I have the $79 kindle and it did amazing things for my living space. I got rid of a dozen boxes of books which is a lot when you live in a small cabin!
It is good for PDFs when you turn it sideways in landscape mode. If the PDF uses columns, it's seriously inconvenient, and if it uses columns + pictures things often get messed up beyond readability. But for most PDFs it's great. I might be doing something wrong, but I've been unsuccessful at converting about half of my PDFs with calibre. It is an extremely useful program tho, especially if you get some of the plug ins.
opinions solicited: Kindle or a multi-purpose tablet PC
@HSpencer,
Thanks for the encouragement. I have been saving for an ereader all year (What a terrible notion -- too much frugal fatigue, I know!). With the Kindle keyboard in mind, my budget has slightly overrun already. Agree the tablets are both big and purty, but unfortunately, I have neither a justifiable use-case, not a lingering desire to digitise and connect my life any more than it is now.
Speaking of "RFID chip after 21/12/12", did you know that Jeff Bezos of Amazon, kindle, "whispernet" and who is already tracking digital reading patterns with a vengeance is actually a Bilderberg group member? So as the old sleuth would say, "Watson, the game's already afoot!" 21 December is merely going to be an eye-wash.
@riparian,
That is one of the intentions. the e-reader should de-clutter my digital (and in general) life.
Thanks for the encouragement. I have been saving for an ereader all year (What a terrible notion -- too much frugal fatigue, I know!). With the Kindle keyboard in mind, my budget has slightly overrun already. Agree the tablets are both big and purty, but unfortunately, I have neither a justifiable use-case, not a lingering desire to digitise and connect my life any more than it is now.
Speaking of "RFID chip after 21/12/12", did you know that Jeff Bezos of Amazon, kindle, "whispernet" and who is already tracking digital reading patterns with a vengeance is actually a Bilderberg group member? So as the old sleuth would say, "Watson, the game's already afoot!" 21 December is merely going to be an eye-wash.
@riparian,
That is one of the intentions. the e-reader should de-clutter my digital (and in general) life.
@JohnnyH,
More interesting data. Thanks.
a] Great review of the Sony reader..... I am having a terrible feeling over this, but I too have "over 100s of PDFs from academic papers, to technical reference books, to books loaded with equations, pictures and tables". But like I said, it is waaaay over my budget for at least another year. Remember I save in Rupees, but I have to pay in dollars ($1 = Rs. 52 today)!
b] Aaaahh...Brisso! What more can I say. Thanks for that tool pointer.
c] Agree that Calibre has come in leaps from original avatar, but I just have to go with the landscape mode on the kindle (as @riparian pointed earlier) and live with it!. The Sony reader is 4 times over my original budget, and short of a windfall from a non-existent uncle, I just can't buy it.
My knowledge on these devices has gone up by peaks in the last two days, and you are one of the persons to thank for that.
More interesting data. Thanks.
a] Great review of the Sony reader..... I am having a terrible feeling over this, but I too have "over 100s of PDFs from academic papers, to technical reference books, to books loaded with equations, pictures and tables". But like I said, it is waaaay over my budget for at least another year. Remember I save in Rupees, but I have to pay in dollars ($1 = Rs. 52 today)!
b] Aaaahh...Brisso! What more can I say. Thanks for that tool pointer.
c] Agree that Calibre has come in leaps from original avatar, but I just have to go with the landscape mode on the kindle (as @riparian pointed earlier) and live with it!. The Sony reader is 4 times over my original budget, and short of a windfall from a non-existent uncle, I just can't buy it.
My knowledge on these devices has gone up by peaks in the last two days, and you are one of the persons to thank for that.
@rcamp, @jforest, @Chad, @JasonR AND @bigato,
Seriously guys. Can't thank you all enough. My awareness on mobile platforms has gone up from naught to 40 in the last two days thanks to your replies.
Thanks once again.
But, I cannot resist referring to this latest hot cake Indian meme (*) : Why this Kolaveri towards Android operating system, people?
(*)I find it total rubbish, but then again, I am an ERE regular since 2007!
Seriously guys. Can't thank you all enough. My awareness on mobile platforms has gone up from naught to 40 in the last two days thanks to your replies.
Thanks once again.
But, I cannot resist referring to this latest hot cake Indian meme (*) : Why this Kolaveri towards Android operating system, people?
(*)I find it total rubbish, but then again, I am an ERE regular since 2007!
Turns out the only Kindle Amazon has in stock (will deign to ship) for India shipment is the $99 model (but actually priced at $109 for India -- Foul!)
I am thinking of asking one of my ex-colleagues in USA to buy a Kindle keyboard for me, while returning home when the USA winds down for Christmas. I don't think Internet connection would work for India anyway (except Wikipedia), so I don't think I will miss much in terms of functionality. Other than this already known issue, can anyone think of any other problem that I cannot think of immediately?
@bigato,
"If you go with the kindle, mine came with free internet. I don't know if it will be available for ones you buy now. It is useful. I'm typing from it now."
Only Wikipedia for India, I think. Also on top, if I buy it in USA and use it in India it might go into somewhat restricted operational mode, I think. This is what it says on the India page: " Access Wikipedia via Whispernet on the experimental web browser. Access other websites like Google via a Wi-Fi connection."
So, if I have wifi internet at home (which I have) then I ought to do forum reading on the kindle too. We'll see once I get my hands on one..
I am thinking of asking one of my ex-colleagues in USA to buy a Kindle keyboard for me, while returning home when the USA winds down for Christmas. I don't think Internet connection would work for India anyway (except Wikipedia), so I don't think I will miss much in terms of functionality. Other than this already known issue, can anyone think of any other problem that I cannot think of immediately?
@bigato,
"If you go with the kindle, mine came with free internet. I don't know if it will be available for ones you buy now. It is useful. I'm typing from it now."
Only Wikipedia for India, I think. Also on top, if I buy it in USA and use it in India it might go into somewhat restricted operational mode, I think. This is what it says on the India page: " Access Wikipedia via Whispernet on the experimental web browser. Access other websites like Google via a Wi-Fi connection."
So, if I have wifi internet at home (which I have) then I ought to do forum reading on the kindle too. We'll see once I get my hands on one..
@Surio - Have you considered the Kindle DX? I think the standard size Kindle is a bit small and awkward for using to read PDFs, or any books really. The DX has a much bigger screen and I find it provides a much nicer reading experience. The DX is a fair bit more expensive than the Kindle Keyboard but to me it was worth it. It's still much lighter and easier to read from than a tablet PC.
Brief update:
In the end, I went with this one, as it gave me all those in a Kindle DX/3G, but at a very competitive price.
http://www.pocketbook-int.com/ge/node/2028
In the end, I went with this one, as it gave me all those in a Kindle DX/3G, but at a very competitive price.
http://www.pocketbook-int.com/ge/node/2028