything requiring the internet, you have to be on wireless which you can connect to at home or a million different places. I think McDonalds even has free wireless now. Also, many libraries are offering ebooks now so if you don't want to pay for books, you may be able to "check them out" for free from your local library. If you have an Amazon Prime account, which is $79/year, you can watch free movies and download lots of free books. I didn't think I would like a Kindle, but now that I have one I love it.

bankstisha

I've had my kindle for a couple of years now and LOVE it! You don't have a monthly fee, you just pay for the kindle and the books you want to purchase. Amazon offers a lot of free books and books for $.99 also. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime, you can borrow books for free. Also, if you get one, check with your local library. Some libraries are able to offer ereading borrow as well.

CathyWins60

I have one and I love it. Very easy to use and I take with me everywhere.

scs143

I have a regular kindle and my son (who absolutely does not need one because he is 7) has a kindle fire. I love my kindle so much. I got mine last Christmas and have read 126 books this year. I commute and walk to the train daily and I love how light it is. Ordering books is easy. I think it's so worth it.

I know, I sound like a commercial for Kindle, but I love it. And I was resistant as well in the beginning. I love books. But, I am not sorry at all.

deedee1508

Hi - I've got a Kindle and it's fab. I've got the one with wireless, didn't think the 3G version was worth the extra. But, a great investment and there are so many books on Amazon that are very inexpensive, it's well worth it. Highly recommended!

groomchick

Love my Kindle! Was like you... liked having the book in my hand ect... now I couldn't think of anything better! Nice cuz there are no bookstores around me... when I run out of book to read in the middle of the night...Voila a new book in 60 seconds. You can even get used on E-bay real cheap!

suzksell

I am a book lover as well...that feeling of the page between your fingers as you slowly turn from one to the next can't be beat. However, my hubby turned me on to the Kindle (he's often deployed with the military, and it's the best way to get books to him while he's overseas). I am now ADDICTED to my Kindle. I can take it anywhere (I even find that I read more books on my phone with the Kindle reader so I don't take ANYTHING else with me). There is no monthly fee. You need an Amazon account with a payment method attached to it. You can download books anywhere and at any time via their "Whispernet" so you don't even need a real WiFi connection. As I said, there are apps for most smartphones as well. Lately, it's become a challenge for me to find free books for mine (I have a couple of sources that let you know daily when there are freebies out there). I have a lit degree, so I read a lot of classics, and those are always free.

The Kindle FIre is the more expensive version of the Kindle: it meets the description of a tablet. However, the basic model with the black and white screen is only about 80 bucks.

deniseg31

The cheapest one is $79 I think. A bit much if you're getting it just for this one book, but a good deal if you're going to use it a lot. No monthly fee on mine, not on any of them as far as I know. You can get all the details at Amazon.

Thank you. And no I would like to keep it and use it foe-ev! I had actually been eyeballing them on the train and had thought about looking into them but I think this book really did it for me.

willafan

I got a kindle for Christmas in 2010-- after saying exactly what you said "I love books, I like to turn pages etc"
I LOVE my Kindle and I've started reading SO much more because:
-Books are available at an instant- once I downloaded the second and third book in the "Hunger Games" series from a hotel in Nicaragua which barely had running water:)
-Reading on the Kindle is easier on my 40 something eyes. I can increase the font size, change the orientation etc.
-The device is super light--i think it weighs a few ounces. I currently have 200+ books on my Kindle and it can hold up to 1500.
-Kindle is a great product- great battery life and super user friendly.

Books can be bought via Amazon.com and they are priced per book, no memberships are available. Prices are typically slightly lower than a (new) hardcover/ paperback version. There are literally thousands of free books available, some of them classics and others self published. Also, some local libraries are beginning to explore the loaning of e-books but I have not pursued that yet so I don't know how it works.
Just go here to find out more about the Device: http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store-ebooks-newspapers-blogs/b/ref=sa_menu_kstore3?ie=UTF8&node=133141011

Lastly-- Pillars of the Earth was one of my all time favorites. You have good taste in books!

Brwneyz72

I got the Kindle Fire for Christmas, but already had the basic Kindle w/Wi-Fi. I don't read a ton, but I do read when I can and I LOVE it! I only wish I would have gotten one sooner. Like you I carry my book with me and read when I can so having all my books on one device is so nice. I, like you, used to keep the books as trophies so it took me a while to get over that, but now I wouldn't go back to paper books if you paid me (well, ok maybe I would). There are no fees except for the price of the books you download, which are usually cheaper than the paper or hardback versions. My husband and I have saved a ton of money going to the Kindle! You should get one - you'll be glad you did!!

FatassFairy

i got a kindle fire for my birthday/christmas. love love love love love it.

their are things that cost money like amazon prime services which allows you to do alot, but it is not necessary.

and for the kindles that just do books, all you have to buy is the book. and there are tons of free books availble as well.
and very good current free books too.


one of the thinks i love about my kindle is adjusting the font. lets face i am 43 my eyes just are not what the used to be. not to mention being way do for a eye visit and most defianlty perscription change. but with my kindle i can make the font larger so i can read it without straining , can't to that with a book

carrie_eggo

I have a Nook Tablet and the Kindle on my phone. I personally would have bought the Kindle Fire over the Nook Tablet but I received it as a gift. The Kindle books seem to be a lot cheaper than the Nook books. Which ever one you get you will love it.

hjjohnson08

I absolutely love my Kindle. I carry it in my purse and read while my husband is in the "man" store or on my lunch break or any spare minute I can find. I get most of my books for free through Amazon and a lot of them are really good reads. I got a $50 gift card to Amazon last year for Christmas and it took me until July to use it up because of the free books I was getting. I was a die hard book lover too, but I don't miss having the book in my hand at all. It's much lighter to carry and goes anywhere. There is not monthly charge. I have the wi-fi only model with the keyboard and I shop the Amazon store from my laptop and as soon as I turn my Kindle on, the new books are downloaded.

As a previous user mentioned, it does suck if you try to use it as a browser, but that's the only negative I have about it and really, it's not intended as a browser, so I can't hold that against them.

As for the Kindle Fire, I've heard mixed things about it, but my immediate concern was the eyestrain as it does not have e-ink technology.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.

LemonsAndCoffee

I have a Kindle and love it. Like you, I love the feel of a book but they really start to take up a lot of space. My husband got me the Kindle for my birthday last year and it took a bit to get used to but it was definitely worth it. There is no monthly subscriptions and *generally* buying the kindle version is cheaper than the physical book. I say go for it!

pandsmomCheryl

I went ink-reader vs. tablet - I look at a computer all day and it bothers my eyes - the ink-reader's (kindle - kindle touch & nook's cheapest) look like paper and have no backlight - so I just ordered a cover with a built-in light for when I want to read in bed. I love books too - but these are just so easy to travel with. And you can can download from the library. I don't need to stay super current or buy new releases - so I've made a deal with myself that I'll only purchase books $10 and under. Amazon features 100 under $3.99 all the time and there's some okay choices in there. Good luck! Oh - I checked & Pillars is availble for $8.....

chubby_checkers

i've had a kindle for about 2 years and i love it to pieces and haven't read a "regular" book in awhile.

they're pretty easy to use and there are no monthly fees (unless you get a kindle fire and want shows/movies/music, then you have to have an amazonprime membership).

some of the newer releases are not much cheaper than the hard cover version which is a bummer. however, there are quite a few freebies on amazon and they have deals with certain titles being $.99-$3.99.

3dogsrunning

I received the Sony e-reader for Christmas last year. I am in Canada, so when I bought my mother and mother in law one this Christmas, I went with the Sony. I haven't had any problems with it. I believe there can be issues with the Kindle in Canada. The Canadian version is the Kobo, almost every review said they have horrible customer service.
All the Sony ones now come with wi-fi connection. Like others said, you don't buy a package, you just connect to the computer or use the wifi where available to download books.

I felt the same way you did but I love my ereader. Mostly because I can get a book anytime.
If there is a book I really like or want, i will buy the real version, so I can keep it. But I read too much to keep all the books, I end up with far too many.

PS - I loved Pillars of the Earth. One of my top favs.