Kindle

[marknotgeorge]

I would recommend a Kobo rather than a Kindle.
Not tied in to Amazon system but can still buy books from either Kobo store or Kindle store, books from Kindle store can be converted to read on Kobo using free Calibre program on pc with drm removal plug in.
I've been using a Kobo Mini for about 5 years, but the Mini is no longer made, other Kobos are as good if not better than Kindles.

This. I have a Kobo Aura H2O, which is water, dust and sandproof - perfect for the beach. You can also borrow ePub books from local library services.

 

[Biff600]

I love my kindle, there are plenty of free or low-cost books readily available via Amazon.

I take about 20-25 flights a year and it's ideal to while away the time waiting in an airport lounge and small enough to not notice it in your hand luggage.

I have a range of books and work-related pdf files on mine, so if I have a quiet spell at work I can have a sneaky read while looking like I'm checking up on some legislation !!!

 

[swee'pea99]

I know exactly where mine is, still works well.

Those things were built to last.

Me too. I have both that and a Kindle Fire. I read every evening in the pub: during the winter I use the Fire, because you're not at the mercy of ambient light; for the rest of the year it's one of these - it's good to read and the battery lasts forever.

 

[jefmcg]

I just use my phone. Sign up for the kindle deal of the day as well. Most of it is chaff but the occasional winner comes up for 99p

Yes, this is important.

@Broughtonblue, try installing Kindle on your phone first. It will give you an idea of how well you get on with it, and your phone may be good enough for you. The latest large phones are only a little smaller than a Penguin paperback.

 

[MarkF]

We had 4, my mother 1, 3 basic and 1 x Fire. Only my mother uses one regularly, we find they are great on holiday but otherwise don't use them. We only have only the Fire left now as 2 died whilst my mother was using them and we passed ours on to her.

 

[mjr]

@Broughtonblue, try installing Kindle on your phone first. It will give you an idea of how well you get on with it, and your phone may be good enough for you. The latest large phones are only a little smaller than a Penguin paperback.

PageTurner is a better app for Android phone reading, as long as you're not wanting copy-protected books (or are willing to strip the protection ) with flippable day/night colour/brightness settings, rolling blind page turning and probably other cool stuff I don't remember is remarkable because I've not looked at the Kindle app for a while.

 

[Broughtonblue]

Thanks for all the replies. Does anybody subscribe to magazines for their kindle? Can you get most of the ones you see on the shelves in newsagents?

 

[John the Monkey]

If you want something purely for reading, then personally I'd avoid Kindle (and all it's copyright protection issues) and go for a Kobo. With a Kobo you can read books/documents in a variety of formats and access content from a wide range of sources.

Can you sideload ePub files, User? I'm wondering what to do when my Nook finally gives up the ghost...

 

[jefmcg]

Thanks for all the replies. Does anybody subscribe to magazines for their kindle? Can you get most of the ones you see on the shelves in newsagents?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magazines-Journals-Kindle/b?ie=UTF8&node=341690031

(people who use kindle will probably give a more knowledgable response, but you know what you want to read so browsing there may help)

 

[John the Monkey]

I bellieve so...

Excellent, thanks!

 

[smutchin]

@John the Monkey I recommend Calibre, which I use to manage all my Kindle files - both purchases from Amazon and those acquired elsewhere. It should work just as well with Kobo (you just mount your device as an external drive), and can convert ebooks between formats (and strip out DRM using Apprentice Alf's plugin, if you so desire).

 

[John the Monkey]

@John the Monkey I recommend Calibre, which I use to manage all my Kindle files - both purchases from Amazon and those acquired elsewhere. It should work just as well with Kobo (you just mount your device as an external drive), and can convert ebooks between formats (and strip out DRM using Apprentice Alf's plugin, if you so desire).

It's what I use to sideload to the Nook

 

[srw]

I happily use a Kindle e-reader of some kind - the one with wi-fi and a built in light. Most of the time the light is off. I did use a tablet for a while, but it's not a nice experience. The Kindle was perfect for reading on the beach a couple of weeks ago, and is light enough to carry on a bike tour.

If you want to read classic literature, Project Gutenberg supplies compatible files which you can email to your reader. I didn't know about Calibre, but it sounds interesting.

http://calibre-ebook.com/about

 

[smutchin]

It's what I use to sideload to the Nook

Ah! Should have guessed.

 

[John the Monkey]

Ah! Should have guessed.

I'm using it mostly to add a "read" tag to the things I've finished. I'm terrible for picking up a book I read a couple of years ago, and unwittingly rereading it, only noticing once I've got halfway through Adding technical documents (and managing them) is a big plus for me too.