[TrifeLife]

^^^
forgot to add, I you can check out books digitally from most public libraries. Browse the catalog online and download books instantly, for free

[Stallion]

Didn't read the whole thread, but I have one and it's amazing for traveling, specially if you are a serial bookworm like me. Plus most of the classics are easy to download for free (and legally).

For technical books, or for really outstanding books I read over and over, I still prefer paper, but for those few hundred books you just want to read once, it's amazing.

Also, although I would love to collect books, I've always been obsessed about being mobile, meaning I can switch countries every few months if needed/wanted. All my stuff fits in two suitcases, I would need a dozen suitcases just to fit all the books on my kindle.

[RatInTheWoods]

I love my Kindle, would not be without it.

Easy to read, holds thousands of books, huge battery life.

If you travel, this is essential kit.

[EDantes]

It's up to you; you can also save the money and simply read ebooks on your computer for free, or subscribe to Kindle Unlimited.

[WeekendCasanova]

I'm too lazy to research, but what's the cost of an Amazon Kindle? I bouh a Samsung tablet for a couple hundred $, and simply downloaded Kindle through the app store. If the prices are close, why not get a tablet with more uses?

[DaveR]

(05-19-2016 01:22 PM)WeekendCasanova Wrote:  

I'm too lazy to research, but what's the cost of an Amazon Kindle? I bouh a Samsung tablet for a couple hundred $, and simply downloaded Kindle through the app store. If the prices are close, why not get a tablet with more uses?

$120 and the reason is the screen. Every other device has a backlit display which causes eye strain when used over a long period of time and can disrupt sleep patterns if used late at night. The Kindle's screen doesn't do that - it reflects ambient light the same way that paper or any other printed material does.

The Kindle can also be read in bright sunlight:

[Hannibal]

Depends on which kind of Kindle you get.

I got mine (it is a 5th generation) used and with advertisements for $40. The advertisements are known as "Special Offers" and it costs $20 to remove them. These are not a huge deal, you don't see them when you're reading a book, only when you're scrolling through the library.

If you buy a brand new, most recent Kindle (has special offers) it runs you about $120. This one has a built in light. So I'm guessing a brand new Paperwhite is $140.

(05-19-2016 01:29 PM)DaveR Wrote:  

$120 and the reason is the screen. Every other device has a backlit display which causes eye strain when used over a long period of time and can disrupt sleep patterns if used late at night. The Kindle's screen doesn't do that - it reflects ambient light the same way that paper or any other printed material does.

The Kindle can also be read in bright sunlight:

This. Most folks don't realize how big of a deal this is because they're used to squinting at their phones all day.

[WeekendCasanova]

(05-19-2016 01:29 PM)DaveR Wrote:  

(05-19-2016 01:22 PM)WeekendCasanova Wrote:  

I'm too lazy to research, but what's the cost of an Amazon Kindle? I bouh a Samsung tablet for a couple hundred $, and simply downloaded Kindle through the app store. If the prices are close, why not get a tablet with more uses?

$120 and the reason is the screen. Every other device has a backlit display which causes eye strain when used over a long period of time and can disrupt sleep patterns if used late at night. The Kindle's screen doesn't do that - it reflects ambient light the same way that paper or any other printed material does.

$120 isn't bad. For some reason I thought they were more expensive. Summers arriving, and since reading a tablet outside is almost impossible, I may need to pick one up.

thanks!

[Revolutionary]

Currently I'm planning to buy an eReader for my travels, too.

Are there any reasons to consider purchasing an alternative to Kindle? For example, staying independent from Amazon?
Does anyone here own a device from a different manufacturer? What are the pros and cons?

There are several other devices on the German market for ebook readers (e.g. from bookstores).

[jibj]

The Kobo Aura One is worth looking into. Kobo gives greater customizability than Kindle and the screen of the Aura one is nearly 8 inches instead of Kindle's 6. Very worth it if you like reading pdf's. Btw, the pdf handling of both kobo and amazon sucks. Sony readers were pretty decent at handling pdf's. But with an 7.8 inch screen on landscape mode that may now be a moot point.

[Kurgan]

Go for it, I got a Kindle for Christmas and I love it.

[RawGod]

Kindle plus this site http://gen.lib.rus.ec/ and you won't ever need to handle paper again. Anyone prior to our generation would have cut off their right hand to have access to that range of information.

edit: just use Calibre to convert epubs to mobi when necessary. PDFs don't always turn out well but epubs are fine.

[SamuelBRoberts]

Remind me, did Cinncinatus ever buy his kindle?

[BoiBoi]

Anyone has experience with the pocketbook inkpad or other big screen e-readers? I have a Kindle since it sucks for PDFs and I don't really like Amazon, I'm in the market for a new one.

[Vaun]

I lost my Kindle last week traveling. I am bummed. It is my second one. My older one doesn't have the touch screen, but it will be ok until I get my new one.

[michelin]

I got myself a e-reader of an unknown brand, looks a bit like a kindle clone of the early days. It's very basic with only a few bottons to scroll pages. It has NO Wifi so I actually keep concentrated on the page I read, and accepts most of the e-book formats (epub, Mobi, etc as well as ADOBE DRM). Only thing I miss is something to highlight text, but then still, it's usually best practice to just copy the text to a sheet of paper when it's really important. An excellent deal for 50$.