International Traveler’s Book Solution : The Amazon Kindle 2
The hell of it is that amazon.com was backordered on kindles when I was back in the states before Christmas and I am still waiting for my original, and now they have the latest version, the Kindle 2 for sale. Same price as the old one, $359. Some improvements, but some drawbacks, too, according to this article.
I am a book guy, and having to haul a pile of books around from country to country through airports is a real drag, especially with current weight limits and extra fees. I have just gotten to the point where taking my music with me is trivial. Movies are coming next. And finally books, too.
I should finally get my Kindle in March and I will report on how I like it.
February 10th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I will wait for e-ink readers to get cheaper. They are still expensive in US… you can imagine their price when they arrive in Brazil.
Anyway, Amazon doesnt sells it outside US because it only works in a US network which i forgot the name.
I just hope they would get more popular and cheap faster…
February 11th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Yeah, electronics are 2-3 times more expensive here it seems, at least based on what I’ve seen checking prices at the malls.
I’m afraid you’re right about the kindle US network issue. I’m going to have to ask my parents to put a bunch of stuff on it for me, or wait until I’m back in the U.S. for a little while at the end of March. I thought at least you could download files to your computer for transfer to your kindle, but I’m not seeing that option so obviously. I’m going to have to do some more research…
February 11th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
as far as I have researched, yes, you can upload stuff to your Kindle via wired transfer (USB probably) from the computer. They would be dumb to not include that option.
The Wikipedia article is quite good…
February 11th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Thanks. I was looking at what happened at amazon.com when you want to “buy for kindle” and the only option seems to be via their wireless system. I do need to research this a bit more…
February 11th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Wow, yes, going into amazon I can’t buy from them except with their wireless method. Ouch. It seems I can upload appropriate files from my PC, but I can’t buy those files from amazon and download to my PC. What a flaw for the international traveler. In fact, it’s so annoying it’s starting to piss me off! Damn you, amazon, damn you!
February 12th, 2009 at 12:14 am
ok… that SUCKS.
isnt it interesting that they made a portable device but never imagined that the portable device owners might be interested in TRAVELLING outside of US?
February 12th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Yeah, isn’t it? I mean, they’re working on it, and there are other places to buy kindle-compatible files, but yeah. Duh. Not even the option. I mean, imagine you’re in Hong Kong, a little too tired to go out, and you want to read that book the guy in the seat next to you on the plane was so enthusiastic about…but you can’t. Lost sale.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I live in US and I have a Kindle (1st generation). You can add e-books to your Kindle using the USB cable that comes with it. And if you have the book you wannt to read in PDF, Word or text format, you can convert to a e-book using Mobi Pocket. It works well and you are not tied to their wireless system (Whispernet).
July 9th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
[...] complained about my kindle from time to time, but I really love the little thing and it makes traveling so much easier. I also feel like I [...]
October 12th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
[...] States lamenting how the kindle wasn’t easy to use while traveling internationally (e.g. here). Well, better late than never. If I have another year like this past one, I’ll buy [...]
December 13th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I have had the Kindle 2 for three weeks. I am on my fourth book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is so much easier to handle than a book and turning pages.
I bought the leather cover for $30, it is perfect because I can lie on my side while reading, the leather cover stands like an sideways easel. I can read for hours lying on my side just pushing a button to turn the pages. Life is good.
A feature I had not thought of before is the privacy. No one can tell what you are reading. It’s like a secret garden!
If you are a reader, you will love the Kindle.
To me, it’s like Gutenberg came up with a new printing press…the Kindle.