Kindle UK

[Lyrrad]

Amazon launches the Kindle worldwide, UK store to follow | theBookseller.com

http://www.amazon.com/

[chroma]

I wouldnt touch one of these things with a 40ft pole.

First of all the UK government has saw fit to allow EBOOKS to be taxed (normal books are exempt from tax)

Secondly Ebboks contain digital rights management code, effectively mesning you dont own the copy but merely rent it till they see fit to delete it from your device at will.

Amazon recently deleted everyyones copt of Orwell's 1984 (the irony apparently escaped them on that one) due to a reseller copyright botch up, so everyone had stuff deleted from their device without their knowledge or consent, presumably for commiting thought crimes

Besides you cant SMELL an ebook, part of the pleasure of reading really old books is the old musty smell once you get the thing open.

Batteries are also not required to read stuff in a real book, so theres no problem with things all going horibly wrong mid chapter out in the middle of nowhere.

[firemouth]

I wouldnt touch one of these things with a 40ft pole.

First of all the UK government has saw fit to allow EBOOKS to be taxed (normal books are exempt from tax)

Secondly Ebboks contain digital rights management code, effectively mesning you dont own the copy but merely rent it till they see fit to delete it from your device at will.

Amazon recently deleted everyyones copt of Orwell's 1984 (the irony apparently escaped them on that one) due to a reseller copyright botch up, so everyone had stuff deleted from their device without their knowledge or consent, presumably for commiting thought crimes

Besides you cant SMELL an ebook, part of the pleasure of reading really old books is the old musty smell once you get the thing open.

Batteries are also not required to read stuff in a real book, so theres no problem with things all going horibly wrong mid chapter out in the middle of nowhere.

well said that man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chroma]

Dont misunderstand me, i can definately see the uses of an e-reader, but to offer up a device that has NO light seems absurd.

The only problem i have with books is that they weigh a fair ammount (ive got plenty of "bottom shelfers" that could kill you if it fell on you) they take up a massive ammont of room, currently have a 10ft? of linear shelving stacked with books, an entire wall which is all well and good if your stationary but its hardly a soloution if your going on a trip.

If the thing had some soert of backlight feature like the gameboy advance where you can have it off, dim or bright it would be more useful.

Then theres the fact that amazon can effectively delete your entire library on a whim and you can do nothing to prevent it.

The sony reader is significantly more friendly on this point, it also lets you "borrow" books from the library, the only downside that the sony offer up is the lack of interactivity, that you cant take notes.

in effect in order for me to pick up a reader it would require:

Note taking abilities.
Backlight feature.
Completely jailbreaked from digital rights management.
Be able to offer any format i throw at it.
And lastly be comfortable and ergonomic for several hours of use.

Find me one that has everything on that list and id throw down the money, a kindle dx with backlight and released from drm would be ideal.

[arowana]

Kindle e:reader

I work in a library and was interested in the electronic E:readers and what was considered the best. I have heard that with the Sony e:reader you can down load from any souce whereas the kimble in tied to Amazon. I do not mind this as I think Amazon is excellent! However at present you cannoy pay in pounds.

Wondered if you had any further info.

[boothuk]

You wouldn't have a light on your book would you? I see the point but it doesn't really detract from the device and it's comparisons to a 'real' book.

You can purchase a leather cover with inbuilt LED light that powers directly from the Kindle. Although rather pricey at circa ?50.

Regarding the power issue, the new device will take around 5 hours to charge and full charge with basic use (i.e. reading only and intermittent WiFi / 3G) will last around a month. What is the likelyhood of you losing your page with this?

The new Kindle supports many other formats, i.e., PDF, .txt, etc., You can upload your own files as well as shopping at the Kindle store. With this in mind, I don't personally see the issue with DRM and content. If you are inclined to download eBooks yourself, there are plenty of places to obtain.

I agree about the taxation on eBook's and digital prints of newspapers, which is ridiculous. But this is our governments fault, not that of Amazon. It's a ridiculous notion that they should be taxed.

What you do get with the new Kindle is the fastest page turn on the market and the clearest e-ink display. There is a built in internet browser. If you opt for the 3G model which is slightly heavier, you can connect to their worldwide coverage for free. (Equivalent ?40 one off fee).

I don't think the books prices will be that unreasonable at the Kindle store, although it is true that they can revoke purchases at some point.

The Kindle 3 roughly equates to the same weight as a small paperback.

I have pre-ordered the new Kindle for a few reasons.

1). I have a large eBook library that I would like to access on the go.

2). I can use books / standards around work and on travel.

3). I will have a multitude of choices to read when abroad etc.,

4). ?109 is a reasonable price for such a device.

[masur123]

Maybe in this sense I am a traditionalist, but you cant beat a bloody good book to read the old fashioned way.

[salim]

Hopefully some taiwanese or jap company will bring out generic ebook reader.

I can see the benefit of long battery life of eink readers,

I was thinking about the sony ones. So that I can shove loads of ebooks on a few sd cards.

I think the kindle does not have an sd slot unless i am mistaken!

Kindle is being knobbled by amazon for their own market requirements