Kindle or Alternative?

[tom_newton]

From my PoV the kindle is the single best gadget I have ever bought. I've now bought 5 (gifts for: Wife, Mother, Brother-in-law, sister-in-law).

Bad points: You aren't tied in, but you are limited to only using DRM books from amazon. For example I get DRM-free reference books from O'Reilly, and the wife buys 50% of her fiction from alternate stores. No lending (but I rarely borrow books). No "market" - usually there's one source for one book. PDF reading is limited. Newspapers imperfect.

Good points: Changes your reading habits for the better. Immensely portable. Allows me to read a newspaper, where otherwise I would never bother.

[rich_tech]

I love my kindle, had it nearly 10 months and havent looked back, reads pretty much all formats, doesnt strain the eyes either and calibre is recommended by me for putting stuff onto it and converting it to a more readable format, in the case of things like "pdfs" they can be a bit hard to take in at times.

[enjay]

We are also of the group that think a proper book is a thing of love, the smell of the paper and ink, the feel of the coarseness of the pages ...

The OH thought that too, but quickly decided that the plus points of the Kindle - especially to her as someone with dyslexia - outweigh the love of paper.

[penfold]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I had another play last night and am going to take the plunge. So taking this one step further, do people use a case and if so any recomendations? I'm going away in a couple of weeks and will look to get it before then, so would like some protection while travelling.

@GrumbleDook - good video

[Greenbeast]

The NorEve cases are meant to be good, but i don't own one i just made my own leather slip case for it.

 

I do quite like the look of the DecalGirl skins but they are pricey and don't protect the screen (just look nice)

[sonofsanta]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I had another play last night and am going to take the plunge. So taking this one step further, do people use a case and if so any recommendations? I'm going away in a couple of weeks and will look to get it before then, so would like some protection while travelling.

 

I got given the Tesco leather one when I got mine - both bits were birthday present - and tbh, it's worked out really well. You slip the Kindle into 4 elasticated corners and then it folds shut like a book (appropriately) with a little magnetic clip to hold it in place. When I'm reading I just fold it back and clip it open. Leaves the bottom open to plug the charger/cable in whilst closed. Don't know if they make it for the non-keyboard version yet but it's worth a punt at a tenner.

[enjay]

do people use a case and if so any recomendations?

The cases on Amazon are crazy money; I bought a slim leather one in Tesco for around a tenner, the OH got one on ebay for a bit less. I then realised that I prefer holding the Kindle on its own, as the case can make it significantly bigger, so now I just keep it in a 7" netbook sleeve to keep it clean.

 

If you're going to want a light for it, I recommend http://www.amazon.co.uk/OCTOVO-Solis--reader-Kindle-Keyboard/dp/B004CX34KE; it isn't cheap, but it is much neater than the gooseneck ones which clip onto the case (plus, of course, I don't use a case so can't use most of the clip-on lights). You can get some cases with lights built into them, which look quite tidy.

[Rawns]

Have to say that my OH bought one of the official covers (in pink of course). She loves it as it's like holding a book, and the quality is excellent. Personally, I would have got a cheaper alternative but you pays your money and takes your choice. She's happy with it.

[penfold]

The cases on Amazon are crazy money; I bought a slim leather one in Tesco for around a tenner, the OH got one on ebay for a bit less. I then realised that I prefer holding the Kindle on its own, as the case can make it significantly bigger, so now I just keep it in a 7" netbook sleeve to keep it clean.

 

This is what my dad does, but I was wondering if I would end up dropping it if it slipped out of my hand. However, I don't want to be paying the prices Amazon are charging for some of their cases.

@sonofsanta - I liked the look of a similar case but some of the reviews said that when they took the kindle out of the case there was marks stained on the back. I'll try and pop into tesco today.

[sonofsanta]

@sonofsanta - I liked the look of a similar case but some of the reviews said that when they took the kindle out of the case there was marks stained on the back. I'll try and pop into tesco today.

 

Just checked mine now, and there are some slightly darker patches running up the sides from where it's been pressed against the soft leather inside... but tbh it just looks like blotchy shadowing on it, and I don't take mine out of the case anyway to stare at the back so I'm not too concerned this is after about 6 months of being lugged around with me everywhere. YMMV, but having just looked up the cost of the official cases out of curiosity, I wouldn't pay a £40 premium on the basis of some light marking on the back that I can't see anyway.

[sonofsanta]

While there's other Kindle owners about in this thread, I was just wondering as well - has anyone done the reputedly-easy hack to let you install custom screensavers instead of the occasionally-dodgy-dead-people-portraits?

[enjay]

This is what my dad does, but I was wondering if I would end up dropping it if it slipped out of my hand.

Never had that problem, the Kindle has a slightly rough surface so grips nicely. I have smacked myself on the head with it while reading in bed and then falling asleep, but that's different :-D

[penfold]

Never had that problem, the Kindle has a slightly rough surface so grips nicely. I have smacked myself on the head with it while reading in bed and then falling asleep, but that's different :-D

 

Awesome - I can laught at you now.....until I do it!!! ;-)

[pcstru]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I had another play last night and am going to take the plunge. So taking this one step further, do people use a case and if so any recomendations?

 

I only use a (cheap) plastic sleeve for reading in the bath ... until I sorted that out, it was the one single thing that I missed books for (reading a book in the bath that is).

 

Delivered four boxes of books to the charity shop the other day. I do like books but the Kindle has changed my attitude to having shelves and shelves of throwaway fiction.

[Norphy]

While there's other Kindle owners about in this thread, I was just wondering as well - has anyone done the reputedly-easy hack to let you install custom screensavers instead of the occasionally-dodgy-dead-people-portraits?

 

I have, I've got about a half dozen custom wallpapers along with the usual dead people ones. It works well enough!

[JJonas]

All my mum gets on her Kindle is the pencil one. Is this because she has not registed it with Amazon?

[HaleStorm]

I havenbt bothered with the screen saver hack, mainly because when im not actually reading it, its in a case closed so i cant see the screen. I do lik the fact the keyboard has the web browser which makes quick checks of facebook/twitter avaliable without swapping devices (looks a bit naff on a mono screen but i dont care)

 

I bought a cheap case on ebay and havent had any marking on the kindle, not that i can notice anyway. my OH bought a pink case from the same line and that hasnt marked either and her kindle is about a year old and has always been in the case

[tom_newton]

Not used the screensaver hack. Bought a sock case. Didn't use that either. Kindle gets treated like dirt - dropped, thrown in bags, booze spilled on it at my father-in-law's bar in kenya etc. and the only damage I have been able to do is a tiny patch of dead pixels, I have had it >1yr, maybe closer to 2.

 

Wife has a case, it's a 3rd party leather, with a clip (useful) that folds back (double useful), and leaves charge-plug available (essential). She uses a little pocket on the inside of the case to hold passport and travel docs when she's away.

 

Oh yes - that's the single worst thing about a kindle. You are supposed to turn them off for taxi, takeoff and landing, and my most-flown route is only an hour (Leeds Soton) so its a bit of a bind.

[sonofsanta]

Oh yes - that's the single worst thing about a kindle. You are supposed to turn them off for taxi, takeoff and landing, and my most-flown route is only an hour (Leeds Soton) so its a bit of a bind.

 

That's just daft. Once the Wifi is off (fair enough) an idle Kindle is doing nothing at all, and even when turning pages it's probably putting out less current than the nervous person shuffling in their seat and building up static. Talk about knee-jerk reaction...

[enjay]

That's just daft. Once the Wifi is off (fair enough) an idle Kindle is doing nothing at all, and even when turning pages it's probably putting out less current than the nervous person shuffling in their seat and building up static. Talk about knee-jerk reaction...

 

Probably true, however it is easier to have a blanket ban on all electrical devices than to start defining which ones you can and cannot use. This is all assuming of course that electrical items actually have any effect at all on a plane, and if they do, why someone hasn't done something about that!

[GrumbleDook]

That's just daft. Once the Wifi is off (fair enough) an idle Kindle is doing nothing at all, and even when turning pages it's probably putting out less current than the nervous person shuffling in their seat and building up static. Talk about knee-jerk reaction...

 

On one flight I did ask why and was told that the devices are dangerous and they cause interference. I pointed out that this is not true of all devices and the correct answer (which I had been given by a pilot for said airline) was that because the airline say I *have* to turn it off.

 

If I don't like it I can use other airlines but if they say turn it off then I have to. The real reason can be a mixture of reasons ranging from devices flying round the cabin if there is an accident at take off (minimal), risk of interference (minimal), a chance that the device could send a signal to explode a device (minimal), that the device is just tacky and doesn't meet the high standards of devices which should be seen on a plane run by said airline (it was FleasyJet so that *definitely* holds no weight there but apparently does get a mention with other high-class firms) ... but the straight answer of "because we say so" is a simple one ... and I would rather they are just honest instead of trying to justify poor understanding of pseudo-science.

[Guest salan]

I get the impression that in the US, they do not have any such rules. I often speak to people using their laptops etc in a flight.

What are the rules in the US?

If that is so why are our planes so differant?

Alan

[enjay]

devices flying round the cabin if there is an accident at take off

But things flying around the cabin during the flight is fine? I've been on some very rough flights, and things can get knocked around at any time, not just take off

 

risk of interference (minimal)

Surely shielding whatever I might interfere with would be safer, that way you are protected against people forgetting about / intentionally hiding a device which is causing interference.

 

the device could send a signal to explode a device (minimal)

So the terrorist just waits until the plane is fully up and then triggers an explosion, not seeing the difference.

 

that the device is just tacky and doesn't meet the high standards of devices which should be seen on a plane run by said airline (it was FleasyJet so that *definitely* holds no weight there but apparently does get a mention with other high-class firms)

Do these high-class firms also impose a dress code?!

 

Sorry Tony, but the only one of those reasons which I think holds any weight at all is the interference, and even that seems dubious to me.

[GrumbleDook]

Sorry Tony, but the only one of those reasons which I think holds any weight at all is the interference, and even that seems dubious to me.

 

I never said they made sense ... it is just a list of few things from the *many* reasons why they not allowed at take off. The RAF have a good list of things IIRC along with a breakdown of the associated risk and most are negligible ... it is only when you add them together does it become a concern ... so the safest option is a blanket "not during take off" rule which is taken by most firms.

 

As for things flying around in the event of an accident ... said friend did turn round and point out that he doesn't really care ... he is in the cockpit and the only people affected by things flying about would be passengers and the hired help (his phrase) ... and no great loss!

[enjay]

I never said they made sense ... it is just a list of few things from the *many* reasons why they not allowed at take off.

But if those reasons don't make sense, then people will ignore them. Generally speaking, people follow rules they understand, and often ignore the ones they don't understand, or see being broken without consequence (for example, I've seen lots of people using mobile phones in hospitals, and never once have I seen any of the nearby electrical equipment malfunction as a result). If there is a good reason to ban the use of electrical equipment during take-off and landing - that isn't equally applicable mid-flight - I think airlines should explain that. If they can't give such a reason, that could suggest that it doesn't exist...