kindle

[Guest]

I have always got my nose in some military book.

I do love to hold a book and read it. But some of the military books are so cumbersome. The present one is 600 pages long and also 6" by 10" and 2" thick. Trying to read this lying on my side in bed is more than a trifle difficult.

I am thinking, brilliant for me, that I may resort to Kindle for these bigger than Pan type paper back books.

Any thoughts from those using Kind le would be appreciated. IE are they any good, what type is best and those to avoid. Draw backs compared to reading a real book and the advantages. Battery times. All etc etc.

Also from any one who has tried and failed with Kindle.

Laurie

[Guest]

Hi Laurie I have a kindle on my playbook and I too resisted said I like the feel of a book just like yourself , but I would never go back. I have 1236 books on my kindle/ playbook and it can go anywhere I go, I can have as many books open as I like and if I open one it's right on the page I last read, want to find a bit you read in your book but can't remember which page it was on, type in a few of the first words of the bit you want and hey presto there's the page, don't know wha a word means highlight it and the definition is there. I for one am a convert. The only thing (and that is down to being on my playbook ) is the battery only lasts a day.

[ojays]

Hi Laurie,

My daughter bought one of these for me 2 yrs ago, I wouldn't be without it now.

Easy to use and carry around.

Negative side (for me)

(1) photo's/pictures tend to be too small to be seen properly.

(2) Text sometimes iffy, such as two words flowing into one.

(3) Sometimes lack of punctuation.

(4) If photo's are part of the story, it can be frustrating not to be able to view properly.

(5) Not coming with a mains lead, having to plug into my computer to charge.

I personally can live with these nuisances, as the price of many of the books that I prefer (true Military) can be very cheap.

Gregg

[BarryW]

I have a Kindle Paperwhite and love it. Gregg, you can pug the usb into a mains plug built to take it and charge off the mains. They are available for pennies on-line.

[Guest]

if you are going to get one i would recomend a tablet type device with one on it as the cost is not that much more and its like cqrrying your computer with you all the time, you could then do everthing you do on your computer, in fact your computer would be almost redundant. i hardly ever use my pc now.

[Guest]

More questions.

Even though paper backs are OK they do have small text and with my age a little difficult. Is the text on Kindle large book size and or can you adjust the text size.

Take it you can lighten and darken the page ?

Books. Can you get most books mine being military. What percentage would you say you find you cannot get.

Laurie

[Guest]

You can alter the size of the text and the brightness, you can also have white text on black background or sepia background with white or black text. I have found every book I've wanted and some I didn't know I wanted also there are free books you can get, and no they are not always rubbish. I really can't say how many/ easy military books are to get but as I say any book I've wanted I've got no trouble.

[PaulTRose]

no good if you ever need to kill a spider on the wall :P

[The Migrant]

i don't have many books on my iPad but I have dozens of modelling magazines, taking up way less space then the piles of paper ones stashed in cupboards.

[dave]

I use a kindle all the time particularly when commuting on the tram or travelling on business. I love the feel of a real book; but I am a fast reader and on the move the ability to carry half a dozen books easily is brilliant.

I have a kindle touch and the text size is easy to change.

As Ojays said the downside is that maps and photographs often reproduce very small and it is entirely black and white.

Using a tablet with a kindle app is a solution, I have both and share books between the two. The advantage of the Kindle is it is relatively robust, the battery lasts a very long time and it is relatively cheap. I wouldn't want to risk my iPad being stolen/dropped on the tram but a kindle which is now £50 for a basic edition is a much lower risk.

If you are on amazon.co.uk they do some great daily and monthly deals, I recently picked up Adolf Gallands autobiography for 99p, you can also get a lot of the classics for free or complete works of HG Wells or Dickens for £1 or £2.

[Guest]

My kindle is great. I'm always getting free or discounted books. It doesn't replace my military reference books but is a very welcome addition.

[tanktrack]

Laurie I have a kindle it is brilliant for reading books and keeps the weight goes down when going on holiday , I was faced with the same problem ie mountains of books , weight etc , I got a hudle from Tesco last year with vouchers for £50 for xmas and it is good for reading model mags etc , the new 1 hudle is lighter and works better than the old 1 , but I still like the mags/books in my hand .if you are going for an amazon kindle/fire etc get 1 with a colour screen as it is a better experience or go the small tablet route ie hudle

[Guest]

Well I have done it. Ordered a Kindle White.

Thanks to you all for your input. Another SMF success story.

Laurie

[Guest]

Congrats Laurie joined the ranks you wont regret it.

[Ian M]

Nice one Laurie. Now when you get your hands on it and have tried it out, maybe you would be so kind to complete this thread with a review and what you think about it, likes and dislikes.

I know its a non model thing but I am sure that there are others, including myself, that could take the leap and buy one...

Ian M