Comments on: Amazon Kindle – Review for Australia http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/ My thoughts on .... everything Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:55:55 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Simon http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-8740 Simon Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:25:00 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-8740 I think it is probably a bit of the Prius factor. However it should mean cheaper books eventually when the publishers actually do the right thing. I guess that's the real push. There is also the fact that you can carry everything in a small device where the battery may last a couple of weeks if heavy use. The DS us interesting. I saw they do some kids ebooks the other day. I have the original DS and I have to be honest reading on that screen makes my eyes hurt. The iPod is better as there are more pixels to play with but that still struggles with PDFs. Biggest problem is PDFs don't reflow so you need to zoom in and move the area being displayed, which is a real pain. Post a comment though when you get yours and let me know what you think. I think it is probably a bit of the Prius factor. However it should mean cheaper books eventually when the publishers actually do the right thing. I guess that’s the real push. There is also the fact that you can carry everything in a small device where the battery may last a couple of weeks if heavy use.

The DS us interesting. I saw they do some kids ebooks the other day. I have the original DS and I have to be honest reading on that screen makes my eyes hurt. The iPod is better as there are more pixels to play with but that still struggles with PDFs. Biggest problem is PDFs don’t reflow so you need to zoom in and move the area being displayed, which is a real pain. Post a comment though when you get yours and let me know what you think.

]]> By: Pete http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-8643 Pete Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:57:35 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-8643 Thanks for the review: same as you, I have a folder of stuff (pdfs) to read...of course, that never happens due to the fact you're not going to print out 100 pages at home, and it's unpleasant to read these things on a screen. Unlike you though, the environment issue is a big zero for me - going e-book sounds like buying a Prius: rich people feel-good pointless shit in a world where 3rd world dumps like India and China are spewing forth at a rate that will soon make the US and us in Oz look like a greenies dream! Anyway, just ordered the DX (which will let you read your own PDFs) so we'll see how we go. Thanks for the review: same as you, I have a folder of stuff (pdfs) to read…of course, that never happens due to the fact you’re not going to print out 100 pages at home, and it’s unpleasant to read these things on a screen. Unlike you though, the environment issue is a big zero for me – going e-book sounds like buying a Prius: rich people feel-good pointless shit in a world where 3rd world dumps like India and China are spewing forth at a rate that will soon make the US and us in Oz look like a greenies dream!

Anyway, just ordered the DX (which will let you read your own PDFs) so we’ll see how we go.

]]> By: admin http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-7499 admin Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:26:28 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-7499 Hey Mike, unfortunately the lack of titles is more to do with our geographic location rather than the kindle itself. That means you can't get the books on their site either (unless they are physical book strangely). I'm not sure the exact mechanism of how they check. If it is by credit card address, the way around it would be to have a US based card, or to somehow set up an account to pay by paypal so the address is hidden (you could even use paypal to generate one time credit card numbers). If they check by IP then it would be easy enough to use a proxying service to get round it. Trouble is for me that the kindle is now linked with my existing account, so I would also need to transfer that over to a new 'owner'. You can probably see that your comments have set me wondering how to get through their system! If you want to have a look at what books you can get, and have an iPhone or iPod Touch, get the kindle app, as you can browse, buy and read books from there too. The screen size is a bit small but for looking at book choice and browsing, I actually prefer it to the kindle. On your second question I can't see a good reason why you would need an Australian version rather than one from anywhere else. The wireless connection is ATT global roaming, so is not particularly linked with a carrier here. As for plugs, you just don't get one here, so ordering from elsewhere might actually be an advantage (I know they get one in the UK for instance). It would be worth a search around, but I can't see there would be any problem order one in India. I guess the other thing I should mention here is the iPad. If you can hold out, the iPad might be an even more compelling book reader than the kindle. It certainly looks slicker anyway. Personally I have my doubts as the kindle is as big as I want to hold in bed or on the sofa (I've heard that's a problem with the kindle DX too). I hope this has answered you questions in a round about way! Hope you are enjoying India too. It's one place I haven't been, but would love to get there sometime! Cheers Simon Hey Mike, unfortunately the lack of titles is more to do with our geographic location rather than the kindle itself. That means you can’t get the books on their site either (unless they are physical book strangely).
I’m not sure the exact mechanism of how they check. If it is by credit card address, the way around it would be to have a US based card, or to somehow set up an account to pay by paypal so the address is hidden (you could even use paypal to generate one time credit card numbers). If they check by IP then it would be easy enough to use a proxying service to get round it.
Trouble is for me that the kindle is now linked with my existing account, so I would also need to transfer that over to a new ‘owner’.
You can probably see that your comments have set me wondering how to get through their system!
If you want to have a look at what books you can get, and have an iPhone or iPod Touch, get the kindle app, as you can browse, buy and read books from there too. The screen size is a bit small but for looking at book choice and browsing, I actually prefer it to the kindle.
On your second question I can’t see a good reason why you would need an Australian version rather than one from anywhere else. The wireless connection is ATT global roaming, so is not particularly linked with a carrier here. As for plugs, you just don’t get one here, so ordering from elsewhere might actually be an advantage (I know they get one in the UK for instance). It would be worth a search around, but I can’t see there would be any problem order one in India.
I guess the other thing I should mention here is the iPad. If you can hold out, the iPad might be an even more compelling book reader than the kindle. It certainly looks slicker anyway. Personally I have my doubts as the kindle is as big as I want to hold in bed or on the sofa (I’ve heard that’s a problem with the kindle DX too).
I hope this has answered you questions in a round about way!
Hope you are enjoying India too. It’s one place I haven’t been, but would love to get there sometime!
Cheers
Simon

]]> By: Mike http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-7477 Mike Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:34:40 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-7477 Simon, thanks for your blog. I'm wondering whether your experience allows you to comment on a couple of issues. Firstly, when you describe the paucity of titles on the Australian Kindle store I'm assuming that this just relates to wireless downloads and that it is still possible to access the full Amazon stock of Kindle edition at Amazon.com if you have a computer ? Is this right ? Secondly, as an Australian currently living in India for the next 2 months I'm wondering whether I should wait until I get home before ordering a Kindle ? I've seen info indicating that Australians should only order the Australian version. Not sure whether this is just so we can miss out on the charger or because the software is irrevocably different in some way. Any ideas on this ? Many thanks if you can help ? Mike Simon, thanks for your blog. I’m wondering whether your experience allows you to comment on a couple of issues. Firstly, when you describe the paucity of titles on the Australian Kindle store I’m assuming that this just relates to wireless downloads and that it is still possible to access the full Amazon stock of Kindle edition at Amazon.com if you have a computer ? Is this right ?

Secondly, as an Australian currently living in India for the next 2 months I’m wondering whether I should wait until I get home before ordering a Kindle ? I’ve seen info indicating that Australians should only order the Australian version. Not sure whether this is just so we can miss out on the charger or because the software is irrevocably different in some way. Any ideas on this ?

Many thanks if you can help ?

Mike

]]> By: Andrew M http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-5869 Andrew M Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:25:00 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-5869 Hi Just bought one, I am looking for a charger in Australia, I have found it will charge from my HP printer which has a usb card reader on it, Kindle seems to be looking for a USB host before it allows itself to be charged. I have found that resetting the device by holding the power switch for 15s fixes the lagging. I still feel that this device is "bleeding edge" as software can sometimes be slow or buggy, but overall the reading experience is excellent. I have managed to get WIkipedia working on my device using the experimental browser, but no other websites can be accessed. Hi Just bought one, I am looking for a charger in Australia, I have found it will charge from my HP printer which has a usb card reader on it, Kindle seems to be looking for a USB host before it allows itself to be charged. I have found that resetting the device by holding the power switch for 15s fixes the lagging.
I still feel that this device is “bleeding edge” as software can sometimes be slow or buggy, but overall the reading experience is excellent. I have managed to get WIkipedia working on my device using the experimental browser, but no other websites can be accessed.

]]> By: admin http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-5816 admin Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:01:58 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-5816 Calibre looks really interesting. If you Google it you can also get some instructions on how to create your own newspapers! For info of other readers you can download it at http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/download. I'll report back on my experiences. Calibre looks really interesting. If you Google it you can also get some instructions on how to create your own newspapers! For info of other readers you can download it at http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/download.
I’ll report back on my experiences.

]]> By: Colin http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-5697 Colin Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:12:47 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-5697 Nice little write up, I feel the same way. I'm a programmer with a lot of technical books in pdf form, and its very hit or miss whether they convert properly. I'm hoping in 6 months to a year they can offer every book on the kindle for international readers, and have a better way of converting files. Using the kindle itself is very awesome, but its missing that ipod ease of compatibility, where you just stick in cd's, burn, and hey presto everything works 100%. Nice little write up, I feel the same way. I’m a programmer with a lot of technical books in pdf form, and its very hit or miss whether they convert properly. I’m hoping in 6 months to a year they can offer every book on the kindle for international readers, and have a better way of converting files. Using the kindle itself is very awesome, but its missing that ipod ease of compatibility, where you just stick in cd’s, burn, and hey presto everything works 100%.

]]> By: Whyibother http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-5667 Whyibother Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:57:41 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-5667 Try converting your PDF's through a program called calibre. It is a brilliant app. I agree that there are just not enough titles in the Aussie store. Try converting your PDF’s through a program called calibre. It is a brilliant app.
I agree that there are just not enough titles in the Aussie store.

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