Kindle or Sony Reader

[dprince57]

I have the Kindle 2. I've had the little jewel for about a week and love it. It's easy to use. It's easy to read. The battery life seems to be great (as long as you have the wireless turned off). I have switched my NYT subscription to it and will change the New Yorker to it as well when my current subscription runs out.

 

[The Big Ragu]

At $359 for the machine, plus extra for books, I think I'll be holding off for a while on the new Kindle.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00154JDAI/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=3098353127&ref=pd_sl_41di7k8jq1_b

Same here. There is a Kindle app for free at the iTunes store if you have an iPhone or Ipod touch. It allows you to purchase Kindle books and read it them in the iPhone or touch. I haven't used it, so I can't say how hard it is to read a book that way, but maybe worth checking out if you already have an iPhone and don't want to spring for a Kindle.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

You can only use Kindle for things you buy from Amazon.com.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Way too much money.

Considering how cheap you can get books on Amazon within weeks of them coming out, I can't imagine why someone would pay that kind of $$$ for the machine and then have to pay full price for the books.

 

[dprince57]

You can only use Kindle for things you buy from Amazon.com.

Simply not true. I have not done it yet myself, but i understand there are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle#Summary_of_content_availability">other places you can go</a> to download books at least.

 

[I Digress]

Way too much money.

Considering how cheap you can get books on Amazon within weeks of them coming out, I can't imagine why someone would pay that kind of $$$ for the machine and then have to pay full price for the books.

New releases are $9.99 for Kindle. Older ones are less.

Plus, I wouldn't ask my husband for one if the money was an issue.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

So, next time my husband spends money on me, I said I want one of these. I said Kindle, which I saw on a plane once, but he's done some research and the Sony has some nice features that Kindle doesnt.

Anyone out there have one? What do you like about it? What do you wish it did that it doesn't do? Buy it again? Are they as easy to read as they seem like they'd be?

Thanks

I will by third generation of Kindle

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Just released: Kindle Reader for iPhone and iPod Touch. Free.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/technology/04kindle.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

You can only use Kindle for things you buy from Amazon.com.

Simply not true. I have not done it yet myself, but i understand there are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle#Summary_of_content_availability">other places you can go</a> to download books at least.

Guess some salesperson didn't know what she was talking about yesterday then!

 

[agateguy]

Just released: Kindle Reader for iPhone and iPod Touch. Free.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/technology/04kindle.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

I downloaded this app when it hit the App Store on Tuesday. I've downloaded a few books.

The biggest issues for me were how readable would the "page" be, and how easy (or difficult) would it be to actually read a book.

Opening and reading a book is fairly easy. The books you've downloaded appear in a list just like podcasts in the iPod player appear; tap on a book in the list, and either the front cover or the last page you read before closing the book appears. You change pages by swiping right (forward) or left (backward). I've noticed a slight pause when swiping pages in the table of contents; I think the cause is that each chapter is hyperlinked (I haven't noticed this on pages w/o hyperlinks).

The "page" is very readable, as readable as Google Reader and probably more so because you can change the font size on a page. However, there's only one screen mode for the app; landscape isn't (currently) an option.

You can buy Kindle books and read them on the iPhone app without owning a Kindle or Kindle2.

The only other major issue I can think of is reading books on the iPhone screen; some people won't go for it. Some will, myself included. I may change my mind after reading a half-dozen books on my phone, but for now the app suits my purposes.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Just released: Kindle Reader for iPhone and iPod Touch. Free.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/technology/04kindle.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

I downloaded this app when it hit the App Store on Tuesday. I've downloaded a few books.

The biggest issues for me were how readable would the "page" be, and how easy (or difficult) would it be to actually read a book.

Opening and reading a book is fairly easy. The books you've downloaded appear in a list just like podcasts in the iPod player appear; tap on a book in the list, and either the front cover or the last page you read before closing the book appears. You change pages by swiping right (forward) or left (backward). I've noticed a slight pause when swiping pages in the table of contents; I think the cause is that each chapter is hyperlinked (I haven't noticed this on pages w/o hyperlinks).

The "page" is very readable, as readable as Google Reader and probably more so because you can change the font size on a page. However, there's only one screen mode for the app; landscape isn't (currently) an option.

You can buy Kindle books and read them on the iPhone app without owning a Kindle or Kindle2.

The only other major issue I can think of is reading books on the iPhone screen; some people won't go for it. Some will, myself included. I may change my mind after reading a half-dozen books on my phone, but for now the app suits my purposes.

So is, iTunes selling books?

 

[agateguy]

No(t yet), Mizzou, with one exception.

There isn't an Amazon store within the app itself. You have to go to Amazon.com, either from the Safari browser in iPhone, or from your browser of choice on your desktop or laptop, to buy books.

You can also get previews of books downloaded to the app. From the book's page in the Kindle store on Amazon.com, below 1-click purchase, click on the Send Sample Now button. This will deliver a "sample" of the book that amounts to no more than the front cover, table of contents, endorsements, the foreword and one chapter. On the last page of the sample, you can click on a Buy Now link. This, within the app, triggers the purchase and download of the entire book (you can also click a button to stop the purchase and download).

 

[I Digress]

Bump.. hubby came through with the Kindle for an early anniversary gift as we'll be on the high seas for the actual event.

I LOVE IT.

You can download from it, or buy on your computer and it automatically finds your kindle and loads. That's easier, because the web is easier to navigate. It has lots of little features I'll probably never use, but are cool to have. It's very easy to change type size, which is nice depending on if I'm reading with or without my glasses.
I'm 3/4 of the way through 'Columbine' on it and probably the best compliment I can give is that at one point I reached up to try and turn the page.
I'll never give up books, for sure, but this is great for ones I don't really want laying around the house, or when I'm too damn lazy to go to the library, or I'm terminally bored and have nothing to read and, of course, for vacations.

 

[waterytart]

I'll never give up books, for sure, but this is great for ones I don't really want laying around the house, or when I'm too damn lazy to go to the library, or I'm terminally bored and have nothing to read and, of course, for vacations.

Stop by any time. We have books the same way Imelda Marcos had shoes.

 

[AMacIsaac]

Be advised:

http://techdirt.com/articles/20090514/1927414890.shtml

 

[I Digress]

I find that all kind of funny. One of the first things I did was check out the audio portion. It reads in a mechanical voice, like something out of a bad sci-fi movie from 50 years ago.. you know, what we always imagined computers would sound like. There is no way I would ever use that function for real.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

There is a third option -- the e-book or b-book or ez-book or whatever it is. A friend of my stepmother's has it and rates it higher than either the kindle or the reader. Could be because of Canadian access issues, but she loves the thing.

 

[outofplace]

The cost of the books are immaterial, as I buy books anyway.. when I get my in June for my anniversary (No. 10!) I'll give you all a review!

Mrs. OOP asked if I wanted one, but then we saw the cost and it's a bit much. That said, I'll be looking for that review.

Better yet, give us a report on what else he does for you for No. 10. Some of us need ideas to rip off. Mrs. OOP and I will be celebrating our 10th in July.

 

[Trey Beamon]

Just released: Kindle Reader for iPhone and iPod Touch. Free.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/technology/04kindle.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

I downloaded this app when it hit the App Store on Tuesday. I've downloaded a few books.

The biggest issues for me were how readable would the "page" be, and how easy (or difficult) would it be to actually read a book.

Opening and reading a book is fairly easy. The books you've downloaded appear in a list just like podcasts in the iPod player appear; tap on a book in the list, and either the front cover or the last page you read before closing the book appears. You change pages by swiping right (forward) or left (backward). I've noticed a slight pause when swiping pages in the table of contents; I think the cause is that each chapter is hyperlinked (I haven't noticed this on pages w/o hyperlinks).

The "page" is very readable, as readable as Google Reader and probably more so because you can change the font size on a page. However, there's only one screen mode for the app; landscape isn't (currently) an option.

You can buy Kindle books and read them on the iPhone app without owning a Kindle or Kindle2.

The only other major issue I can think of is reading books on the iPhone screen; some people won't go for it. Some will, myself included. I may change my mind after reading a half-dozen books on my phone, but for now the app suits my purposes.

The Kindle app is outstanding.

One thing I don't care for reading from such a tiny screen. It makes it difficult, at least for me, to plow through a book. Typically I grow through about 30 flicks -- I suppose that's a page or something close -- before my eyes need a break.

 

[I Digress]

The cost of the books are immaterial, as I buy books anyway.. when I get my in June for my anniversary (No. 10!) I'll give you all a review!

Mrs. OOP asked if I wanted one, but then we saw the cost and it's a bit much. That said, I'll be looking for that review.

Better yet, give us a report on what else he does for you for No. 10. Some of us need ideas to rip off. Mrs. OOP and I will be celebrating our 10th in July.

Oop... go up a few posts. I got the Kindle. Early.