Kindle

[echokilo]

Can anyone tell me more about these in simple English? If I connect to the internet with a dongle can I use my laptop to download books to it? How much are the books on average? Are they any good?

TIA

[rojash]

The standard Kindle comes with it's own mobile connection, so you can download books direct from Amazon without the need for a laptop. The books are (IMNSHO) expensive at (typically) 9.99 GBP compared to paperbacks. There are some sites that offer free books, which you can download using your laptop and then e-mail to the Kindle.

The latest, cheapest Kindle (109 GBP) only connects via wifi, so unless you have easy access to a wifi connection, it's not much use to you, but the slightly more expensive (149 GBP) Kindle 3G comes with free connection via its own built in dongle.

Kindle wifi: http://tinyurl.com/2wnjhpp
Kindle 3G: http://tinyurl.com/2ce3asc

[bednobs]

you can get books onto the kindle in one of two ways. If you have wireless internet, or go to a wireless hotspot you buy the books off amazon and it automatically downloads onto the kindle without you having to use the laptop (£109 version) or just browse from the kindle and download. If you get the 3G £149 version you can download books anywhere at anytime straight from the kindle store via the kindle.

depending on what books you like, there are a fair few books available free on amazon, or for a very small charge. I find that amazon's special offer type books are usually cheaper to buy in book form rather than kindle (for example i went on yesterday because dawn french's book is on special offer but it's significantly more expensive as a kindle download)
Personally i love my kindle, and it was a god send when i was in hospital. However, you have to remember that any books you download, are never "yours" if amazon decided to withdraw permission for you to read them on the kindle, they would just take them back (not that thety ever would as it would be a complete marketing disaster)

[rojash]

I should have said: Amazon does offer a few Kindle books very cheaply (1-2 GBP) but in the main (once again IMNSHO) they tend to be the kind of books that you wouldn't buy at all otherwise :=)

Your best course is to go to the Kindle Books section on Amazon and have a browse (you an get there easily from either of the links above).

[rojash]

As bednobs says "If amazon decided to withdraw permission for you to read them on the kindle, they would just take them back".

And they have done this in the past:

http://pogue.blogs.ny...re-equal-than-others/

[bednobs]

at least they gave the money back, it was my understanding they don't have to :)

[echokilo]

Thanks for your help - looks like I need the £149 one then - thanks so muchf ro your detailed replies.
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