Best electronic book reader?
Discussion
Using the local library is a PITA at the moment for various reason and my mum has asked me about Kindles.
I've never had one and looking on Amazon I'm a little surprised what they cost
My Mum is a technophobe though she just about gets by with a Chromebook.
I've said Kindle but I don't necessarily literally mean a Kindle.
Given cost and ease of use of a reader and cost and variety of content what's peoples thoughts on what I should be looking at please?
Be good if this didn't get moved to the Computer forum as the whole point is what a "normal" person thinks
I've never had one and looking on Amazon I'm a little surprised what they cost
My Mum is a technophobe though she just about gets by with a Chromebook.
I've said Kindle but I don't necessarily literally mean a Kindle.
Given cost and ease of use of a reader and cost and variety of content what's peoples thoughts on what I should be looking at please?
Be good if this didn't get moved to the Computer forum as the whole point is what a "normal" person thinks
We have a Kindle and it's very easy to use. You can send books to it remotely if I recall (handy for remote support!). Can someone confirm this?
If you wish to try it first without spending too much buy a 2nd hand one off eBay. Ours is ancient. It did fail recently and a cheap non-oem battery change and it's working fine.
If you wish to try it first without spending too much buy a 2nd hand one off eBay. Ours is ancient. It did fail recently and a cheap non-oem battery change and it's working fine.
I've had a kindle for years and it's been great. It's from before they made one with a backlight, that's the one thing I'd want to upgrade for.
As mentioned in another post, you can browse Amazon's website for books (on a computer), when you buy them they are downloaded automatically. It's a bit easier to do it that way as navigation isn't great (on mine).
As mentioned in another post, you can browse Amazon's website for books (on a computer), when you buy them they are downloaded automatically. It's a bit easier to do it that way as navigation isn't great (on mine).
I have a Kindle Fire 7 (well actually I have two, one bought as a back-up when Amazon had an offer on).
This means that as well as reading books, I can browse the internet and read emails (as I don't use my mobile phone for anything but texting and calling - terribly old fashioned, I know!)
I was very anti-Kindle when they first came out, but I now love them. They are very easy to use.
ETA - one thing I discovered - it's easier on your eyes if you change the reading settings to a black background and white text rather than the other way around.
This means that as well as reading books, I can browse the internet and read emails (as I don't use my mobile phone for anything but texting and calling - terribly old fashioned, I know!)
I was very anti-Kindle when they first came out, but I now love them. They are very easy to use.
ETA - one thing I discovered - it's easier on your eyes if you change the reading settings to a black background and white text rather than the other way around.
Edited by moorx on Wednesday 28th October 18:51
I've a kindle fire which I bought last year for around £55 from Amazon. Think I saw them last month for around £30. You can get BBC sounds and iplayer on it as well as loads of other stuff.
I use it mainly for audio books which I download for free via my local library membership. Also download books to read - and have used it for magazines, newspapers ( all via the local library scheme).
I think it's great
I use it mainly for audio books which I download for free via my local library membership. Also download books to read - and have used it for magazines, newspapers ( all via the local library scheme).
I think it's great
I think the kindle is pretty brilliant value. I don't know exactly how old mine is now but it has been great.
I know some platforms are better with renting from libraries than others. Maybe worth checking this before buying.
A proper kindle and the app on the phone or a tablet is no comparison; Tablets are ok but the paperwhite screens are just so much easier on your eyes, and the batteries last forever.
I know some platforms are better with renting from libraries than others. Maybe worth checking this before buying.
A proper kindle and the app on the phone or a tablet is no comparison; Tablets are ok but the paperwhite screens are just so much easier on your eyes, and the batteries last forever.
OK so any reason to look at anything better than the £70 base kindle please?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-now-with-a-built-i...
Do these things usually go on 50% off on Black Friday or anything like that?
And how do people with elderly parents load them with books (more around paying)?
A Kindle Unlimited subscription looks a decent option.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-now-with-a-built-i...
Do these things usually go on 50% off on Black Friday or anything like that?
And how do people with elderly parents load them with books (more around paying)?
A Kindle Unlimited subscription looks a decent option.
An actual ereader - not a tablet like the fire - is a must.
The screen is completely different. I can read a book on the kindle app, but love reading on my proper kindle. Which amazed me, as I was dead set against the idea until my better half bought me one years ago.
They last forever too (as long as not battered) - so whichever one has both paperwhite screen and back light is the one to get. I personally like a reasonable size bezel for holding too.
Super easy to get head around - my MiL is a complete technophobe in her 80s, yet is fine with hers.
The screen is completely different. I can read a book on the kindle app, but love reading on my proper kindle. Which amazed me, as I was dead set against the idea until my better half bought me one years ago.
They last forever too (as long as not battered) - so whichever one has both paperwhite screen and back light is the one to get. I personally like a reasonable size bezel for holding too.
Super easy to get head around - my MiL is a complete technophobe in her 80s, yet is fine with hers.
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: A Kindle Unlimited subscription looks a decent option.
Do you remember going into record shops in the 80s and seeing compilations of popular songs covered by nobodies - normally by K-Tel and Ronco?Thats what I think Kindle Unlimited is like.
It's like walking into Woolworths record section in the 70s and 80s and not being able to chose from any of the real artists and only being allowed to buy the cheap copies where they don't even tell you the names of the singers.
Very occasionally you might find something you like but it's a hell of a lot harder.
Edited by i4got on Saturday 31st October 10:50
i4got said:
Do you remember going into record shops in the 80s and seeing compilations of popular songs covered by nobodies - normally by K-Tel and Ronco?
Thats what I think Kindle Unlimited is like.
It's like walking into Woolworths record section in the 80s and not being able to chose from any of the real artists and only being allowed to buy the cheap copies where they don't even tell you the names of the singers.
Very occasionally you might find something you like but it's a hell of a lot harder.
Oh I assumed it was unlimited books as I'd only glanced.Thats what I think Kindle Unlimited is like.
It's like walking into Woolworths record section in the 80s and not being able to chose from any of the real artists and only being allowed to buy the cheap copies where they don't even tell you the names of the singers.
Very occasionally you might find something you like but it's a hell of a lot harder.
I'm just looking at some random books now and the Kindle versions are more than the paper versions.
So Black Friday to wait for.
Paperwhite sounds like the one to go for.
Then how to deal with buying or subscribing to the books my mum reads.
FFS
I've got a Kindle Paperwhite & love it. Had it for about 3-4 years & it's probably the one "gadget" I'd miss the most. I read an awful lot more now I've got one & in a bizarre way helps with my tinnitus.
We've bought our son the basic Kindle with a built in light for his birthday - think it was about £70ish.
Depends how you feel about such things, but apparently there are huge collections of e-books available on Torrent sites & apparently a tool called Calibre will convert them to the correct file format.
Just to add - I tried the Kindle app on a tablet & a phone & they are nowhere near as good as a proper Kindle.
We've bought our son the basic Kindle with a built in light for his birthday - think it was about £70ish.
Depends how you feel about such things, but apparently there are huge collections of e-books available on Torrent sites & apparently a tool called Calibre will convert them to the correct file format.
Just to add - I tried the Kindle app on a tablet & a phone & they are nowhere near as good as a proper Kindle.
Have a look at the App "Borrowbox".
Pretty sure that many (most?) libraries in the UK are subscribed. Works very well here in Ireland.
Downloadable reading books and audiobooks are available for free - good selection too.
Have a look.
I also use a Kindle and love it - for the sake of balance!!!
Pretty sure that many (most?) libraries in the UK are subscribed. Works very well here in Ireland.
Downloadable reading books and audiobooks are available for free - good selection too.
Have a look.
I also use a Kindle and love it - for the sake of balance!!!
mickyh7 said:
Algarve said:
Yeah they're a bargain aren't they 
£70 - 150 for a decent one and you never need to pay for a book again if you don't want to.
How does that work then?£70 - 150 for a decent one and you never need to pay for a book again if you don't want to.
All the free books seem to be Naff to me.
I always end up paying for a few good ones to take on holiday.
You're not going to get a brand new best selling book for free (well not legally anyway) but there's loads of great older stuff from well known authors in there.
Or you could steal books on torrent sites.
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