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Kindle drawbacks?

(93 Posts)
Webster Wed 14-Mar-12 18:11:40

I write the Superbyw@ys column in The Oldie - and when I wrote about Kindles a short while ago, I had more responses from readers than on almost anything I've written in years. You can still read it here: www.webstersblog.co.uk/kindle-the-fire/ and I'll post some of the responses on my website soon.

Here's the point - almost every one was in favour of Kindles - but surely they must have drawbacks? Side effects? Anyone have any ideas?

JO4 Wed 12-Sept-12 11:24:06

Good grief! I couldn't manage anything like that off of my kindle!

It's supposed to be relaxing Bags. wink

Bags Wed 12-Sept-12 10:49:09

I don't know if this is a problem on Actual Kindles, but it is a problem on an iPad Kindle App: there's no way that I can find to copy and paste a quotation from what you're reading onto another document on a computer. I would expect to be able to do that "in this day and age". Correction: I do expect to be able....

JO4 Wed 12-Sept-12 09:42:16

Depends on how soft the carpet is Nelliemoser, and how high your bed. And the nature of the fall. A gently sliver onto a soft carpet would probably be ok. A fall from a higher surface onto a harder type of carpet would probably do for it.

As I know to my cost. hmm

Nelliemoser Tue 11-Sept-12 23:01:49

I have not thought of buying a kindle. Would they bounce when they fall onto the floor when I inevitably fall asleep reading in bed? As it is I do enjoy browsing books off shelves in the library.

Ian42 Wed 15-Aug-12 20:11:26

Finally treated myself to a Kindle, much more better than the Kobo-reader.

BoomerBabe Wed 15-Aug-12 11:50:36

I love my Kindle too, got it last Christmas and use it a lot. It doesn't stop me browsing the bookshops and buying real books which eventually end up in my already overfull shelves. Some books are expensive on Kindle, but some are very cheap. What I really like is reading a tempting review and being able to get that book straight away, in seconds, from Amazon. For instance, I just decided to read Ashenden and there it is, ready to go. What I like less is not having a front cover or a blurb to read first. My grown up children use my bookcase like a library when they visit and of course, I can't lend out my Kindle!

Barrow Wed 15-Aug-12 10:27:54

I love my Kindle - and like others find myself downloading a lot of books. The only drawback is if I find a book I really enjoy I can't pass it on to my Mother (also an avid reader). She isn't tech minded and wouldn't have a Kindle herself (the most she can do is switch on the TV!).

I do miss the feel of holding a real book though

Ian42 Mon 13-Aug-12 19:57:37

No such luck the third one went even quicker.angry sad hmm

Ian42 Sun 29-Jul-12 18:50:12

I bought a Kobo reader, the battery life for the first one was rubbish, so I took it back and they gave me a replacement, that one didn't last four days, I took it back, however they sent it off. I have just had an e-mail telling me that there was a fault with the battery; so hopefully it will third time lucky.

gracesmum Sun 29-Jul-12 18:12:48

Pictures are rubbish, footnotes useless as you can't flick forwards or back easily, Amazon habit in danger of bankrupting us, not a good idea in the bath.
Otherwise, brilliant!

Ariadne Sun 29-Jul-12 17:46:58

Oh, I'd get the Kindle app - I had it before I got an actual Kindle. The best thing is, that, with the Amazon app, you're all ready to go. And the devices talk to one another, so if, for example, you've been reading something on the iPad, it will sync to the last page read on another device.

I had a Sony e- reader and the whole download was an annoying process, so I gave it away.

mrsmopp Sun 29-Jul-12 17:07:33

I haven't got a kindle but have recently bought an iPad. It has iBooks and free books apps. I think I can also get a kindle app or a kobo app. Which is best?
Do book prices vary with each app and is there a way I can put all the books in one place?
To begin with I am just downloading free classics till I get the hang of it. Popular paperbacks seem to be the same price as the book in the shops which surprises me.

Annobel Sat 31-Mar-12 15:46:53

I have a fairly well-padded case for mine.

wotsamashedupjingl Sat 31-Mar-12 14:30:37

You have to be careful not to fall asleep with your kindle on your lap. If a paperback falls to the floor you lose your place. If your kindle does...........!

Depending on the hardness of your floor, of course.

feetlebaum Sat 31-Mar-12 14:19:37

Amazon Spring Sale - Kindle books from 99p!
I just bought Arguably by Christopher Hitchens for £1.99 (hardback price about £26) and Roy Hudd's autobiography for 99p.

I now have four books waiting for me to finish my current one...

Annobel Fri 30-Mar-12 09:39:06

Lovely tangent, Fastcat. When I was a guide, we gathered small stuff called punk to start the fire and slightly bigger twigs - kindling - to get it going before we put the bigger bits of wood on. Happy days!

Fastcat350 Fri 30-Mar-12 09:02:30

We used to go kindling for twigs to start the fire; when on holiday I take books in the form of cheap novels, etc and leave them on trains or hotels when finished, pro bono publico, I suppose.

FlicketyB Thu 29-Mar-12 22:26:37

Project Gutenberg offers over 30,000 books for download free. They are books that are now out of copyright so are mainly classics, but they have thousands of authors. You can download in a variety of formats including Kindle. I have found several books on it that are really difficult to locate in print form because they have been out of print for so long.

feetlebaum Sat 24-Mar-12 09:18:36

"Obviously, feetlebaum, you are a stranger to the delights of secondhand bookshops."

These days, yes - but then they are all available to me on-line (via abebooks.co.uk for example) so I am not immune to their blandishments. I'm not entirely sure what blandishments are, but I like the sound of them.

The problem I have is that I have no more space for books - they are piled on the stairs, the bathroom as at least sixty books in it, every shelf is stuffed tight - sometimes with books behind other books - and the Kindle is a wonderful solution to the problem.

ninnynanny Thu 22-Mar-12 11:43:49

I love my kindle for holidays and reading the paper on holiday, but have started going to my local library again because of the cost of some of the latest books on kindle.

FeeTee Thu 22-Mar-12 11:19:25

I have always been very anti kindle - I love my shelves of books too much - but have been forced to admit that for travelling - especially on budget airlines where weight restrictions are so stringent - they are very handy. My gripe is that one click ordering is just soooo easy to do though! I may be bankrupt very soon

feetlebaum Thu 22-Mar-12 10:23:20

I shall treat that remark with the contempt I deserve... or... something...

number6 Thu 22-Mar-12 09:54:28

Obviously, feetlebaum, you are a stranger to the delights of secondhand bookshops.

Elegran Wed 21-Mar-12 11:38:56

Real books will become antiques and increase in value. Maybe we should start stockpiling for our greatgrandchildren. "Antiques of the future".

Remember farthings? I once read a short story where someone had hoarded farthings from childhood. When she died biscuit tins full were found, sneered at, and eventually sold for a fortune.

wotsamashedupjingl Wed 21-Mar-12 09:24:49

It'll be a blow to all second hand bookshops if, eventually, there are no second hand books to pass on!