Does anyone have a Kindle?

[Johanna]

Does anyone have a Kindle? Like it? Why or why not? Anyone have the DX version? Is it it worth the extra dollars?

[esantoro]

I don't have one, but I'd wait a year or two for a company to come out with an e-book reader that will open all sorts of text files without the need to upload anything.

I think these devices are two generations away from being desirable.

Edit: Just now read that the DX is the latest generation and does have native support for PDFs. Very nice. I still think $250 is the proper price and will wait until then. By then, though, the competition will have improved.

ed

Does anyone have a Kindle? Like it? Why or why not? Anyone have the DX version? Is it it worth the extra dollars?

Edited June 8, 2009 by esantoro

[dbusarow]

I agree with Ed. I've used my Palm Pilot for reading ebooks and it worked just fine for a lot less money. That was 5 years ago when my eyes were better and I didn't need reading glasses though

Now I use my old Mac ibook with an 8" screen. You can buy a new diskless laptop for under $300.

Dan

[esantoro]

I agree with Ed. I've used my Palm Pilot for reading ebooks and it worked just fine for a lot less money. That was 5 years ago when my eyes were better and I didn't need reading glasses though

Now I use my old Mac ibook with an 8" screen. You can buy a new diskless laptop for under $300.

Dan

I was also thinking about how a netbook would be a better purchase right now for the money. I did go and take a look at the Kindle DX and it is an improvement over the last generation.

When I read ebooks, I want to be able to copy and paste passages to a text file. I'm not sure the kindle can do that.

ed

[Leerwerker]

I do not have one, but my friend do, and I had a good look at his a few weeks ago.

I think it is a must, if you read a lot. The electronic paper is totally different from any computer screen. The eye-relaxing reading on the kindle makes it feel like you are staring into a laser pointer when you read on a normal computer screen again.

The only reason I do not have one, is that I do not have a lot of time to sit and just read (I get more read in my car using Audio books). And I do not have the money for a Kindle ....

[TwinOaks]

It looks like a neat solution in search of a problem. No offense, but given the continuing rate of advances in technology, this seems to be a step backwards.

When the system includes a roll away screen (reference US Display Consortium) then it'll be more interesting.

[Echo4V]

I'm waiting on one with a GPS built in. I mean think about it, driving a long (well hopefully someone else is driving while you're reading) and you need directions. Just pull up the GPS and get directions then go back to reading.

David

[leatheroo]

i have been reading books in ebook format for years...first a pda then a pda phone and now i use the iphone...the iphone is by far the best reader i have ever used...the free stanza app will let you read any format...Lit...palm...web pages...etc...with the windows based pda i always had to convert to microsoft lit...but with the iphone no conversion needed. i like having to carry only one piece of equipment that does everything...with the iphone i have music, books, phone and all my photos (over 2000).

[Johanna]

So what you folks are saying is that a Kindle is redundant with the technology that exists in our laptops and cell phones. I wonder if I could break the "stuff-the-book-in-my-purse" habit anyway?

Thanks for your opinions!

Johanna

[esantoro]

Battery life on the kindle is nice, but I don't think it is worth the current asking price. The DX does have some nice improvements. I think the usefulness of the kindle increases a lot in metropolitan areas where public transportation is the rule, but even in that situation I seem to prefer MP3 audio books on an MP3 player.

I thought about getting a netbook to use as an ebook reader and whatever else, but my rule is that if the tech isn't vitally important right now, I'll wait until the price goes too low to pass up.

ed

So what you folks are saying is that a Kindle is redundant with the technology that exists in our laptops and cell phones. I wonder if I could break the "stuff-the-book-in-my-purse" habit anyway?

Thanks for your opinions!

Johanna