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mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

I bought a kindle here in tthe states.

I wonder when/if I return to Moscow cvan I download books on wi-fi?

Is anybody doing this now?

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

I'm using one of its rivals, the Bebook. On both Bebook's web site and also on Project Gutenberg, you can download free books on to your computer (legally, as these books are out of copyright) and presumably, some sort of lead should mean you can transfer to your Kindle thingy. Similarly with paid books, I should think. Not sure if this answers your question, though.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Yeah, pretty much. The kindle has a proprietary wi-fi which might not be present in Moscow, but I cen certainly load Gutenberg stuff onto it. They got prissy about the copyright on the illustrations in some Mark Twain works.

I've never heard of a bebook. Thought the only players were kindle and sony. How do you like it?

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

That's the power of advertising. Everybody knows of the Kindle and Sony.

Bebookers are divided about it. It's a bit creaky at times. Sometimes it freezes and you have to turn it off. Sometimes it ultra-freezes and you have to poke the back with a paper clip! Also, it's a bit under-powered when it comes to page-turning unless you buy an additional sim-thingy. On the other hand, it is very readable in terms of the print quality and for those of us who are serious readers miles from anywhere and can't bring many real books, it's a godsend. Like most people I haven't tried the competitors.

Also, it comes pre-packed with specially formatted Gutenberg books, which is pretty good. Works of Dickens, for example, and Wells, and...

oxi · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 347 Location: elsewhere

If you don't mind me jumping in here, maybe it's not the place...

I'd like to ask if anyone's got recommendations?
There seems to be a few different things on the go now -

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/03/samsungs-new-e/

I don't much fancy the one at over 1000$!
I take it folks are happy with their Kindles?

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

I'm happy with my $350 kindle purchase. They're supposed to be bringing out a larger screen for the college textbook market, but I learned not to go for the latest technology with my Osborne 1.

Let's see. I've got Brothers Karamazov and Arabian Nights (full Burton xlation) and a mess of other freebies on it today--about 50 books in all.

This weekend Michael Feldman's podcast interviewed an author who wrote a book on the WPA writers project on regional foods in America and I downloaded a free sample. I will probably buy it at about $15 less than the hardcover price. There's also lots of free legacy SF which I'm carrying.

In Tomsk I had my keys in my outside parka pocket with my palm pilot and they froze the screen. In Russia I would certainly advise their $20 cover gizmo and an inside pocket for carrying it.