Richard51 Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 [quote user="EmilyA"]I thought about it long and hard, but still think the downloads are quite expensive for more recent books. Yes, the classics are free, but we have got most of those that we have ever wanted to read. It just can't match the price of Abe books for most of the things we buy and I think biography, travel etc are seriously thin. (We have got about 7,000 books just to put my feelings about it in context.) Agree it's great for travelling and holidays. I will get one eventually I think, but didn't ask Father Christmas for one this year.[/quote]I agree Emily. MrR51 was going to buy me one - I'm an avid reader so he thought it would make a good present. However, when I read more about it just seemed very limited. Proprietary books at a price not much below a hard copy - and then not a comprehensive choice. Like Chancer, I like to travel and tend to travel very light (viz 8kg for several weeks). If I'm adding to my luggage weight I would prefer a device that provided more functionality than just e-books.Mrs R51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-the-censored Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 Hi Mrs R51 - don't understand?The Amazon Kindle DOES have more functionality than just e-books - that was the point of my original post. It has a web browser with FREE internet access globally, an mp3 player, an audio book facility, dictionaries etc. And it weighs less than 250g!And as for a comprehensive choice of books - I'd say 520,000+ books in the Kindle store alone is pretty comprehensive - no to mention all the other e-book sites you can download from. Plus, for EmilyA, nearly 24,000 auto/biographies and around 13,000 travel related books.Maybe we're not talking about the same thing?Simon :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Sam Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 [quote user="Simon-come-lately"]pachapapa - looks great - how much and does it have free internet access? Simon :-)[/quote]Don't get too excited just yet Simon[;-)]The first true E Ink colour reader will be launched sometime this year - in the USA! It'll probably be closer to next Xmas before we have the opportunity to give it a try.According to the manufacturers Hanvon it will come with both WiFi and 3G, and I wouldn't be in the least surprised if after a slight change in appearance, this doesn't appear under the title of the "Amazon Kindle Colour E-Book Reader".No hint on pricing though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard51 Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 [quote user="Simon-come-lately"]Hi Mrs R51 - don't understand?The Amazon Kindle DOES have more functionality than just e-books - that was the point of my original post. It has a web browser with FREE internet access globally, an mp3 player, an audio book facility, dictionaries etc. And it weighs less than 250g!And as for a comprehensive choice of books - I'd say 520,000+ books in the Kindle store alone is pretty comprehensive - no to mention all the other e-book sites you can download from. Plus, for EmilyA, nearly 24,000 auto/biographies and around 13,000 travel related books.Maybe we're not talking about the same thing?Simon :-)[/quote]I prefer the iPad for look, feel and functionality. Re relative pricing I just looked up Orhan Pamuk's 'My Name is Red' and it is £7.43 as a kindle book and £4.39 as a hard copy. Nuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Hanvon are accepting pre-orders at a price of 3,500 Yuan for delivery in mainland china in february/march 2011; the model will include Wi-Fi, later a 3G model will be released.http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20101110PD217.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyA Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Not denying there are lots of books available. When I looked at things I actually wanted to buy, they were either not there or the prices were way more than the book, especially as I said, if you buy from Abe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Like with anything digital (music, software, movies etc), there are many ways of acquiring these things sans using money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-the-censored Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 pachapapa - 3,500 Yuan - that's around 400 € - double the price of a Kindle - for Wifi only with no free internet access. You;re getting into the realms of an iPad here - completely different product.It helps to compare apples with apples.....Simon :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-the-censored Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 ...surely not CDL ??? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Sam Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 [quote user="Simon-come-lately"]that's around 400 € - double the price of a Kindle - for Wifi only with no free internet access. You;re getting into the realms of an iPad here - completely different product. It helps to compare apples with apples..... Simon :-)[/quote]I suppose it's all down to which press release you regard as being factual. From a brief search, it would seem the price quoted could be as high as $560.00!!!!!Personally, I think at those prices I'd opt for an Andoid device such as the Samsung Tab, with more flexibility to boot.Can't find any mention of them being WiFi only for the export market, and Hanvon's own press release indicates they will be WiFi & 3G equipped. Taking into consideration the initial purchase price, plus the possible additional cost of internet access, for a reader it becomes rather an expensive bit of kit! [url]http://www.hanvon.com/en/news/news22.html[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-the-censored Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 Good points well made Salty Sam!Let me just try and bring this subject back to my original point / s.I received an Amazon Kindle 3 (Wifi & 3G) for Christmas - so that I could read electronic books.For that purpose alone - it's amazing.What I find even more amazing are the 'bonus' features I hadn't been expecting - i.e. web browser, mp3 player, audio book function and FREE INTERNET ACCESS.The Kindle cost £149 all-in. I currently pay nearly about 530€ a year for internet access (ONLY) - so for me, the Kindle is brilliant - value, functionality, weight, ease of use, design, readability......How often do you get something that really surprises you??? (probably a daft question and a whole other topic!!!!)Simon :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 [quote user="Simon-come-lately"]...surely not CDL ??? :-)[/quote]Yes, it's true, millions across the world do it every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Sam Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 [quote user="Simon-come-lately"]How often do you get something that really surprises you??? (probably a daft question and a whole other topic!!!!) Simon :-)[/quote]Quite right Simon and as you say, at £149.00 - not something to be sniffed at. Even installing the Kindle Reader software on my netbook doesn't provide me with the same reading experience as using the Kindle Reader proper. Seeing as it is very unlikely there will be a reasonably priced colour version in the offing, I shall be ordering a new Kindle to replace my current defunct one which unfortunately suffered a slight accident a couple of weeks ago, which has effectively killed it[:@]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 They are not designed to scuba dive, you know![:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Sam Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 ...... nor being run over[:@]! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 How on earth could you lie in the street and read? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Perhaps on the way home from the pub and you're really drunk and you lie down to go to sleep in the middle of the road. It has happened.And of course, some people always like to read before they fall asleep... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Sam Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Nothing as dramatic I'm afraid. Bags removed from car, driver unaware of one bag still remaining on ground, engage reverse gear = one dead Kindle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-the-censored Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 You know what ? As it's New Years Eve tomorrow - I'm going to replace my Sporran with my Kindle - I'll let you know how I get on.....Happy New Year everyone !Simon :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Certain folks who are into mangas and BDs would pay a premium for better than B&W even shades of grey. But more than the price of an iPad I doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-the-censored Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 Mangas and BDs - not sure they're very popular in France - are they authors ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Oh yes they are. There were miles of the things on the racks at the local big bookshop the other day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Think the French are into manga more than any other country. Apart from Japan of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob T Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 My wife has just published her first kindle book! Looks good to me on the PC. Now all she needs is a kindle to see what it looks like on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-the-censored Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 Bob T - it will definitely look much better on the Kindle - no screen glare and you can read it in any light conditions - even in the dark with the nightreader cover....Simon :-) (you may have heard I love it!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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