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01-06-2019, 08:49 PM
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Kindle recommendations wanted

A birthday is looming and I'd like a kindle. Specifically one which is anti-glare (not an add-on screen protection); also waterproof; about 4 x 6; decent size memory; page turner; and one that reads your book out loud.

Any ideas?
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01-06-2019, 11:35 PM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

I have a Kindle paperwhite which is A5 size. It's got a good antiglare screen but it's not waterproof, don't know of any kindles that are. You may be better with some kind of Kindle HD tablet if you're wanting audio playback but then again they aren't waterproof.
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02-06-2019, 03:29 AM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

Why not just buy an Android tablet and install an ebook reader? A Kindle is just a crippled Android Tablet so you are probably better off getting the real thing.

I have a Sony ereader but alas they don't make those any more. I have never understood why you would buy an ereader that is stuck with one seller though if you get Calibre ebook Manager that frees even a Kindle from the clutches of Amazon
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02-06-2019, 06:43 AM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

Thanks for your comments. I have an Android tablet, but it's too big and heavy and the battery life is terrible........and it's not anti-glare.
A waterproof kindle means I can read in the bath............or hot tub (if I decide to get one!).

Any ideas where I can find reviews of all the kindles available?
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02-06-2019, 11:17 AM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

Originally Posted by Lindyloo ->
Thanks for your comments. I have an Android tablet, but it's too big and heavy and the battery life is terrible........and it's not anti-glare.
A waterproof kindle means I can read in the bath............or hot tub (if I decide to get one!).

Any ideas where I can find reviews of all the kindles available?
If you Google "which report on kindles" you'll see waterproof ones.

You can join Which just for a month for £1...great way read in-depth reviews that will guide your choice.
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02-06-2019, 04:11 PM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

Latest review of latest Kindle paperwhite - waterproof and audio.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-new-Kin...gateway&sr=8-2
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02-06-2019, 06:37 PM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

Even the original kindle which came out in 2009 has a text-to-speak function. I still have mine and have used it almost every day for ten years.
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02-06-2019, 09:09 PM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

The new entry level Kindle circa £70 doesn't have page turn buttons, you need the top of the range circa £300 for that but hey it's Amazon, you can just return it if not happy.
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02-06-2019, 11:14 PM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

Hi Lindy

I agree with you, a tablet is a completely different beast and too heavy to cart around in a handbag etc.

When they first came out, Kindles were excellent but those early generations mostly packed up and died forcing everyone to buy new ones.

From the reviews I have read the latest Kindles are horribly unreliable and not well made. There are numerous tales of them dying after 1 year and up to 2 years. Not good.

Since, like you, I needed to get a new device, I instead opted for the KOBO reader. Much better imo. Lighting is built in and brightness adjustable so perfect for reading in bed without upsetting partner.

Your main concern will be the book formats.

Amazon of course sell books in their own format which keeps changing.

Nevertheless, there is a great piece of software you can download to a PC/laptop called CALIBRE. This allows you to manage ALL your eBooks no matter where you bought them from.

It can then take Amazon Kindle format books and convert them into a variety of other formats which the KOBO happily reads. I use the ePUB format.

So to be clear.

I still buy my books from Amazon and they are in Amazon format

I download those books from Amazon onto my PC/laptop

I whizz them through CALIBRE application on my laptop

CALIBRE strips away the nasty "digital rights management" wrapper and converts the books into ePUB format which any reader can then use

I put the ePUB version onto my KOBO reader and off I go


What this means is you no longer have to be tied to Amazon. You can if you choose buy your books from the KOBO store instead.

It also means you strip away the DRM wrapper making all your books "open" and "free" just as a real book would be.

That means if your partner also has an eReader (say another KOBO), you can copy your books onto his reader, or indeed anyone elses and they will work just fine.

With Kindles you can not do this because of that DRM wrapper.

So your choice.

Why be a slave to Amazon?

Why buy "books" that you can't let anyone else read even though you paid for them?

KOBOs all the way for me personally from this point on.

https://www.kobo.com
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03-06-2019, 08:53 AM
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Re: Kindle recommendations wanted

Originally Posted by Lindyloo ->
Thanks for your comments. I have an Android tablet, but it's too big and heavy and the battery life is terrible........and it's not anti-glare.
A waterproof kindle means I can read in the bath............or hot tub (if I decide to get one!).

Any ideas where I can find reviews of all the kindles available?
You can buy 7" tablets - I have a rather old Samsung Galaxy Tab A which has an 8" screen and a mat screen protector - no glare there. The battery life was once really good but these days only lasts about 24hours because of its age. It is definitely not big nor heavy and I suspect the modern version will be even lighter and thinner.

There is one here (Samsung Tab A) . I picked it at random from many different models but I notice that now they have a 16:9 screen whereas mine is 4:3. For a mere $199 I can't see how you can go wrong - you would have a fully functioning tablet and an ebook reader.



As an aside, I can't really see the point of a 10" tablet because you can buy a fully functioning computer of similar size, so for a tablet I want something small.
 
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