The Amazon Kindle Thread
 

Amazon's "Kindle" eBook reader is finally going to be available outside of the USA.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/10/07...ng-october-19/

You will still have to purchase it from Amazon.com though, rather than a local Amazon site.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/...pf_rd_i=468294

The Kindle has a built-in 3G & HSDPA modem, which can also fall back to GPRS & EDGE, for connecting to Amazon's "Whispernet" for downloading content.

"Whispernet" access is free & uses "AT&T's 3G high-speed data network in the U.S. and partner networks outside of the U.S".

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I want one.

One problem though is the cost of delivery adds £30 onto the cost and it comes with the US plug! Really how lazy is it not to include regional power supplies.

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Same here. I'm rapidly running out of bookshelf space.

Although not sure if I really want a kindle or just want an ebook reader and one of the Sony ones would suit me a bit better.

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The new Sony one's look really nice especially the touch screen version. I have a Cybook at the moment so I can't really justify a new ebook reader.

:(

JJ

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I like the hardware for the Sony but detest the selection available for it. Amazon have a ton of books and the newspapers and magazines thing.

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Last time i ordered stuff from Amazon.com i got charged fees from the postman too.

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I'm hoping that, now that the Kindle will be available outside the US, the Kindle iPhone App will become available in the UK App Store (it's currently only available in the US App Store).

At least it charges over USB though, so I don't think that's too much of a problem. Plug it into your computer with the included cable, or maybe slap a UK plug adaptor on the US plug (the power adaptor supports 100-240V).

If you import something from a non-EU country you may be liable to Customs Duty, plus if the item costs over £18 you will also have to pay Import VAT (calculated on the total cost of item + shipping).

$279 = £174.71

Priority Courier Shipping to Europe of "Kindle or Kindle Accessories" = $14.99 = £9.39

Total = £184.10

Then add Import VAT @ 15% ... £27.62 (rising to £32.22 when VAT goes back up to 17.5%).

For some countries, Amazon has an "Import Fees Deposit" service, where you can pay the relevant fees in advance via Amazon when you pay for the actual order itself (Amazon takes your money for the estimated fees, & passes it on to the shipping people to pay the relevant import fees on your behalf when it gets to this end).

If you don't pay it in advance, then you have the situation like you have had before, where the delivery company pay the fees for you and hold onto the item until you reimburse them... often plus an admin fee of some sort (I've been stung for fees before when ordering some things from the US, and had to pay Import VAT plus a separate handling fee when picking the item up from the Royal Mail depot).

[Although, speaking of Amazon & Royal Mail... Amazon.co.uk has ditched Royal Mail for parcels over 500g... http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oc...postal-strikes ]

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Nah! I prefer a book and the smell of books.I can take a book into the bath..;)

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I would love an e-book reader but they are still too expensive for me.

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You can download it from the US store since it's free. I know I did, but then I had an account though buying gift vouchers from ebay. Will you be getting a Kindle then Matt?

Good point about the USB but given the cost of the thing I wish they put more effort into these small details. I mean really, How hard would it have been to ship a bunch to the UK to store in their own warehouses and have UK plugs on them? They could still allow purchase though the US store but then the shipping would be cheaper. They went to the trouble of putting a 3G connection into the device and getting International rights from the Publishers after all.

It's bizarre.

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Not sure I like the remote wipe feature of the Kindle though, A lot of online ebook retailers are starting to apply geographical restrictions which are really anoying when a 'UK' version is not available.

JJ

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I only have a UK account on iTunes. How do you get a US account? Just sign up again with a different email & US address?

Nope. Too expensive at the moment, IMO.

Also, someone pointed out on another forum I posted this on, colour e-ink devices are round the corner, plus apparently the rumoured Apple Tablet may support eBooks in some way. Allegedly.

Good point. Hopefully it won't be long before they start selling them directly from Amazon.co.uk, with UK plugs.

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I think so. I can't remember if you need to have a valid credit card or voucher, or if you can sign up anyway.

Incidentally after re-downloading the Kindle app I can confirm it's working fine. Ordered a book off amazon and can read it on the phone.

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Think I'd prefer the new sony prs-600, the kindle is really big for the amount of actual screen you get.

JJ

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I may give that a try then, unless the UK Store gets it soon.

------------------------------------

Ah, excellent! :rolleyes:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...kindle-charges

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The Guardian has kind of exaggerated the extra cost here. First of all they took one case to make the 40% claim and the difference in price remains fixed in most cases as it goes up so the percentage difference goes down. Not to mention the increased VAT, and the majority of the rise is the $2 fee to download.

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Anyone getting the newly launched, price reduced, UK Kindle? Now ships from the UK, with a proper UK book store, and it's a newer kindle.

I ordered mine but ordered on the 12th so think I will have another couple of weeks to go before it is despatched.

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I've been using the Kindle Reader for Android to read quite a number of books, very good indeed :)

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@graham M

What is it like to use? Any drawbacks? Is there more than one type of kindle reader?
What is it like outside in sunlight?

All and any answers welcome (though related to the subject :) )

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I have the iPhone one but I think the screen is a bit too small...

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Very easy, you can turn pages simply by swiping your finger over the screen or tapping at the edge goes back/forward, if you tap in the middle of the screen it lets you go to a certain page in the book (number of pages obviously depends on the size of the text!)

You can change the text size, background colour and brightness to suit comfortable reading for yourself.

Outside in sunlight I imagine is very dependant on the particular phone, on my particular phone - HTC Wildfire - it's not bad but not as easy I would imagine as on some phones with the ultra-modern displays.

That I know of, the Amazon Kindle App is the only one at the moment, but it is free to download and does a very good job, I have read Frankie Boyle's autobiography on it and have started reading Terry Pratchett's - Going Postal, I also have a book to read by one of my favourite author's Barbara Erskine and I also have Alice in Wonderland which cost me about 75p.

Books can be bought on the phone using the built-in Webkit browser which is easily launched from within the Kindle Reader and Amazon's One-Click Payment system is enabled making it incredibly easy to buy books and get reading, once you have paid for the book it is available immediately, you just sync the client (it does it automatically periodically) - works very well over 2G/3G or Wi-Fi.

Hope my essay helped :D

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Cheer graham..i will investigate further..ta

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For anyone (like me) with the 'old' international kindle, you can now make it 'uk based' so you log into the UK book store, rather than the US one,

Another advantage is that once you make it UK based you can use the 'experimental' web browser to access more sites than just Amazon & Wikipedia - so you can use your kindle to access Gmail, BBC News, etc, wirelessly - I just sent myself an email via Gmail.

OK it is slow & the interface is klunky, but for anyone with the older version who found decent web access only actually worked in the USA, it is worth a try :)

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So Amazon permitting my Kindle should be here soon, or else!

I need to think, what should the first book I read be? Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy seems like the obvious choice...

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Fahrenheit 451 perhaps... :erm:

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I've had a look at a couple of videos and it does seem nice.

A question however, for anyone who has one. What is the maximum font size it can do?

In the video it does seem to go quite large which is nice. The only thing which would put me off is that I'd want it to read out the books, I read that although it /can/ do this it's not available on all books.

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*sigh*

checking my order status has become a daily ritual for me.
Actually more like an hourly ritual

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Does it have a back light?
I fancy one but i cant read in bed with a lamp on as the mrs complains lol

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Make sure you get all 6 boxs in the inacurate trilogy :D

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No, it doesn't.

Although I'm sure there are generic ones - you can get an 'official' one for a steep £49.99

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Light...G7FSMNR46YBYD8

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hmmm thats a lot for a light!.

Im less tempted now, I going to try reading on my iphone with the kindle app see how that goes first i think..

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It depends on the book whether it can read it to you, as you say - however most books bought through the Amazon website seem to work.

As for the font size does the attached help?

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That is brilliant, cheers :tu:

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np - made me realise I could do with recharging it, it lasts so long it is easy to forget :)

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So tell me how much do the books cost?

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You can take a browse here and see for yourself: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Kindle...node=341689031

Basically it varies. Some books are quite cheap, you have a lot of books free. If they are in the public domain I guess. Some books are quite cheap if they are in paperback and are the price the actual book would cost 2nd hand or on sale:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Dragon-...5N1GD345YJKYNA
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...5N1GD345YJKYNA

It's only hardback books which don't drop that much.

---------- Post added at 09:02 ---------- Previous post was at 08:55 ----------

Me too. Getting very annoyed. When I ordered the estimated dispatch date was "on or before the 8th of September". So it's getting very close now and no change in my order status which still states:

Now from what I have heard from people who already received their Kindles it will suddenly change to "Dispatching Soon", no one every had proper dates attached to their order. Still it's annoying. People from the previous batch of Pre-Orders received theirs early but now there is no information. I really want some movement today...

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Sadly a good number of my favourite authors have not made it onto the Kindle lists..Though the free classics list isn't bad.

I'm going to stick with the paper version.I love the smell of old books and second hand book stores.I'm also going to fight to keep our local Art Deco library open..where I can loan out 30 items at a time.

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Ordered one as well. More for using when on holiday, when I usually read the most.

Currently showing as to be dispatched on or before 20th sept on website.

I am like a big kid, waiting for my toy at christmas (we weren't rich, we got one big toy, some smaller things, and the usual orange and chocolate, though never considered the orange as exciting :) )

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AGHHH Still no word on dispatch! They have to dispatch tomorrow now or it's late...

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Should we start a new thread, books recommended on kindle?

Just need to know title, genre, and cost.

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Not sure, could go in the 'What are you reading now' although it would be nice to have recommendations on books that are actually on Kindle I guess..

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I would go with "Kindle Books you are reading now"

I want one but not just yet.:)

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Watch this space, once we get our kindles (see, optimistic it will come), we'll give feedback.

Though my test will come when I go on hols, sitting next to the hotel pool, reading my kindle, starts to have a nice ring to it :D

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Interestingly enough when I ordered mine it said it would shipped by "Amazon EU S.a.r.L." and now it says "Amazon.co.uk"

I think they are having trouble sourcing stock.

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from what I understand they took delivery of 250,000 over the weekend - and are now working to get them out...

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Maybe a mod could renamed this topic "The Amazon Kindle Thread" or "Damien's Magical Kindle Emporium"? Then we could put book recommendations and hardware questions in here!

For the record, I prefer the second name. :D

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I favour the first name..but that is only because all the magic has gone out of my life...:)

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<waves magic wand>

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don't want to know about you waving your 'magic' wand...

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You are even quicker with your wand than Mr love Monkey.:D

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lol...i have a magic wand too, just don't wave it much :D

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Dear Jim, can you fix it for me to get my kindle soon please?

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I've had mine almost a fortnight now and it's great. I downloaded a few of the free books, took out a trial subscription to PC Mag (since cancelled as it's a US Mag and not really useful to UK readers) and even bought Mr Blair's biography. There's good information to be found here http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=140

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So when I ordered mine the estimated dispatch day was 'on or before the 8th of September'. The final day of that period has arrived and I still have no more information. My order remains 'not yet dispatched' and with the typical 'we'll e-mail you yadda yadda yadda'.

Looking at the Amazon forums all the Wi-fi models ordered in the same time period are preparing for dispatch. No word for me so I am guessing they have missed the deadline date. I shall be e-mailing them soon.

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When I ordered mine it was expected delivery on or before 8th September. It's the WiFi model and my status has had no change since the order was placed.

Not overly concerned as it's a Christmas prezzie for the wife but I'd like it to be with me rather than at Amazon Warehouse HQ.

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From what I here yours should be almost in dispatch now. Loads of people with Wi-Fi models and 8th dispatch date have reported theirs moving into processing. What day did you order?

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Another question if I may with regards the 3g one.

I was looking up the experimental browser and although I wouldn't plan to use it all that much it would be useful if i'm out for a quick CF blast.

Does the built in 3g cover this (for free)?

Some places say yes some say the browser only works with the wifi?

Cheers - Dilli :)

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Pretty sure the browser works with 3g and is included but the experience would be awful IMO.

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I can't see how it makes any difference on a forum like this one, that's more about text than flashy graphics or anything.

I do have my HTC Desire for browsing but it would be nice to have a back up :)

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I've the WiFi only version, the browser is OK (I use it for the BBC weather forecast) but you will have to zoom in to be able to read the text which can be a bit slow. Strange, I was going to take a photo of the Kindle with the Cable Forum page showing but I can't launch the browser, the Kindle reset itself. I am connected to the WiFi as I can go to the Amazon store. Well, they do say the browser is experimental...

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Cheers for that, it is a tad worrying as this is one of the sites I'd look at. Much appreciated you trying though :tu:

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Looks like it does. On Amazon's own web page.:

So I might cancel my wifi and order a 3g. It will be nice to use wiki without having to tether. and on holiday I might even be able to use out for web mail.

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Aghhhhhh no dispatch info

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the browser seems to have woken up (bit of a dodgy photo, sorry):

Full quality scan here: http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...es/kindle3.jpg

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Even though I like tech gadgets etc, I'm still not convinced when it comes to reading books on a screen.

We have about 5 bookshelves full of books and they look good for one. Also holding a book, the smell etc, not worrying about how to treat the book as such, just throw it in your bag or case and you don't have to worry about it.

It's also good to browse book shops, car boots, charity shops for some good bargains as well as some good online deals eg 9 books of the True Blood series for less than £10.

As for having a huge catalogue on Amazon to download doesn't work for me much, I have Itunes and I've never downloaded a single album in MP3 format yet for the same reason, I'd rather own what I buy in solid form. (And better quality).

I'm sure they are good and will suit a lot of people, but it's still early days yet, I'm sure a colour one will be out before xmas or umpteen different upgraded versions as well. Maybe it is the future, if that's the case I'd be one of the last to be converted I'm sure.

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Cheers :tu:

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This would be another reason why I woud not order one yet.
I HATE WAITING FOR THINGS!!!! :D

I have to have whatever I buy now now now ..

Im sooo impatient.

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What happens if you drop it in the bath?

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A book or the Kindle?

I would image a book is easier to dry.

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:hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper:

:woot::woot::woot::woot:

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Did you not hear about the mass postal strike? could last 4 weeks......:D

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How comes you got free expedited delivery? Amazon Prime?

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supersaver delivery..orders over X£?

Still waiting to hear about my delivery date :(

It says, order now for 20 Sept delivery..so I presume I'll get on or before then.

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Punky is quite the detective :D

I got it because I am special. :)

(Also I am a member of Prime)

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Mine was expedited too, (even though I selected free delivery) as were two other Kindle 3's friends bought that week.

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YAY! DISPATCHED! Be here tomorrow :D

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Lucky son of a gun :D

Did you get email notification, when it was going out?

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*sigh* guess I'll be waiting for the 17th then. I was hoping it would be early...

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Well the previous batch of people were sent theirs early. Some reports of people who ordered theirs on the 14th getting theirs sent as well, which is ahead of scheduled so you might yet.

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A kindle teardown :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD-wP...ayer_embedded#!

He does seem quite excited about it all :)

A couple of thing, I was surprised at the size of the battery but that's a good thing.

I was also surprised there was a RFID tag in there.

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[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Apparently it's arrived at home! :D

---------- Post added at 14:51 ---------- Previous post was at 14:37 ----------

I need suggestions for the first book!

I own Brave New World in Kindle format. Might download Hitchhikers....

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What, in the Kindle itself? Why in Orwell's name should an ebook reader have an RFID tag?!

For the last time, world, 1984 was supposed to be a warning, not a bloody documentary or society textbook!!!

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When the bloke took it all apart there was an rfid tag on the back cover.

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Plan for the book burning in USA:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...010/09/107.png

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lol..good video. reminded me of the Paul Hogan show

Taking the lid off. "It's pornographic!" :D

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When I watched his reviews of the kindle itself I kept expecting him to pop :)

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Both of thoses are excellent.

Dan Brown's Digital Fortress is good.

What kind of stuff do you like normally?

A couple of good freebies would be Tess Of The D'Urbervilles and Diary Of A Nobody

One annoying thing is that I have got a lot of good books which i'll probably have to buy again.

---------- Post added at 19:23 ---------- Previous post was at 19:00 ----------

Also if you can put climate change politics to one side, Michael Crichton's State Of Fear is excellent.

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Think I'll go for Brave New World. I also got Blair's book and The Lost Symbol.

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If that is by huxley, then good choice, I have a copy collecting dust on my shelf.

I'm a fan of sherlock holmes, may get that and read them again (equally on my shelf).

The picture of dorian gray..equally good.

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Don't forget all the free e-books at Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

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I like the top 100 listing on that site.

http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top

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Am I right in thinking that the screens on these are not backlit? so night time reading needs an additional lightsource????

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Yup.

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This is one thing thats still kinda putting me off (plus the delivery time)
Although ill probably cave in and buy one in the end.

;)

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I think I'll hold out for a backlit reader, tend to read a lot at night in bed

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I think battery life and contrast were the reasons Amazon gave for a lack of backlight.

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They could have implemented some soft of soft switch though so people who were not overly concerned about battery life could have the option.

I have an LED light somewhere which might do the trick, and a friend of mine has a kindle and she said I can have a play, so watch this space I could be announcing my kindle order..:D

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You can buy a case with a built in light.

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They do covers with built in lights for £49.99

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Light...Z165W/ref=_1_2

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yeah but its £50 for an led light (which I got from ASDA for £2.99)

I think thats on the steep side or am I being a tight git?