# Amazon Kindle; A Few Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061 "2009-07-24T00:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/41 "2009-08-04T14:36:00Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Can you get magazine and newspaper subscriptions on your Kindle? It might be worth $300 to clear out the magazine backlog piling up on my coffee table. Yes – the catch is that for a lot of magazines, black-and-white is a limitation I find unacceptable. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/42 "2009-08-04T14:51:21Z")
> [@Prepaid](#): > > You can copy stuff between the Kindle and your computer via USB. Backup whatever you want. Thanks for letting me know about that. Even though I own a Kindle 2, and have transferred files to it, I had assumed that I couldn’t back up Kindle books to my local computer. > [@](#): > > Buy ebooks from anywhere and put them on your computer. Freeware convert to a public format. Copy to the Kindle via USB. Right, but it’s not easy to go the other way: from Amazon .azw format to an open format, because most Kindle books are protected by DRM (digital rights management). > [@](#): > > Like all electronics, there will be something better in a few [del]years[/del] **weeks**. Enjoy it now or do without - it’s your choice. I corrected your typo above. If I had had any inkling about the Kindle DX when they launched the Kindle 2 last spring, I might very well have waited a couple of months for it. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/43 "2009-08-04T19:28:48Z")
I have a Kindle 2 that I bought probably back in February. > [@Otter\_Snacks](#): > > Do you have experience with a Kindle? I was considering getting one, and wanted some feedback whether it was easily-readable, scratch-resistant, good on battery, worth the $300 price tag, etc. 1.) Easily readable: Very yes. 2.) Scratch resistant: I use the $30 Amazon cover and I have zero damage to my Kindle, despite the fact that it’s usually shoved in my purse or tossed on my bed. 3.) Good on battery: With the wireless off, a charge lasts for a loooooong time. 4.) Worth the price tag: For me ($360 or so is what it cost then), it was absolutely worth it. There are a few caveats, which I will get to. > [@](#): > > Is Amazon the only store where you can make downloads and purchases? I’m cost-conscious now, and was wondering if some public domain works could be gotten cheaply 1.) Amazon is the only vendor who will automatically deliver your purchases via their Whispernet. 2.) You can pay Amazon $0.10 per item to convert and upload other files via Whispernet. 3.) You can have Amazon convert other files for free, but you then have to manually upload them using the USB cable (very easy, just drag-and-drop). 4.) Even on Amazon, there are many free public domain books, **which include free Whispernet delivery**. > [@](#): > > Apparently, some Orwell books (1984 and Animal Farm, ironically enough) were mass-deleted from Kindles after an issue was found with the licensing of the books. [snip] Has this soured you on your Kindle, or on the possibility of getting one? This only applies to books that you’ve purchased from them that they’ve uploaded. I’m not worried about it. On to the caveats! A Kindle is great \*\*if \*\*you have a lot of other ebooks you can convert and upload, and/or you plan to use its browser, and/or you intend to get one or more newspaper/periodical subscriptions. If your main plan is to buy a bunch of Kindle versions of books, you’d better be prepared to drop a lot of money on files that will not be portable to any other system and will often cost more than a paperback version–and a \*\*lot \*\*more than a used paperback. I love my Kindle and I’d buy it again–but I purchase very few Kindle books, I download quite a few free Kindle books, I convert & upload a lot of ebooks I’ve gotten from other places, I make frequent use of the browser, and I’m frequently using my Kindle in places where it would be less convenient to carry one or more physical books–on the bus to work or on planes/trains for longer trips. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/44 "2009-08-05T00:00:37Z")
OK, so I want someone to ‘sell’ me a Kindle. I really do like the idea of it, as I’m a gadget person, but here’s what I can’t get past: The Godfather and Princess Bride are my favorite books. However at most I read them every year or two. Other than that… Positives: Great for subscription type services, i.e. newspapers and magazines. Wikipedia (to what extent is full web browsing available? Could I check my email?) Negatives: Don’t get color photos on newspaper and magazine subscriptions. If I’ve already read it, I’m probably not reading it again. I would like to put some technical books on there if it’s possible, but I’m guessing not. The idea of ‘borrowing’ a book is gone. I frequently read a book because it was recommended (and loaned) to me by a friend. So, can someone convince me to buy a Kindle? Or is it just not for me? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/45 "2009-08-05T00:05:00Z")
I would buy one for $150-$200 but I can’t see paying that price when I can get a full blown laptop for $500 or less. I guess there is no reason for them to lower the price now since it sells well. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/46 "2009-08-05T17:20:36Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > to what extent is full web browsing available? Could I check my email? The browser is currently still in beta and pretty limited–I haven’t even tried to get to my email on it. But it works fine for reading simple, text-based sites like Wikipedia and blogs, especially anything with a mobile version of the site. > [@](#): > > Don’t get color photos on newspaper and magazine subscriptions. The B&W images are \*\*much \*\*higher quality on the Kindle 2 than on the first one. > [@](#): > > If I’ve already read it, I’m probably not reading it again. That’s a big problem if you plan on buying Kindle books–you can’t re-sell them. > [@](#): > > I would like to put some technical books on there if it’s possible, but I’m guessing not. Depends what format you have them in. The new Kindle DX can even natively support PDFs. > [@](#): > > The idea of ‘borrowing’ a book is gone. I frequently read a book because it was recommended (and loaned) to me by a friend. I still borrow books from friends–they’re just not the same ones I read on my Kindle. You can share ebooks (in the sense of “physically” can–whether or not it’s legal depends on the book) as long as (a) they don’t have some kind of DRM and (b) they’re a format that can be converted to work on the Kindle. ---
**Author:** ![Otter\_Snacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e8c25b/32.png) [@Otter\_Snacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otter_Snacks)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/47 "2009-08-07T07:31:26Z")
All is not good with my Kindle. It freezes completely about twice a day (sometimes more). The screen locks up, none of the buttons work, and I have to restart it by holding the power button for 10 seconds. Then, it will reboot and my most recent pages won’t be bookmarked and my index is all screwed up because the process of rebooting messes with the clock. This actually pisses me off a good deal. I don’t mind the occasional freeze-up, but if my computer OS, with its multiple layers of drivers and software, can go months without issue, than a list of PDF (or whatever proprietary format they’re using) files should be able to do the same. And a quick search of Google shows me that this isn’t an unheard of problem, for either generation of the Kindle. For some background info, the freezing issue happens at all levels of battery power, and I only have 30 books on the thing. Considering this thing is brand-new and the price of a low-end PC, I’m not very forgiving about it. I guess the response from Amazon’s tech people will determine whether I try and send it back or not. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/48 "2009-08-07T16:47:59Z")
I’ve had my Kindle freeze maybe twice. Sounds like you just got stuck with a lemon. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/49 "2009-08-08T02:46:36Z")
> [@BaconAndEggs](#): > > If you can browse the web wireless and free AND you can find a site to download free books,magazines,newspapers then I’ll buy it. I don’t want to buy $10 books to add to it. [Project Gutenberg[/URL [URL=“http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main\_Page”]Google Books](http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page) [Book Stacks](http://www.bookstacks.org/) [Feedbooks](http://feedbooks.com/) [ManyBooks](http://manybooks.net/) Also, see your preferred torrent site for more books as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/50 "2009-08-08T03:05:27Z")
Are there any color devices similar to the Kindle coming down the pipeline? If I could read comics in full color without scrolling around to see the whole page, I’d be sold. ---
**Author:** ![Otter\_Snacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e8c25b/32.png) [@Otter\_Snacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otter_Snacks)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/51 "2009-08-08T05:17:21Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > I’ve had my Kindle freeze maybe twice. Sounds like you just got stuck with a lemon. ☹ I talked to Amazon tech support earlier today, and they told me it was a rare problem caused by one of the files being incorrectly indexed. I had the Kindle reindex all my books, and hopefully that will be the fix. If it’s not that, then a factory reset should do it. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/52 "2009-08-08T15:07:04Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > When I got my Kindle 2 about four months ago, Amazon was claiming 230,000 titles. Today it’s 300,000. AFAIK, this is vastly more than any other e-book reader, to say nothing of the fact that it can also read HTML, Word, and PDF files. [Barnes and Noble challenge Kindle](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124812243356966275.html) Barnes and Noble just bought Fictionwise ([Ereader.com](http://Ereader.com)) and will be using the .pdb format to sell their books. They say they’ll have 700,000 books online shortly and a million within a year. They’re also coming out with their own reader, but their ereader software is also available for most portable devices. I’ve been using the thing for years on my Palm Lifedrive. No, I can’t download from the internet, but I have almost a thousand titles already on my Palm. I think I can wait until I get home to my computer to download more if need be. I’ve got a program from Ereader that allows me to make a book from any format I can copy from, so I don’t care if the book came on pdf, txt, html, word, or whatever. It says in the link that Sony has 200,000 books. Not a small sum. And [BooksOnBoard](http://www.booksonboard.com/index.html) supposedly has over 200,000 as well. I’d pick an ereader based on how portable it is and how well it does what you want it to do. Personally, I would avoid those that don’t allow you to store books you’ve purchased from them on your own hardware. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/53 "2009-08-08T16:04:43Z")
> [@Prepaid](#): > > Amazon does not back up your Kindle. They just keep track of what they sold you. They only keep a few issues of magazines - no idea on newspapers or blogs. While technically not a backup, it _is_ possible to re-download any _book_ purchased through Amazon via their site indefinitely (I believe the limitations on periodicals are placed by the publishers). And of course, as you say, you can do your own backup once you connect the device via USB. > [@Cisco](#): > > Are there any color devices similar to the Kindle coming down the pipeline? If I could read comics in full color without scrolling around to see the whole page, I’d be sold. There’s a prototypical color LCD-type reader from Fujitsu scheduled for release in Japan according to a March [Technology Review](http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22332/page1/) piece, and there’s talk in that article about ongoing research in developing color e-ink (of the type currently in use by the Kindle, and, I believe, the Sony reader). It doesn’t sound like any color models are going to be readily available before the end of next year at the earliest. ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/54 "2009-08-08T20:08:06Z")
Here’s a few noteworthy developments coming down the pipeline. First is a [product](http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/07/pixel-qis-3qi-lcd-screen-sized-up-with-kindle-cto-sheds-light/)being developed by PixelQi. This is full-fledged LCD screen, but apparently has some clever design enabling it to be very visible in direct sunlight. As an LCD, it can display a full range of colors. I don’t know what the price or battery life of this device will be, though. Also, the much-touted [Plastic Logic eReader](http://plasticlogic.com/) will [apparently](http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/irex-readying-wireless-e-reader-while-plastic-logics-rival-snag/)be $300, or very close to it. I hope this isn’t just some marketing gimmick and that the price really is that low. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/55 "2009-08-10T16:56:28Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Are there any color devices similar to the Kindle coming down the pipeline? If I could read comics in full color without scrolling around to see the whole page, I’d be sold. Laptop + CDisplay. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/56 "2009-08-13T00:58:28Z")
hmmm… I’m really surprised that the Kindle is so expensive. Heck, I can do the same stuff on my RIM Storm. And my Accer Net Book. I would like to buy a book reader for my Wife, but she doesn’t need a Storm or iPhone. Or a netbook. She does not want one. I agree. She uses our netbook. But $300 just for the privledge of buying books and displaying them? Silly, the marketing is really not working on the hardware for ebook readers. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/57 "2009-08-13T01:19:48Z")
Too expensive, too limited, too controlled by others. I’ll wait for another version. Meanwhile, books are great. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/58 "2009-08-13T01:32:32Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > hmmm… > > I’m really surprised that the Kindle is so expensive. Heck, I can do the same stuff on my RIM Storm. And my Accer Net Book. > > I would like to buy a book reader for my Wife, but she doesn’t need a Storm or iPhone. Or a netbook. She does not want one. I agree. She uses our netbook. > > But $300 just for the privledge of buying books and displaying them? > > Silly, the marketing is really not working on the hardware for ebook readers. I’m guessing you can’t read The Stand on one charge for your netbook. The Kindle can go something like 5,000 page turns without recharging. Also it uses reflected light, not emitted light, so you wont have the eyestrain you get from reading on a LCD. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/59 "2009-08-13T01:41:55Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Laptop + CDisplay. 😛 I have that, but 1. I don’t like carrying my laptop around. And it’s 2 or 3 times as big as a Kindle with a battery that doesn’t last nearly as long. 2. You still have to scroll around to see the whole page in CDisplay. (That might just be a reality of reading digital comics or it might be because all the ones I’ve read have been scanned too large.) ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061/60 "2009-08-13T03:23:04Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I’m guessing you can’t read The Stand on one charge for your netbook. The Kindle can go something like 5,000 page turns without recharging. Most people don’t go that far away from power for that to make a difference. Certainly, if you are that far away, then the benefit of wireless access to download books on the Kindle is probably affected, too. > [@](#): > > Also it uses reflected light, not emitted light, so you wont have the eyestrain you get from reading on a LCD. Reflected light is what causes eye strain on an LCD panel. I read my PALM at night in bed for the most part. The amount of light it produces is minimal, much less than a nightstand light that a person reading a book would need. It doesn’t keep my wife awake like she does with me when she is reading and all the lights are on. It is harder to read outside, but then when I’m outside I’m usually doing some ‘outside’ activity, of which reading is low on that list. Plus, I can turn up the brightness to compensate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-kindle-a-few-questions/504061.md?page=4)