I know that might happen but do I really want to take the chance of it arriving after the 24th and we not here? Then what happens to it?
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- Thread starter Jhbgirl
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I know that might happen but do I really want to take the chance of it arriving after the 24th and we not here? Then what happens to it?
lws
Well-Known Member
Your Kindle may probably sit at UPS South Africa while they try to get hold of you to organise alternative delivery but good luck trying to get them to help you out as UPS (haven't had the chance to experience DHL) has not been the most helpful of people when it comes to making queries with them.
My friend's Kindle was stuck in Cincinnati for days so he called UPS. UPS said to contact Amazon. Amazon said to contact UPS. UPS then told him his Kindle has disappeared in Cincinnati. Wait 15 days for the refund process with Amazon. No, actually, Amazon never gave them the Kindle (but something was weighed in a xx lbs) according to their system. Two days later, lo and behold, the Kindle arrives on his desk. According to UPS, the Kindle is still in Cincinnati.
Schroedinger would be proud of such a quantum device.
My friend's Kindle was stuck in Cincinnati for days so he called UPS. UPS said to contact Amazon. Amazon said to contact UPS. UPS then told him his Kindle has disappeared in Cincinnati. Wait 15 days for the refund process with Amazon. No, actually, Amazon never gave them the Kindle (but something was weighed in a xx lbs) according to their system. Two days later, lo and behold, the Kindle arrives on his desk. According to UPS, the Kindle is still in Cincinnati.
Schroedinger would be proud of such a quantum device.
I ordered the 3G version and i have to say the Kindle was an awesome buy. It shipped in 4 days and i love it.
The 3G is a bit of a let down as iv never gotten above edge speeds but its no biggy. I have a large selection pdf's which can be converted to kindle friendly .mobi format by using a program called Calibre : http://calibre-ebook.com/
The screen cant be used for heavy surfing but internet diversifies the device and makes it a little more appealing.
The 3G is a bit of a let down as iv never gotten above edge speeds but its no biggy. I have a large selection pdf's which can be converted to kindle friendly .mobi format by using a program called Calibre : http://calibre-ebook.com/
The screen cant be used for heavy surfing but internet diversifies the device and makes it a little more appealing.
Set your delivery address to someone you trust who is not going away - parents, family or close friend. I acted as receiver for one of my friends' Kindle.
Enter 311 from the setup menu and you can select a service provider, my K2 used to default to Cell-C which battled to even get to Edge in my area. To find out how to do it for a K3, search MyBB for Kindle - it was discussed very recently.
rabbiddog
Expert Member
have a look here http://www.have2have.co.za/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=kindle&x=0&y=0 it ships with an adapter and you dont have to worry about the duties etc, then buy you books online from Amazon.
diabolus
Executive Member
You must do that "alt-e-q-q" thing in the settings menu to get 3G .
Terencek
Expert Member
There is in fact a thread in the News section explaining how Kindle international demand has outstripped supply and that delivery outside the US or UK is now 2 - 3 months. Amazon can't keep up with projected sales of a million a month!
If you are desperate you can buy locally but you will pay a hefty premium -- the landed price in SA equates to around R1,700 which is way below the SA asking prices from suppliers who have stock. You can buy other eReaders from Incredible etc., but they're not a patch on the features of the Kindle, apart from being stupidly expensive.
To answer an earlier question, the free-for-life 3G works in SA out of the box (certainly did for me and a couple of other local buyers) but be aware you can only browse websites, not download (apart from Amazon books) or enjoy video, flash etc.
If you're ordering, I would suggest springing the extra US$35 or so for the leather cover -- it's a real quality product and gives your Kindle that extra 'cachet'! The one with the built-in light (costs extra) is also pretty cool.
If you are desperate you can buy locally but you will pay a hefty premium -- the landed price in SA equates to around R1,700 which is way below the SA asking prices from suppliers who have stock. You can buy other eReaders from Incredible etc., but they're not a patch on the features of the Kindle, apart from being stupidly expensive.
To answer an earlier question, the free-for-life 3G works in SA out of the box (certainly did for me and a couple of other local buyers) but be aware you can only browse websites, not download (apart from Amazon books) or enjoy video, flash etc.
If you're ordering, I would suggest springing the extra US$35 or so for the leather cover -- it's a real quality product and gives your Kindle that extra 'cachet'! The one with the built-in light (costs extra) is also pretty cool.
I bought the iRiver from Incredible Corruption yesterday *hides*, but I'm still gonna get the kindle next year. Now to go off in search of books! I've bought one so far and it's a bit of a round a bout way to get it onto the eReader with Adobe Digital Editions but it's working now.
Thanks for the info on Calibre. It's come in handy for converting stuff.
I've been wondering about the iRiver, let us know how it works!
Lawnchairman
Expert Member
I see E-Bucks stocks them locally as well.
Terencek
Expert Member
While the iRiver which IC sells is a good compromise for anyone here who can't wait out Amazon's lengthening delivery times, it has not fared very well in overseas reviews -- apart from the huge pricing premium being asked here. Ditto the Bookeen. I've tried the iRiver and it's a good basic reader, though heavier and not as 'svelte' as the Kindle. But it absolutely lacks several of the Kindle's deal-breaking features, most notably the free 3G.
I also think it's something of a con to promote a free book 'starter collection' as a selling feature on non-Kindles. When you check out the titles included they are invariably all books you can download free anyhow from gutenberg.org or other out-of-copyright ebook sites.
My personal advice to anyone wanting the best eReader: either wait for a Kindle, or pay the premium if you find an SA retailer who actually has stock. But beware of SA middlemen who will take your order but end up in the Amazon 2-3 month queue for stock like everyone else!
I also think it's something of a con to promote a free book 'starter collection' as a selling feature on non-Kindles. When you check out the titles included they are invariably all books you can download free anyhow from gutenberg.org or other out-of-copyright ebook sites.
My personal advice to anyone wanting the best eReader: either wait for a Kindle, or pay the premium if you find an SA retailer who actually has stock. But beware of SA middlemen who will take your order but end up in the Amazon 2-3 month queue for stock like everyone else!
It's quality is fine as far as I am concerned. I was warned it has a bad glare when you try and read it outside but I don't have any of those issues. The menus and things are a bit dodgy and the paging takes a sec or so. You also have to press the side buttons quite hard to page but you can also page with the keyboard arrows. But I had no expectations of it so it's treating me quite well.
I still want a kindle though because of the ease of buying books. You can't put amazon books on the iRiver. But I have bought elsewhere and it works fine.
diabolus
Executive Member
..and that's the real criteria for any book reader you might see in the shops. It's all about where you are going to get the books, will it be the "best sellers", the "latest" and a good price? Amazon is considered one of the top e-book shops [you literally won't need any other shop] , so it should definitely count as part of your decision to buy an e-reader whether you will actually find books to buy .
This is also why Apple is doing so well, not because of their devices, but the content they push with it. ITunes/Appstore/content is the thing to beat, not the ipod or iphone.
cerebus
Honorary Master
They do include insurance yes. My boss and another colleague got one, no probs. r1272 for the 6" model with shipping and insurance.
Still trying to wrestle it out of SO's hands.I was just thinking, I have quite a few pdf books on the computer. Will I be able to read them on the kindle properly? Will I have to 'pan' the screen from left to right for every sentence or will it automatically squeeze the text or cut off sentences depending on the size of the text that I want?
And if I won't be able to read it properly, is it possible to convert them to another format without losing the formatting?
Thanks again
And if I won't be able to read it properly, is it possible to convert them to another format without losing the formatting?
Thanks again