Belgique
Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)
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Joined: 09/17/2004
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A few weeks ago there was a thread on EBooks in the Technology forum that hit a chord. DW is an AVID reader (like 2/day!) and it is a challenge when we are on the road keeping her supplied but especially in Mexico. The thread mentioned Amazon's Kindle.
This is a LINK to it. The video at the pix of the woman on the beach is informative. Well, we got one and DW loves it!!! She is not a techie and I was afraid she would miss the feel of a paper book. Not so...she always has it near by. There are a lot of advantages, as shown in the video, but being able to load it up with over a thousand books is especially relevant especially when we go SOB. It also helps with the weight! It works as advertised. It's not obvious but it has its own communications link but you can also surf, order, and download wherever you have wifi. So, if she runs out in Mexico, we go to a cafe, order a book to the laptop and USB it to the Kindle.
I don't own any stock in Kindle or Amazon (or anything for that matter ) but thought this might be of use to some of you readers as you start heading south.
The Johnsons (incls a Bouvier, Lab, and Newfie)
Cedar Island, NC (Gateway to the Outer Banks)
2008 Winnie Sightseer 35J
Our Mexico trip Blog
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Lucky Mr H
Creston, IA
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Joined: 07/29/2008
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We know we are going to get an eBook. We just do not know if it is going to be Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook.
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Belgique
Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)
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Joined: 09/17/2004
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Lucky Mr H wrote:We know we are going to get an eBook. We just do not know if it is going to be Kindle...
Yep...that's shaping up as the Ford vs Chevy of the EBook World. There are some fairly objective comparison posts in the threads of the Kindle discussion forums HERE. All I can say is that I compared and I chose the Kindle...and am happier than I expected. But, Ford vs Chevy
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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I still prefer the dogeared variety that I can swap at the Book Exchange. When I fall asleep Poolside or at the Beach I can at least shake off the sand or dry the Book Off. Imagine dropping Your Laptop in the Surf or onto a Concrete Pool Deck!
Rob & Jean
Dutch Star Diesel Pusher ..Tracker 4X2
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drtee
RGV, Texas
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Joined: 03/08/2005
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Lucky Mr H wrote:We know we are going to get an eBook. We just do not know if it is going to be Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook.
Did anyone at B&N ever say the name of the "Nook e-book" out loud? Could be be embassing if you asked someone for one, don't 'cha think?
Wm. W. Thompson, PhD
Professor of Marketing
UT-Pan American
Edinburg, TX
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revump
Las Vegas
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Joined: 07/02/2005
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My DW loves the Sony Ebook
Bob
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carmichael
Small Town, IN
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Joined: 05/06/2004
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So how much are the books when you download? I myself really like the experience of ruffleing the pages of a book when it gets tense. I was also wondering if your eyes get red from reading the screen like mine do after I am on RV.NET after a couple of hours....but I do love to read....do you also see the picture of the cover (another pleasure I get from choosing a book). Thanks.
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Belgique
Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)
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carmichael wrote:So how much are the books when you download? I myself really like the experience of ruffleing the pages of a book when it gets tense. I was also wondering if your eyes get red from reading the screen like mine do after I am on RV.NET after a couple of hours....but I do love to read....do you also see the picture of the cover (another pleasure I get from choosing a book). Thanks.
Book cost: check HERE New books are usually $9.99. Older books drop down to $1 or $2. A down side is you can't "give" them to someone else that is not on your account. They are your books though..if your Kindle crashes, they will be downloaded to the new one.
Ruffling: yes that is true and a reason I wasn't sure DW would like it. But, she got past that real quick and doesn't miss it at all. IMHO a Kindle doesn't mean you give up printed books...it's another source that is particularly valuable when you're on the road and book stores are not handy. That said, she hasn't touched a "real" book since she got the Kindle.
Eyes: a real advantage of the Kindle. It is not an LCD screen. It is actual printing...kind of like an etch a sketch...when you turn a page it refreshes, instantly. It is much easier on the eyes than a computer screen and, IMHO, than a real book. Also you can adjust font size to suit your eyes. It works in sunlight very well. It is not back lit so you need a light just as with a book. BUT, there is an accessory LED light that clips on the holder that permits reading in a dark room. Also, it can read a book to you over speakers or headphone...it's a computer voice and pretty good. You can load it with audio books and MP3's.
Pictures (and covers) don't do well. When we want to surf for books by cover, we just go on line. We order and it gets downloaded to the Kindle directly (or you can download to the computer a USB it over to the Kindle. Amazon watches what you buy and makes suggestions that can be reviewed on the Kindle or the computer.
The video mentioned on my OP shows a lot of of this. Not trying to sound like a zealot...I had never heard of these until that post on the technology forum and it struck me as a huge solution to keeping DW in books when we are on the road and SOB...and huge weight savings...she usually packed a lot of books It has exceeded our wildest expectations.
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