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wovenstrap · 04-18-2009, 08:31 AM

Hello --

I'm an American who divides his time between rural Austria and Westchester County, NY. I fly back and forth once every month or two, which is a motivating factor to buying a Kindle (which I will do in about three weeks, when I am next in America).

I'm buying a Kindle mainly to read novels. It looks like I'm mainly stuck with newer novels from Amazon and public-domain novels through Project Gutenberg and similar places like this forum. If there were only a way to buy novels from the 1930-1980 period cheaply ($3?), I'd be all over that! I guess it'll happen eventually.

I don't currently own a handheld device that gives me access to the Web, so the Kindle's browser and wireless access was also a key factor. I am not expecting great browsing capability, but that's OK, I just want to be able to check my email or the news in a pinch if I'm on a bus or something. I understand that service will not be available in Austria, which is OK. I just hope they don't start charging monthly fees for that service!

I'm a little concerned about the lack of autonomy, which I suppose you also cover here -- that is, that the books don't really belong to us in any long-term sense. But again, that'll get worked out over time.

04-18-2009, 08:31 AM	#1
wovenstrap Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kindle	Servus from Austria and NYC Hello -- I'm an American who divides his time between rural Austria and Westchester County, NY. I fly back and forth once every month or two, which is a motivating factor to buying a Kindle (which I will do in about three weeks, when I am next in America). I'm buying a Kindle mainly to read novels. It looks like I'm mainly stuck with newer novels from Amazon and public-domain novels through Project Gutenberg and similar places like this forum. If there were only a way to buy novels from the 1930-1980 period cheaply ($3?), I'd be all over that! I guess it'll happen eventually. I don't currently own a handheld device that gives me access to the Web, so the Kindle's browser and wireless access was also a key factor. I am not expecting great browsing capability, but that's OK, I just want to be able to check my email or the news in a pinch if I'm on a bus or something. I understand that service will not be available in Austria, which is OK. I just hope they don't start charging monthly fees for that service! I'm a little concerned about the lack of autonomy, which I suppose you also cover here -- that is, that the books don't really belong to us in any long-term sense. But again, that'll get worked out over time.