If so, do you reccomend it? I am considering picking one up - solely for the purpose of reading books.

I've heard they're great to read from due to their 'e-ink' technology - ie the screen is not backlit, and apparently very easy on the eye - unlike reading from an LCD.

Also the Kindle 2 is apparently very comfortable to hold, light weight etc.

Main purpose is for reading while on the train to and from work etc. Curious to know if anyone around here has one, or knows someone with one, and knows of any issues with them. I have heard or read about sketchy 3G connectivity with some, and issues with some books not being available due to international copywrite laws or the like - aka Australian authors - but that doesn't overly concern me as I cant actually think of any Australian author's books that I have read recently.

no

i am also interested in this tbh. my biggest gripe is that pirated ebooks are difficult to find.

i suspect they're going to get cheaper before year end, and with a bigger screen i hope. i don't like the bezel on the existing one. i also don't get wtf the keyboard is for.

The main benefit of E-Ink screens is longer battery life and better contrast in high brightness areas (eg direct sunlight)

As far as being easier to read, its more personal preference than any clear benefit. LCDs already lowered eye-strain a lot compared to CRTs. Backlighting doesn't cause eye strain problems unless you have the brightness too high for your surrondings (eg full brightness with white backgrounds when reading in the dark)

IMO dedicated ebook readers will fade away in the next couple of years as a range of cheaper compact Tablets PCs take off following the success of the ipad. ASUS is releasing the EEE Pad 1st quater next year estimated $500 AUD running a modified version of Windows 7 CE. I expect a ton of other netbook makers to follow suit. Compact tablets PCs are the new netbooks.

Last edited by CrimsonFury on Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:19 am; edited 1 time in total

Don't worry about the Kindle 1 or 2. Get the Kindle 3
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I went ahead and bought one anyway - the Kindle 2. I am not interested in the new Kindle DX as despite it's higher contrast screen, it's larger and not as comfortable to hold etc. For me one of the main appeals is the small slim size - perfect to read on trains when you're in that SUCKY position on a 3 seater seat, stuck between two randoms, elbow to elbow - so close that you can barely hold a normal book unless you have straight pin arms directly to your face.

There's apparently a newer version of the same unit coming out later in the year with the same size ec but higher contrast ratio but we;'ll see.

The main appeal is the convenience of not having to stuff books in my bag, where ive already got lunch in there etc (ie bulky as **** on a crammed train), plus the books you can buy through it are considerably cheaper than buying hard covers irl - or new releases etc. Ie there's a book i want now, new crime fiction novel by John Connolly which is like $37.00 ffs, 37!

Kindle cost $260, adding on an australian adapter cord to plug it into the wall if i so wanted. Didnt go for the $35 usd case, as im not really into putting devices like this into cases, and are pretty anal about looking after them anyway.

*edit ps. i'll let you know how it is.

what are you planning on doing about getting the books?

how did you justify the cost when cheap book sites like http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/ ship to au?

What do you mean how am i planning on getting books? I will buy them via amazon. Right now i buy book irl, and even e-books are considerably cheaper.

I listed above why i wanted one, go re-read.

no U re read faggot.

... well i mean, you paid 260, i can get a new release of a novel or whatever for 16 avg (and thats expensive imo) off of book depository w/ free delivery. that means i can buy 16 books (and i probably only read 16 new books a year, and borrow a bunch more) before having spent as much money as you. and i can lend these books out.

i just think the current incarnation of ereader represents poor value when faced with incredibly smart people being logical such as myself.

i think the ereader needs to be free and a "sharing" feature implemented as standard (as in the book).

DECLARING THAT I WILL NOT BUY AN EREADER UNTIL ITS FREE RIGHT HERE

Go ahead and get your 16 books online. Call me oldschool, but i like to wander into a bookshop locally, browse, and buy. Yeah it costs upwards of 30 bucks, but i enjoy it regardless.

Problem is im doing that less and less due to the cost.

Kindle will make my life shitload easier for two reasons. 1. cheap books, 2 convenience on the train where i read the most. When i get into full transmit mode, i absorb books like you absorb jizz. All in all, its a win win situation for me, despite the initial cost, which isnt too bad considering the value i intend to get out of it later...hopefully anyway.

whats the text to speech like? if it does a hot female irish voice i'm sold.
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From a video, it's just that shitty computerised voice - well that AT&T voice. Not as bad as the older style ****, but yeah i totally wouldnt use it.

Never tried an ebook actually - one that is narrated, you ever tried that? Dont like the idea of it.

ages ago i had an mp3 of war of the worlds in some fembot voice which i played in the car to and from work. the voice kinda got tuned out after a while and it was actually very enjoyable
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as subtle as an overweight ninja

Buy an iPad and get the Kindle app! The books are cheap enough, I don't have to store the fuckers anywhere, and I don't have to lend **** out to people.
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hohohoh

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/new-amazon-kindle-announced-139-wifi-only-version-and-189-3g/

Well got my Kindle in the mail the other day - one of the brand spanking new generation ones.

I have to say, the screen is pretty damned awesome. According to the manual, displaying the 'ink' doesnt use any power, which explains why they have such a long life-time. The 'ink', or 'e-ink'/whatever they call it is really damned good. When it first arrived, it had some instructions on the screen as to what to do first - ie plug in and charge via usb etc, which i thought was a slip of paper over the screen, but nope, it's the screen itself.

When it goes into sleep mode, it displays a random image, like a book cover, or photo/info on some random author, and **** me if it doesnt look like a printed page.

It's light weight, comfortable to hold and all around a perfect device for reading books. The only issue has been that the Amazon store doesnt allow all products to be sold in Australia due to copywriting bs. But i found a way around that anyway so its all good.

does it read PDFs? or are you locked into buying amazon-only e-books? im tempted but don't know how that side of it works.
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Yeah it can read PDF's apparently.

I dont know if you can read non-amazon books from it - possibly. The files themselves are .azw