Amazon Kindle

**jim5cents** · 09-23-2009, 08:39 AM

Has anyone seen or played around with one of the Amazon Kindle e-book thing? It is to books what an Ipod is to music.

If anyone has used it, just let me know some of the details, mainly about downloadable content. thanks

**Kong** · 09-23-2009, 12:30 PM

I want one. I haven't played with them yet though. Too expensive for me right now.
You can buy a lot of ebooks from amazon. There are lots of sites where you can download ebooks illegally the same as downloading mp3s. Nearly every major book is available if you spend a little time with google or searching torrent sites.

**TrakMastaTom** · 09-23-2009, 01:53 PM

I have always been interested in these things, but I am afraid I wouldn't like it. I don't like reading on computer screens.

Though illegally downloading e-books does sound appealing. Then I wouldn't have to wait for the library to order the books I want since my local one has terrible selection.

**Kong** · 09-23-2009, 02:17 PM

The point of the Kindle is it is like reading paper, not a computer screen.

**jim5cents** · 09-23-2009, 02:29 PM

@tmt from reading the specs, either they are not backlit, or you can toggle it on or off for reading in the dark.

does amazon have any free content, or is there a monthly fee for unlimited downloads/certain number of downloads a la rhapsody? or is it per purchase?

**Kugyince** · 09-23-2009, 04:08 PM

Kindle looks cool but my main question would be the ease of adding content to it from my PC and not just content purchased off of amazon.com.

---------- Post added at 09:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

@Jim: The ad I saw seems to indicate its per purchase with most books being $9.99.

**TrakMastaTom** · 09-23-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kong

The point of the Kindle is it is like reading paper, not a computer screen.

I don't understand how that could be possible. I would really like to try one now, though.

**Kugyince** · 09-23-2009, 08:21 PM

Found this one useful.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLKNc254vw&feature=channel"]YouTube - Amazon Kindle Video Review Part 1[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adcvWfGJXSE&feature=channel"]YouTube - Amazon Kindle Video Review Part 2[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU09qViljhs&feature=channel"]YouTube - Amazon Kindle Video Review Part 3[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syzxiyQbfb0&feature=channel"]YouTube - Amazon Kindle Video Review Part 4[/ame]

**Billy Hoyle** · 09-23-2009, 09:49 PM

I think they would be best for someone who travels often. It would eliminate the need to lug around bulky, heavy books.

Am I the only one here that finds it unsettling to think that there is a possibility that sometime in the near future this could totally replace good ol' fashioned, paper-based print media?

**Kong** · 09-23-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim5cents

does amazon have any free content, or is there a monthly fee for unlimited downloads/certain number of downloads a la rhapsody? or is it per purchase?

Amazon gives free book samples but I don't think free books. It has free wireless internet service to some websites like wikipedia. I don't think there is any other option directly from Amazon to download books besides buying them one at a time. You can download books from other places though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenser

Kindle looks cool but my main question would be the ease of adding content to it from my PC and not just content purchased off of amazon.com.

I think it is supposed to be easy. You can email things to it wirelessly, it can wirelessly download things from some places and I think connect as an extrenal usb harddrive.

---------- Post added at 03:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:38 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Hoyle

I think they would be best for someone who travels often. It would eliminate the need to lug around bulky, heavy books.

Am I the only one here that finds it unsettling to think that there is a possibility that sometime in the near future this could totally replace good ol' fashioned, paper-based print media?

It will be good for people that want to steal books. Same as mp3s were good for people that wanted to steal music.

Kindle and Ipod will kill the modern music producers and book publishers. I personally think that is a good thing. What will come next will be superior. Censorless, advertising free, free publishing, marketed by and supported by peers.

It will also be good when it replaces all the text books you had to carry to and from school.

**TrakMastaTom** · 09-24-2009, 03:13 AM

Based on that video review I don't think I like it. I need to have one in my hands to be sure though.

**Kugyince** · 09-24-2009, 04:12 AM

If/when Google comes out with their online library it would be interesting if Kindle could work in tandem with Google.

**Dudebro** · 09-24-2009, 04:24 AM

There's been a lot of concern lately about E-books replacing paper copies. I think it's a good thing but I'd hope we keep real copies of exsisting books somewhere because realistically all electronics fail at some point and we don't wanna risk losing anything(well besides romance novels). Sounds paranoid but humanity is a stupid beast.

**DrunkN** · 09-24-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudebro

(well besides romance novels).

Oh come on now, some people like em.

**jim5cents** · 09-25-2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudebro

I think it's a good thing but I'd hope we keep real copies of exsisting books somewhere because realistically all electronics fail at some point and we don't wanna risk losing anything(well besides romance novels).

thankfully yes, print copy is not going anywhere. first and foremost reason is that original, printed manuscripts can not be altered, someone can change a electronic version of something, but a hard print would be harder to alter. secondly, hard print doesn't fail because of a blow fuse or a computer virus.

at the same time, this is also one of the banes of my existence, working in an allied health profession, i have to document all medical stuff that i do. as much as that sucks, i basically have to do it twice, once for hand written, then electronically.