Ebook anyone?

[thursdays child]

Hiyawl,I am thinking of getting a Ereader thingumyjig!! The reason being I am an avid reader when away with the caravan and books are heavy items to carry about in any quantity. My son has suggested a 3GB something or other that will give continental downloads for whilst we are in France. I do like books but as I have to carry so many this could be the best alternative,What is the general consensus on these gadgets?
Just as an aside we have really missed the long sunny days we are used to in The Loire and we had forgotten how changeable our weather can be during the summer.We spent the summer in UK this year and although we love our beautiful country we have not spent so much time outdoors like we do in "La Belle France" so next year we will be off through the tunnel for our usual 3 month stay.The Spring, Autumn and Winter we will tour at home.
Thursdays Child

 

[Mel]

Hi TC. OH just bought me a kindle. I would not have gone and got one myself, as I regard all technology with suspecion. But it is brilliant. It has got 3G so I can download books abroad. The type face is just like a book and as it is not backlit it is easy on your eyes. OH has a cheap and cheerful ebook from a not well known manufacturer and my kindle is better. Kindle are just bringing out a new range with touch screen and one that is more like tablet. This makes the basic version cheaper!
Great for holidays and when travelling
mel

 

[thursdays child]

Mel, thanks for that info it is just what I needed to hear as I believe Santa is bringing me that new version of Kindle you mentioned. I just have to be a really good girl until Christmas, I think I had better get round the charity shops just in case!!!!!
TC

 

[kelvin3]

Hi TC, she had one last Christmas and they do exactly what they say on the tin. The basic Kindle can hold many books.

This is where I get smacked for being naughty but what the heck: Find someone with a newsgroup account and they will be able to download them for free. (not that I am condoning such a thing) When we went on holiday for 2 weeks she had 75 books to go at. And you can store them on your computer just in case you want to read them in the future.

Technical bit: There are many different types of file, each to suit a particular reader so when you get one let me know and I’ll tell you which ones to get.

 

[Dustydog]

SWMBO has just had a Kindle and an I Pad thing for her big birthday. They mean nothing to me other than she can now read in bed with the light off so I can get some sleep.
There seem to be thousands of downloads , some you can get free others you pay for.
Get one from Santa. I think you will enjoy it.

 

[JoannaLesley]

I never thought I would want one either - just like you, I love books. However, the other half recently bought me one and I find I use it all the time. I bought a cheap leather cover on ebay and the whole thing is the size of a small paperback and goes in my handbag. So far, I have used it on trains, when staying with family for the weekend and I now use it all the time in bed. I can't wait to take it in the caravan. The other half says at least he can have a locker back now! Mind you, he's forgotten all the bird and other wildlife books which permanently live there.

 

[Surfer]

Hi TC. OH just bought me a kindle. I would not have gone and got one myself, as I regard all technology with suspecion. But it is brilliant. It has got 3G so I can download books abroad. The type face is just like a book and as it is not backlit it is easy on your eyes. OH has a cheap and cheerful ebook from a not well known manufacturer and my kindle is better. Kindle are just bringing out a new range with touch screen and one that is more like tablet. This makes the basic version cheaper!
Great for holidays and when travelling
mel

Be very wary of downloading books while abroad as the 3G charges may be astronomical. The book may only cost £4.99 but the download charges may be £10 or more.

 

[Beehpee]

Hi TC, I always thought it was not for me as I love the feel of a book, but I was bought a Sony reader for Xmas which I used for 3 years and it was brilliant, I then treated myself to an IPad when they first came out which I now use as my e reader as well as it making my laptop virtually obsolete, the IPad may be expensive but it means no laptop to take caravanning and no books, I would recommend it to anyone, I must have a couple of hundred books on mine now, there are literally thousands of freebies you can get your hands on if you look around including thousands of classics such as Dickens etc, I have re read many books I last read many many years ago, books like treasure island and the adventures of huckleberry Finn, a bit sad maybe but most enjoyable reading them again, you will love using it whatever reader you decide to get and the kindle certainly gets good reviews so I think you will be quite safe with one of those.

BP

 

[DianneT]

I had a Kinde for my birthday last year. Use it in the caravan all the while and at home. Mine is not the 3G version but I downloaded books all over Europe by WiFi no problem at all. Would not be without it.

 

[Thedoog]

Kindle is on my xmas/birthday list, also talking to a workmate about them yesterday he told me his 90 year old gran has one!!
and she does all her own downloads etc off her PC. Theirs hope for all of us yet!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

The concept of the Kindle has always appealed to me but the cost puts me off. Not just for the actual reader but also the downloads. Having looked into it I've found that some downloads are actually dearer than buying the book off Amazon. Another point is that novels are coming down in price. The Cornish World market has a bookstall that sells new paperbacks at £2.50 each and after you've read them they give you a £1 back. Secondhand books are £2 with 50p back. We've just taken back 14 books we bought in May and have now bought another 16 so sadly it doesn't look as if I will be getting one for some time unless more people start making them which will reduce the cost. Even some garden centres have a good selection now. Carnon Downs Nursery sells them at 4 for £10.

 

[thursdays child]

Than you all very much. I am so looking forward to Santa bringing mine. I had not thought about using it to revisit the favourites of long ago. It sounds like I will have my very own library on hand.. What a wonderful age we live in,technologically.I like the idea of the leather case too.Something tells me Himself will want one too.
Of course it will have to have loadsa gizmos that he will never be able to use!!!!! Men?????
Thursdays Child

 

[DeliDave_]

got my wife an Ipad2 for birthday only a wifi one,got a 1000 free modern books from a torrent site free,also lots of games very light and easy to read,battery life is not as good as kindle as I understand but she loves it

 

[JohnGriffiths]

Be very wary of downloading books while abroad as the 3G charges may be astronomical. The book may only cost £4.99 but the download charges may be £10 or more.

That's the funny thing, once you have bought the Kindle there are no 3G charges, it's free! They make their money of course by you purchasing books. You even have some internet browsing access including viewing of e-mail web sites but it is very limited.

 

[kelvin3]

Yes I know I’m being a ‘very naughty boy’ in asking this question and the resultant answer but! Just to reiterate:

Why are you paying when the books are free if you know someone who as a newsgroup account.

I would never dream of doing such a thing or condone the action of down loading the latest release for free. I must admit you do sometimes get the pre-release version (so I am told) and the publishing houses must have put them on?

 

[Dustydog]

SWMBO has just bought the entire works of Charled Dickens from Amazon for 99p. No postage and packing as it's "delivered " direct to her Kindle!