| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | Poll: Do you have an Amazon kindle? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Anja Weggel 
Local time: 05:11
Member (2007)
English to German
I have the Sony ebook reader so the answer is "sort of"
However, I have to say, it always surprises me that some people have this "either - or" attitude...
Just because someone owns and loves an ebook does not mean that (s)he is never allowed to touch or love a book again. I love the look and feel and smell of books, I love real live bookshops (and I visit them and buy there as well) but I also love my ebook, e... See more I have the Sony ebook reader so the answer is "sort of"
However, I have to say, it always surprises me that some people have this "either - or" attitude...
Just because someone owns and loves an ebook does not mean that (s)he is never allowed to touch or love a book again. I love the look and feel and smell of books, I love real live bookshops (and I visit them and buy there as well) but I also love my ebook, especially when I travel or at night since mine comes with a little light. You can also increase font sizes and at least to me it does not feel like a computer screen. Especially with the lights on, it is even more convenient when the illumination is not perfect. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I can see it has a lot of advantages | Aug 16, 2011 |
I was already interested, and you guys have talked me into it, for all the reasons that you mention.
I'm told that it has a very good collection of current books in Portuguese, which would interest me, as I live in the US.
If I leave the house and know I'm going to be waiting somewhere, I always load up with a pile of books and/or magazines, and usually waste time at the last minute deciding on which ones to take; this would be so much simpler.
Sometimes ha... See more I was already interested, and you guys have talked me into it, for all the reasons that you mention.
I'm told that it has a very good collection of current books in Portuguese, which would interest me, as I live in the US.
If I leave the house and know I'm going to be waiting somewhere, I always load up with a pile of books and/or magazines, and usually waste time at the last minute deciding on which ones to take; this would be so much simpler.
Sometimes hardcover books are uncomfortable and heavy to hold.
Even though I'm in front of the screen most of my waking hours, reading is more relaxing, and I don't think I would mind looking at a screen if I could do it in any setting, rather than in front of my desk.
I like the feature that portions of the text can be saved elsewhere. That's even better than writing on the pages of a real book. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 20:11
Member (2006)
Norwegian to English
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[Edited at 2011-08-16 22:55 GMT]
| | | | Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 20:11
Member (2006)
Norwegian to English
+ ...
| Non-English Kindle books | Aug 16, 2011 |
Simon Bruni wrote:
How does Kindle fare for availability of non-English books?
If you go to the Amazon Kindle Store site you can find thousands of non-English Kindle books. Click on Foreign Language Books under Special Features on the left side of the page. Then click for books in Spanish, French, German, Italian or Portuguese. For other languages, enter the name of the language in search.
This works for the USA, not sure about other locations.
[Edited at 2011-08-16 22:59 GMT]
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Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 04:11
Member (2010)
French to English
+ ...
| No, but I want one | Aug 16, 2011 |
I answered "no" but after reading some of the comments here I've decided I'll buy a Kindle the next time I have some spare cash.
I love books, the feel, look, smell of them, the annotations and highlighting, the stains (mentioned by BD) and finding bookmarks- bus/train tickets/receipts/newspaper clippings etc. etc. years later that bring you back in time to a journey or place. However, Kindles certainly do seem to have advantages when travelling or just for hanging around waitin... See more I answered "no" but after reading some of the comments here I've decided I'll buy a Kindle the next time I have some spare cash.
I love books, the feel, look, smell of them, the annotations and highlighting, the stains (mentioned by BD) and finding bookmarks- bus/train tickets/receipts/newspaper clippings etc. etc. years later that bring you back in time to a journey or place. However, Kindles certainly do seem to have advantages when travelling or just for hanging around waiting rooms and so on but I will never stop buying books and feel really sad when (an increasing number of) bookshops close. ▲ Collapse
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Simon Bruni wrote:
I stare at a digital screen all day so it's nice to look at paper and ink when I'm relaxing.
NO, I don't have one, No I don't want one,
How could you spend so much money for something that is "funny", "nice"?
You could spend less and enjoy the smell of paper, the nice atmosphere of a bookshop....
| | | | Teresa Reinhardt
United States
Local time: 20:11
Member (2002)
German to English
+ ...
| There's nothing like it | Aug 17, 2011 |
I can only agree with Anja, it's not one OR the other. We all know and love books, but do you know what an ereader can do for you? Maybe you wouldn't be so quick to give it the thumbs-downs I see here...
It's already been pointed out that the Kindle gives you web browsing - for free. But if you have ever had tired eyes or any problems with vision, that's where these gadgets really shine. You can adjust the font size to gigantic if needed, AND (contrary to the iPad/iPhone, which are ... See more I can only agree with Anja, it's not one OR the other. We all know and love books, but do you know what an ereader can do for you? Maybe you wouldn't be so quick to give it the thumbs-downs I see here...
It's already been pointed out that the Kindle gives you web browsing - for free. But if you have ever had tired eyes or any problems with vision, that's where these gadgets really shine. You can adjust the font size to gigantic if needed, AND (contrary to the iPad/iPhone, which are both very able contenders AND have color) you can read outside. I know you could do the former on your computer, but I already spend too much time here...now I can go to my favorite chair, the couch, _outside_ and read.
I have an iPad and I had a Kindle DX (the large one), but I find them both too big and heavy to hold comfortably. I now have the small Kindle, and I don't go anywhere without it.
I can read newspapers and magazines from Germany; and no, it's not pretty (no color, no pix, boring layout...) but it beats NOT having them or reading them at my desk.
As far as I know - I haven't had time to test that yet - you can send anything that can be converted to a PDF to your Kindle (in the U.S.); so you could even create your own reference files to take with you (the dictionaries have already been mentioned.)
In addition to large print, there are other adaptive features (again, not tested yet) such as having the thing read to you - while you close your eyes or while you are driving.
One feature I missed a lot was lending/sharing books. But apparently, they are working on that, too.
God, I just love the thing! And it's very reasonably priced (in $'s) - so if you sit on it or lose it, it's not the end of the world (with my iPad, I always think twice about taking it - both because it's more sensitive - glass!!! - and heavier/bigger.) Books are bargains, too - and if you lose the thing, you can download your books again. And you can access your books from other gadgets via the cloud...
Disclaimer: They are not paying me, but maybe they should ▲ Collapse
| | | | Chun Un
Macau
Member (2007)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Not an Amazon marketing executive | Aug 17, 2011 |
Simon Bruni wrote: Steve Dreggs wrote:
the classics are usually free, and you get free 3g internet. I had no idea it could do this. All of a sudden it is a much more attractive proposition. Is the person who suggested this poll an Amazon marketing executive? [Edited at 2011-08-16 11:38 GMT]
I suggested the poll and am glad to see so many responses from my fellow translators. Yes, I am a translator and not an Amazon marketing executive.
I bought a Kindle (second generation) a couple of years ago and still think it was the best investment in recent years. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading.
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Steve Dreggs wrote:
I bought a Kindle too a few months ago. It's not like staring at a screen at all, and it's very easy to read outside - try to do that with an iPad or laptop... Granted, it doesn't smell like a new book, but it's lighter, the books are a lot cheaper - the classics are usually free, and you get free 3g internet. When I went to Turkey I was able to search for things to do in the area, read about local history, take a whole library of books to choose from and access my emails (and facebook haha). I don't have a smart phone, or even a phone contract, so this was ideal for me.
I share my experiences with Steve when I brought my new Kindle wireless/3G to Thailand in the last December. It came in a chocolate-brown leather cover (which actually smells good even after months!). It's light and handy to bring around in a knapsack, and contrary to my initial expectation, I soon found it's more convenient to search for all local information and access my email accounts, rather than to read books or papers in hotel rooms. I'd say it sort of played the role of a smart phone or a navigation tool while I was strolling around on the streets as a stranger in a foreign country, as long as texting is concerned (To call with my friend, I bought a compact cell phone at a local shop at a lower price).
Coming back home, I regained its original use as a book reader to start reading whatever well-known classics provided free. Its screen is nothing like that of a laptop or a smart phone, but feels like a real paper, very ergonomic. As some of you mentioned, you can easily use a dictionary while reading texts in English just by moving the cursor before a word. It's the same with French, although there is a big room for future improvement for F-E dictionaries. What I want most right now is that I could read on this Kindle in my own native language in a more convenient way.
Saying all this, I still like to read paper books/newspapers/magazines, too, whose "feeling" would not be replaceable by ebook readers.
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I find it usefull to proof read my translations - it is easier on eyes than a computer screen and I don't have to print out tons of paper.
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