Kindles and/or any other digital reader, your opinions

Parent Cafe
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<p>I have stumbled upon a very fascinating gadget (though I know many of you discovered it relatively long ago), and that is a digital book reader. I had somewhat known of their existence in an uninterested way, but was not interested enough to even research them or anything. You see, I’m a pretty avid reader, as are both my daughters. We all have shelves and shelves of books. For me personally, I LOVE the physical book. I love them on my bookshelf, I love the smell of them, I love to hold them, all of which enhances the reading. So this is why I’ve sniffed my nose up at the “digital readers.”</p>

<p>However, lo and behold, I get one of those mass mailings of an Amazon.com email promoting their Kindle a couple days ago. What the heck is a Kindle I ask. So click I did and it took me right to their Kindle site. Oh my Gosh! You can download 1500 to 3500 books on these things and the books are cheap, especially for the older classics (which I love). They are sleek, light weight, no glare screens, you don’t have to pay a monthly fee, you just happily find, pay for, and download books til your hearts content. Actually, I AM running out of space for new books, so this totally solves that problem. You can take hundreds and hundreds of books with you, all in this one little thing. I am totally enthralled. I truly am.</p>

<p>However, I think I will wait awhile to get one for myself. What I’m really thinking about is buying one for my youngest daughter’s 20th birthday, which will be early next month. I’m thinking of buying the 6 inch screen one, rather than the 9 inch. She’s in her second year of college and she has always loved to read. Though she can’t spend as much time on books as she did before college due to her studies (reading for pleasure that is), she still reads a great deal and I think this would be a perfect gift for her. Unlike me, and just like the youth of today, they really don’t care if they don’t have the physicalness of some things. For example, In my day, I bought records and loved to collect them; my girls have ipods and download their music…they don’t have records or that kind of thing. So I’m thinking not having the physical books would only be so much the better for her.</p>

<p>I have been reading as much as I can about digital readers and really keep going back to the Kindle. But I do have some questions. I know you can go to Amazon and purchase and download the books from their site, but I also have seen some auctions on ebay like this "15,000 books for Kindle on CD(and they mention other brands). They list thousands of authors and books and they sell them in mass and they have great feedback. But are these things really good? These things are super cheap and I wonder. Please tell me all you know about this.</p>

<p>I’m just super excited because this has been the first time in years that I have come across something she does not have, I think she will really love, and does not have one of, nor do I even think she has ever really thought about…though I KNOW she will love it.</p>

<p>Please tell me anything you know. Please tell me how your son or daughter likes theirs (if they have one) and how well you or your spouse like yours (if you have one). I just think they would be great!! Thanks for any info!!</p>

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<p>Two recent threads on this.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/812986-kimble-sony-nook-discuss.html?highlight=Kindle[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/812986-kimble-sony-nook-discuss.html?highlight=Kindle&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/822882-best-ebook-reader.html?highlight=Kindle[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/822882-best-ebook-reader.html?highlight=Kindle&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Salem-</p>

<p>Santa is bringing me a Kindle tomorrow!</p>

<p>I’ll let you know what I think of it. Santa also considered the Nook but he always came back to Kindle, mostly for convenience. Wireless download, cheap books on Amazon.</p>

<p>And yes, I also LOVE the feel of physical books…I hope I do embrace the new!</p>

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<p>I just got a kindle, and I love it. I got it for my birthday, which was in november, but I wanted to wait to hear reviews of the nook. The nook got panned by most critics as balky, so I went with the kindle. I am very very happy with it-- its tiny and really pretty. The screen is really easy on your eyes- even in direct sunlight. It really is amazing technology. It’s pretty awesome to be able to dl books from anywhere-- i am a very fast reader and have to bring a lot of books on vacation with me in order to ensure that I don’t run out. Now I just have to bring the kindle.</p>

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<p>If you don’t have a cover, make sure you do your homework on buying one.</p>

<p>We discussed that in one of the other threads here a few weeks back. There is a class action lawsuit over the Amazon cover because it has caused some cracking to kindle screens.</p>

<p>I got a silicone wrap for mine, then keep it in a neoprene case in my bag. The silicone rubber helps me keep a grip on it and keeps it clean, too.</p>

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<p>Skins make things a lot easier to hold on to- I have a white skin for my blackberry, when I had it off, cause I was repeatedly taking the battery out as advised per the Blackberry crash of 2009 ( and don’t let them tell you it was because of an upgrade- I don’t have the upgrade & mine still couldn’t access the internet for days)</p>

<p>I also have really " hip" Skullcandy koi fish case on my ipod touch ( which holds my ereaders), makes it easier to see in my bag as well as hold.</p>

<p>( or you could make one)
[Make</a> a Case For Your Kindle](<a href=“http://www.squidoo.com/kindlepouch]Make”>http://www.squidoo.com/kindlepouch)</p>

<p>[squee!my ipod just got more hip](<a href=“TouchArcade – iPhone and iPad Games”>TouchArcade – iPhone and iPad Games)</p>

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<p>I’m enjoying my Nook, but there are still a few bugs they need to work out. Check out the covers at Oberon designs - gorgeous! And I’ve started using a free program called Calibre ([calibre</a> - E-book management](<a href=“http://calibre-ebook.com/]calibre”>http://calibre-ebook.com/)) which works with all readers to keep my ebooks organized.</p>

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<p>I got a Kindle this morning as a Christmas gift. I need to get a cover and would appreciate advice from someone who already has one. What should I look for and what should I avoid? I want something that will protect it while in my purse.</p>

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<p>I have this one: [M-Edge</a> | Products | Prodigy Jacket for Amazon Kindle (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle)](<a href=“http://www.medgestore.com/products/kindle2-prodigy.psp]M-Edge”>M-Edge Prodigy Jacket for Kindle 2), and I really like it. It looks really nice and is functional. I like that it has elastics on the free edges, it seems to hold my kindle very securely. It’s very nice to hold</p>

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<p>I just got a Kindle, too and have this jacket on it. I like it because it it flips up and becomes a stand for hands free reading. The side has enough overhang to make a comfortable holding place, too. </p>

<p>[Amazon.com:</a> M-Edge Platform Genuine Leather Kindle Jacket (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle), Smooth Mocha Brown: Kindle Store](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Platform-Genuine-Leather-Display-Generation/dp/B001S0D07G/ref=sr_1_49?ie=UTF8&s=fiona-hardware&qid=1261778379&sr=1-49]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Platform-Genuine-Leather-Display-Generation/dp/B001S0D07G/ref=sr_1_49?ie=UTF8&s=fiona-hardware&qid=1261778379&sr=1-49)</p>

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<p>LOVE my kindle that I unwrapped today.
Plugged it in, charged it and downloaded a book within 5 minutes.
Up and reading. No glare, adjustable letter size, love it!</p>

<p>It IS slick…I chose to get this cover for protection when not using it:
Belkin Neoprene Kindle Case (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle from Amazon.
It is padded, right size and has zipper on two sides. I preferred NOT to have a bulky leather book like cover on the Kindle while reading. Just my preference but I do enjoy the small light, thin feeling.</p>

<p>Does anyone use a thin SKIN like thing to make it grip a bit better? Or screen protective sheet thingy? I am worried about dropping it…but not too much.</p>

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<p>Just got one this morning also. At the moment very happy with it … although it remains to be seen just HOW well the wireless connectivity works in this land of hills and valleys and miscellaneous wireless dead spots!</p>

<p>Also looking for a cover …</p>

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<p>Maybe an Apple tablet January 26. I’m waiting for that for sure.</p>

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<p>Gave one to my H for Christmas today!</p>

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<p>musicmom,</p>

<p>Just got a skin for my Kindle. I am kind of horrible with my bags and briefcases - so I keep the kindle w/a skin inside a padded neoprene case for extra protection.</p>

<p>The skin makes it much easier to hold and cleaner, too. It feels a bit slippery to me to read it without the skin.</p>

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<p>I’m waiting for the Apple tablet as well. I figure it will not only be an eBook reader, but will do many other things as well. It will likely revolutionize mobile computing the way Apple revolutionized computer UIs, mp3 players, and smart phones.</p>

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<p>littlegreenmom-</p>

<p>Can you share info on what skin you got for your Kindle?
I don’t find anything interesting on the Amazon site…
Thanks in advance</p>

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<p>I just got a Kindle, along with the little light, for Christmas, and so far I love it. </p>

<p>I didn’t get a cover, though, which I think I need. Does anyone know if any of the covers store the light also, or not?</p>

<p>Also, I think you were discussing in another thread that there is free content available (LGM ?). Where is that available?</p>

<p>Thanks, everyone. And I hope you all had safe and healthy holidays, and all the best for 2010.</p>

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<p>There is some free content right on the Kindle Amazon site.
I came across it while searching lists of “best” and 'most popular" etc.</p>

<p>Not the hot titles, I’m sure. But I’m a pretty eclectic reader so I’ll enjoy a bunch!</p>

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<p>I used to read financial articles on my iQue 3600, a PDA GPS from Garmin.</p>

<p>I’d go to financial sites and just cut and paste the text into an emacs window and then upload it to the Garmin and read from it when I had the time. There are tons of free ebook sites where you can just download the files to any device that takes raw text. Some devices do other formats like PDF. These days I just use laptops for reading around the house as they are lightweight and provide a ton of other features. A tablet would likely be an improvement in weight, size and convenience.</p>