After reading a dozen different reviews gushing over the Kindle 2, I broke down and ordered one.
8 months, 2 weeks ago.
19 comments so far
I'd hate to say something like, "You'll love it!" because I know you probably won't, but I think you'll be pleased with some aspects of it over the Sony Reader. :)
I expect I will be relatively happy with it. The two biggest issues will be that 1) it is still a white elephant in terms of aesthetics so still a bit embarising to be seen with and 2) its network connectivity only works in the US and they provide no means to download purchased books via computer to copy to it via USB. So I can't ever buy something for it while traveling internationally. I really wish they had included WiFi support in the new model as well as the cellular, as WiFi would have been much more usable for me. Ironically, the iPod app does download via WiFi, hence my ability to test it while out here in Sydney.
Supposedly you can download Kindle books and copy them over USB to the device:
"Can I use Kindle outside the wireless service area?
If you have a computer with an internet connection and a USB port, you can use Kindle anywhere in the world. You can make purchases from the Kindle Store on Amazon.com (www.amazon.com/kindlestore), download items to your computer, and transfer the files to your Kindle using the USB connection. You can access all your purchases from the Kindle Store in Your Media Library at www.amazon.com/library. You can also have personal documents converted to a Kindle-compatible format and sent to the e-mail address on your Amazon.com account."
I haven't personally tried this, so I don't know how to use it. But I gather that if you have a US Amazon account, you can download Kindle books to your computer and manually transfer them over.
The library link gives a 404. I know you can hook it up via USB, but I saw nowhere on their website to download the actual book files. Granted, I didn't look too hard for it. Even still, without Whispersync connectivity, the ability to sync read-position/bookmarks/etc between the Kindle and the iPod app while traveling internationally would be lost. And that's one of the appealing aspects of the Kindle to me.
I can confirm that the Amazon store let's you purchase the books while outside the US so long as you have a US-based Amazon account.
I don't know what it looks like when you buy the book, but after you've bought it, you can go to the "Manage Your Kindle" page and see all of the books you've purchased. For each book there's pulldown menu that lets you download the book to your computer, or send it to your Kindle or iPhone. The Manage Your Kindle page is easily found from the Amazon Kindle Store front page links near the top of the screen.
The options could be easier to find, but they're there.
Ah, I missed that the dropdowns had a download option on that page. The sync aspect still stands, though. I just really wish they had included WiFi as it would have made things so much easier.
I just bought a book from the Kindle store (I was going to buy it anyway, Daemon by Daniel Suarez) and can confirm there's no direct link to download it to your computer at that time. But as I mentioned before, after it's purchased, you can go to your list of books and download it then.
And buying books is another thing that I am a bit annoyed with. I cannot for the life of me find a way to disable the hideous 1-Click buying method. Even when you go into settings and disable it for the rest of the Amazon store, it is still used for Kindle purchases. I much prefer using a cart over 1-Click.
I wish I could put books into a wishlist. I can do that for regular books, just not the e-books. I don't mind 1-click. They probably have it set up that way because it makes buying from the Kindle directly a lot less complicated.
Well, I don't think it's just a case of putting in the wireless chipsets. I think it's more of e-book licensing in different countries. I think it's a bullcrap reason, but if publishers insist on having different rights in different countries, that's what we have to deal with. :P
Dearest One,
My name is Miss henlin larry i saw your profile today and became intrested in you,i will also like to know you more,and i want you to send an email to my email address so i can give you my picture for you to know whom i am.Here is my email address (henlin30larry@yahoo.com)
i believe we can move from here.I am waiting for your mail to my email address above.Miss henlin (Remeber the distance or colour does not matter but love matters alot in life Yours Love
Miss henlin (henlin30larry@yahoo.com)
19 comments so far
I'd hate to say something like, "You'll love it!" because I know you probably won't, but I think you'll be pleased with some aspects of it over the Sony Reader. :)
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
I expect I will be relatively happy with it. The two biggest issues will be that 1) it is still a white elephant in terms of aesthetics so still a bit embarising to be seen with and 2) its network connectivity only works in the US and they provide no means to download purchased books via computer to copy to it via USB. So I can't ever buy something for it while traveling internationally. I really wish they had included WiFi support in the new model as well as the cellular, as WiFi would have been much more usable for me. Ironically, the iPod app does download via WiFi, hence my ability to test it while out here in Sydney.
8 months, 2 weeks ago by CAW
Supposedly you can download Kindle books and copy them over USB to the device:
"Can I use Kindle outside the wireless service area?
If you have a computer with an internet connection and a USB port, you can use Kindle anywhere in the world. You can make purchases from the Kindle Store on Amazon.com (www.amazon.com/kindlestore), download items to your computer, and transfer the files to your Kindle using the USB connection. You can access all your purchases from the Kindle Store in Your Media Library at www.amazon.com/library. You can also have personal documents converted to a Kindle-compatible format and sent to the e-mail address on your Amazon.com account."
I haven't personally tried this, so I don't know how to use it. But I gather that if you have a US Amazon account, you can download Kindle books to your computer and manually transfer them over.
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
I'm not sure how it would work if you log in to your Amazon account in another country...is that what you mean?
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
Ummm, I am stupid. It says right in the quoted part you can use it anywhere in the world. :)
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200137060
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
Anywhere in the world that doesn't block Amazon >.>
8 months, 2 weeks ago by edythemighty
The library link gives a 404. I know you can hook it up via USB, but I saw nowhere on their website to download the actual book files. Granted, I didn't look too hard for it. Even still, without Whispersync connectivity, the ability to sync read-position/bookmarks/etc between the Kindle and the iPod app while traveling internationally would be lost. And that's one of the appealing aspects of the Kindle to me.
I can confirm that the Amazon store let's you purchase the books while outside the US so long as you have a US-based Amazon account.
8 months, 2 weeks ago by CAW
I don't know what it looks like when you buy the book, but after you've bought it, you can go to the "Manage Your Kindle" page and see all of the books you've purchased. For each book there's pulldown menu that lets you download the book to your computer, or send it to your Kindle or iPhone. The Manage Your Kindle page is easily found from the Amazon Kindle Store front page links near the top of the screen.
The options could be easier to find, but they're there.
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
Ah, I missed that the dropdowns had a download option on that page. The sync aspect still stands, though. I just really wish they had included WiFi as it would have made things so much easier.
8 months, 2 weeks ago by CAW
I just bought a book from the Kindle store (I was going to buy it anyway, Daemon by Daniel Suarez) and can confirm there's no direct link to download it to your computer at that time. But as I mentioned before, after it's purchased, you can go to your list of books and download it then.
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
And buying books is another thing that I am a bit annoyed with. I cannot for the life of me find a way to disable the hideous 1-Click buying method. Even when you go into settings and disable it for the rest of the Amazon store, it is still used for Kindle purchases. I much prefer using a cart over 1-Click.
8 months, 2 weeks ago by CAW
I wish I could put books into a wishlist. I can do that for regular books, just not the e-books. I don't mind 1-click. They probably have it set up that way because it makes buying from the Kindle directly a lot less complicated.
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
Why don't they just put a CDMA, WCDMA, and WiFi chipset in it, and sell the fucking thing all over the world?
Jesus...
8 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
Well, I don't think it's just a case of putting in the wireless chipsets. I think it's more of e-book licensing in different countries. I think it's a bullcrap reason, but if publishers insist on having different rights in different countries, that's what we have to deal with. :P
8 months, 2 weeks ago by jezlyn
Dearest One, My name is Miss henlin larry i saw your profile today and became intrested in you,i will also like to know you more,and i want you to send an email to my email address so i can give you my picture for you to know whom i am.Here is my email address (henlin30larry@yahoo.com) i believe we can move from here.I am waiting for your mail to my email address above.Miss henlin (Remeber the distance or colour does not matter but love matters alot in life Yours Love Miss henlin (henlin30larry@yahoo.com)
5 months, 2 weeks ago by henlinbaby22
the last comenter is a spammer.
kill on sight.
5 months, 2 weeks ago by runningwithbulls
Ay, sir!
5 months, 2 weeks ago by map
spammed here too
5 months, 2 weeks ago by cybette