How often do you see Kindles in public? - Page 3

carld · 09-30-2010, 11:58 AM

I've seen one Kindle, which is more than the combined number of iPads, Sonys, Kobos and Nooks that I've seen.

TenaciousBadger · 09-30-2010, 12:09 PM

i know this sounds like majorly paranoid but i'm thinking the Kindle is a prime candidate for being snatched from my hands while on the street.
it's bigger than a cell phone, it;s noticeable, there;s quite lots of space for someone else to make a grab for it, since i'll either hold it from the side or the lower half. also, when i read, my attention is riveted to the book and i don't notice people around me.
i prefer to read inside. i bought it mainly to stop depending so much on the computer.

yep, it's confirmed, p-a-r-a-n-o-i-d

DaAfroSheenQueen · 09-30-2010, 12:19 PM

I live in DC so I see a fair amount of Kindles (all generations), ipads, nooks, and people reading on thier iphones, ipods, and blackberrys on my metro ride daily. I also see TONS of people reading paperbacks (that used to be me). Just about everyday, someone asks me how it is reading on the kindle because they have been thinking about getting one (or another reader).

Of people I know personally, I know several people w/ Sony readers and nooks. I'm the only kindle owner. Surprisingly, the reason that most people give for not getting the kindle is that until recently, you couldn't see it in person and try it out until you ordered one and most people don't like buying electronics that way.

ChaoZ · 09-30-2010, 01:20 PM

Have not seen one yet. Then again, I don't use public transit to get to work and don't live/work near the city's core.

sunnysmiles · 09-30-2010, 01:35 PM

I have never seen a kindle before I bought mine yesterday . Ordered it it before 11.30 am and was delivered by 10.05 in the evening .

ManosHandsOfFate · 09-30-2010, 01:51 PM

I ride the subway in Chicago almost every work day. I probably see a Kindle 2 to 3 times a month. I've started seeing iPads just about as often.

kindlekitten · 09-30-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnysmiles

I have never seen a kindle before I bought mine yesterday . Ordered it it before 11.30 am and was delivered by 10.05 in the evening .

w0w!!!!

thinkpad · 09-30-2010, 02:04 PM

I hardly see any e-readers here in Norway. I think this has to do with the fact that very few Norwegian titles are available in any e-book format. Recently I did however see one with a Kindle on the plane from France to Norway.

pinopao · 09-30-2010, 02:09 PM

Never seen one here in Italy, and I think it's gonna take a little while... maybe after Xmas 2011

I think we Italians are more attracted to cell phones (everybody but me, it seems

)

But I tihnk there are two important factors for the spreading of e-readers to consider:

1) Availability of the devices at a decent price. Most electronic stores carry them now here too, but the cheapest I've seen is 199€... just 99€ more than the fair price for a market penetration, imho.

2) Availability of ebooks in Italian. No need to say more...

Alisa · 09-30-2010, 02:19 PM

I've seen a few, probably a couple dozen over the last three years, mostly when flying. When my husband commuted by train he said he saw a few people with them a week. He saw one Sony, too. I know four other people with Kindles and one that regularly reads ebooks on his Android phone. Of course, I'm surprised how rarely I see people reading books in public.

Most of my public reading is when I'm waiting at the doctor's office or some other kind of waiting room. I'll generally see a couple people pick up the free magazines, about half are doing something on their phone (maybe reading). The rest are staring into space. Occasionally there is one other person besides me reading a paper book. I actually saw one person reading a K2 while at the lab the other day. That was my first hospital ebook reader sighting.

Bookworm_Girl · 09-30-2010, 02:41 PM

A very interesting question! I am surprised they are not spotted more often. I saw a Kindle 1 once when they first came out - a lady reading in a deli at lunchtime. I saw a Kindle 2 while sitting in an airport lounge a few months ago and somebody else on that same flight also had one. I haven't seen any in coffee shops around me. Macbooks are the must be seen with gadget at my local Starbucks. I haven't seen any iPads in the wild yet either. I see most people playing with their cell phones while waiting. I still get funny looks by people when they see my ereader. I try to sell as many people as I can on the ereading benefits!

ylsul · 09-30-2010, 03:14 PM

I have not seen many kindles in the wild, although the last plane trip I took, I saw at least 4 Kindles onboard (not including my own).

boswd · 09-30-2010, 03:53 PM

that's interesting you started this thread. I was thinking the same thing the other day. I commute in and out of Boston and real books completley dominate. I see a Kindle here and there, a nook here and there and maybe a Sony but the clear choice is regular books.

ManosHandsOfFate · 09-30-2010, 05:45 PM

I'm a bit surprised I don't see them more on my commute. I would think they'd be even more appealing to travelers. If I just sat around at home reading, I'm not sure I would have even considered buying one.

Exer · 09-30-2010, 08:22 PM

This is slightly off-topic, but I thought I'd leave my 2cents here.

I've "found" a total of 3 Kindles while working for an airline here at the Anchorage International Airport. All 3 of them had been left behind on the plane after the passengers had already left. We have a policy that we aren't allowed to invade the privacy of any passenger, so if a cellphone is left behind, we aren't allowed to answer the phone or check the address book to see who the owner is.

We have to put each item in a lockbox and hold it for 2 weeks while waiting for the owner to call in and claim the item. It seems kind of ridiculous, when you can so easily find the owner with a quick look, but that is the policy. The manager has to personally check a wallet or purse, for example, and contact the owner, but us little guys aren't allowed to do the same.

After 2 weeks, whoever found the item (anything aside from wallets / purses / passports, etc) in the plane is allowed to claim it.

Luckily, all 3 kindles were quickly reclaimed by their owners, but you wouldn't believe the amount of things that are never called in for. I've seen an ankle length "real" fur coat go unclaimed, dozens of laptops, cellphones, portable DVD players. Tons of iPods, headphones, earbuds. Literally thousands of pairs of glasses and sunglasses, hundreds of books. Shoes, earrings ... the list goes on and on.

Now, I know some people would be reading this and saying "How could you keep something that isn't yours, when you could easily find the owner?" Once again, I have to point to the fact that it is company policy. If I came home and started to personally research the owner of a lost iPod, and return it to them -- if that grateful traveler then called in to the airline to leave their thanks and well wishes for an honest airline employee, I'd lose my job. Literally. I've seen it happen more than once. It is a completely unfair and backward policy, but it is policy nonetheless.

So, all I can say to you travelers: put your name on things. Sounds simple, but it works. If we see a sticker on the OUTSIDE of your items, with your name, we can quickly run it up to the ticket counter and have you paged to come back for it. Believe me, we get through these planes quick, we usually find your lost items before you are even gathered around the luggage claim. Do yourself a favor, buy some little removable stickers, write your name and seat # on it, maybe even the flight #. Stick it on your laptops, books, iPods, etc. Put it on a spot that we can see without needing to open anything and violate that stupid privacy policy. A couple quick seconds with a sticker can save you hundreds of dollars.

Help me help you. As the saying goes.

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09-30-2010, 11:58 AM	#31
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I've seen one Kindle, which is more than the combined number of iPads, Sonys, Kobos and Nooks that I've seen.

09-30-2010, 12:09 PM	#32
TenaciousBadger Mrawr? Posts: 1,109 Karma: 15039064 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kindle 3 wifi	i know this sounds like majorly paranoid but i'm thinking the Kindle is a prime candidate for being snatched from my hands while on the street. it's bigger than a cell phone, it;s noticeable, there;s quite lots of space for someone else to make a grab for it, since i'll either hold it from the side or the lower half. also, when i read, my attention is riveted to the book and i don't notice people around me. i prefer to read inside. i bought it mainly to stop depending so much on the computer. yep, it's confirmed, p-a-r-a-n-o-i-d

09-30-2010, 12:19 PM	#33
DaAfroSheenQueen Member Posts: 17 Karma: 36 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Washington DC Device: Kindle, iphone 3GS, netbook	I live in DC so I see a fair amount of Kindles (all generations), ipads, nooks, and people reading on thier iphones, ipods, and blackberrys on my metro ride daily. I also see TONS of people reading paperbacks (that used to be me). Just about everyday, someone asks me how it is reading on the kindle because they have been thinking about getting one (or another reader). Of people I know personally, I know several people w/ Sony readers and nooks. I'm the only kindle owner. Surprisingly, the reason that most people give for not getting the kindle is that until recently, you couldn't see it in person and try it out until you ordered one and most people don't like buying electronics that way.

09-30-2010, 01:20 PM	#34
ChaoZ Connoisseur Posts: 94 Karma: 192 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Mini, Kobo Touch	Have not seen one yet. Then again, I don't use public transit to get to work and don't live/work near the city's core.

09-30-2010, 01:35 PM	#35
sunnysmiles Addict Posts: 279 Karma: 1188010 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Device: I pad air, kindle pw2 and kindle touch , kindle had fire Nook pad nook	I have never seen a kindle before I bought mine yesterday . Ordered it it before 11.30 am and was delivered by 10.05 in the evening .

09-30-2010, 01:51 PM	#36
ManosHandsOfFate Addict Posts: 298 Karma: 1537324 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chicago Device: Nook, K3, Fire, Nexus 7	I ride the subway in Chicago almost every work day. I probably see a Kindle 2 to 3 times a month. I've started seeing iPads just about as often.

09-30-2010, 02:04 PM	#38
thinkpad David Posts: 1,808 Karma: 8916183 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Norway Device: Kindle, E.Edge (sold), Irex Iliad (retired)	I hardly see any e-readers here in Norway. I think this has to do with the fact that very few Norwegian titles are available in any e-book format. Recently I did however see one with a Kindle on the plane from France to Norway.

09-30-2010, 02:09 PM	#39
pinopao Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Italia Device: kindle 3	Never seen one here in Italy, and I think it's gonna take a little while... maybe after Xmas 2011 I think we Italians are more attracted to cell phones (everybody but me, it seems ) But I tihnk there are two important factors for the spreading of e-readers to consider: 1) Availability of the devices at a decent price. Most electronic stores carry them now here too, but the cheapest I've seen is 199€... just 99€ more than the fair price for a market penetration, imho. 2) Availability of ebooks in Italian. No need to say more...

09-30-2010, 02:19 PM	#40
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I've seen a few, probably a couple dozen over the last three years, mostly when flying. When my husband commuted by train he said he saw a few people with them a week. He saw one Sony, too. I know four other people with Kindles and one that regularly reads ebooks on his Android phone. Of course, I'm surprised how rarely I see people reading books in public. Most of my public reading is when I'm waiting at the doctor's office or some other kind of waiting room. I'll generally see a couple people pick up the free magazines, about half are doing something on their phone (maybe reading). The rest are staring into space. Occasionally there is one other person besides me reading a paper book. I actually saw one person reading a K2 while at the lab the other day. That was my first hospital ebook reader sighting.

09-30-2010, 02:41 PM	#41
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	A very interesting question! I am surprised they are not spotted more often. I saw a Kindle 1 once when they first came out - a lady reading in a deli at lunchtime. I saw a Kindle 2 while sitting in an airport lounge a few months ago and somebody else on that same flight also had one. I haven't seen any in coffee shops around me. Macbooks are the must be seen with gadget at my local Starbucks. I haven't seen any iPads in the wild yet either. I see most people playing with their cell phones while waiting. I still get funny looks by people when they see my ereader. I try to sell as many people as I can on the ereading benefits!

09-30-2010, 03:14 PM	#42
ylsul Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 53 Join Date: Mar 2007	I have not seen many kindles in the wild, although the last plane trip I took, I saw at least 4 Kindles onboard (not including my own).

09-30-2010, 03:53 PM	#43
boswd Banned Posts: 2,391 Karma: 1001781 Join Date: May 2010 Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X	that's interesting you started this thread. I was thinking the same thing the other day. I commute in and out of Boston and real books completley dominate. I see a Kindle here and there, a nook here and there and maybe a Sony but the clear choice is regular books.

09-30-2010, 05:45 PM	#44
ManosHandsOfFate Addict Posts: 298 Karma: 1537324 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chicago Device: Nook, K3, Fire, Nexus 7	I'm a bit surprised I don't see them more on my commute. I would think they'd be even more appealing to travelers. If I just sat around at home reading, I'm not sure I would have even considered buying one.

09-30-2010, 08:22 PM	#45
Exer I see Russia! Posts: 205 Karma: 234787 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alaska Device: Etch-A-Sketch	This is slightly off-topic, but I thought I'd leave my 2cents here. I've "found" a total of 3 Kindles while working for an airline here at the Anchorage International Airport. All 3 of them had been left behind on the plane after the passengers had already left. We have a policy that we aren't allowed to invade the privacy of any passenger, so if a cellphone is left behind, we aren't allowed to answer the phone or check the address book to see who the owner is. We have to put each item in a lockbox and hold it for 2 weeks while waiting for the owner to call in and claim the item. It seems kind of ridiculous, when you can so easily find the owner with a quick look, but that is the policy. The manager has to personally check a wallet or purse, for example, and contact the owner, but us little guys aren't allowed to do the same. After 2 weeks, whoever found the item (anything aside from wallets / purses / passports, etc) in the plane is allowed to claim it. Luckily, all 3 kindles were quickly reclaimed by their owners, but you wouldn't believe the amount of things that are never called in for. I've seen an ankle length "real" fur coat go unclaimed, dozens of laptops, cellphones, portable DVD players. Tons of iPods, headphones, earbuds. Literally thousands of pairs of glasses and sunglasses, hundreds of books. Shoes, earrings ... the list goes on and on. Now, I know some people would be reading this and saying "How could you keep something that isn't yours, when you could easily find the owner?" Once again, I have to point to the fact that it is company policy. If I came home and started to personally research the owner of a lost iPod, and return it to them -- if that grateful traveler then called in to the airline to leave their thanks and well wishes for an honest airline employee, I'd lose my job. Literally. I've seen it happen more than once. It is a completely unfair and backward policy, but it is policy nonetheless. So, all I can say to you travelers: put your name on things. Sounds simple, but it works. If we see a sticker on the OUTSIDE of your items, with your name, we can quickly run it up to the ticket counter and have you paged to come back for it. Believe me, we get through these planes quick, we usually find your lost items before you are even gathered around the luggage claim. Do yourself a favor, buy some little removable stickers, write your name and seat # on it, maybe even the flight #. Stick it on your laptops, books, iPods, etc. Put it on a spot that we can see without needing to open anything and violate that stupid privacy policy. A couple quick seconds with a sticker can save you hundreds of dollars. Help me help you. As the saying goes.