Kindle users: your reviews

[brentspeak]

Is it all it's cracked-up to be?

[buzzycrumbhunger]

1. No.

Proprietary format and they reserve the right to take back what you paid for. You do want eInk so it's easy on the eyes and saves on battery life, but there are other readers that do everything Kindle does, and more. Look for something that can be used with any file type and allows you to shuffle things around from computer to reader. Wi-fi would also be high on my list of things it must have so you're not tied to your computer for DLs.

I see they finally came out with Kindle 2, but the dumb thing isn't any less expensive than the first one. I guess they're thinking they've cornered the market and don't need to compete.

Oddly enough, I don't think Apple groks the fact that people read these days. Yes, they're advertising books in the latest iPhone/iPod commercials, but the selection they offer is extremely limited, PG only (they rate songs, but not books?), and also DRM. Hell, even a cheap laptop would work as a dedicated reader. I was also impressed with the plastic thingy someone posted here yesterday, and I suspect that will be the wave of the future for textbooks.

[crispini]

3. You can get your electronic books for the iPhone through Stanza.

Plenty of freebies through Project Gutenberg and you can shop for bestsellers though the Fictionwise bookstore. Get your free Stanza app today! :)

[brentspeak]

5. Is there something similar for the plain old iPod?

[crispini]

8. You could probably load Stanza on the iPod Touch

since it can load apps just like the iPhone can.

[brentspeak]

9. I just have classic iPod

Not the new-fangled, expensive Touch. I was hoping there'd be something for plain old iPod.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

6. Yeah, I know about Stanza

My friend just published a book (shameless pimp here) and submitted it to Apple, who immediately rejected it because it's loaded with the f-bomb. Her feeling is that they don't want to be bothered to have to rate books like they do music because they don't think it will be the moneymaker iTunes is. If nothing else, it may result in a little publicity for her. Someone at CNET already blogged about it a couple times.

As for wi-fi and impulse buying, yeah, the lack of it could have its up side, but I suspect anyone who reads on the go would find it a must.

[ThomCat]

10. If that PlasticLogic thing comes to market and it's as good

as they market it to be then I'd definitely want one. :)

It beats any other ereader out there hands down.

[DarkTirade]

2. I don't have one, but my brother does.

He loves the way the machine works, his only complaint is the proprietary format crap. He just got a similar reader without the proprietary format for his wife for christmas, but I haven't thought to ask how it compares. I think it was made by Sony, but don't quote me.

[mentalsolstice]

4. I've got a Sony 700

I like its form-factor better than the Kindle, the buttons are placed so that it's hard to accidentally hit one. The Sony 505 is sweet also, it actually has a better screen than the 700 but fewer functions. Neither Sonys are wireless, but to me the wireless function of the Kindle is all about impulse buying.

YMMV

[MrPerson]

7. Is it true it can't be used in the dark?

I want one that lights up. They need to invent that.

[mentalsolstice]

11. Kindle, no not without an attachable light

You have to use one of those little clip-on lights, or they may have a lightwedge for it (they have one for the Sony 505, but it costs about $70). My Sony 700 has 2 levels of built in front lighting which is not as irritating as back lighting. I have no problem reading at night in the dark...and it doesn't bother my SO! However, the light will significantly eat into your battery usage. When I don't use the light I can average about 2 weeks between charges, with consistent use of the light I may have to charge every several days.