Kingseat

Does anyone have a Kindle? If so, what is it like?

I really need to cut down on book purchases (ie, in paper form) so was thinking this would be great.

I've also been looking at the ipad however, I think I'd be expecting too much from the ipad and its lack of features, even though it also has book downloads.

Any tips appreciated.

ozhappy981

If you live in Australia, I don't think you'll be able to buy many books to read on the Kindle (or iPad) - see below:

Don't know about the Kindle, but the books on the iPad are in eBook format, which is used now by many publishers. In other words, there are lots of book in this format including the recent bestsellers (I did have a look around some of the websites that sell books for digital readers).

But - and this is a really big BUT: Go to ebooks.com (just one example) and pretend you want to buy a book. As you scroll down, you come across this: "For copyright reasons this eBook is only available to customers in the following countries [link]." And "Australia" is usually not in the list.

You'll know that the reason books are so expensive in Oz, is because they have something similar to the old "netbook agreement" that was abolished in the UK years ago.

I think that's the reason you can't by the eBook if you are trying to log on to the site from Australia.

For me, the Kindle or iPad would not be much good if I can't buy the digital version of the book in Australia (or have to wait until after the hardback and paperback versions have come out in Australia).

Kingseat

Well, that's no good. Thanks though.

Edited to add: I take it you can't fool it into believing you are in the UK then?

Kingseat

Actually, it appears you can fool the system.

If I decide to buy, I will buy and register in the UK - can have someone send the Kindle over.

I can register my UK credit card etc on the system and when I want to buy I use my VPN to fool Amazon/ebooks into thinking I am in the UK and continue to buy books through the UK.

So I have been reading anyway.

ozhappy981

That would be good if it is that easy to fool the system.

Let us know if you find out more. I am interested in the Kindle or iPad for books as well, because I have poor eye-sight. I know that with the iPad you can change the font of any book you download. That sounds perfect for me. I just want to be sure I can get the eBooks of my favourite authors. I am not into reading the Penguin classics .

Amazulu

Amazon do Kindle for PC:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000426311
Dpwnload them to your PC using a VPN and then copy them to your Kindle.

comet555

There's also the not so legal method of just downloading the books for free, not that I'm suggesting that. I don't even have one, just saying I do know people that have done that.

I prefer the old fashion method of reading an actual book. I almost never buy books as they're free at the public library. So probably the cheapest way to do it!

Kingseat

I presume an Ipad would work in the same way?

ozhappy981

Thanks so much for sharing that with us!

But the question was: What's it like to use a Kindle or iPad to read books? And: can you get the latest books if you live in Australia?

ozhappy981

I had a look on both the Apple and the Amazon websites. As far as the book-reading goes, it looked to me that they work the same way.

Haven't compared what else they do.

Kingseat

Depends. Lots are unavailable to readers in Australia. Have a look at ebooks and look at your favourite author. It will tell you at the bottom if it is available to Australian readers.

Lots that I like are not hence the reason for looking into it further and possibly using my VPN registration.

ozhappy981

Yes, that's what I did. And I found out pretty quickly that the eBooks are not available to Australians.

I've never tried a VPN on my computer. Is it complicated to instal and use?

Kingseat

Mine took a while to set up but then again, I am not computer savvy at all! I use mine to watch BBC and ITV stuff as I can't be bothered to wait for downloads etc.

It costs me 30 euro a quarter and is very well used.

ozhappy981

Now we need someone who actually owns a Kindle (Amazulu?) to tell us if they were able to fool the Kindle into thinking it's in the UK .

I saw what he posted about Kindle for the PC. So, I understand that with VPN you could buy an eBook by pretending to be in the UK. But if you then transfer that same eBook to the Kindle from the PC, does the Kindle "know" it's from the UK and that you are in Aus? (Like those DVD players that are coded for a specific region and won't play DVDs from other regions.)

scotlandtooz

My natural reaction to these is that they are just wrong, but am seriously considering it due to high book prices and lack of massive book shops where you can get every book you might want to read.

Would love to hear from someone who has one or who has even seen one!