Kindle owners - is it worth getting one ?

S

stevewestern

Suspended / Banned
Messages
5,472
Edit My Images
Yes
OK, so I have dithered for so long and still have not got a tablet, so given that Amazon are selling off the 7" HDX 64gb at "149 should I get one ?
Having never had a tablet I don't know how much I would use it, but sort of feel that my phone is a little too small for any serious amount of reading, playing or showing off photo's.

What do you say ?
 
Yes. End of.
I would remove the breeding ability of anyone who tried to take away my classic Kindle.

Edit....The Fire just offers more imo (except less battery life. ...classic kindle goes about 6 weeks between charges and is used daily)
 
Last edited:
Yes, but the Fire HDX is not really a "Kindle" - which I would argue is Amazon's classic eBook reader (i.e. eInk and not a backlit tablet)

Sounds like you're looking for a tablet though, and there is a growing number to choose from. Good luck...
 
Thank you both - I'll get one ordered.
It is as a tablet it would get most use.
Any suggestions for good apps in general as well as for gentle photo editing ?
 
Definitely yes as an ebook reader, I have an original kindle and think it's excellent. I still buy paper books as well, but being able to buy some things as ebooks has alleviated the pressure on my bookshelves.
 
Bernie174 said:
I have a fire HD, it's OK as a reader, picture showing off device and for a brief look round the internet. For editing? I doubt it'd be much use though.
Click to expand...
I guess that showing pictures is more important than editing, but at times it is fun to show people (mainly the kids I take photo's of) just what can be done.
I've just been taking photo's for a school website and trying to convince the staff that even they could look good (ie younger) with some gentle smoothing helped massively but meant me dragging my laptop around - I doubt I would ever do any serious editing on it !
 
I have the fire HDX and I love it however the lighting is noticeably uneven on all of them round the edges, it's because it has a second layer of lights that prevent eye strain and although it does work the uneven thing has driven people nuts. I like using it set to a slightly green background, take a few to get used to it but when you do you won't want to use anything else.
 
Personally I like the original Kindle (reading only, no picutres etc). Light, battery life that goes on forever and not expensive. That said when mine broke I decided to just use the Kindle app on my phone and I then got a Nexus 7 tablet, after sending back a Kindle Fire as I could not get on with the UI of the fire. I much prefer my nexus but wish I had got a 3G capable one as that would be very handy sometimes.
 
Biggest problem with the Kindle Fire is that you are tied in to the Amazon store - loads of Android apps are just not available. It has a problem as an ereader as well - screen is too reflective and difficult to view in bright sunlight. Battery life is OKish.

Having just posted these negative comments, I would also point out that I have one and wouldn't be without it:-)
 
I've not made the jump. I can see the advantages of a kindle/tablet - have an ipad that one 2 yr old thinks is his... so could theoretically use is as a kindle / book reader. However I love the tangibility , and feeling of holding an actual book. Obviously some kind of tablet, if you are a bookworm and want to travel light on holiday would be an advantage, but it's the whole touchy thing.

Also, if connected to wifi, can do so much more than a book.
 
Kindle Fire isn't as good as other Android tablets. E-ink Kindles are SUPERB though and I would highly recommend them as a total gamechanger...
 
my missus had the classic and after 2 years asked me to get her the backlit version she loves it.
 
viv1969 said:
Yes. End of.
I would remove the breeding ability of anyone who tried to take away my classic Kindle.

Edit....The Fire just offers more imo (except less battery life. ...classic kindle goes about 6 weeks between charges and is used daily)
Click to expand...

You're right about the first part - Amazon totally nailed it when they made the e-ink Kindles. Any of those is an ideal choice for reading any book that's mostly words - far better IMO than dead trees.

The Fire, not so much. It's a decent enough tablet but I don't think tablets are great for reading books on. From the battery thing to the backlit screen to the weight even to the price. If you want a tablet then get a tablet, if you want a Kindle then get a real Kindle not a tablet that says Kindle on it ;) And if you want the best user experience then get both and cloud sync them.
 
Fire's are over-priced under-specced Android tablets that have been crippled and limited to the over-priced Amazon store. Avoid. As for the e-ink versions, buy a book instead...
 
Kindle reader is great for the out doors reading books in the sun. The kindle fires are like other tablets suffer in bright light. I have a reader my wife's a fire and an ipad. The fire is ok for what I need a hand held device if I need more then it's the ipad and if it's for photography then its the iMac
 
Seahorse said:
Fire's are over-priced under-specced Android tablets that have been crippled and limited to the over-priced Amazon store. Avoid. As for the e-ink versions, buy a book instead...
Click to expand...

Agree with you on the first part may as well get a proper tablet
but not the second e ink kindles are great so easy to use and I haven't bought printed novels since getting one, books with pictures yes but not novels
 
Kindle e-ink reader: Lightweight, can be used easily in full sunlight, battery lasts ages, totally brilliant.

Kindle Fire: None of the above. Get a proper Android tablet. But not for reading books.
 
JonathanRyan said:
I wonder if you could list for me some of the advantages of a book over a Kindle.
Click to expand...

I love my kindle, but the ability to quickly 'flick through' a book is better than the slow scrolling of a kindle. If you know the text you are looking for you can search on a kindle, and it has pretty good bookmarking. Also the ability to highlight and scribble notes is better on a real book, but on a kindle your notes and highlights can easily be exported for use and archiving on a computer. You have also hinted at the fact that study books are far better in a physical form than e-books. You can also sell your read books, you cant sell your read e-books.

And on a more emotional level, books (especially nicely printed and bound books) are a much nicer object than a an ePub or mobi file. And I actually like the smell of books!

But having said that 90% of my reading os on a kindle or kindle app. And to the OP, if you want a kindle to read books, don't buy the tablet. If you want your kindle to be a tablet, buy an iPad or proper android tablet (I've heard the tesco hudl is good value).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I used to think I liked books (and to some extent I do - old nicely bound books, books with beautiful illustrations in, recipe books covered with actual food from the recipes....) and I thought I'd miss them when I bought a Kindle. But it turns out that what I actually like is reading, and for fiction I find the Kindle to be a far better way of reading than a paperback. I read far more since I got one.
 
[QUOTE
But having said that 90% of my reading os on a kindle or kindle app. And to the OP, if you want a kindle to read books, don't buy the tablet. If you want your kindle to be a tablet, buy an iPad or proper android tablet (I've heard the tesco hudl is good value).[/QUOTE]

So, what does a Hudl do that a kindle fire can't ?
As someone who has never had a tablet but who will use it mainly for entertainment while traveling, showing pictures to kids at school and a little reading I have no idea what matters and what doesn't.
My wife has an old Kindle for reading books and my daughter has a Kindle fire and I know which one I have used most (the fire) and I am not a big game player but am happy to pass time on a train reading, watching catch-up tv, playing sudoku or whatever. I imagine a Fire HDX will do all I want but know nothing - maybe its better this way given that I have ordered one (I had a couple of Amazon vouchers to use so the actual cost to me isn't much)
 
I bought my wife the Kindle paper white - brilliant when travelling, can be read in any light
 
JonathanRyan said:
I used to think I liked books (and to some extent I do - old nicely bound books, books with beautiful illustrations in, recipe books covered with actual food from the recipes....) and I thought I'd miss them when I bought a Kindle. But it turns out that what I actually like is reading, and for fiction I find the Kindle to be a far better way of reading than a paperback. I read far more since I got one.
Click to expand...

my missus dithered for ages as she thought she would miss buying books and the library but within weeks she was just wowed, also the comfort of the kindle versus a conventional book laying in bed just was a game changer as the yanks say for her. now when we go on holiday the pingle as she calls it always gets a prime spot in hand luggage.
 
stevewestern said:
So, what does a Hudl do that a kindle fire can't ?
Click to expand...

Basically allows you to use the Google app store rather than the Amazon one and depending when / how you buy it, it can cost very little money.

But for all those uses you mention, I bet you'll be very happy with the Fire HDX. My wife uses an old school Fire for most of that and she loves it.
 
Swat flies with a book, use it to prop up wobbly table on holiday, leave it behind for someone else to read, to look good on your bookcase... (hollow one out and use it as a safe)

The kindles a great way though to carry many books to read...
 
Last edited:
I think the new kobo readers are waterproof :)
 
JonathanRyan said:
I wonder if you could list for me some of the advantages of a book over a Kindle.
Click to expand...

  • The touch and feel of a book
  • Somewhere to protect documents
  • Air stewardesses don't tell you to turn off a book
  • Kindles look stupid on bookshelves
  • I don't like reading books on screens (already had both types of Kindle and an Android tablet)
  • The ability to write notes in the margins
  • I doubt you will ever own enough kindles to prop up something with a pile of them
  • Limited page size
  • I am more likely to remember what I read
  • I can't put coloured sticky tabs on important pages I want to refer back to on a Kindle
  • I can lend or sell a book
 
Last edited:
They don't tell you to turn off a kindle either.
I've only ever been asked to disable wifi.
And if you think you're more likely to remember what you read from a book, you're already reading way too many news articles :lol:
 
viv1969 said:
They don't tell you to turn off a kindle either.
Click to expand...

I was on a flight where the air hostess did and the Kindle owner then had an argument...
 
Yes !got a kindle paperwhite at best buy on my last us trip best thing I've ever purchased! The hdx and suchlike are just a semi decent android tablets to me their screens would probably strain my silly eyes, though saying that my kindle is misplaced right now and I've continued reading on my iPad and it's surprisingly good having it horizontal it shows two pages at once I love it. It's turned me into a fan of reading ! But yeah if you want a tablet get a proper one, I am constantly amazed by how lmuxh I can do with the right apps!
 
Seahorse said:
  • The touch and feel of a book
  • Somewhere to protect documents
  • Air stewardesses don't tell you to turn off a book
  • Kindles look stupid on bookshelves
  • I don't like reading books on screens (already had both types of Kindle and an Android tablet)
  • The ability to write notes in the margins
  • I doubt you will ever own enough kindles to prop up something with a pile of them
  • Limited page size
  • I am more likely to remember what I read
  • I can't put coloured sticky tabs on important pages I want to refer back to on a Kindle
  • I can lend or sell a book
Click to expand...

You know you can highlight things in a Kindle? I mean it doesn't have the excitement of sticky tabs but it is cloud synced to every device you own.

The sell or lend thing is interesting though I can't remember ever selling a book in my life (except for some boring text books at uni - TBH I would happily have taken the trade off of not having to carry 5 kilos of books most days). The thing that does bug me is that people can't buy me Kindle books as gifts (and vice versa, I guess...). I really wish Amazon would fix that. But I share an Amazon account with my wife so we get to lend each other all the books we like.

The rest of those look suspiciously like "I don't like Kindles". Which is fine. But having used one for about 4 years I'd never go back to murdering trees ;)
 
JonathanRyan said:
You know you can highlight things in a Kindle? I mean it doesn't have the excitement of sticky tabs but it is cloud synced to every device you own.

The sell or lend thing is interesting though I can't remember ever selling a book in my life (except for some boring text books at uni - TBH I would happily have taken the trade off of not having to carry 5 kilos of books most days). The thing that does bug me is that people can't buy me Kindle books as gifts (and vice versa, I guess...). I really wish Amazon would fix that. But I share an Amazon account with my wife so we get to lend each other all the books we like.

The rest of those look suspiciously like "I don't like Kindles". Which is fine. But having used one for about 4 years I'd never go back to murdering trees ;)
Click to expand...

Is that not a PITA if your are reading the same book?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top