To kindle or not to kindle

Hi folks....I have a iPad...I like reading books so was thinking of buying a kindle...is it available in Delhi. Don't really like to buy online....is it possible to read for free ? What kind of fictions are available I.e.dick Francis, Alistar Macleans, Enid blytons (for the kids), westerns ?

Thanks

Hi pinnaclecap, I personally love the kindle! Its way better for your eyes than an ipad and you can get most books free from the internet (although you have to be a bit handy in finding them!) otherwise you can download them using the kindle store. Also the battery power lasts really really long. I'm not sure if you can find one in Delhi, since its an Amazon product. Maybe you can find one second hand, like I did.

Thanks for your answer....I believe it's available in Delhi....I only wonder about hunting the e-books down.

I think Tata Chroma now stocks and sells Kindle in India

I am underwhelmed by the Kindle I bought and won't be carrying it to India.

The most free books are available at the Gutenberg Project .. but those are all written before 1926 (copyright issues).

My local public library has books available for Kindle, but fewer than the hard cover books and they have to be returned (or they disappear) in 3 weeks.

There are other free books available in other formats but those cannot be read on the Kindle -- I think, however, you can read them on your iPad.

And yes, Amazon sells all sorts of books for Kindle ... but if you read a book every day, as I do, it gets very expensive.

Don't do it. Download the Kindle app for iPad. Kindle is the better e-reader (better than iBooks) but iPad is the better platform (better than Kindle).

See if you can download Kindle App for the mac. (I meant iOS)

There is the Open Library project, and archive.org, and many other sites with non-copyrighted material in multiple e-format. Dont have the info at hand, but enough freebie classics if one wants.

I'm happy with my old generation kindle.

Thats funny, I have found tons of good reading and since its usually a good discount for the Kindle version as opposed to hardbacks in addition to a couple thousand freebies (there are adapter programs for the semi-tech inclin`ed) and my place is jammed to the ceiling as is my office (often referred to as a museum) I have to go that route. My Ipad is never going to fit into a pocket unless I grow to a size 94. But, my Kindle slips in nicely and has much longer battery life not to mention readabilty. Gradually, I'll shift my old stuff off my Kindle Dx to the color machine. Now I'll grant you that if you compare (a)pples to oranges an Ipad 3 may have a better screen than the Kindle Fire 1. I'll let you know after I check it out manana (buying it for my Dad). Now you can make a fair argument that the Nook beats the comparable Kindle, readabilty, memory slot, etc. But Amazon rocks, thank you Bevos, its so convenient and until recently tax free. It ain't an Ipad. But, at a bit more than a third the price a whopping good value..

Classics are fine ... but I also want more contemporary books when I travel -- and those are the expensive ones. I'll check out Open Library .. thanks!

I think Kindle's are fantastic for travelling! I'd try one out in a local supermarket or something, but the features are quite something

Definitely get a kindle. I bought the Kindle Touch Wifi, just before this trip to india. I'va had it 3 months now, and it goes everywhere with me.
I also travel with a small netbook, but the kindle gets much more use.
It is completely readable in full sunshine - which even means I can check my email etc when sat out in the garden of my guest house.
I'm an avid reader (1 book every two days or so), so I've also saved a fortune compared to buying the extortionate second hand books here. I even prefer it to reading paperbooks now - it's lighter, you can hold it with one hand and still turn-over the pages, blah blah blah
Can I gush anymore??? No, ok, I'll shut up now.

The great advantage of the iPad is that you don't need a light on to read it. I adjust the brightness and set mine on sepia rather than black & white and this avoids eye-strain. I buy Kindle books for the iPad through Amazon. When you're travelling, the great challenge is in finding a good bed-light. Why pack two devices when one will do?

Price. My non-touch, wifi kindle which is B&W digital ink based, costs about $80. ipad new, is about $500. There is less fatigue to the eye on a long plane ride, or a train ride with kindle.

The Kindle Touch Wifi as described by IndyBoy and the Wifi Kindle as described by nycank look tempting. I believe that as well as the in-built light they also allow you to download documents from your laptop to read whilst on the move. Is that correct? So theoretically, instead of lugging around guide books and documents you could just put all your travel information on the Kindle? Does the newest kindle allow other languages? I think Greek and French are possible. What about Bengali and Hindi? I know, I can just go to look in the shops. But my techie knowledge being zero, I am asking these basic questions here.

Hindi and Bangla both on my B&W Kindle Graphite display aOK