Any kindle users here?

As an avid novel reader myself, I'm in the same boat and I want to get an eReader badly.

The Kindle is great, and I think the newer models are compatible with PDFs right out the box. I think for the older models you need to use some type of converter to get PDFs to work on them.

There are lots of other options out there though, so do your research before plunking down $100+ on one.

Good luck.

I own a kindle and an iPad and if you are going to buy either, then pay more and get an iPad. The only thing that the kindle has over the iPad right now is the great screen that allows for better reading in bright conditions. (Honestly though, I never did take enough advantage of that feature.)

Now in regards to reading eBooks on the kindle, it can be done by installing 3rd party software, but suffice to say, most ebooks are not designed for the kindle - especially the kind you download for IM stuff. The iPad on the other hand, displays eBooks better than anything I have used before.

The only reason I might choose a kindle over an iPad right now, is if I were a serial reader of novels AND spent very little time on computers as standard. I look at the Kindle now, which I have had for less than a year, and comparing the two side by side, it just looks like it's from the 1970s, if they had electronics back then. The menu system is confusing, the keyboard is kind of difficult, and the square toggle is just horrid. Stephen Hawking would need TWO human assistants to read a kindle.

Right now, around my house, the most popular phrase is "Who has the iPad?" It is a far more flexible reader as well as a handy computer, email station, gaming device, internet surfer, and educational tool - yes, I have never read so many of Paul Myers (and others) eBooks, nor have I ever watched so many Lynda.com videos before in my 3 years of subscription, and it's only because that iPad is normally in the vicinity....

Further to this, I now buy any amazon books through the Amazon APP via iPad. So there is no restriction on what you can read on an iPad. I have also been testing a travel ebook I produced on the iPad and it truly looks brilliant. So good in fact, it's enough to make me rethink that entire business model for ebooks.

Really I bought that iPad for my wife, but it has really opened my eyes as to what the future of home computing may be like. Let me tell you it's NOT like a Kindle.

EDIT ADD: Night reading in bed is actually better on the iPad too because you don't need an external light to read the iPad. Just another convenience feature so you aren't bothering your spouse with external lights, or fumbling with them to hook onto your Kindle.

Well, actually the only reason I want to buy kindle because reading ebooks on the computer screen hurts my eyes
and I read somewhere that using kindle it will almost feel as if you are reading a physical book.

That's the only reason that I want to buy. I was thinking that instead of printing hundreds(or maybe thousands) of pages of ebooks I could just get kindle and It would be as close to reading a physcial book as one can get.

Well, actually I wanted to get kindle for the screen because as they state in the Amazon site -" Kindle's screen reads like real paper" and so it would be less strain on my eyes.

Well, any more opinions about this?

I love the Kindle. Who wants to cart an iPad around for reading? I have an older Kindle, so I convert my pdfs using Calibre (free) and they work perfectly on my Kindle. The newer ones I think work perfectly without conversion. I read a lot of my hard drive pdfs on my Kindle along with all the great Amazon books I buy.

I have had a Kindle since they came out and love it! Of course, I got to pay $359 so I feel very special.
I don't think it makes sense to compare a Kindle to an iPad--one is an e-reader only, the other is a tablet computer with a gazillion other functions. The epaper used on the Kindle is much easier on your eyes (yes, I have both and have compared a lot), the Kindle is far lighter (which makes a difference if you are holding it for long periods of time) and goes about 2 weeks without having to recharge.
As for getting books from your computer to your Kindle, you are given an email address when you buy your Kindle and you just email yourself the book. While Kindle only reads pdf, you can find free or cheap conversion programs if the original file is a different format. I send myself books all of the time and don't have to buy them from Amazon.
Hope this helps! Kindle is a great product.

Wow! And do you really find it easier on the eyes(Just like or close to real paper?)
And you can even read the IM guides and other ebooks. Marty in a few posts above, was saying that most ebooks
are not designed for kindle.

So the Kindle has a GREAT screen. Really good. Especially in bright light

Now I also have an iPad. It is tough to sit on the beach, on the deck in bright sunshine and read.

But that is the only drawback I see.

The ONLY thing I carry around 24/7 (literally - well maybe not in the shower!) is my iPad.

On all these things you can change the size of the fonts if small print is an issue for you. It is apiece of cake to load PDF's onto the iPad (in a whole variety of ways)...

Anyway my 2 cents.

Go play with the iPad at an Apple store to get a feel. It may not be for you but worth investing the 30 mins to try out

Simon

I have the first generation Kindle and I love it....am looking forward to buying the latest generation Kindle soon.

Like you, reading a lot on the computer hurts my eyes. However, the Kindle does not bother my eyes at all. It is really like reading on paper, no glare, no harsh backlight. You can take the Kindle out of doors and read perfectly in bright sunlight.

The Kindle also has the capability to increase the font size for easier reading.

I love my Kindle!!!

Wow! I think I will go ahead and buy kindle.
By the way, do you guys have a 6" screen or the 9" inches one
and is the 6" good enough?

I'm also thinking of buying a Kindle soon. The new UK version is smaller and more stylish than the US, but manage to maintain it's screen size. An ipad is too expensive, and to be honest I can't think what I would be using it for.

I too have the 6". It fits nicely into my purse so I can take it with me whenever I need to.

It is also very easy to read while in bed, on the sofa, outside or anywhere you may be. The battery lasts for quite a while also....at least a week without having to recharge.

The only think I miss is the feel and the smell of a book. (Don't know why...I just love to smell a book..my husband says I am weird)

Faraz,

If you are sick of your computer and want to curl up and read something then the Kindle is the way to go. Any new Kindle now supports PDFs. Hope this helps.

Kind Regards,
Sid Poudyal

The latest 3rd generation Kindle has built-in PDF support, so you won't have to worry about reading PDF files. The only thing that I find lacking is that it does not support ePub, but unless you borrow a lot from the library (many libraries are starting to loan out ePub digital ebooks) or already have a large collection of ePub files, this is something I'd not be overly concerned about.

If you're going to be reading PDFs, then the Kindle is great for that. Any source PDF file on your computer can be read on the Kindle (3rd generation) without any need for conversion. The latest Kindle is amazingly small and has superb battery life, and it's great for just reading for hours on end, since the screen has high contrast (just like reading a paperback book) and it is a matte screen (no glare or annoying reflections!) that can be read easily under direct sunlight or outdoors. If your primary focus is to really read stuff without being distracted (and not do things like gaming or web surfing or email), then the Kindle is absolutely perfect!

I have both a Kindle and an iPad. In my opinion, Kindle is MUCH better for reading books. iPad is like looking at a computer, it gets fingerprints on it, it's heavy, etc.

If you're going to do a lot of PDF stuff on the Kindle, go for the larger version. Otherwise, the smaller version is fine.

I have an iPad and love reading Kindle books on it. I don't have a Kindle but had a good play with one once and definitely prefer the iPad.

Plus with the iPad you can do so much more with it than any Kindle could ever do - surf the net, read emails, play games, use Twitter and Facebook, manage your day with the todo lists etc, etc etc.

Yeah ... as far as the Kindle and iPad comparison goes ... I'm on the computer all day. I don't want to carry the Internet with me everywhere I go. When I want to read a book or a pdf, I could care less about my email and the Internet.

The Kindle is actually even more portable than some hard copy books. Ever read a huge hard copy book and found your wrists getting tired after awhile. The Kindle slips into a purse, is easy to read in bed and can be taken anywhere and used without hauling something as large and conspicuous as an iPad ... like taking a good paper back with you, only thinner and lighter.

I love to read and reading is an enjoyment for me that I don't want to have screwed up with browsing the Internet and checking emails.

Run out of reading material on vacation ... hit a button and in less than 5 minutes you can have any book on Amazon that you want.