Kindle or not?

[DarkFish]

The only help I can give here is the advice not to buy an iPad. Apple has a long history of releasing mediocre technology for high-tech prices. If you want the processing power of the iPad, buy a faster smartphone for half the price. If you want a good reading screen, buy something like a kindle or NOOK for even less than half the price. If you want both processing power and a large screen, buy a smartphone AND a kindle/NOOK and you're still cheaper than an iPad and have better technology.

[Bilge_Rat]

...my precious...

[Weiss Pinguin]

There is definitely something wrong with your iPad, it's turning the forums an ugly blue color

[Gargamel]

The wife got a Kindle (Mk 1) a couple years ago. We ended up sharing it for a while. Then we both got Iphones. I haven't read a 'real' book in the last 18 months, everything has been on the kindle/Iphone. Yes the phone is backlit, but even with the small screen saize, I can turn down the brightness and there is no fatigue at all. It's really cool that I can transfer my books between my phone, kindle, and any PC that has the app on it, and each device syncs with the amazon server so another device will open right up to where I left off.

The PC app makes it nice if you occasionally (or frequently) read text/reference books. I have my copy of Blair's U-boat war on the Kindle, and reference it often enough. The only downside is that you can't copy and paste from the app. I understand the need for copy protection, but limited copy and pasting for reference work should be allowed.

There are also a lot of free Kindle books available. Most are out of copyright works, like "The Art of War", von Clausewitz's "On War", and many many Classics (Around the world in 80 days is a fun read). A lot of authors are also choosing to make the first volume of a series free to download too. The idea is to get you hooked on the series, and then you buy the rest. It's a great deal any way you look at it, free books? That fact alone should get you to at least get an app, free books are cool! All you need is an amazon account.

You can also "Loan" books out. One of the more enjoyable reads I've had in a long time, "John Dies at the End" David Wong, I was able to loan to my buddy who has the kindle Droid app. It prevented me from opening it for a two week period while he was reading it. When he was done, it "sent" it back to me. Some books can't be loaned, some can be loaned limited times etc. I loved that book so much I actually went out and got an autographed copy of it.

Oh, and the man behind the Tea Cozy, Brag, his work "Kingmaker" is available on Kindle .

I love my Kindle app, and always make sure I have at least 1 fresh book ready to go. My complaint with the Kindle device itself was the lack of hold points. Both sides were almost entirely buttons, and so everytime you shifted, the page turned. But apparently that has been remedied in later models.

But as always... make sure you use the subsim link!

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Oh, and the man behind the Tea Cozy, Brag, his work "Kingmaker" is available on Kindle

Indeed. It really is an excellent and enjoyable piece of fiction. I honestly don't know why it isn't sold in airports, as it is a damn sight better than most of the novels available for purchase. I blame Braguine's publisher for that.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Thanks guys, I'd not even heard of the NOOK until just now. Having just been to B&N website and seen the price I think the Kindle is the way forward.

Wouldn't even entertain having an iPad. Some love it, some hate it, some are in the middle - that's me, but I'd rather spend my money on a thousand different things than buy one.

[Takeda Shingen]

If you simply want a dedicated e-reader, go Kindle. I love mine.

[Platapus]

When I was looking at the E-readers, I choose the Sony Reader. It has one of the largest displays in such a small footprint.

Check out the Sony Reader too before you make your decision.