Amazon Kindle for SA

Cloudsmmm said:
Yeah. I get it.

Kindle advantages:
- e-ink
- eliminates the need for carrying around actual books
- access to purchase ebooks (which as far as I know is not possible in SA for other mediums such as reading on your laptop or the cellphone)

Disadvantges:
- large price tag
- it's an electronic device ie. it will probably break in less than 2 years or be replaced by a newer, perhaps cheaper model, whereas, people upgrade their cellphones on a regular basis
- it’s still a single-purpose machine, unless the internet on it is free

On a personal note, if a person really enjoys a book they have read - borrowed or electronically(even partially) - they will want to buy their own copy. And the actual book can be kept and shared with friends and family.
Click to expand...

Some good points. But keep in mind:
If you are an avid reader then it's worth the investment (even if you buy a new device every 2 or 3 years). Let's say for example that I read a book a week and thus save R50 a book (seeing most e-books are cheaper than their paper cousins). That's a saving of R2600 a year. If I replace my Kindle every 2 or 3 years then I'm still making a huge saving :D
At first I also thought that if I read a really really good book on my Kindle, I'd actually go out and buy the physical book too. The more I've thought about this - the more I think I might actually not buy the physical book. Don't see the need for the physical one on my shelf collecting dust and taking up space. I'm a bit fussy and don't lend out any of my books - people tend to damage your books.

Not sure what you mean about not being able to read on other mediums? You referring to Kindle for iPhone and Kindle for PC? I have them both and they work pretty well :D

P.S. I actually actually have free internet running on my Kindle ;) Don't use it though...
 
Ok, seems like I did something really stupid.
I had my Amazon account set up as a US account but somehow had an address somewhere in Amazon pointing to my SA billing address. Result was that I had access to all the US Kindle books and was NOT being charged the $1.99 for international wireless downloads.
I did something in my account (was adding another credit card and playing with default 1-click addresses) and now I'm being charged the $1.99 if I order a book and have it sent wirelessly. Can't seem to fix it.
So anyways, looks like I'll be downloading most new books via USB from now on...
 
rapidblue said:
Ok, seems like I did something really stupid.
I had my Amazon account set up as a US account but somehow had an address somewhere in Amazon pointing to my SA billing address. Result was that I had access to all the US Kindle books and was NOT being charged the $1.99 for international wireless downloads.
I did something in my account (was adding another credit card and playing with default 1-click addresses) and now I'm being charged the $1.99 if I order a book and have it sent wirelessly. Can't seem to fix it.
So anyways, looks like I'll be downloading most new books via USB from now on...
Click to expand...

Just "fixed" it :D
Go to "Your Account" and then "Manage Payment Options".
Make sure your SA credit card there has a SA address (mine was set to a US address there).
Now your Kindle can be linked to the US store and you won't be billed the $1.99 for international downloads :D
 
So I just ordered two of these - one for me, one for the missus.

Please, please tell me that Amazon don't sell Mills & Boons...
 
simp said:
So I just ordered two of these - one for me, one for the missus.

Please, please tell me that Amazon don't sell Mills & Boons...
Click to expand...

Nice!! Sure you guys gonna love them :D
If you planning on reading the same books from the same Amazon account on different devices then keep in mind that there is an option to turn you syncronisation between devices off (in the manage my kindle section). This way you guys won't be syncing the last page read between each other :D
 
rapidblue said:
Nice!! Sure you guys gonna love them :D
If you planning on reading the same books from the same Amazon account on different devices then keep in mind that there is an option to turn you syncronisation between devices off (in the manage my kindle section). This way you guys won't be syncing the last page read between each other :D
Click to expand...

Great tip, thanks. The plan is indeed to share books - we have some common ineterest in our reading tastes. Except for that M&B crup.... :)
 
Hi Guys,

Had my kindle a while now and read 2 books, including the new Dan Brown...

Few comments, amazon does not care how you pay it is very easy to use an SA credit card and a US address, you also only need the US address on your "one click" option not as your shipping or billing address. So you can still order other stuff including you actual kindle, now I can browse the US store and I have the web feautre that is very limited in SA for free.

A friend of mine baught a one also both on 1 account and we can share books ! even read the same book no isse...

So yeah from my side this is the **** really enjoying it... and if you dont want to pay $ 1.99 for wireless delivery used USB if your kindle is registered in SA you have no choich of not paying as the $ 1.99 is included in the book price !
 
O one more thing, I see lots of people complaining about no external storage... its not an issue you can "archive" a book so it is not on the device but still on your account and you can send it to your kindle from the website or the device.... so its really not an issue..

Also people saying just use mobipocket and a cellphone it is so not the same thing, and the kindle will read mobi pocket books that are open.
 
I'm not seeing it...

Amazon's help pages says:
To turn Whispersync off:
  1. Visit the Manage Your Kindle page.
  • Scroll down to "Manage synchronization between devices. Learn more." and select "Learn more."
  • Select "Turn Synchronization off."

I don't have the "Learn More" link :confused:

Yes, I have 2 Kindles, and both are successfully receiving content wirelesly.
 
herbertk said:
Hi Guys,

Had my kindle a while now and read 2 books, including the new Dan Brown...

Few comments, amazon does not care how you pay it is very easy to use an SA credit card and a US address, you also only need the US address on your "one click" option not as your shipping or billing address. So you can still order other stuff including you actual kindle, now I can browse the US store and I have the web feautre that is very limited in SA for free.

A friend of mine baught a one also both on 1 account and we can share books ! even read the same book no isse...

So yeah from my side this is the **** really enjoying it... and if you dont want to pay $ 1.99 for wireless delivery used USB if your kindle is registered in SA you have no choich of not paying as the $ 1.99 is included in the book price !
Click to expand...
Glad you loving your Kindle - they are just sooooo awesome :D

Thanx for the tip on the credit card. Means we don't have to keep our accounts topped-up with vouchers...
Regarding the $1.99 delivery fee on a US account. If your billing address for your credit card (under "Your Account" - "Manage Payment Options") is a US address - they charge $1.99. If it is set to a SA address then no more delivery fee ;)
 
simp said:
I'm not seeing it...

Amazon's help pages says:
To turn Whispersync off:
  1. Visit the Manage Your Kindle page.
  • Scroll down to "Manage synchronization between devices. Learn more." and select "Learn more."
  • Select "Turn Synchronization off."

I don't have the "Learn More" link :confused:

Yes, I have 2 Kindles, and both are successfully receiving content wirelesly.
Click to expand...

Just went to "Manage Synchronization Between Devices" at the bottom of the "Manage Your Kindle" page and I also don't see an option for actually turning it off. It just tells you when to have it turned on/off... Weird...
 
well i've ordered some books on the US kindle site.

Just need to actually buy a kindle next so i can sync em :)
 
Garyvdh said:
Ja, for one thing, Mobipocket is free! :D
Click to expand...

Mobipocket is free yes, but if you purchase the books it's not. In actual fact Amazon owns Mobipocket. The format the Kindle uses is a modified version of the Mobipocket format (prc).

Amazon restricts device makers on the formats they can use. If they want to add a Mobipocket version that can handle DRM, they aren't allowed to have any other DRM system on the device. Hence the reason why many manufacturers are switching over to the ePub standard.
 
Crusader said:
Mobipocket is free yes, but if you purchase the books it's not.
Click to expand...

There's the flaw in your plan! :D

I only purchase books that have actual physical paper! When I can buy e-books that have no DRM and no restrictions then I will consider handing over my cash. Until then I will just keep sampling them in order to know which books I actually buy physically.
 
Garyvdh said:
There's the flaw in your plan! :D

I only purchase books that have actual physical paper! When I can buy e-books that have no DRM and no restrictions then I will consider handing over my cash. Until then I will just keep sampling them in order to know which books I actually buy physically.
Click to expand...

Good plan! :D

Actually there are a few publishers that actually get what ebooks should be about. Baen being one of them. They sell non DRM books without any restrictions for $6 each or around $3 of you buy a Webscription (containing a collection of 6 books from authors).

I'll be happy to support them if my reader ever arrives!
 
Kindle is not just about digital media. Its a step towards where paper is evolving. Paper is ugly, its in the way, its messy, it ruins the environment and it can only be used once.

I would buy a kindle if for nothing more than to get books on it to replace having them in paper form. I dont like paper :)
 
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