Greetings from Pretoria (South Africa)

Keloff · 02-01-2010, 10:58 AM

Hi folks,

After two years of deliberation, I've decided to purchase a dedicated eBook reader. I love reading and am usually busy with at least two books at a time, most of which are text-intensive, so I don't really need a colour display.

I tend to read a lot of PDFs, too (articles or works in progress); all the printing really is unnecessary and I don't tend to annotate that much, really.

My two choices were the either the Sony PRS-505 or the Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation).

I fould the article about the Kindle coming to SA very useful, but it was the wiki's page on Kindle myths that made me decide, especially the parts about formats and conversions. Finally, the availability of Whispernet in South Africa is a huge bonus.

Now to decide how to get it. The device is available for import via a few vendors in South Africa, but I'm weighing the option of waiting for a friend to come back from the US in April/May.

Here's hoping it'll all go smoothly!

ShortNCuddlyAm · 02-02-2010, 07:56 AM

Welcome to MR and good luck with your purchase!

Keloff · 02-03-2010, 08:57 AM

Thanks for the welcome, SNCA.

For interested South Africans, I ordered the device from Take2. I had to do this via the "More USA" tab. It'll work me out around R3040.00, including couriered delivery. This excludes the cost of the power converter and, possibly, a carrying case.

I'm waiting for my 'proof of identity' to be processed, then the product should ship in 10-17 working days: so I expect to receive it in a month at the most.

What I like about Take2 is that they figure out your shipping, customs etc. upfront. What I am afraid of is their couriered service: if I am not at the delivery address if the courier arrives, it will be sent back. Not very useful since I'm only given two days notice when the item is shipped to SA --- and that's not enough time to take a day off work.

Let's hope it works out. =)

dragonbone · 02-03-2010, 09:11 AM

Welcome Keloff! I hope you have lots of fun here on Mobile Read and with your new ebook reader.
By the way, why couldn't you order directly from Amazon.com? Isn't that option available for South Africans?

Lady Blue · 02-03-2010, 09:15 AM

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to Mobileread, Keloff

happy_terd · 02-03-2010, 12:07 PM

Welcome to Mobileread.

Keloff · 02-03-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonbone

Welcome Keloff! I hope you have lots of fun here on Mobile Read and with your new ebook reader.
By the way, why couldn't you order directly from Amazon.com? Isn't that option available for South Africans?

I am able to order products from Amazon, but as explained below I guess I was slightly leery of using their shipping service. Local companies (such as Take2) simply give you the straight (local) price including shipping and customs, which is slightly more convenient I suppose.

There was some ... apparent disagreement between Amazon (US) and the SA postal service back in 2008, but that seems to have been resolved now.

Keloff · 02-19-2010, 05:18 AM

Well, my Kindle is scheduled to arrive in Cape Town around 26 February. Take2 will then courier it here. That means I'd have waited about a month to get it. I was really excited when one of my students showed me his Kindle! He ordered it directly from Amazon and delivery took about two weeks, apparently. Really jealous. =)

I'll compare prices with him to see whether the direct order option may actually be better here in SA.

kennyc · 02-19-2010, 06:46 AM

Welcome!

Katti's Cat · 02-19-2010, 07:34 AM

Hi & Welcome to MR. Good luck & heaps of fun with the kindle.

desertgrandma · 02-19-2010, 08:35 AM

Welcome to MobileRead, keloff

loveangel · 02-19-2010, 08:46 AM

Welcome to MR and good luck

Keloff · 03-10-2010, 08:42 AM

It's here!

Order take from Take2: 1 February
Arrival via courier (Cape Town -> Pretoria): 10 March

I'm really happy at having this device at last. I suggest that any South African interested order through Amazon in future, however. You may end up paying more customs (or not, depending on the situation at arrival), but at least you'll get yours in two weeks.

Thanks for all the welcomes, I won't waste any more time in this post.

neilmarr · 03-10-2010, 09:02 AM

Glad it all worked out, Keloff ... and your Kindle arrived bang in the middle of Read an Ebook Week, so you can stock up on your reading with heaps of freebies and deals.

Many members here have offers on the go between now and Saturday night when the Week is officially over (actually around breakfast on Sunday your time). Check out my own wee house below, if you like. Happy Kindling. Neil

Crusader · 03-10-2010, 10:03 AM

Welcome Keloff. Great to see another South African on here. Take2 are excellent but from reports people haven't had any problems ordering Kindles direct from Amazon and it seems they receive them within a week or so.

02-01-2010, 10:58 AM	#1
Keloff Electronic media explorer Posts: 64 Karma: 169796 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pretoria, South Africa Device: Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation), iPad 2	Greetings from Pretoria (South Africa) Hi folks, After two years of deliberation, I've decided to purchase a dedicated eBook reader. I love reading and am usually busy with at least two books at a time, most of which are text-intensive, so I don't really need a colour display. I tend to read a lot of PDFs, too (articles or works in progress); all the printing really is unnecessary and I don't tend to annotate that much, really. My two choices were the either the Sony PRS-505 or the Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation). I fould the article about the Kindle coming to SA very useful, but it was the wiki's page on Kindle myths that made me decide, especially the parts about formats and conversions. Finally, the availability of Whispernet in South Africa is a huge bonus. Now to decide how to get it. The device is available for import via a few vendors in South Africa, but I'm weighing the option of waiting for a friend to come back from the US in April/May. Here's hoping it'll all go smoothly!

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02-02-2010, 07:56 AM	#2
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	Welcome to MR and good luck with your purchase!

02-03-2010, 08:57 AM	#3
Keloff Electronic media explorer Posts: 64 Karma: 169796 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pretoria, South Africa Device: Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation), iPad 2	Thanks for the welcome, SNCA. For interested South Africans, I ordered the device from Take2. I had to do this via the "More USA" tab. It'll work me out around R3040.00, including couriered delivery. This excludes the cost of the power converter and, possibly, a carrying case. I'm waiting for my 'proof of identity' to be processed, then the product should ship in 10-17 working days: so I expect to receive it in a month at the most. What I like about Take2 is that they figure out your shipping, customs etc. upfront. What I am afraid of is their couriered service: if I am not at the delivery address if the courier arrives, it will be sent back. Not very useful since I'm only given two days notice when the item is shipped to SA --- and that's not enough time to take a day off work. Let's hope it works out. =)

02-03-2010, 09:11 AM	#4
dragonbone must love dogs Posts: 480 Karma: 1079 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tokyo Device: Sony PRS-700, iPhone 32GB 3GS, iPad 64GB WiFi	Welcome Keloff! I hope you have lots of fun here on Mobile Read and with your new ebook reader. By the way, why couldn't you order directly from Amazon.com? Isn't that option available for South Africans?

02-03-2010, 09:15 AM	#5
Lady Blue the snarky blue one Posts: 6,001 Karma: 3877825 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: deep in the heart Device: PRS500, 505 & 600, PRST1 & T2, Kindle PW, Moto Razr, Galaxy Tab 2-10"	to Mobileread, Keloff

02-03-2010, 12:07 PM	#6
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	Welcome to Mobileread.

02-19-2010, 05:18 AM	#8
Keloff Electronic media explorer Posts: 64 Karma: 169796 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pretoria, South Africa Device: Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation), iPad 2	Well, my Kindle is scheduled to arrive in Cape Town around 26 February. Take2 will then courier it here. That means I'd have waited about a month to get it. I was really excited when one of my students showed me his Kindle! He ordered it directly from Amazon and delivery took about two weeks, apparently. Really jealous. =) I'll compare prices with him to see whether the direct order option may actually be better here in SA.

02-19-2010, 06:46 AM	#9
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Welcome!

02-19-2010, 07:34 AM	#10
Katti's Cat Wizard Posts: 2,259 Karma: 175640 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	Hi & Welcome to MR. Good luck & heaps of fun with the kindle.

02-19-2010, 08:35 AM	#11
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, keloff

02-19-2010, 08:46 AM	#12
loveangel Banned Posts: 137 Karma: 30 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: kindle	Welcome to MR and good luck

03-10-2010, 08:42 AM	#13
Keloff Electronic media explorer Posts: 64 Karma: 169796 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pretoria, South Africa Device: Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation), iPad 2	It's here! Order take from Take2: 1 February Arrival via courier (Cape Town -> Pretoria): 10 March I'm really happy at having this device at last. I suggest that any South African interested order through Amazon in future, however. You may end up paying more customs (or not, depending on the situation at arrival), but at least you'll get yours in two weeks. Thanks for all the welcomes, I won't waste any more time in this post.

03-10-2010, 09:02 AM	#14
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Glad it all worked out, Keloff ... and your Kindle arrived bang in the middle of Read an Ebook Week, so you can stock up on your reading with heaps of freebies and deals. Many members here have offers on the go between now and Saturday night when the Week is officially over (actually around breakfast on Sunday your time). Check out my own wee house below, if you like. Happy Kindling. Neil

03-10-2010, 10:03 AM	#15
Crusader Space Cadet Posts: 1,180 Karma: 4030536 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Africa Device: Sony PRS-T1, Cybook Opus, Kobo Glo	Welcome Keloff. Great to see another South African on here. Take2 are excellent but from reports people haven't had any problems ordering Kindles direct from Amazon and it seems they receive them within a week or so.