<p>We bought a Kindle for my FIL for his birthday this year. We went with my H’s siblings and got him the DX. I think it’s a little big but it’s hard to figure out what he wants and killed two birds with one stone so to speak. I always get my FIL books for gifts, I always look and try to get him something he likes. Found out that he likes that I pick out his books and likes what I pick out and was kind of lost with the kindle as he had to pick out his own books. So glad that Amazon decided that you can now give someone a specific book.</p>
<p>S wanted an ereader for Xmas, I researched them for FIL and liked the Kindle better than the Nook, so ordered the $139 one for him. He has wireless internet everywhere he goes, didn’t see the point of the 3g one. He’s home for tday so we had time to kill and went to look at the Kindle and Nook. We did not like the color Nook at all. Back lit screen, really wanted the eink for eye strain. Found out that my S’s professor’s assign many PDF’s for him to read. The clerk at B&N said that the Kindle charges for pdf files but that’s not really true. You can just email them to yourself at no charge. Still like the Kindle better. </p>
<p>But now an $89 Kindle. Oh boy, I might have to buy myself one…decisions, decisions. But I know what my H will say, just buy the newer one if you like it better. He hates it when I cheap out on things, if you are going to buy yourself something, buy the nicer one, because you are going to keep it a long time.</p>
<p>The more I read and look, the more confused I get. What are the pros and cons of Kindle vs ipad? Obviously cost is one. However, if u take money out of equation what do u think?<br>
I know people with ipads who love them and say they are more “readable”. But they seem big. Think I saw ad that said Kindle books are now available on Droid and Ipad. </p>
<p>My D. says she doesn’t think she wants an ereader as she (like me) feels that she prefers the “holding a real book” thing. However, neither of us has really used one except to just play with a friend’s.</p>
<p>Previous posters have mentioned a light for the Kindle. So you must illuminate just like if you were reading a printed book?</p>
<p>What about the Nook. I have also looked at those, but thought maybe you were more limited on books available for download?</p>
<p>Help!! Still don’t know what to do for Christmas!</p>
<p>^ about lights and the screen: it doesn’t glow like a crt (computer screen) but rather looks like a matte book page. The advantage of this is there’s no eye fatigue like you sometimes get with looking at a glowing screen. You do have to illuminate it to read. You use a reading lamp, just as you would with a real book, so a little reading light that attaches to the hard plastic body of the kindle is a very useful thing. I like the LED type for soft light. Amazon sells many varieties. I have one with two brightness settings which I like very much. They’re cheap so just read the reviews and choose the one that sounds good to you.</p>
<p>On the plus side, I’ve used my kindle on the patio or at the beach for hours and the screen doesn’t reflect sunlight like a printed page or glass screen. It’s difficult to describe, but very pleasant to use outdoors, completely unlike trying to use a computer in bright sun.</p>
<p>Well the IPad does a lot more than the Kindle. But, it is bigger. I love the portability of the Kindle, it fits in my pocketbook and goes where I go. I, and many others, also felt that I would miss “holding a real book”. I never ever missed it. And actually, a Kindle is easier to hold than a book, you can use it hands free and you don’t have to worry about the pages flipping to another page. If you travel a lot you don’t have to carry books around with you, just the kindle. </p>
<p>The Kindle is not backlit, so if you are reading with low or no light, say as a passenger in a car, you need to buy the attachable book light. OTOH, it is very easy to read in bright sunlight, which I guess is not true for the backlit ereaders.</p>
<p>I think if you like to read, you will love an ereader. I can’t comment on the other brands, but as a reluctant receiver of one, I love my Kindle.</p>
<p>heads up for those of you who travel abroad or have kids going abroad: </p>
<p>only the Kindle for $189 (with Wifi) works globally…I am currently about to order one for my daughter for the holidays and she is going abroad; will have to go with the more expensive one (even though that $89 one does look quite tempting)…</p>
Not necessarily. My Kindle 2 is an international version and works globally. They made two versions of the Kindle 2 as explained below and lifted from wiki. I don’t know what version will be available on BF though. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the information. I had asked my H to get the $189 Kindle for me for Christmas. Looking on Amazon it seems the only big difference is the 3G wireless and the international coverage. The battery life looks better on the less expensive model. With the $100 difference on black Friday, it sure looks like the older model might be the best choice.</p>
<p>Wow! the great things I learn on this site…I had asked for the Kindle for Christmas so I am so happy to hear about the sale on Black Friday! Thanks Ccer’s!</p>
<p>This may have changed but I’ve read comments from people abroad who say they can’t use the Kindle whispernet to get direct access the Kindle store on Amazon to buy books. They can still buy them online, then transfer the book from their Amazon account to their Kindle via the usb cable. So that’s the sense in which Kindle was not “global.”</p>
<p>I have an adroid phone. It syncs up nicely with my kindle. While I wouldn’t want to read whole chapters on my phone, it’s very convenient for those moments when you are stuck waiting in line and don’t have your Kindle with you. </p>
<p>IMHO, an ipad is too bulky to use as an e-reader. It’s really more of a netbook with e-reader capabilities like the Droid is a phone with e-reader capabilities.</p>
<p>Thanks MomLive, that was what I was wondering. Interesting too about battery. Think I’ll put bug in H’s ear that Kindle is way I would go (just in case he is still wondering about what to buy me, lol)</p>
<p>ellemenope, there is no charge fo the 3G service. that’s one of the nice things about the Kindle. I also use the synchronize with my Blackberry and read a little when I am waiting for meetings.</p>
<p>Thanks, SM07, for the info. I’ve always shied away from 3G Kindle because I thought I’d have to buy a data plan, like for smart phones. Looks like I am wrong.</p>