Should I get a Kindle?

For those considering buying a kindle they have £40 off today. I’m just upgrading mine as I have a very very old one.

Sounding really stupid, don’t know anything about Kindles. Do you have to buy books to read on it, or can you download e Books and read them for free, as with Libby on my I pad?

I have had a Kindle paperwhite for about 8 years and love it. I also read real books and am currently reading 'Us' after seeing the bbc adaption.

Kindle pages don't fall apart when they get warm from the sun and stuck with sun cream!

You can have mine

Just a heads-up to anyone thinking of getting a Kindle. It's Amazon Prime Days tomorrow and Wednesday. If you have a Prime account there are usually big savings to be had on Amazon products, including Kindles.

If you get a Kindle paperwhite it is just like reading a book - no blue light which is what computer and TV screens have which causes eye strain. I read from a Kindle Paperwhite every night in bed (and most mornings) - no extra light required.

I used to love my Kindle Fire and used it for a long time, but then went back to real books. I think they were all the rage about 5 years ago but not so popular now. Give it a try though you might like it.

I am currently on my second kindle the first one broke through overuse I think. I absolutely love it. If my eyes are tired I can increase the font size. And there are so many free books out there both on amazon and on BookBub.
Wouldn’t be without it now.

Absolutely love my kindle! I'm using it in bed now with Mr J sleeping peacefully beside me! (no light on needed which would have disturbed him!!) I'm about to go onto my excellent book! A good way to start the day!?

Kindle is better for your eyes (as a dry eye sufferer) and for reading outside.

Tablet good for free library books, and also using for email, Gransnet etc.

So it boils down to kindle Fire or kindle Paperwhite? Cost might be the decider.

I recommend buying an Apple Ipad Mini, and download the Kindle app.
You can download ebooks within minutes, and also use the tablet for internet and emails.
I read and review ebooks for NetGalley, and download many books at no cost, before published.
Would be lost without it.

Books are best, absolutely. But a Kindle is useful, for holidays, for when you can't get to the library, like in lockdown etc.
To have both is the ideal.

I wouldn't be without my Kindle, especially when going on holiday.
I must admit though it doesn't have the same pleasure as opening a book and turning the pages.

I downloaded an app called eBooks, and have downloaded a free book to it which I started reading.
Now I can't find it because I didn't pin it to the desktop or the taskbar. When I do find it (its in there somewhere) how do I put an icon on the desktop?

Definitely get a Kindle. They are the best thing since sliced bread. I wouldn't be without mine. Some of the new books are a bit expensive but there are daily deals and lots of books for just one pound. Well worth it, you won't regret it.

The Kindle paperwhite is the best you can use it anywhere even in bright sunlight. Ours have been a godsend these past few months . I subscribe to Kindle Unlimited so get ten books out at a time and we both can read them . I have also indulged myself by preordering the latest Val McDermid and Anne Cleaves books as I would have to wait for ever to get them from the library. You can get free books often as well .The Kindle Fire is good if you want to do everything on the same tablet but I have both because I read so much. I love the fact I can have quite big print on it too.

I bought a Kindle before I went overseas some time ago. It was great but now I use my iPad with the Kindle app and find that better than the Kindle. Being able to adjust the print - size and font and the background colour and density is very helpful. I also find it easier to hold than a book.

I have both a Kindle Paperwhite and a Kindle Fire. I can read one while the other is charging. The Fire doubles as a tablet so I can use it for the internet, email etc. The Kindle is great for reading outdoors as the screen is non-reflective, unlike the Fire which is not. I appreciate the fact that I can enlarge the font on the Paperwhite as I'm not quite as able to read small print as I once was. I, too, suffer from dry eyes but use gel eye drops before going to sleep and don't wake up with gritty eyes in the morning.

Thanks, GrandmaKT, I’ll have a look for that.

Maggiemaybe, your Kindle should have a search facility so you can easily flick back to check on something. If I get confused over who a character is, I just search on the name and get all previous occurrences - much easier than searching through a physical book!

I do agree that there are some disadvantages, and that one is that it isn’t as easy to flick back if there’s something you want to check on. And of course some bigger tomes have family histories, etc, printed at the front, which are much easier to check out in a printed book.

I understand the reasons why people like e-readers but not for me. I prefer the heft of a book in my hand, being able to flick back to a previous page and just the fact that it is a book.

Also it has a setting called blue shade which should stop your eyes straining at night and you can turn the brightness up or down according to the light in the room.