I’ve been using the Kindle app for a few years without any problems but I do wonder if a real Kindle would be better? Apparently the screen is nicer for reading and they are lighter? Any views?
Kindle or app? Your thoughts?
by 18 Comments
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I’ve never used the app – don’t have a tablet and wouldn’t want to read books on a phone – but I absolutely love using my Paperwhite. So convenient for storage and transportation of a huge amount of books, comfortable and versatile to read. I would highly recommend one for general reading, but not books with large amounts of pictures/images.
Mmm, what size screen/storage? Are they all 6″ (Moose behave)?
Keep it polished!
Yes, I believe so. Storage ranges from the more common 8GB (which translates as around 6GB actual book storage – around 6000 ‘normal’ e-books) or a mahoosive 32GB, which would hold around 22000 books…just about enough to get you through the year.
Very helpful, thanks.
Although I have the Kindle app on my phone and tablet it is only for emergencies, and hardly ever used – but at those odd times it is very handy that it syncs up properly and remembers where you were.
On the other hand, I would not be without my Kindle Paperwhite. Apart from being easier on the eyes and better in bright light, the battery lasts forever and there is no chance of getting distracted by text messages or social media notifications on the same device.
Obviously it is rubbish for anything with pictures, maps or colours, but for general fiction I would always favour the Kindle. The app only gets used if I am stuck somewhere like a hospital waiting room for so long that I have already done all the puzzles in the Times app and still have time to kill.
Another vote for KPW for all the reasons above —- reader friendly screen, easy portability, and vast storage capacity.
Fact that it is only for reading makes it even better as you’re not tempted to check emails, etc.
Only actual dead-tree books i still buy are big picture-rich art, music or film books like Ken Burns Country and the recent Ralph Steadman anthology
Doesn’t have to be a Kindle, if you’re a bit jaundiced about the Dodgers. I’ve got a Kobo, which does the job just as well, and doesn’t lock you into Amazon’s file system, happily sucks up ePub files. If you get Calibre (free) it’ll convert .azw files with no bother. The Kobo store seems to have everything anybody could reasonably want.
Top tip: don’t put it in your back jeans pocket and sit on it. You’ll have to buy another one. Doh.
With the Amazon provisio another vote for the KPW – secondhand from M Magpie for about 50/60 and we’ll worth it. No battery anxiety either – goes for a
Couple of weeks in regular use.
I originally had a Kindle Paperwhite but I fell asleep reading one night, dropped it on the floor and then trod on it in the early morning. F**ked the screen bigtime.
I replaced it with a Kindle Fire, thinking to save some money. Fire tablets are quite a bit cheaper, but they are a very inferior product for reading compared to a Paperwhite. A much more eye-straining experience with a Fire tablet, so spend the extra if you can and get a Paperwhite.
Calibre is an amazing piece of software, beautifully designed and completely free. You don’t need to get your books etc. from Amazon if you have Calibre on your computer. Go and explore Archive.org, Project Gutenberg etc. There is a vast amount of free stuff out there.
I’ve got an older style Kindle that I bought on eBay a few years ago & the battery is still holding up well. The e-ink used means it’s a lot easier on my eyes than a back lit tablet, and I use it in addition to the app, when a dedicated device is more appropriate.
Graphics/illustrations don’t work well, so it’s mainly for stories/biogs and anything with pictures I’ll view on my iPad.
Calibre (or other programs) mean you can easily convert & load non amazon material, and you can sync your phone with the kindle, to pick up between devices – something I tend to do when having hospital appointments.
It seems you can only get one quickly “with ads” which I’m not having so I will have to wait as I go away next weekend. I might requisition Twang Jr’s as he also has a Fire tablet and can’t need both. 😀
The ads are actually ok. On mine they only appear when I switch on and even then it’s only “Based on your current reading we recommend” – and more than once I’ve thought “Yup, I’ll have that”.
Normal backlight kindle is great. It’s an extra £10 to not have the ads – you should be able to select it in the store. I believe you can pay to get rid of ads after. I have a paper white previous gen and my wife has the newer backlight but not paper white version. There is very little to choose between the two (the paper white is very slightly better). The kids kindle is the normal one with a case and a kids subscription. And device insurance. It’s good value for kids.
I love my Paperwhite as a reading device but can’t help wishing it was actually a bit chunkier and easier to grab hold of – I find it’s a bit too skinny to hold comfortably for extended periods.
Do you have it in a case/cover? That helps to bulk it up a little.
Damn straight.
Hurrrr
Another benefit of the KPW is of course you can read in the dark…which Mrs M is grateful for.