# Everything about Kindle **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385 "2011-08-03T22:08:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![randomface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@randomface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomface)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/21 "2011-08-04T19:50:30Z")
I paid three dollars for a game on the Kindle called The Wizard of Firetop Mountain. It’s a choose your own adventure game with dice rolling and other odd features. Most entertaining three dollars I’ve spent in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/22 "2011-08-04T19:52:01Z")
It’s probably worth mentioning that the color Nook runs Android, and you can install the Kindle app on it and purchase from both Kindle and Barnes & Noble. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/23 "2011-08-04T20:32:07Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I’ve tried to read several books available from the Gutenberg Project; reading a book on a computer screen just doesn’t seem to suit me for some reason. I think the Kindle might be more compatible with my interest or ability although I don’t know why I think this. I had a similar experience. I tried reading books on a computer or on my phone but it just wasn’t very comfortable. The backlighting really strains your eyes for the kind of sustained reading we typically do with books. The e-ink on the Kindle is completely different and I am very happy with the core reading experience. Reading e-ink is like reading paper and perhaps even better sometimes. At the beginning I was a bit irritated by the screen flash when you turn pages but I got used to it in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/24 "2011-08-04T21:29:23Z")
I forgot to add a couple of things. [Here](http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=140) is a Kindle forum with tons of good information in the “stickies” as well as daily posts with loads more good info. You can join and ask the same questions as in your OP here and get replies form Kindle users only, many of whom are really experts. I don’t know anybody who loves to read books and got a Kindle who does not love it. I take it to doctor’s offices, the airport and when I am dragged shopping by my wife so I can pass the time with a good book. And do’nt forget, Amazon has a no-questions asked 30-day trial period. If you don’t like it, send it back for a full refund, with no “restocking” fees. How can you go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/25 "2011-08-04T21:35:47Z")
Interesting user name, OP post content. Well, at least to me. (The founder of Borders was also a “Louis B”, Louis Border. But I don’t think the Kobo hasn’t been mentioned yet in this thread, and probably shouldn’t be). ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/26 "2011-08-04T22:46:58Z")
Lots of good answers and plenty of good information; tons of good advice. Thanks to one and all; I appreciate your inputs. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/27 "2011-08-05T02:14:18Z")
About 6 months ago my girlfriend bought a Kindle. A month later I bought a Nook color. Fast forward 2 weeks later. My girlfriend has a Nook color. I have a Kindle. Fast forward a few weeks later. I bought my second Nook color. The Kindle now collects dust on a shelf. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/28 "2011-08-05T02:51:26Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > Amazon’s customer service is among the best I have ever encountered, and most Kindle users agree. Once you have read about the device on the Amazon site, then give customer service a call, or email them with any questions, and I think you will find them very helpful. I haven’t had occasion to use the customer service but I have posted some of my difficulties on the Amazon Kindle message board and have found the people there most helpful. I’m a bit of a technophobe\* and had a few problems initially but the users there talked me through them and I really appreciated their help. - that’s a fib - I’m a lot of a technophobe. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/29 "2011-08-05T08:06:46Z")
Just one thing. Download [Calibre](http://calibre-ebook.com/). It will convert almost any format to one a Kindle can digest. It can even remove DRM from books (with add-ons). ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/30 "2011-08-05T16:52:30Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > About 6 months ago my girlfriend bought a Kindle. A month later I bought a Nook color. Fast forward 2 weeks later. My girlfriend has a Nook color. I have a Kindle. Fast forward a few weeks later. I bought my second Nook color. The Kindle now collects dust on a shelf. > [@Mikkel](#): > > Just one thing. Download [Calibre](http://calibre-ebook.com/). It will convert almost any format to one a Kindle can digest. > It can even remove DRM from books (with add-ons). **Racer** , may I ask why? And **Mikkel** , Thanks! I run into a lot of things that are downloadable for everything but kindle. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![randomface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@randomface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomface)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/31 "2011-08-05T17:09:05Z")
I picked the Kindle because I didn’t want to mess around with removable memory and the battery life impressed me. I read the entire Game of Thrones series, up to ADWD, on one charge. That’s about 4,000 pages. Then I lost it for a month while I was moving, and when I found it again it still had enough charge to browse around in the store for a little while. ---
**Author:** ![TheBori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@TheBori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBori)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/32 "2011-08-05T17:35:35Z")
As Randomface said, the battery life is very long…not because the battery is special but because the Kindle only uses power when you turn the page. When I received my Kindle I spent a long time trying to find the edge of the plastic screen cover…Showing the tree and the words “Kindle”. Well, there was no screen cover. The image was one of several in the Kindle that are displayed when you shut off the device (or fall asleep reading). The image remains on the screen indefinately because e-ink doesn’t require power to keep it on the screen. Love my Kindle. I only use it to read books, not surf, not play games, not call my mother. It’s an ebook reader…and a good one. ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/33 "2011-08-05T17:38:22Z")
I do recommend you turn it off. Sometimes I don’t get back to it (I have a strange preference for REAL books) and it turns off on me due to lack of use. You need to slide the button on top for a few seconds and it will turn off. For some reason I didn’t know this til a year after my mom and I each got one. She knew before I did. I thought mine was faulty. lol ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/34 "2011-08-05T17:46:55Z")
I just bought a kindle with “Free 3G with special offers” option. What this means is i saved 50 bucks on the 3G and the kindle shows ads as a screen saver. It shows ads when nobody is using it. I don’t think they really thought that one through. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/35 "2011-08-05T17:47:43Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > It’s probably worth mentioning that the color Nook runs Android, and you can install the Kindle app on it and purchase from both Kindle and Barnes & Noble. You have to root the Color Nook first though, which not everyone feels comfortable doing. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/36 "2011-08-07T01:50:58Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > But **Even Sven** said the other day that she posted to the Dope using her Kindle. No one would tell me how that works. Kindles have a web browser and a keyboard, and ways to connect to the internet (all have WiFi, some can also use the cell network). So, presumably **sven** went to this website and typed in a post. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/37 "2011-08-07T02:53:16Z")
Today, I allowed myself to be talked into going to Best Buy with a friend who needed a toner cartridge for a printer. While I was there, I looked at what they had by way of Kindles and bought the very last one they had on display; if I hadn’t had it in my hand, it would have been bought by a woman I thought was going to have a hear attack because there were no more available. I bought the 3G+WI-FI -G and I hope I got what I wanted. I had to practically beat up the salesman to convince him I didn’t want every damn option he wanted me to buy; I really wish I had bought it on-line but I didn’t. I’m going to meditate on it for a couple of days before I try to make it work. I’m sure I’ll be back with more questions; maybe I should have paid to have it set up for me but I got stubborn. Anyway, if anyone convinces me I bought the wrong one, I guess I can take it back and then go on-online. Wish me well and keep those cards and letters coming. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/38 "2011-08-07T03:24:20Z")
Once you get your Kindle account set up on Amazon, “buy” some [free classics](http://www.amazon.com/s/?node=2245146011) to get some books that you can use to test out how to use the device. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/39 "2011-08-07T04:17:07Z")
> [@Caffeine.addict](#): > > You have to root the Color Nook first though, which not everyone feels comfortable doing. Not anymore. Not for several months, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385/40 "2011-08-07T10:12:19Z")
After much resistance, I finally broke down and bought one. It just makes sense for tech books because they are so big it is hard to carry all the ones I want when I work anywhere but home. I like it more than I expected to. I like that I can adjust the font so I don’t need my reading glasses. I like that it automatically takes you back to the last page you were on. I don’t like the lack of page numbers. It tells you the percentage of the book you have read, not the page you are on. It is only a small complaint. I will still buy books for pleasure reading, but for my tech books, this was a great buy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-about-kindle/591385.md?page=3)