Kindle 2?
Mar 10, 2010 | 8:25 pm
#31
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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Love it! Another great feature is if you buy a second Kindle (say, for your S.O.), every time you order a book from your account you will get 2 books for the price of one
Yes. The book you order from your Amazon account goes to both Kindles. (Example: I have O2K's Kindle1 and O2K's Kindle 2). My husband and I often read the same books at the same time when we travel.
Yes. The book you order from your Amazon account goes to both Kindles. (Example: I have O2K's Kindle1 and O2K's Kindle 2). My husband and I often read the same books at the same time when we travel.
Mar 10, 2010 | 9:29 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Premier
Posts: 29
Love my Kindle 2. You're right about the screen on the iPhone but the Kindle is a whole different experience. It doesn't refresh and flicker like a backlit screen- it looks just like paper until you want to turn the page and then there's just a quick flash. They are fragile though, I dropped one on concrete from about a foot high and bye-bye Kindle. Amazon sold a replacement at a (somewhat) discounted price but it was still a pricey mistake. If I was buying an ebook now I would also consider the nook due to the ePub support- that way you can borrow books from your library if they have OverDrive.
Mar 11, 2010 | 12:02 am
#33
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Love the K2... bought quite few as gifts. Problem is that the screen is quite easily broken. My sisters kindle slipped off the sofa (about 18 inches high) and landed flat on its back and the screen broke.
Mar 12, 2010 | 5:20 pm
#34
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: Various
Posts: 6,558
I had the Kindle 1 and loved it. Amazon customer service was also awesome - the screen fritzed out on me after 6 months, and they replaced it entirely, no cost, no questions asked. I just received the K2 as a present at the beginning of the year, and I love it even more. I gave the K1 to my 1st grade daughter, and she took to it like a fish to water.
I agree with this 100%. I have probably spent less than $50 on the books themselves in the nearly 2 years I have owned a Kindle (+ $3/month for my Ellery Queen subscription...), but I have read 100s of books on it. In addition to the books available for free on Amazon, you can upload Project Gutenberg books or go to MobileReader.
Just thought of another perk: a lot of classics are FREE on the kindle. I have downloaded a bunch of children's classics for my daughter to read on vacation and Pride and Prejudice for myself (among others) all for free. If you sign up for the Kindle Nation newsletter there is always a list of the latest free books for the kindle.
Mar 13, 2010 | 9:11 pm
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 49
Exactly. I too wondered about that before I got mine, thinking it was a waste of space that could instead have been used for a larger screen. That said, I am a VERY fast reader, and have found that the six inch screen works just fine.
Mar 13, 2010 | 9:48 pm
#38
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My family got me a K2 for Christmas, tentatively, not knowing if I'd really like it... I love physical books (approx. 1500-vol library) and the Kindle aesthetic is obviously different. Well, I love the Kindle 2... it's an amazing device.
Pros:
Whispernet download of the NY Times every morning is addictive. Reading a "newspaper" on the K2 is very different -- I'm more methodical, consume more of the NYT, sample more articles, and learn more than I ever did scanning the paper or web editions. Until the K2 I would read the NYT on Blackberry every morning using the overnight email billboard as a main menu, but I've given that up for good.
Low barriers to entry for buying new e-books; I buy more titles now, and try titles I wouldn't think to pick up and buy in a bookstore. You can read free samples of many titles.
Highly readable screen -- e-type far easier on the eyes than a PC / laptop screen.
Aesthetically pleasing, Appleish form factor. Nice heft to it.
Incredibly easy startup process -- I got mine going in seconds on Christmas morning.
Cons:
You miss the variety of fonts, page layouts, and paper choices that differentiate physical books. All Kindle content looks identical.
If you're a fast reader you'll be pressing "Next Page" every 15 seconds given the small screen.
Wish there were a backlight option for night flights or reading in bed next to snoring spouse.
Not so impressed with battery charge retention. If you leave the K2 unused for two or three days, it's dead and needs to be gassed up.
I worry about durability -- having it crack while traveling in my briefcase, etc.
It'll never make more financial sense to own a Kindle than just keep buying books or newspapers. The NYT is expensive @ $14./month.
I don't know what the Kindle's long-term future is. With interoperability the new Internet buzzword the closed Kindle ecosystem, with its limited and controlled content universe, may soon be obsolete.
Still, it's impressive and I'm happy with mine.
Pros:
Whispernet download of the NY Times every morning is addictive. Reading a "newspaper" on the K2 is very different -- I'm more methodical, consume more of the NYT, sample more articles, and learn more than I ever did scanning the paper or web editions. Until the K2 I would read the NYT on Blackberry every morning using the overnight email billboard as a main menu, but I've given that up for good.
Low barriers to entry for buying new e-books; I buy more titles now, and try titles I wouldn't think to pick up and buy in a bookstore. You can read free samples of many titles.
Highly readable screen -- e-type far easier on the eyes than a PC / laptop screen.
Aesthetically pleasing, Appleish form factor. Nice heft to it.
Incredibly easy startup process -- I got mine going in seconds on Christmas morning.
Cons:
You miss the variety of fonts, page layouts, and paper choices that differentiate physical books. All Kindle content looks identical.
If you're a fast reader you'll be pressing "Next Page" every 15 seconds given the small screen.
Wish there were a backlight option for night flights or reading in bed next to snoring spouse.
Not so impressed with battery charge retention. If you leave the K2 unused for two or three days, it's dead and needs to be gassed up.
I worry about durability -- having it crack while traveling in my briefcase, etc.
It'll never make more financial sense to own a Kindle than just keep buying books or newspapers. The NYT is expensive @ $14./month.
I don't know what the Kindle's long-term future is. With interoperability the new Internet buzzword the closed Kindle ecosystem, with its limited and controlled content universe, may soon be obsolete.
Still, it's impressive and I'm happy with mine.
Mar 14, 2010 | 9:15 am
#39
Join Date: Feb 2003
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The NY Times ain't cheap, but the Kindle version is on a par with the Times Reader 2.0 version at $14.95 a month and is far cheaper than the introductory 50% off home delivery (NYC area) of $70 for the first 3 months. Or you can download the calibre.com version to your Kindle for free (for the time being, at least).
Mar 14, 2010 | 9:24 am
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 49
Comments inserted below in CAPS.
My family got me a K2 for Christmas, tentatively, not knowing if I'd really like it... I love physical books (approx. 1500-vol library) and the Kindle aesthetic is obviously different. Well, I love the Kindle 2... it's an amazing device.
Pros:
Whispernet download of the NY Times every morning is addictive. Reading a "newspaper" on the K2 is very different -- I'm more methodical, consume more of the NYT, sample more articles, and learn more than I ever did scanning the paper or web editions. Until the K2 I would read the NYT on Blackberry every morning using the overnight email billboard as a main menu, but I've given that up for good. HAVEN'T TRIED THIS - MAY HAVE TO DO SO.
Low barriers to entry for buying new e-books; I buy more titles now, and try titles I wouldn't think to pick up and buy in a bookstore. You can read free samples of many titles. AGREE - ALTHOUGH ON THE FLIP SIDE MANY BOOKS AREN'T AVAILABLE IN KINDLE FORMAT, WHICH IS ANNOYING - AS I'VE RAPIDLY GOTTEN TO PREFER READING ON THE K2!!
Highly readable screen -- e-type far easier on the eyes than a PC / laptop screen. AGREE
Aesthetically pleasing, Appleish form factor. Nice heft to it. AGREE
Incredibly easy startup process -- I got mine going in seconds on Christmas morning. AGREE - ALTHOUGH IN GENERAL (ASIDE FROM SIMPLY READING, WHICH IS 99% OF MY USAGE OF IT, ITS OPERATION IS NOT AT ALL APPLEISH/USER-INTUITIVE. FIGURING OUT HOW TO ACCESS WIKIPEDIA, ETC. TO CHECK THINGS IS NOT EASY. NOT A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME AS I REALLY WANTED IT AS A DEDICATED READING DEVICE (AND NONE OF THOSE OTHER FUNCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE OTHER READING DEVICE I USUALLY USE (A BOOK). STILL, OS COULD WORK BETTER.
Cons:
You miss the variety of fonts, page layouts, and paper choices that differentiate physical books. I HAVEN'T - THIS NEVER EVEN OCCURRED TO ME. I GENERALLY DON'T WANT TO NOTICE THIS STUFF - IF I DO THAT IS DISTRACTING FROM THE MESSAGE (THE STORY). All Kindle content looks identical.
If you're a fast reader you'll be pressing "Next Page" every 15 seconds given the small screen. (I AM A VERY FAST READER - CAN DOWN BRAIN CANDY IN 2-3 HOURS, ALTHOUGH NON-FICTION TAKES LONGER - AND BEFORE BUYING THE K2 THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE, GIVEN THE APPARENT SMALL SCREEN, WAS A BIG CONCERN OF MINE. HAVE INSTEAD FOUND IT TO BE A COMPLETE NON-ISSUE.)
Wish there were a backlight option for night flights or reading in bed next to snoring spouse. (SURE, BUT THAT DOESN'T WORK WITH E-INK, WHICH IN GENERAL, AS YOU NOTED ABOVE, IS VERY READABLE. AND REMEMBER, FOR MOST PEOPLE THE OTHER MAIN READING TECHNOLOGY - BOOKS - DOESN'T INCLUDE A BACKLIGHT EITHER - AND I AT LEAST HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN BY WITHOUT ONE. BUY A SLEEPING MASK FOR THE SPOUSE .... (JK)).
Not so impressed with battery charge retention. If you leave the K2 unused for two or three days, it's dead and needs to be gassed up. HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE FOR ME. I'VE NEVER GONE BELOW 50%, ALTHOUGH I TYPICALLY REMEMBER TO PLUG IT IN FOR A BIT EVERY FEW DAYS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR THIS - THAT IS SURPRISING GIVEN REPORTED BATTERY CHARGE LIFE.
I worry about durability -- having it crack while traveling in my briefcase, etc. GET A CASE, AND DON'T BE DUMB (WITH IT). (I DON'T MEAN THAT MEANLY; JUST IN GENERAL A GOOD RULE OF LIFE.)
It'll never make more financial sense to own a Kindle than just keep buying books or newspapers. The NYT is expensive @ $14./month. DISAGREE RE BOOKS, ASSUMING YOU A BUYER (RATHER THAN BORROW FROM FRIENDS OR THE LIBRARY). IF YOU BUY, IT IS GENERALLY JUST AS GOOD, OFTEN BETTER (ESP. RE THE NUMBER OF FREE CLASSICS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB -AND AS MORE BOOKS RUN OUT OF THEIR COPYRIGHT PERIOD MORE AND MORE WILL BE FREELY AVAILABLE).
I don't know what the Kindle's long-term future is. With interoperability the new Internet buzzword the closed Kindle ecosystem, with its limited and controlled content universe, may soon be obsolete. GUESS TIME WILL TELL HERE. (BOOKS!? WHO NEEDS THOSE NEWFANGLED, EXPENSIVE THINGS? THIS HERE VELLUM SCROLL SUITS ME JUST FINE!)
Still, it's impressive and I'm happy with mine. DITTO!!
Pros:
Whispernet download of the NY Times every morning is addictive. Reading a "newspaper" on the K2 is very different -- I'm more methodical, consume more of the NYT, sample more articles, and learn more than I ever did scanning the paper or web editions. Until the K2 I would read the NYT on Blackberry every morning using the overnight email billboard as a main menu, but I've given that up for good. HAVEN'T TRIED THIS - MAY HAVE TO DO SO.
Low barriers to entry for buying new e-books; I buy more titles now, and try titles I wouldn't think to pick up and buy in a bookstore. You can read free samples of many titles. AGREE - ALTHOUGH ON THE FLIP SIDE MANY BOOKS AREN'T AVAILABLE IN KINDLE FORMAT, WHICH IS ANNOYING - AS I'VE RAPIDLY GOTTEN TO PREFER READING ON THE K2!!
Highly readable screen -- e-type far easier on the eyes than a PC / laptop screen. AGREE
Aesthetically pleasing, Appleish form factor. Nice heft to it. AGREE
Incredibly easy startup process -- I got mine going in seconds on Christmas morning. AGREE - ALTHOUGH IN GENERAL (ASIDE FROM SIMPLY READING, WHICH IS 99% OF MY USAGE OF IT, ITS OPERATION IS NOT AT ALL APPLEISH/USER-INTUITIVE. FIGURING OUT HOW TO ACCESS WIKIPEDIA, ETC. TO CHECK THINGS IS NOT EASY. NOT A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME AS I REALLY WANTED IT AS A DEDICATED READING DEVICE (AND NONE OF THOSE OTHER FUNCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE OTHER READING DEVICE I USUALLY USE (A BOOK). STILL, OS COULD WORK BETTER.
Cons:
You miss the variety of fonts, page layouts, and paper choices that differentiate physical books. I HAVEN'T - THIS NEVER EVEN OCCURRED TO ME. I GENERALLY DON'T WANT TO NOTICE THIS STUFF - IF I DO THAT IS DISTRACTING FROM THE MESSAGE (THE STORY). All Kindle content looks identical.
If you're a fast reader you'll be pressing "Next Page" every 15 seconds given the small screen. (I AM A VERY FAST READER - CAN DOWN BRAIN CANDY IN 2-3 HOURS, ALTHOUGH NON-FICTION TAKES LONGER - AND BEFORE BUYING THE K2 THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE, GIVEN THE APPARENT SMALL SCREEN, WAS A BIG CONCERN OF MINE. HAVE INSTEAD FOUND IT TO BE A COMPLETE NON-ISSUE.)
Wish there were a backlight option for night flights or reading in bed next to snoring spouse. (SURE, BUT THAT DOESN'T WORK WITH E-INK, WHICH IN GENERAL, AS YOU NOTED ABOVE, IS VERY READABLE. AND REMEMBER, FOR MOST PEOPLE THE OTHER MAIN READING TECHNOLOGY - BOOKS - DOESN'T INCLUDE A BACKLIGHT EITHER - AND I AT LEAST HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN BY WITHOUT ONE. BUY A SLEEPING MASK FOR THE SPOUSE .... (JK)).
Not so impressed with battery charge retention. If you leave the K2 unused for two or three days, it's dead and needs to be gassed up. HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE FOR ME. I'VE NEVER GONE BELOW 50%, ALTHOUGH I TYPICALLY REMEMBER TO PLUG IT IN FOR A BIT EVERY FEW DAYS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR THIS - THAT IS SURPRISING GIVEN REPORTED BATTERY CHARGE LIFE.
I worry about durability -- having it crack while traveling in my briefcase, etc. GET A CASE, AND DON'T BE DUMB (WITH IT). (I DON'T MEAN THAT MEANLY; JUST IN GENERAL A GOOD RULE OF LIFE.)
It'll never make more financial sense to own a Kindle than just keep buying books or newspapers. The NYT is expensive @ $14./month. DISAGREE RE BOOKS, ASSUMING YOU A BUYER (RATHER THAN BORROW FROM FRIENDS OR THE LIBRARY). IF YOU BUY, IT IS GENERALLY JUST AS GOOD, OFTEN BETTER (ESP. RE THE NUMBER OF FREE CLASSICS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB -AND AS MORE BOOKS RUN OUT OF THEIR COPYRIGHT PERIOD MORE AND MORE WILL BE FREELY AVAILABLE).
I don't know what the Kindle's long-term future is. With interoperability the new Internet buzzword the closed Kindle ecosystem, with its limited and controlled content universe, may soon be obsolete. GUESS TIME WILL TELL HERE. (BOOKS!? WHO NEEDS THOSE NEWFANGLED, EXPENSIVE THINGS? THIS HERE VELLUM SCROLL SUITS ME JUST FINE!)
Still, it's impressive and I'm happy with mine. DITTO!!
Mar 14, 2010 | 11:06 am
#41
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,813
The latest firmware improves battery life from 2-3 days to about 7 days.
Cheers,
Rick
Mar 14, 2010 | 11:41 am
#42
Join Date: Aug 2007
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The NY Times ain't cheap, but the Kindle version is on a par with the Times Reader 2.0 version at $14.95 a month and is far cheaper than the introductory 50% off home delivery (NYC area) of $70 for the first 3 months. Or you can download the calibre.com version to your Kindle for free (for the time being, at least).
Mar 16, 2010 | 11:36 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Posts: 298
Do you leave Whispernet (wireless) turned on? After I got my Kindle and loaded it up with a few books, I turned Whispernet off and was able to get several weeks' use before recharging.
Mar 18, 2010 | 8:07 am
#44
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I agree. Unless you have some new purchases, subscriptions and/or blogs, I don't see the purpose of leaving the radio on. Since I use it most often on airplanes, this prevents me from forgetting to turn the radio off also.
Mar 18, 2010 | 8:11 am
#45
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