Kindle II the most popular e-reader in SA

"Popular" seems like a pretty bold claim. Got any guesstimates on how many people in SA have actually got one? And can that even beat out the (relatively few) people who read on their smartphone?
 
Well I got one.
Had Sony prs - 505 for couple of years now.... since arrivial of my K2 5 of my friends have orderd it too.

So yeah km2, it is kinda a niche market for K2 (any ebook reader really) but don't be surprised if you start seeing more of them around. Especially if we get rid of those exorbitant "import duties".

Any how easy of access to content makes K2 perfect gift for the book reading freeks....no more computers cables and transfers ... love it..
bring on Kindle DX international
 
Rather buy it straight from the Amazon.com site instead of going through WantItall - you even pay customs when you checkout so there is no delay when it gets here. Plus it's helluva cheaper than them in anycase. I've tried to order a few things from wantitall before, and their service really is as shocking as you expect from your average South African company
 
A decent PDA phone does the job just as well and it is free with some cell phone contracts.
Been using my PDA / phone to read ebooks for over 3 years.
 
Moederloos said:
A decent PDA phone does the job just as well and it is free with some cell phone contracts.
Been using my PDA / phone to read ebooks for over 3 years.
Click to expand...

It just doesn't compare to the eInk screen, though. They're awesome.
 
Used to read my eBooks on an ipaq (travel comp), last month i got a sony 600 and i gotta admit, i would not go back to reading off an LCD. IMO this is a market waiting to happen.

p.s Anybody recommend an SA seller of eBooks?
p.p.s And here is a thought. i was at cresta buying some documentaries and nearly walked into the bookshop by mistake, which got me thinking. Why not sell eBooks in a proper shop along with physical books? it would be even nicer if i could buy a physical book and get the electronic version for "free" ('cos i still love the feel of a real book).

anyway... cheers all.
 
Moederloos said:
A decent PDA phone does the job just as well and it is free with some cell phone contracts.
Been using my PDA / phone to read ebooks for over 3 years.
Click to expand...
It's not the same. The Kindle is still for suckers though.
 
CathJ said:
It just doesn't compare to the eInk screen, though. They're awesome.
Click to expand...

Must agree here. reading on a smartphone or computer is ok. When you read off a dedicated e-reader device with an e-ink display you'll never go back to a smartphone or computer again :D
 
There's no way to compare e-ink with an lcd screen. Your eyes will tell you they are not the same. Try reading for 5 hours and see.
 
although it is marginally cheaper trough amazon (my total cost came to R2530), this was not my only reason for choosing to by direct from amazon.
big companies often do offer good service, plus since we can order direct why use a middle man..... don't get me wrong wannitall type of companies still have its place untill they can offer goods that cant be bought direct or can offer better pricing..

you are correct in that everything was calculated and charged at the time of check out, and delivery service was fast.



whatwhat said:
Rather buy it straight from the Amazon.com site instead of going through WantItall - you even pay customs when you checkout so there is no delay when it gets here. Plus it's helluva cheaper than them in anycase. I've tried to order a few things from wantitall before, and their service really is as shocking as you expect from your average South African company
Click to expand...
 
Yeah take it from me I read all the Hitchikers guides on my PDA with mobipocket.... but it in NO way compares to reading on the kindle !

I wont read on a PDA / LCD again thats for sure, as to the Kindle being for suckers well if you clasify someome paying for stuff and supporting the authors then yes Im a sucker...
 
PC_Stoker said:
Used to read my eBooks on an ipaq (travel comp), last month i got a sony 600 and i gotta admit, i would not go back to reading off an LCD. IMO this is a market waiting to happen.

p.s Anybody recommend an SA seller of eBooks?
p.p.s And here is a thought. i was at cresta buying some documentaries and nearly walked into the bookshop by mistake, which got me thinking. Why not sell eBooks in a proper shop along with physical books? it would be even nicer if i could buy a physical book and get the electronic version for "free" ('cos i still love the feel of a real book).

anyway... cheers all.
Click to expand...
There is definitely no comparison between eInk and an LCD. The Kindle however is a poor choice because it is a lock-in device and you don't own anything you pay for, unlike real books.

Yes, they should give you electronic version for free with the book. It really doesn't cost anything.
 
herbertk said:
I wont read on a PDA / LCD again thats for sure, as to the Kindle being for suckers well if you clasify someome paying for stuff and supporting the authors then yes Im a sucker...
Click to expand...

+1
 
Kindle works like a charm

Got a Kindle and it really is an eye opener with that eink screen.

One thing that is a problem for South African's is that the Kindle doesn't always pick the best cellular network for your area. However if you go to Settings and enter 311 on the keyboard it will bring up the available GSM networks and you can then pick a default like Vodacom if that that has the strongest signal. Saves a lot of frustration when your Kindle arrives with the default set to a nonsense network that doesn't exist.
 
Are people loading stuff onto the kindle from other sources yet, or have they started flashing the things for 'homebrew' yet?
 
yip,
but at roughly R80 rands per book and internet connection on Kindle it is almost not worth the trouble of doing the "home brew" thing....
with firmware update native pdf support is now avalible on kindle as well ..



riempiestoel said:
Are people loading stuff onto the kindle from other sources yet, or have they started flashing the things for 'homebrew' yet?
Click to expand...
 
Amazon.com doesn't ship electronics to South Africa, so the people talking about ordering directly from Amazon: Did Amazon change their policy or do you live in another country?

It looks like the new Kindle's being sold over Christmas is capable of supporting PDF natively and even allows you to rotate the screen: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...y-gets-native-pdf-support-screen-rotation.ars

That makes me strongly consider buying one. I do think everyone else that bought the kindle before it supported PDF are idiots though. Did you know Amazon deleted all instances of 1984 off everybody's kindles remotely because of some license disagreement? You don't own the ebooks you buy from Amazon...
 
So what is so special about this e-ink screen that makes it stand worlds apart from LCDs? I've never seen one and assumed the displays on ebook readers were similar to LCDs, hence why I thought them to be a bit gimmicky...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X