Comments on: Amazon Kindle – Review for Australia http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/ My thoughts on .... everything Fri, 04 May 2012 13:22:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Simon http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-46347 Simon Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:48:52 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-46347 Thanks Geoff. Thanks Geoff.

]]> By: Geoff Wilkinson http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-45026 Geoff Wilkinson Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:01:42 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-45026 Hi there, I have a Kindle and am using Calibre. For those who don't know, you need a plugin to access the Kindle and the program does not come with it installed. You can go here; http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118635 to get it. Hi there, I have a Kindle and am using Calibre. For those who don’t know, you need a plugin to access the Kindle and the program does not come with it installed. You can go here; http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118635 to get it.

]]> By: James Cox http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-31803 James Cox Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:46:26 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-31803 H, Great review. I also have a kindle 3 and am enjoying. Going to give this Calibre tool a go for my ebooks. I have managed to buy books in the US so far by buying them online and transferring via cable tot he device and keeping my wireless off always. Not ideal but so good so far (20 or so books purchased) H,

Great review. I also have a kindle 3 and am enjoying. Going to give this Calibre tool a go for my ebooks.

I have managed to buy books in the US so far by buying them online and transferring via cable tot he device and keeping my wireless off always. Not ideal but so good so far (20 or so books purchased)

]]> By: Lyn http://simongriffiths.name/2009/10/23/amazon-kindle-review-for-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-17986 Lyn Thu, 30 Sep 2010 02:33:47 +0000 http://simongriffiths.name/?p=149#comment-17986 I just unpacked my new Kindle. Now I have to wait for it to charge! I have a phone charger with the right size USB but am scared I will damage the Kindle. Also have an adaptor for cigarette lighter in the car which you plug USB into. we are going on a 7 week road trip and this would be ideal. Again a bit nervous about trying it. GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS!!!!!! I've spent 2 weeks trying to get around them. You need a USA address and a USA credit card. I put some money into a virtual credit card which claims to give no information but it is based in UK and didn't work with Fictionwise (who have recently closed all other loopholes as far as I can see.) I have Calibre installed and need help with setting it up. I just unpacked my new Kindle. Now I have to wait for it to charge!
I have a phone charger with the right size USB but am scared I will damage the Kindle. Also have an adaptor for cigarette lighter in the car which you plug USB into. we are going on a 7 week road trip and this would be ideal. Again a bit nervous about trying it.
GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS!!!!!! I’ve spent 2 weeks trying to get around them. You need a USA address and a USA credit card. I put some money into a virtual credit card which claims to give no information but it is based in UK and didn’t work with Fictionwise (who have recently closed all other loopholes as far as I can see.) I have Calibre installed and need help with setting it up.

]]> 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.

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