The Kindle.

[LeeNukes]

This blog post seems to investigate this Free 3G internet which apparently at the moment is free, but might change:

http://www.itwriting.com/blog/2929-new- ... ernet.html


As does this page on the Amazon site:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/custome ... gcountries

[dandnsmith]

I have to add to my earlier posting - so far I haven't used the Kindle browser much, as there are some quirks associated with getting sections of the displayed page magnified.

I have sat in a pub (in England) and connected to various URLs using the free 3G net, and am going shortly to Spain, where I intend to carry out more experiments. The statement about countries covered is (I think) confusing, as the Eurozone countries don't get mentioned in the table, but the map referred to shows France and Spain (in particular) as well covered.

[ladi]

Just wanted to clarify something nelz said.

If you send a document for conversion, there is a charge only if you send it over the 3G connection. If you send it through your own network, then there is no charge regardless of how the converted document is received.

If you don't plan to send documents for conversion, then your kindle don't really need a computer at all. That extra 40 GBP for the 3G is definitely worth it. I just wish they'd improve the web browser.

[dandnsmith]

As I previously forecast, I've tried out the 3G on the Kindle in SouthEast Spain (where we've had problems with 'ordinary' mobiles on occasion), and found it worked well - both for browsing (very hard on the eyes, and I need new reading glasses I've concluded) and talking to the Kindle shop (amazon)

[nelz]

I've had the non-3G model for a couple of months now and don't miss the 3G at all. The only time I think I'd find it useful was if I had the urge to shop for books while overseas, any other time I connect via the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot or my Mi-Fi.

[paulm]

I'm still thinking about a Kindle purchase. One question - how well does it handle mobipocket format? From what I've read, the native Kindle format is mobipocket with DRM added, so it should work.....

For anyone owning a Kindle who wants to try, the Baen Free Library (http://www.baen.com/library/) offers quite a few science fiction titles in what they list as mobi/palm/kindle format.

Paul.

[nelz]

I use .mobi files from O'Reilly with mine and they work fine, as do .mobi uploads from Calibre.

[paulm]

I use .mobi files from O'Reilly with mine and they work fine, as do .mobi uploads from Calibre.

Thanks nelz. Looking at the Baen site, the mobi/palm/kindle version are all .prc files.

I like the idea of the Kindle, but would almost prefer to go to something like an Android tablet, since it wouldn't be locked into the single, drm infested format. Trouble with that idea is that most of the tablets I've looked at seem either horribly expensive or very limited - resistive touch screens, no easy upgrades to later versions of Android, problems with access to Android Market, etc... Not to mention short battery life due to the higher power requirements of TFT screens. So a dedicated e-book reader looks like it may still be the best option.

Once I get over the shock of having to buy a new car battery at very short notice and great expense, the Kindle may be the next item on the list...

Paul.

[nelz]

Kindle isn't locked into a single format, it's just the books that Amazon sell that are DRMed. At least their DRM works, the Sony reader had problems with its own DRM even when using their Windows software.

A tablet suffers the same problem that a laptop has, a screen that gets uncomfortable to read after a while.

[NoNameWill]

If I do, you're never more than a few hundred yards from a Starbucks (don't they say the same about rats?).

On the whole, Starbucks coffee tastes marginally better than rat though.

Have to agree. Starbucks blah.

Back on topic.

Nobody has tried the Nook?

Bought one for the wife a few weeks ago. She really likes it and so do I. For the first time in 8 years she was willing to sell her dime store romance novels without kicking and screaming. (using novel loosely)

[paulm]

Kindle isn't locked into a single format, it's just the books that Amazon sell that are DRMed. At least their DRM works, the Sony reader had problems with its own DRM even when using their Windows software.

Well, I finally stopped procrastinating, and I'm now the proud owner of a wi-fi Kindle (couldn't justify the extra for the 3G). I'm really impressed - I've got it loaded with a lot of science fiction from Baen books, all of which works well. I've also got a couple of books from other sources which are also good.

Eventually, I'll probably buy some books from the Kindle store as well.....

Only complaint so far is PDF handling - the ones I've tried so far are rendered very small. Even though I can zoom bits, its not too good for that sort of thing.

I'll be trying to build calibre in the next few days, see if I can get a clean conversion for some PDFs that I need on the machine.

A tablet suffers the same problem that a laptop has, a screen that gets uncomfortable to read after a while.

I didn't think that would worry me too much, but I've got to admit, I do like the Kindle screen when used for a few hours.

Paul.

[dandnsmith]

Only complaint so far is PDF handling - the ones I've tried so far are rendered very small. Even though I can zoom bits, its not too good for that sort of thing.

My wife expressed the same complaint - but others say they have no problem. I feel it must depend on the source and the way the pdf is formatted.

[nelz]

It does warn in the docs that only simple PDF layouts can be handled, the translation process seems quite primitive.

[AndyBaxman]

The big issue with the kindle book store is that it is a bit hit-and-miss whether they have the books you want. Some authors are entirely missing, while some are patchy, even within series.

I'm a bit of a sci-fi / fantasy fan and have noticed:

No Raymond E Fiest (Riftwar, etc)
No Anne McCaffrey (Pern, Talent, etc) (though they do have Arcona)
All of David Eddings, except the last book of the Tamuli (go figure)

Also like historical novels. Kindle store:

Has all Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books.
All Alexander Kent's "Bolito" books.
A few of Dudley Pope's "Ramage" books.
None of Patrick O Brian's Aubrey / Maturin books (again, go figure, as these are probably the biggest bestsellers in paper)

[dandnsmith]

It's possible that some will be missing because they've been offered (free) elsewhere, while others are withheld because of potential film rights or just that the publisher/copyright holder doesn't feel the time is right.

There is a similar pattern in other fiction and non-fiction.