MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

Alanis · 12-17-2010, 11:38 AM

Unfortunately, I don't think you'll get a Kindle this side of Christmas - still, if it's what she'd really like then a fantastic New Year present is better than a "very good" gift under the tree.

Personally, I'd recommend waiting for the Kindle, especially since the difference is a matter of days - in the meantime you could give her an Amazon voucher so she can go online and start choosing herself some ebooks. The range of Kindle books available is very impressive and they are far cheaper than other ebook stores in many cases, since Amazon has a price-matching policy. Also, the long battery life, improved screen and excellent customer service make the Kindle a very attractive prospect.

I can't comment on the Sony other than to say that the ebook store it's linked to is quite expensive and limited compared to Amazon (which is what put me off buying one). However, I do have a Samsung E60 and the battery life is much better than advertised if you turn Wifi off when not in use and avoid making annotations with the pen unless necessary - I tend to get a good two weeks of solid reading out of it in that case, and I'm doing a Literature degree so read a lot. It suits my degree as I like being able to underline and annotate with a pen, and it reads epubs, txt and pdf files well so all of the free classics can be read on it as well as newer, purchase-only ebooks.

I'm now getting a Kindle as well because my dissertation will be focusing on science fiction and Amazon's Kindle Store is a goldmine for any sci-fi fan, I worked out that it will be cheaper for me overall to buy things from there than to pay p+p on lots of paperbacks and pulp magazines. Although the Samsung is ideal for my studies and will still be my main reader for university work, it is too expensive for just "leisure reading" in my opinion and the fact that Samsung is no longer making them means that customer support probably won't be available if you have problems with it or want to buy replacement batteries, leads etc in the future.

Hope that helps you to weigh up the pros and cons!

12-17-2010, 11:38 AM	#2
Alanis Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 60 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: I am a citizen of somewhere else :) Device: Kindle 3	Unfortunately, I don't think you'll get a Kindle this side of Christmas - still, if it's what she'd really like then a fantastic New Year present is better than a "very good" gift under the tree. Personally, I'd recommend waiting for the Kindle, especially since the difference is a matter of days - in the meantime you could give her an Amazon voucher so she can go online and start choosing herself some ebooks. The range of Kindle books available is very impressive and they are far cheaper than other ebook stores in many cases, since Amazon has a price-matching policy. Also, the long battery life, improved screen and excellent customer service make the Kindle a very attractive prospect. I can't comment on the Sony other than to say that the ebook store it's linked to is quite expensive and limited compared to Amazon (which is what put me off buying one). However, I do have a Samsung E60 and the battery life is much better than advertised if you turn Wifi off when not in use and avoid making annotations with the pen unless necessary - I tend to get a good two weeks of solid reading out of it in that case, and I'm doing a Literature degree so read a lot. It suits my degree as I like being able to underline and annotate with a pen, and it reads epubs, txt and pdf files well so all of the free classics can be read on it as well as newer, purchase-only ebooks. I'm now getting a Kindle as well because my dissertation will be focusing on science fiction and Amazon's Kindle Store is a goldmine for any sci-fi fan, I worked out that it will be cheaper for me overall to buy things from there than to pay p+p on lots of paperbacks and pulp magazines. Although the Samsung is ideal for my studies and will still be my main reader for university work, it is too expensive for just "leisure reading" in my opinion and the fact that Samsung is no longer making them means that customer support probably won't be available if you have problems with it or want to buy replacement batteries, leads etc in the future. Hope that helps you to weigh up the pros and cons!