Yet Another Kindle Thread...

[SadieKate]

And for free books out of copyright, look up the Gutenberg Project.

http://www.gutenberg.org/

[Skierchickie]

Hey Mimi (or anyone else familiar with the Fire), you don't HAVE to spring for Amazon Prime to use the Fire, do you? I'm not real clear on that point, and $80 a year sort of defeats the purpose of the thing, to me. It sounds, from what I've read, like that just gets you faster shipping, free streaming video, and a few other things that aren't that important to us. Is that right? Or do you really need it?

I'm really afraid that DH won't like this thing. I only thought of it because he was hinting around pretty obviously about whether I might want an ereader, and then the day they announced the Fire (and it's price) he got all excited, and was suggesting that I'd want one. I'd really only use the thing for reading, so I starting thinking about the regular Kindle - I don't think I'd really utilize the Fire that fully. But I thought about it, and thought he'd probably enjoy it. Now I have buyer's remorse. We were at a store that carries them today, and I wanted to see his reaction, so I showed him the Kindle Keyboard, right next to it. Got him to pick up the Fire for a minute - he played with it slightly, then put it down. No "Ooh, cool", or anything. I'm a worrier. And this is his only gift this year. He's been unemployed and back in school for a couple of years, so money is tighter than I'd like, but he's a) turning 60 in a few days, b) graduating with a new degree at the end of the year, and c) going away for a year to do his internship. So this is one special gift to cover all 3. More than he's allowed to spend on my Xmas gift.

Anyway, I'm concerned about all the "Amazon content only" references. He's got tons of music on Itunes. But he has a Nano and an Ipod Touch for that. I don't know anything about this stuff - I'm getting farther behind the times. My cell phone doesn't even work at home, so I rarely use it, and I'm not even sure what an "app" is. And streaming video & Youtube are not really functional with our satellite internet. I'm hoping that he'll be able to check email, surf the internet, read stuff. Play. Play without spending gobs of cash on buying movies & stuff.

[Biciclista]

no you don't have to spring for Amazon Prime!! (NEVAH!!!!)
the thing can read PDF's and I believe some non-amazon formats like gutenberg's library.

[Fredwina]

Actaully Gutenberg does have its books in Native Kindle Format. And a kindle will read a PDF

[Biciclista]

ok. I have had my Kindle fire for less than a week and I am really impressed. So far the only thing I wanted to do with it that I could not was write myself a note. It has installed in it some kind of office program, but you have to buy the premier edition if you want to open a document and actually write something!!!! There are free apps but i was unsuccessful in installing one.
OTOH... I am loving BOOKS there are SO MANY to choose from, also IN ITALIAN! woohoo (did I say FREE books?) I might have to spring for an Italian dictionary (less than 10 bucks)
I can check my email!! the weather!!! send texts!! (google.com/voice)
It does not take pictures and it does not have a voice/telephone capability... but gosh, it does EVERYTHING else.
This is a great birthday present!!!

[limewave]

I am so tempted to upgrade. I have a Kindle 2 with G3. And I really, really enjoy it. Now I've started checking out library books, which is great--free books! But I have to download the library books to my computer and then from my computer to my Kindle. If I had a Kindle with wi-fi, it would go straight to the Kindle. It's a convenience thing.
. . . . Maybe next year. I am really hoping for running snowshoes for Christmas.

[jobob]

Rats, I wish we were up there Mimi, Lee or I would help you install a free notepad app lickety-split. It's easy, once you've done it (heh). Maybe there's someone up there you know who has a Fire, or is familiar with downloading free Andrioid apps from Amazon, that can help you out.