ebooks - how do you use them?

[Nick29]

Agreed Foxit is the best way to read old books. Regarding Kindle, I downloaded the Amazon Free Kindle app for my Android phone, and frankly I have been very impressed with the quality of the text on the phone screen. To the extent that I don't see a Kindle as being needed if you have a compatible smart phone.

Ahh, but (1) my smart phone's battery gives up the ghost after about an hour's reading (OK, it might be two), and (2) I can't read my smart phone's screen in broad daylight (like in the garden, or on the beach).  My Kindle's battery lasts about a month, or two weeks if I use the little light in the leather carrying case (the Kindle screen is not back-lit - it's 'electronic ink', and looks just like print on white paper).

[roopat]

Have borrowed my daughter's Kindle a few times - I really want one for myself but they're still a bit expensive, especially buying the books compared to the big pile I get free from the library each week! But the Kindle is SO easy to read, and very light and comfortable to hold lying down in bed, which is a big consideration when your hands are not as supple as they used to be 
Must be great to take on holiday with all those books stored in one small 'volume' - I've just packed 9 in the caravan for forthcoming hol, good job we're not flying somewhere 

The only drawback I found was sometimes when I'm reading fast, I need to go back a few pages to check something I seem to have misunderstood ...with the Kindle you can't do that!

It's on my Christmas list!

Pat

[Redroger]

I should keep a lookout, in this economic climate any company can go broke and there may be bargains to be had.

[Nick29]

The only drawback I found was sometimes when I'm reading fast, I need to go back a few pages to check something I seem to have misunderstood ...with the Kindle you can't do that!

Yes you can..... just use the 'Page Back' button 

What I like about the Kindle is that I can put a cursor to the left of a word, and I get an instant dictionary definition. 

[jc26red]

With the Ipad Kindle app, you only have to swipe your finger right to left to go back a page and it really does give the feel of turning pages.. same with going forward, you can start to turn just as you're finishing the last paragraph in the same way you would a real book.

So far it's not costing me a great deal as A*****on has some good deals on ebooks, pennies in fact    I've packed a good few books for my next trip abroad, something that I don't like doing normally because of the weight. No problem with the ipad for long journeys with the 10 hour battery life when in full use.

Are there any good ebooks that others have read and can recommend?

[Nick29]

I've been reading biographies from Alan Sugar and the Dragons from Dragon's den.  I think Theo Paphitis' book was the most entertaining, and James Caan's the most surprising.

[roopat]

Good to hear all these positives! I love gadgets, the Ipad looks great but now they're talking about a Kindle Live (hope that's the right name) which is supposed to be similar - maybe I'll wait for that. (or a win on the lottery  )

Pat

[panda40]

On the Amazon Kindle store is 100 free books that are updated hourly. People put their recommendations as to how good they are. You can view these books in sub categories, eg romance, autobiography etc. Often a book will come out for free to test the market before being released at a cost price. I treated myself to a kindle plus a cover with light which was expensive. I use this for when I go camping less space used. I can read in the dark. so far I got about 100 books and paid for about 5 of them. I check about every other day to see if there are any book I would like to download.
Best investment I have made in a long time.
panda

[Redroger]

I must admit to being impressed by the legibility of Kindl;e even on a smart phone app. Whether I shall graduate to a full Kindle is unknown, it would depend on what is available in my interest fields.