Benefits of a kindle...

[babylonsister]

can anyone elaborate on the pros and cons? Being able to look up and read a book someone has recommended seems to be a definite feature, and my supply of real books is dwindling.

Another feature for me is print size; my eyes aren't what they used to be, so increasing font size would be a real benefit, too.

I am considering getting one but don't even know what characteristics to look for. I don't want to spent tons of money on state-of-the-art, but would like to find a decent one.



Thank you!

[SouthernIrish]

1. I have had a couple of Kindles.

I just put the Kindle app on my tablet and use that. I am an avid reader and I like the fact that it also saves the trees.

[babylonsister]

2. I was just discussing the tablet option with

a friend who sent me a link to free ebooks. Seems like a tablet would work just as well if not better. Thanks!

https://full-english-books.net/

[d_r]

4. Honestly

I really prefer reading a book on e ink like a Kindle than on the screen of a tablet. Please try an e ink for a while.

[rampartc]

3. for much less than $100 a kindle gives me a functional (if minimal) computer

i keep an incredible library in the cloud, and can bring it to the hospital where in case it is stolen i'm not out much.

and yes, adjustable type size means i don't need glasses and it works fine in the dark.

i'm on my 4th. the first was a paperwhite reader but i recommend the more functional fire models. my wife inherited my first fire and mostly uses it for games but she has figured out how to use the silk search engine as her first step up from computer illiteracy.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. I am decidely anti-Amazon, so years ago got a Nook. Several of them...

actually.

The latest Nooks are basically Samsung tablets with the Nook app included.

Nook, and presumably Kindle, apps can be downloaded to damn near anything, so you can read on your phone, tablet, desktop or laptop. Audiobooks can be great too.

The bad news the lack of simple scribbling in the margins and screen reflectivity-- things we already have problems with on other stuff. And, for some of us, the act of turning physlcal pages is sorely missed.

The convenience of having 50 or so books, all your work and dozens of magazines in a carryon bag makes up for everything.

[viva la]

6. You can get them quite cheap...

Amazon is always running sales.
Look for one with a long battery life. Some models will last all day.

I like the Kindle app... way to use to get books downloaded.

[lark]

7. I have a Kindle that can be used a lot like a tablet.

I had to switch because my bookshelf's were breaking down under the weight of books stacked up to the brim. I love my Kindle, I can read it when it's dark, it provides it's own light, so is great for when hubs wants to sleep and I want to read. Kindle Unlimited is wonderful, if you are a totally avid reader, it saves me a lot of $$. I used to subscribe to Book Bub so had over a hundred unread free or very cheap books. It was great but my backlog became too great so I unsubscribed and am still working my way through all the books. I warn you though, they trick you by offerring the first book or 2 of a series free, so then you love it and buy the rest of the series, that's why I'm not through the hundreds of stored books. If you take a few minutes to customize our list of authors, type of books, you get really relevant books on your daily email that match your interests and that are free or nearly so.

[Midnight Writer]

8. Backlighting is nice to have if you read in bed or a darkened room.

Memory size is not a big issue if you are just using it for books. The smallest memory available on a Kindle is enough to hold thousands of books.

The Oasis is not worth the premium price in my opinion. It does have page turn buttons, which I like, but it is heavy and awkward to handle because of it's shape.

If you plan to read magazines or something heavy with illustrations, go with the Fire. You can resize the screen and blow up pictures for a better view. It also displays in color.

Go with the ones with ads for a reduced price. The ads are just on the title screen and are no big deal. They do not put ads in the middle of books where they will disrupt your reading.

Some of the Paperwhite and the Oasis are "waterproof", if that is a feature you need.

A cover is nice to have. I think they are a bit pricy for what they are, but they sure make the unit easier to handle and keeps the reading screen cleaner.

Free books is another big advantage. Many classics and some promotional books can be downloaded for free. Many others are available for under three dollars.

[Doc Sportello]

9. You can also download library books from an app

They are free of course and like a library book they expire after a couple of weeks. You can sign up through your local library.

[Demsrule86]

19. You use overdrive with Kindle and can use both overdrive and Libby with an iPad or a Samsung tablet.

Also, many libraries are allowing free online subscriptions. I have multiple libraries on my phone and tablet.

[vanlassie]

10. I have had several Kindles. But to be honest, I downloaded the Kindle app

to my iPhone and never looked back. SO convenient. My phone is a perfect size (SE) and it’s always with me. Font is adjustable, as are all Kindle features.

[anotherOKIE]

13. SE also

I always make sure that I have several things to read on my iPhone SE before I have to go places. Hours spent sitting in waiting rooms or out in the car in the parking lot pass by better with a book on my iPhone. The SE fits in a shirt pocket just fine.

[vanlassie]

16. SE here too. I'm 69. I read constantly. The phone is

always with me, anyway. I often increase the font as needed. I use the iPad to stream video and look at magazines. I use the computer….rarely.

[babylonsister]

11. You're the best, I learned a lot, thank you!

[anotherOKIE]

12. More than one device is best

I am a long time Kindle user and I love the paperwhite. I bought a newer one earlier this year at a very good price offered by Amazon in an email.

I like the paperwhite's backlit screen and the different fonts and font sizes you can choose to make it the easiest to read with. When you read outside in the sunlight, turn off the back light and it is just like a paper page -- it is perfect to me. I use the Amazon cover which protects the screen and turns on the Kindle when you open the cover. The cover makes a useful stand also. I like 8gb model.

I have the Kindle Unlimited which is $9.99 a month. The price of Unlimited is well worth that. I would never have read so many books if I had to purchase them. I could get books from the library ( which is what we used to of course) but I probably couldn't have gotten all the many different things I have read. I still occasionally purchase an book but then get interested in all the mentions and places that book leads to and usually can get what I want on Unlimited. Included with Unlimited are three magazine subscriptions.

You will get Amazon Prime Reading for free for being a Kindle user and choose from many good books. You also get to choose upcoming releases to read for free.

With the magazine subscriptions you need a different reader. I also have the Kindle Fire which is wonderful. You can read anything on it and it is a great experience. My current Kindle Fire is the 10 inch ( I think it is called ) and that is a good size for me at home. I use it to browse the books I want to read and to read the magazines. The larger Fire has a long battery life -- all day really -- and it charges quickly.

If I had the Kindle when I was a boy, I would have gotten into a lot less trouble. Of course we had no money so Unlimited would have been out of the question but I would have figured out a way to get books by hook or by crook.

Latest reads: Autobiography of a Yogi, Death Must Die (reading currently and got there via Autobiography of a Yogi), some sci-fi, etc.

[Demsrule86]

18. I have kindle unlimited also. And you can get one free recently published book for free once a

month.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. For me, print size isn't an issue. But sympathy to you if that's the case.

I got my kindle about two years ago prior to a cruise to Hawaii. I'm an avid reader, knew I'd want to be reading on the cruise.

As it turned out, I simply didn't use the kindle on that trip. I had several physical books, and there was a library of physical books on board that I made use of. Plus, to be honest, making friends with others on the cruise.

But after getting home, I started looking more closely at my kindle, and realized how I could use it. I have downloaded any number of books, several of which I've read.

I also use it to play some games, especially Geeks Who Drink, the pub trivia thing. Instead of writing down your answers and handing them in to the quiz master, you type them on your device -- most people use their phones, but the kindle as a larger screen which is very nice -- and they're graded electronically. Nice.

I wish I could recall what I paid for my Kindle. All I can tell you is that I got a mid-range one and I'm very happy with it.

[yellowdogintexas]

15. I racked up a bunch of Amazon points and bought a Kindle Fire

back in 2014. It is still running fine. It has some computer functions and games. I love that it is backlit and I can read in the dark.

I also have one that will fit in my purse and has a non glare screen.

The reason I broke down and got it was to stop buying physical books. We had no more shelf space.

Thanks to Book Bub, Robin Reads and a couple of other bargain book sites, I have more books than I will ever read. However, I have discovered new authors and new series that I am enjoying very much!

[Demsrule86]

17. I have both a kindle and a samsung tablet. I prefer the tablet as I can use Libby with the tablet...

Libby is so useful. I have multiple libraries that accept online subscriptions. Amazon and Google are having a war (years now) so you don't get the google play store/ Apps on Kindle and you can't get Libby which is so easy to use. Overdrive isn't that easy.