Kindle: who has one?

[ratherdashing]

Does/did anyone here actually own one?

I'm really only interested in opinions from people who've actually held one in their hands and used it. What are your thoughts? Strengths and weaknesses? Do you prefer it over reading on a computer screen, or reading a real book?

Thanks!

[garublador]

I've only held one for a bit but I'd rather read on it than on a computer screen. From what I understand the screen doesn't refresh like a computer screen, it just does it once when you turn the page so it's easier to look at. Watching it turn pages is cool, too. It is a nice size and quite a bit easier to carry around than a netbook or something like that. If you can carry around a paperback, you can probably carry around a Kindle.

Personally, I don't see the big advantage of e-books. I don't find myself in situations where I wish I had more than one book with me while I'm on the go and I didn't find it any easier to deal with than a book. I might not be the target audience, either.

I know, not a big help.

[ratherdashing]

I've only held one for a bit but I'd rather read on it than on a computer screen. From what I understand the screen doesn't refresh like a computer screen, it just does it once when you turn the page so it's easier to look at. Watching it turn pages is cool, too. It is a nice size and quite a bit easier to carry around than a netbook or something like that. If you can carry around a paperback, you can probably carry around a Kindle.

Personally, I don't see the big advantage of e-books. I don't find myself in situations where I wish I had more than one book with me while I'm on the go and I didn't find it any easier to deal with than a book. I might not be the target audience, either.

I know, not a big help.

No, that's good. Thanks.

The readability of the screen is the most important factor to me. If I got one, I'd be using it in a wide variety of situations: on the train, at work, at home on the couch, at the beach, at the airport, etc.

The only disadvantages I can think of for the screen are the lack of color, and the fact you can't read it in the dark like an LCD screen. Then again, LCD's can't be read in bright light, and they are constantly blaring light at your eyes. There's no way an iPad would work at the beach in July.

I'd also love it if I could read web content on there. For example, it would be cool to be able to read something like this on a Kindle. I found a tool called RekindleIT that handles that sort of thing.

[newking70]

i like the commercials......

[sosomething]

That girl has got it goin' on. Damn.

[sosomething]

Yay for Google!

[MojoMonster]

Does/did anyone here actually own one?

I'm really only interested in opinions from people who've actually held one in their hands and used it. What are your thoughts? Strengths and weaknesses? Do you prefer it over reading on a computer screen, or reading a real book?

Thanks!

First thing you need to decide is if you want a tablet PC or a book reader.

The girlfriend and I just got her a Sony Touch from Woot after looking thru all of the available choices.
http://ebook-reader-review.toptenreviews.com/

She was looking for lightweight above most everything else.
I'll post when she actually receives it.

You have to use a nightlight if you want to use any eInk reader, btw.

If you want to look at webpages, the Nook can supposedly do that as well.
Also, the Nook is getting pretty consistent updates, as far as I can tell.
If you're not afraid of hacks, it seems that both the Kindle and Nook are "hackable".

If you're looking for a tablet PC; color, websurfing, etc., you might want to check out the IPad or wait for the PC guys to make something competitive. I wanna say HP has something coming out soon.

MM

[ratherdashing]

First thing you need to decide is if you want a tablet PC or a book reader.

The girlfriend and I just got her a Sony Touch from Woot after looking thru all of the available choices.
http://ebook-reader-review.toptenreviews.com/

She was looking for lightweight above most everything else.
I'll post when she actually receives it.

You have to use a nightlight if you want to use any eInk reader, btw.

If you want to look at webpages, the Nook can supposedly do that as well.
Also, the Nook is getting pretty consistent updates, as far as I can tell.
If you're not afraid of hacks, it seems that both the Kindle and Nook are "hackable".

If you're looking for a tablet PC; color, websurfing, etc., you might want to check out the IPad or wait for the PC guys to make something competitive. I wanna say HP has something coming out soon.

MM

I am not looking for a tablet PC.

I know the limitations (and advantages) of eInk. I have to use a night light if I want to use a regular book too.

What was it about the Sony Touch that made it the better choice?

[ImmortalSix]

The screens are great. If you're not familiar with how they work, look it up. It's just like reading a printed page.

I was going to get my wife a Kindle, but she seemed insulted and gave me a lecture about why paperback books are so important to her (Paperbacks:Kindle::Vinyl:MP3s).

I like the screens a lot, and i like the convenience of being able to get a book any time. My wife and I live pretty far out, and it would take us around an hour to drive to a bookstore, so I think it'd be good for people like us.

But on the other hand, they're far too expensive for what they are, so I would not buy one for myself. I kind of romanticize paperbacks, too.

Wow, big tangential rant, awesome.

Cliffs: the screens are great, the prices are high, not for cool kids.

[MojoMonster]

I am not looking for a tablet PC.

I know the limitations (and advantages) of eInk. I have to use a night light if I want to use a regular book too.

What was it about the Sony Touch that made it the better choice?

It was the lightest weight/smallest size and it could deal with the most file formats with the least amount of issue.

She didn't like the idea of being tied so intimately to Amazon and their rights management issues and she didn't see the need to be constantly connected.

It's also memory upgradeable far beyond the Kindle and Nook.
And we got a great deal for a refurb from Woot.

Not sure about the other manufacturers, but Sony makes a case with a built in nightlight for their reader and I know you can get clip-on lights made specifically for ereaders.

Edit: We've had it for about a week now and it's pretty much what she wanted. Once she got used to the interface and battery issue(you have to turn it all the way off and not put it to sleep to get the longest battery life) she concluded that she really liked it.
Software called Calibre helped a lot as well.
The screen reminded *me* of an Etch-a-sketch. More dark gray on light gray than black on white.
All in all, it seems well worth the $200 I paid for it.

MM