Is it worth it to buy a Kindle

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The implication of your statement is that you are tied to Amazon. Does it matter if you buy a non-DRMed book for a Kindle and side load it your Kindle or a DRMed book for your Nook and side load it?

Since I specifically said you were tied to Amazon for DRM, there was no implication that you were tied to Amazon for other books. Further, I would argue that no reasonable person would even infer that what I said suggested that you were tied to Amazon for anything other than DRM'd books.

All of the major bookstores use a DRM. All of the major bookstores prefer you to buy books through their book store. Not all E-Pub readers allow you to read the DRMed version of a book that is not using their DRM. That is why it was a big deal when the Nook came out and allowed people to easily load the DRMed works from other sites.

I guess things depend on how you define major bookstores. Here is the basic facts. For dedicated ebook readers (not software based readers), there are what, 4 types of DRM out there. There is Kindle DRM, there is Mobi DRM, there is Adobe Adept and there is Adobe eReader DRM. Mobi is slowly (well maybe not slowly) dying away as a DRM'd format on dedicated readers. That leaves two flavors of ePub and Kindle. Outside of Amazon, as far as I know, only one major bookstore doesn't support Adobe Adept DRM and that is Barnes and Noble. The Nook, Jetbook and the Pandigital readers (I know the color ones kind of suck, but I have hope for the SiPix one...) allow you to read both Adept and eReader. Pretty much every newer reader, except the Kindles, support Adept...

Oh wait, I forgot, there is Apple DRM.. but since you can use either Kindle or Nook software on it, you can use pretty much any store you want to read books on iPads and iPhones!

So no ereader, except Amazon, ties you as closely to their store for buying DRM'd books. Most ebook stores that sell DRM'd ePubs, including Kobo, Sony, Borders, Fictionwise, Books on Board and I am sure others I have missed supports Adobe Adept and thus can be read on the vast majority of readers (except the Kindle).

There are many reasons why someone might not buy a Kindle, love of EPub is one of them, but the notion that the Kindle is that much more tied to their bookstore then other e-readers, even E-Pub e-readers is wrong.

Look, I am not bashing the Kindle. I am not even saying being tied to Amazon for DRM'd books is a bad thing (well except philosophically). Amazon has the best selection and usually the best prices on DRM'd books.

However, to claim that Kindle does not ties you more closely to Amazon than most ebook readers tie you to their parent stores (if any!) is just plain wrong. In fact, I don't know of a single ebook reader (not counting software) that ties you as closely to a book store as the Kindle. In fact, if there is one, please let me know what that reader is!

And your final statement is "Personally, I don't want to be tied to Amazon, and I do want the option of using libraries, so I won't be getting a Kindle, but I can hardly blame anyone who does."

Yes? And your point? Or are you assuming that this sentence, taken out of context of the entire post I made proves I am trying to convince people that they have no sources of books for the Kindle that are not from Amazon? What are you trying to run for Congress? Taken in context, with the rest of what I wrote in that post, I think makes it clear that I was referring to being tied to Amazon for DRM'd books. Or do you require I use that phrase every time?

--
Bill

[frmniantic]

Whoa. Wow, I truly did not mean to stir the pot with my question. I absolutely love this forum. I have learned so much just reading the posts daily. Everyone here is just awesome. I never would have purchased an e-reader if not for this forum and the information that people so generously share. I learned about being able to borrow library books with both my readers - I learned about the Free Library of Philadelphia (50 books at a time - Score!), accessories, free books, etc. I have become addicted to e-reading.....

Please accept my apology - Susan

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by frmniantic

Whoa. Wow, I truly did not mean to stir the pot with my question. I absolutely love this forum. I have learned so much just reading the posts daily. Everyone here is just awesome. I never would have purchased an e-reader if not for this forum and the information that people so generously share. I learned about being able to borrow library books with both my readers - I learned about the Free Library of Philadelphia (50 books at a time - Score!), accessories, free books, etc. I have become addicted to e-reading.....

Please accept my apology - Susan

You have nothing to apologise for.

Kindle owners constantly have to remind people that they are only 'constrained to one format and one store" if they CHOOSE to be........

This is an old, ongoing argument. You'll soon get used to it!

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by frmniantic

Whoa. Wow, I truly did not mean to stir the pot with my question. I absolutely love this forum. I have learned so much just reading the posts daily. Everyone here is just awesome. I never would have purchased an e-reader if not for this forum and the information that people so generously share. I learned about being able to borrow library books with both my readers - I learned about the Free Library of Philadelphia (50 books at a time - Score!), accessories, free books, etc. I have become addicted to e-reading.....

Please accept my apology - Susan

No need to apologize. I think many of us here are addicted to our ereaders. I thought you asked a very good question and that's why I took the time to respond to your post. Don't be shy to post more questions. Happy ereading!

[jbcohen]

My opinion: I find a lot of other readers just as good as the Kindle for less $$$s. My $.02.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

My opinion: I find a lot of other readers just as good as the Kindle for less $$$s. My $.02.

My only question would be where do you find them? Other than some old models on closeout, or the LCD based readers like the Libre and the Jetbooks, you are not going to find many readers for substantially less than the Kindle. The Kindle screen really is matched only by the latest Sony readers in terms of quality (not that other ePaper screens are not decent, but unless you have seen it, you really don't know how good it is), it offers wifi, built in web browser, and other various goodies, for a price that is essentially competitive with many low end ebook readers.

--
Bill

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by frmniantic

Whoa. Wow, I truly did not mean to stir the pot with my question. I absolutely love this forum. I have learned so much just reading the posts daily. Everyone here is just awesome. I never would have purchased an e-reader if not for this forum and the information that people so generously share. I learned about being able to borrow library books with both my readers - I learned about the Free Library of Philadelphia (50 books at a time - Score!), accessories, free books, etc. I have become addicted to e-reading.....

Please accept my apology - Susan

Hehe, some of us just like to argue. In fact, we will argue without the least provocation (no we won't, yes we will.....) .

--
Bill

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

My opinion: I find a lot of other readers just as good as the Kindle for less $$$s. My $.02.

If that's your opinion fine but you really seem to have some kind of bug about the Kindle and I'm trying to understand why. I think every one of the current e-ink devices costs more than the Alurek and the Kindle is not the highest price of the lot.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Hehe, some of us just like to argue. In fact, we will argue without the least provocation (no we won't, yes we will.....) .

--
Bill

We do not!!!! Take it back!!!!

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by frmniantic

Whoa. Wow, I truly did not mean to stir the pot with my question. I absolutely love this forum. I have learned so much just reading the posts daily. Everyone here is just awesome. I never would have purchased an e-reader if not for this forum and the information that people so generously share. I learned about being able to borrow library books with both my readers - I learned about the Free Library of Philadelphia (50 books at a time - Score!), accessories, free books, etc. I have become addicted to e-reading.....

Please accept my apology - Susan

You have nothing to apologize for. Sometimes we get a bit heated over silly things. It has nothing to do with your post.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Hehe, some of us just like to argue. In fact, we will argue without the least provocation (no we won't, yes we will.....) .

--
Bill

Tea is better then coffee. And Babylon 5 is better then Star Trek.

toss me a subject, I'll find a way to disagree with you. (winks)

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Tea is better then coffee. And Babylon 5 is better then Star Trek.

Well, I agree that Long Island Iced Tea is better than coffee ... unless we are talking Irish Coffee .

And which Trek are you talking about? If you mean the original series, I am seriously going to have to prove you wrong!

toss me a subject, I'll find a way to disagree with you. (winks)

No you won't, you are just saying that .

--
Bill

[copyrite]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Kindle owners constantly have to remind people that they are only 'constrained to one format and one store" if they CHOOSE to be........

This is an old, ongoing argument. You'll soon get used to it!

Sorta related. The only Kindle I've seen 'in the wild' is a gal at work that exclusively purchases from the Amazon store. She was given this first generation Kindle by her father. It used to be I'd never see this girl without a book in our breakroom, then she was never without her Kindle.

She was amazed when I told her there were other options than just purchasing from Amazon, and there was software out there to convert from one format to another. She clearly wasn't too interested though and indicated she liked the simplicity of the Kindle.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by copyrite

Sorta related. The only Kindle I've seen 'in the wild' is a gal at work that exclusively purchases from the Amazon store. She was given this first generation Kindle by her father. It used to be I'd never see this girl without a book in our breakroom, then she was never without her Kindle.

She was amazed when I told her there were other options than just purchasing from Amazon, and there was software out there to convert from one format to another. She clearly wasn't too interested though and indicated she liked the simplicity of the Kindle.

Well, I think that is the genius of the Kindle. Amazon really didn't need to use a proprietary format for it... probably 95% of all Kindle users would have bought from Amazon using straight mobi or ePub (though ePub was just getting started when the Kindle was released) even if they could have bought from other stores. Amazon is usually at least price competitive with the other stores (if not out right cheaper than) and the device makes it so easy to buy.

--
Bill

[smithno]

Originally Posted by frmniantic

For all the free books that come out daily? From what I have been seeing lately there are lots. And if you read a lot of different genres then it might be worth it if you add up the "retail" prices. You could have a library that would last you ages!
I don't know, maybe I'm nutso Just a thought.

I have an Astak Pocket Pro, and just bought a Nook (yeah, maybe I am nutso).

Susan

Actually, I bought one last weekend for that very reason. I have collected a lot of free Kindle books on my 1st gen Touch. I'd like to start reading some of them and the Touch battery is on it's last legs. At $139 at Staples, I couldn't resist!