Ade-oh
Well-known
I ordered my Kindle in Spain, and while I am in Europe I can only access the Amazon shop and the English Wikipedia but not the Spanish (!) Wikipedia or any other web page at all. I have not been to the UK or US since, access may be better over there...
Hmmm. Well, I've used the browser on mine to access the web in France, Germany, Portugal and Italy; mostly to send and receive email via webmail. Are you looking in the right place on yours? On the menu on my Kindle is an 'Experimental' heading, under which is 'basic web'. This should give you 3G web access.
Ben Z
Veteran
No matter how I adjust them, those e-readers tire my eyes and eventually give me a headache. Computer screens do it too. Something about backlit vs reflected light according to my eye doctor. Printed books don't bother me. Looks like I'm stuck in the analog age at least as far as reading goes.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
No matter how I adjust them, those e-readers tire my eyes and eventually give me a headache. Computer screens do it too. Something about backlit vs reflected light according to my eye doctor. Printed books don't bother me. Looks like I'm stuck in the analog age at least as far as reading goes.
If you haven't tried a Kindle, this is the main advantage of it--it's not a backlit screen. It's rather like paper--you need a lamp to read it.
One thing I learned about computers and the iPad, most people have screen brightness set ridiculously high. If you set up, say, your laptop next to a book in reasonable light, and adjust the laptop screen to match the brightness of the light reflected from the book, you might be surprised.
sol33
Established
Hmmm. Well, I've used the browser on mine to access the web in France, Germany, Portugal and Italy; mostly to send and receive email via webmail. Are you looking in the right place on yours? On the menu on my Kindle is an 'Experimental' heading, under which is 'basic web'. This should give you 3G web access.
I did a bit of reading on the Internet. If you have your Kindle registered to an address in the US you apparently get free Internet in the US and roaming outside the US (which is not free). I can not verify this, but registering my Kindle either in Germany or Spain does not give me free Internet (except for the English Wikipedia, which is not bad). Instead it tells me: "Due to local restrictions, web browsing is not available for all countries". I wonder if I will get free web browsing in the US or the UK? Will try the next time.
ampguy
Veteran
You can use the 3G (latest version, with 3G, bought in the US) with no roaming charges for any area covered by the Amazon Whispernet service:
http://client0.cellmaps.com/tabs.html#cellmaps_intl_tab
but be sure to abide by the terms of use for your Kindle, which are region specific. For example, some kindle books can now be lent to others for 14 days, but currently this is in the US only.
If you're in the US, you can use services like lendle.me to share lendable books with others.
http://client0.cellmaps.com/tabs.html#cellmaps_intl_tab
but be sure to abide by the terms of use for your Kindle, which are region specific. For example, some kindle books can now be lent to others for 14 days, but currently this is in the US only.
If you're in the US, you can use services like lendle.me to share lendable books with others.
bhop73
Well-known
No matter how I adjust them, those e-readers tire my eyes and eventually give me a headache. Computer screens do it too. Something about backlit vs reflected light according to my eye doctor. Printed books don't bother me. Looks like I'm stuck in the analog age at least as far as reading goes.
As mabelsound mentioned already, the Kindle isn't backlit. It's pretty close to 'book-like' as far as electronic readers go. There is no refresh rate, which is probably what is really killing your eyes on monitors. The lack of page refreshing (until you turn the page) is also one of the reason the battery can last for months.
More on 'e-ink'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink
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ampguy
Veteran
Hi Ade
Hi Ade
pm sent on your book. Basically asked what it's about, how much it is, is it lendable, is there a preview, what's it called, whose the author. Thanks!
Hi Ade
pm sent on your book. Basically asked what it's about, how much it is, is it lendable, is there a preview, what's it called, whose the author. Thanks!
Hmmm. Well, I've used the browser on mine to access the web in France, Germany, Portugal and Italy; mostly to send and receive email via webmail. Are you looking in the right place on yours? On the menu on my Kindle is an 'Experimental' heading, under which is 'basic web'. This should give you 3G web access.
ZeMane
Established
Hi Roger,
I got my Kindle3 (actually bought two) about one month ago, delivered from Amazon.com (USA) to Spain. I payed about 135€ (each), including shipping and custom fees. It took 3 days to arrive to Madrid from somewhere in Nevada (Kindle's warehouse?), delivered by UPS.
I also checked prices in some european shops but could not find a cheaper one...
Cheers
I got my Kindle3 (actually bought two) about one month ago, delivered from Amazon.com (USA) to Spain. I payed about 135€ (each), including shipping and custom fees. It took 3 days to arrive to Madrid from somewhere in Nevada (Kindle's warehouse?), delivered by UPS.
I also checked prices in some european shops but could not find a cheaper one...
Cheers
Well, I'd buy a Kindle today if I could -- but I can't. I can pay for one, in dollars, with a very long delivery time and the likelihood of having to pay customs and handling fees. None of the UK stores seems willing to ship to France, despite the enormous advantages of easy shipping and no extra taxes. Does anyone know of a store in the UK that would ship to me? Note that in France they use the AZERTY keyboard, so even if I could get a French Kindle, it would drive me crazy.
As usual with Amazon, there's a nasty taste in the mouth from trying to deal with a company that wants to be a monopoly; will use every means it can to be a monopoly (including proprietary formats); and either fails to understand, or disregards, the fact that within the EU there is supposed to be free movement of goods and services.
Cheers,
R.
gilpen123
Gil
I have the Kindle 3 and the leather cover and I think it's one of the best gadget I bought in 2010. I bring it with me everywhere together with a Domke 803 and my camera.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Hi Roger,
I got my Kindle3 (actually bought two) about one month ago, delivered from Amazon.com (USA) to Spain. I payed about 135€ (each), including shipping and custom fees. It took 3 days to arrive to Madrid from somewhere in Nevada (Kindle's warehouse?), delivered by UPS.
I also checked prices in some european shops but could not find a cheaper one...
Cheers
Ah... Now that's most encouraging.
Thanks a lot,
Cheers,
R.
NickTrop
Veteran
Just - in general, and as others have stated, they're just better. Yes. E-readers are better than paper books, except anything that is a "picture book". Graphic novels, and photograph books. There is no back-light to hurt your eyes, there is no "refresh rate". You can adjust print size. They are very light, compact, and easy to carry anywhere. Some have robotic text-to-speech if you want to plod along a book while driving. They remember your page, new books cost less, there is a ton of free content available, you can get a book instantly where ever you are, and you can store 1000's of books on one - so you have access to whatever book you want when ever you want it, and there are no boxes of used unwanted books all over the place. It remembers the last page of any book you've read - no more folding pages, losing book markers, or losing your place. No more "lost" books. They hold a charge a ridiculously long time and charge up quickly... and last but not least they don't kill trees and good ones are affordable now.
Paper books that are mainly text? No advantage to them whatsoever. None. They'll be gone before film is. Everyone who resisted eReaders, including myself, did so because they "like the tactile feel of books, the smell, turing the page..." blah, blah, blah... You get past that in two seconds.
Paper books that are mainly text? No advantage to them whatsoever. None. They'll be gone before film is. Everyone who resisted eReaders, including myself, did so because they "like the tactile feel of books, the smell, turing the page..." blah, blah, blah... You get past that in two seconds.
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ampguy
Veteran
Hi Roger
Hi Roger
The keyboards are all the same, all kindles use QWERTY keyboards. There is a difference in the 3G sim cards between the European and NA models, which might impact where you can browse to, but you'll always be able to get to the Amazon store, and probably wikipedia and google if there is 3G coverage of any type.
The biggest impact is probably where you are planning to register it, which will decide what books and magazines are available to you, and the prices you pay for them. There will probably be a list of advantages and disadvantages.
Amazon says it charges VAT, but no customs or other fees are required of the European buyers, who order direct from Amazon US.
Hi Roger
The keyboards are all the same, all kindles use QWERTY keyboards. There is a difference in the 3G sim cards between the European and NA models, which might impact where you can browse to, but you'll always be able to get to the Amazon store, and probably wikipedia and google if there is 3G coverage of any type.
The biggest impact is probably where you are planning to register it, which will decide what books and magazines are available to you, and the prices you pay for them. There will probably be a list of advantages and disadvantages.
Amazon says it charges VAT, but no customs or other fees are required of the European buyers, who order direct from Amazon US.
Ah... Now that's most encouraging.
Thanks a lot,
Cheers,
R.
ampguy
Veteran
yup
yup
I used to stuff my J803 slip pocket with magazines, now it's just the lighter kindle 3. Also fits fine in the f5xb pocket.
yup
I used to stuff my J803 slip pocket with magazines, now it's just the lighter kindle 3. Also fits fine in the f5xb pocket.
I have the Kindle 3 and the leather cover and I think it's one of the best gadget I bought in 2010. I bring it with me everywhere together with a Domke 803 and my camera.
Warren T.
Well-known
I bought my Kindle 2/3G for $120 from someone who switched to an iPad. I love my Kindle. Because of the excellent E-Ink technology, I'm able to read outside in direct sunlight as if I was reading a hard copy book, and it has a reasonably long battery life (about a week or two). It lived up to its name, in that it re-kindled my interest in reading. The only downside is the dent in my wallet from buying all those e-books, due to my now voracious appetite for reading.
--Warren
--Warren
ampguy
Veteran
cool Warren
cool Warren
Let me know if you're into Romance Novels, and I'll see how we can get you some cheaper reading...
cool Warren
Let me know if you're into Romance Novels, and I'll see how we can get you some cheaper reading...
I bought my Kindle 2/3G for $120 from someone who switched to an iPad. I love my Kindle. Because of the excellent E-Ink technology, I'm able to read outside in direct sunlight as if I was reading a hard copy book, and it has a reasonably long battery life (about a week or two). It lived up to its name, in that it re-kindled my interest in reading. The only downside is the dent in my wallet from buying all those e-books, due to my now voracious appetite for reading.
--Warren
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Nick,Just - in general, and as others have stated, they're just better. Yes. E-readers are better than paper books, except anything that is a "picture book". Graphic novels, and photograph books. There is no back-light to hurt your eyes, there is no "refresh rate". You can adjust print size. They are very light, compact, and easy to carry anywhere. Some have robotic text-to-speech if you want to plod along a book while driving. They remember your page, new books cost less, there is a ton of free content available, you can get a book instantly where ever you are, and you can store 1000's of books on one - so you have access to whatever book you want when ever you want it, and there are no boxes of used unwanted books all over the place. It remembers the last page of any book you've read - no more folding pages, losing book markers, or losing your place. No more "lost" books. They hold a charge a ridiculously long time and charge up quickly... and last but not least they don't kill trees and good ones are affordable now.
Paper books that are mainly text? No advantage to them whatsoever. None. They'll be gone before film is. Everyone who resisted eReaders, including myself, did so because they "like the tactile feel of books, the smell, turing the page..." blah, blah, blah... You get past that in two seconds.
Well, maybe you did. You may be over-projecting others' reactions.
Cheers,
R.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
The keyboards are all the same, all kindles use QWERTY keyboards. There is a difference in the 3G sim cards between the European and NA models, which might impact where you can browse to, but you'll always be able to get to the Amazon store, and probably wikipedia and google if there is 3G coverage of any type.
The biggest impact is probably where you are planning to register it, which will decide what books and magazines are available to you, and the prices you pay for them. There will probably be a list of advantages and disadvantages.
Amazon says it charges VAT, but no customs or other fees are required of the European buyers, who order direct from Amazon US.
Thanks very much for that too. I am amazed that the Gauls have not yet launched a nuclear strike against non-QWERTY users. Well, all right, that's a slight exaggeration, but I have been here 8 years...
Cheers,
R.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Paper books that are mainly text? No advantage to them whatsoever. None. They'll be gone before film is. Everyone who resisted eReaders, including myself, did so because they "like the tactile feel of books, the smell, turing the page..." blah, blah, blah... You get past that in two seconds.
Mmmm...I smell claim chowder cookin'!
I do agree that e-ink readers are way better than I imagine they'd be, and will likely improve by leaps and bounds over the next few years.
ampguy
Veteran
one idea
one idea
is if you're going to be making a lot of purchases (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.), the cost of the kindle itself is cheap relative to the content. So as crazy as this might initially sound, maybe buy 2, one for you, one for Francis. Buy one from the US, and register it in the US (some folks use a friends address, or even make an adress up, and fund it with gift cards), then get the 2nd one with European HW (they have Vodafone embedded sims instead of ATT, if 3G model), from either Amazon direct, or UK seller or reliable ebayer, wherever, and register that one in FR.
Then whenever you want to buy a book, or newspaper, check the availability on both, and purchase appropriately.
An added advantage, is when traveling, chances are one may have better 3G access to the web, depending on where you are. If you use google voice (not sure if it's available in Europe?), then your cell calls can be non-roaming as well, but initiated by the mini-browser on the kindle.
one idea
is if you're going to be making a lot of purchases (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.), the cost of the kindle itself is cheap relative to the content. So as crazy as this might initially sound, maybe buy 2, one for you, one for Francis. Buy one from the US, and register it in the US (some folks use a friends address, or even make an adress up, and fund it with gift cards), then get the 2nd one with European HW (they have Vodafone embedded sims instead of ATT, if 3G model), from either Amazon direct, or UK seller or reliable ebayer, wherever, and register that one in FR.
Then whenever you want to buy a book, or newspaper, check the availability on both, and purchase appropriately.
An added advantage, is when traveling, chances are one may have better 3G access to the web, depending on where you are. If you use google voice (not sure if it's available in Europe?), then your cell calls can be non-roaming as well, but initiated by the mini-browser on the kindle.
Thanks very much for that too. I am amazed that the Gauls have not yet launched a nuclear strike against non-QWERTY users. Well, all right, that's a slight exaggeration, but I have been here 8 years...
Cheers,
R.
robklurfield
eclipse
e-books are great, but I wouldn't want a monograph of a favorite photographer on a kindle, nook or ....
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