Amazon’s Kindle ‘Most Unused’ Christmas Gift

[azazel1024]

Yeah I am still pretty suprised that my mother-in-law decided to get a kindle touch. She isn't terribly tech adverse, but she is by no means tech savy. She mostly wanted to get one for library loans and the free classics out there. She is willing/has bought one or two ebooks since getting it as well, as she is enjoying reading on it (and loves her LED reading light for reading at night so that she doesn't keep my father-in-law awake reading any more).

The reason why I find that suprising is my in laws are extremely comfortable financially (she retired at age 50 and he retired a couple of years later at age 54). So wanting to save a couple of hundred dollars a year on books seems a little odd to me for them/her. Though I guess as one is oft to point out, a lot of those who do well financially do so through wise investing and not being wasteful just as much as being succesful in jobs.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

.
His simple calculation: eBooks you can download for free.
Personally, I don't like this approach, I buy all my books the regular way.

But I guess, "free" eBooks is the main argument for lots of people.

And if that's the case, it only makes sense for somewhat experienced users of the "darknet".
My mother for example wouldn't know where to search for "pirated" eBooks. So, in her mind, eBooks would be even more expensive than paper books (considering the hardware costs plus the problem that you can't resell your eBooks) and more complicated.

On the other hand, I have hundreds of legally-obtained free books. Plus I legally borrow books from the library and other kindle/nook owners at a fairly high volume (I lend, too). Yes, I do put a little effort into it, but getting free books doesn't mean you have to use the darknet.

I think it's a little silly one month after Christmas to think all the people who haven't used the kindles *yet* are never going to use them. Some people don't read more than 1-2 books a month and they may already have a few going when they got the kindle. I bet fully half end up using them in the next few months.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by GeckoFriend

I donate mine to the library for their ongoing book sale.

The standard thing at the office where I used to work was to leave them in the lunchroom until they were all gone. I got a number of books that way. I also donate them to the Salvation Army along with the old clothes and toys.

[Joykins]

Oh, and by the way my husband used his Christmas gift cards to buy himself a Kindle 4 NT and is reading like a fiend. I never would have thought it.

[robertc88]

I assume there is a small window for a return so those who got one and are interested in owning it but never used it, are they outta luck if it is DOA?

I am not sure what the warranty period is. BB makes you pay for one I believe.

[azazel1024]

BN is 1 year, I think Amazon is the same 1 year warranty.

[sonofpendragon]

I must be too cynical, none of this is any surprise to me - at all. There is a huge element of 'novelty' to the Kindle and ereaders in general. Even the TV adverts show a Kindle in a bike's shopping basket, well, if there never was a printed book in that basket, why would there, being logical, be a Kindle? Ok, some folks will say they do live up to that analogy, and do / have brought books home in a bike basket, but my point is, it is so media-intense that it has taken off in a way the Rubik's cube did, and space hoppers, and Ugg boots etc, but such novelties wear off, leaving at worst, a warehouse full of Rubik's cubes, or, as it will be with ereaders, a more realistic pattern of sales and use in its wake.

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I just threw mine in the dustbin. Too much like hard work to try and resell them.

If you've any more that you don't consider worth selling on Amazon, a local charity shop, church, etc would happily accept your book donations, more useful than going into a recyling bin!

Originally Posted by Kevin2960

Me too Harry ... And even if I haven't forgotten reading a book before there is always something NEW to find within!

I don't often read books more than once, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Stieg Larsson books second time round, they were easier to follow because I remembered some of the plot, but the ending (of the 1st book) was still a surprise because I couldn't remember who'd dunnit!

Originally Posted by Joykins

On the other hand, I have hundreds of legally-obtained free books. Plus I legally borrow books from the library and other kindle/nook owners at a fairly high volume (I lend, too). Yes, I do put a little effort into it, but getting free books doesn't mean you have to use the darknet.

As a Kindle user in the UK the lack of library lending is a negative, but the number of reasonably good free books available legally just from Amazon alone (plus the 99p Kindle Daily Deal books) means investigating the darknet isn't that attractive. Although there are of course plenty of people out there who just like to get latest releases and bestsellers for free.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by sonofpendragon

I must be too cynical, none of this is any surprise to me - at all. There is a huge element of 'novelty' to the Kindle and ereaders in general. Even the TV adverts show a Kindle in a bike's shopping basket, well, if there never was a printed book in that basket, why would there, being logical, be a Kindle? Ok, some folks will say they do live up to that analogy, and do / have brought books home in a bike basket, but my point is, it is so media-intense that it has taken off in a way the Rubik's cube did, and space hoppers, and Ugg boots etc, but such novelties wear off, leaving at worst, a warehouse full of Rubik's cubes, or, as it will be with ereaders, a more realistic pattern of sales and use in its wake.

I think one thing ereaders have enabled is allow people to read when they might want to but otherwise might not have. I think one big breakthrough for me was in the dark as a car passenger (I use my iPhone kindle/nook apps for that, but you could do it as well on an e-ink reader with a lighted case or small ereader light)--you just can't DO that with a book no matter how you want to, unless you're going for the eyestrain of trying to read by passing streetlights/headlights (which i used to try as a kid with very little success...). Also the portability allows you to bring thousands of books in the space of one.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Joykins

I think one big breakthrough for me was in the dark as a car passenger (I use my iPhone kindle/nook apps for that, but you could do it as well on an e-ink reader with a lighted case or small ereader light)--you just can't DO that with a book no matter how you want to, unless you're going for the eyestrain of trying to read by passing streetlights/headlights (which i used to try as a kid with very little success...).

I listen to audiobooks in the car, every day, on my way to and from work. Makes what would otherwise be a wasted 40 minute journey each way enjoyable.

[lemurfist]

For me, an e-reader is a no-brainer. It reduces the back strain associated with my 2-4 book a week habit. My allergies greatly appreciate me no longer saving a few bucks and reading musty old classics from the library. People have to engage me in an actual discussion to find out what I'm reading and can't just spot the dust jacket then scream out spoilers or unsolicited opinions while dashing past (wonder of reading at the office). For most people I know though a library card just makes more sense.

[LuvReadin]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

I was thinking older books, often public domain--my husband knows a few older guys who've gotten ebook readers and are devouring classics they'd always wanted to read, never made time for, and just didn't get around to checking out from libraries. They're amazed at Gutenberg.

Has to be one of the biggest plus points for ereaders. I am sooo loving getting hold of out-of-print books for which I'd have had to pay a mint if I wanted a copy.

Originally Posted by CazMar

I am not young so it's not an age thing, but many people find any sort of technology overwhelming.

No, it definitely isn't - I know people in their 70s who routinely use computers, and one gentleman who gives computer classes at the local community centre - he's 87! Yet I've met people in their 40s who can't cope with a mobile phone, and find the notion of using a computer utterly terrifying (mind you, I have noticed that these often have teenage kids who do all this for them, and maybe it's the kids deliberately stoking this up to keep the parents off their computer!)

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

E-ink is not particularly good for people who don't care for reading, who thought that having a shiny techtoy would turn them into readers. It won't. It's still reading. If they don't like getting their entertainment from words-onna-page, a Kindle isn't going to change that. (Neither is the Fire, but they don't need to read words to enjoy the Fire.)

Absolutely. Just because I give socks to my daughter for Christmas, she isn't going to start wearing matching socks. She loves to wear mismatched socks, and I don't like it, so I don't buy her pretty socks.

I can't believe the number of people who don't read. I sat next to a woman in her 30s on the train on Friday night, and she just looked out the window. And it was dark.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I can't believe the number of people who don't read. I sat next to a woman in her 30s on the train on Friday night, and she just looked out the window. And it was dark.

I like looking out the window of a train after dark, I find it relaxing. This doesn't mean that I don't read on trains.

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I like looking out the window of a train after dark, I find it relaxing. This doesn't mean that I don't read on trains.

I knit or crochet on the bus, I read on the bus, listen to podcasts, etc.

But yes, sometimes I do just want to sit on the bus and have downtime. Sometimes stuff is on my mind and I need to just have me and my thoughts, like when I recently lost a family member.

It's interesting the stuff we assume about people just because of what they happen to be doing the moment they are being observed at any given time. We kind of freeze that incident in our mind and assume that is what they are like all the time.... funny that.