Horror Aficionados discussion

For anybody who hasn't seen them yet, Amazon now has three new Kindles. THe original is now called the Kindle Keyboard. There is now in addition to it Kindle (a smaller, stripped down version of the original, but without the keyboard), Kindle touch (which is just what it sounds like it is, the Kindle but in a touch screen mode), and the ultimate "well, damn, now what do I do?", the Kindle Fire. The Fire is essentially a tablet, but about the size of the Kindle. The Fire is at the very tasty price point of $199, which is pretty good for a tab, IMO.

I am very psyched about this! I have a Kindle already and love it... going to give my 10-year old daughter mine (she reads a lot) and buy the Kindle Fire for myself...

Armand Rosamilia
Skulls

I would buy a Kindle Fire if my Kindle was stolen or broken, but I just can't see replacing something that's working, even with a new and improved version. There'll be time for that later on when an even more improved Kindle or whatever takes its place is available.

If my Kindle bit the dust, I would probably replace with the Kindle Touch. I am not seeing the Fire as an eReader, and would probably never let my mind think it is one. I have an iPod Touch, with Kindle on it, but have no interest in ever using it as a eReader. It's not the size, it is just that I prefer the eInk look. The only reason I, personally, am looking at those Fires is for the tablet use, and my love and brand loyalty to Kindle. I was all about an iPad, but now seeing that my beloved Kindle is stepping into the market makes that a winner for me.

First,, though, I need to find some money.

Good points, Carl. I like the eInk look, too.

It's funny, when eBooks started coming out, I thought "how stupid, why would anybody want one of those?" Now, after having one, I think I would part with every fancy gadjet I have before I would part with my Kindle. I just wish more text books would be on it. I guess they are starting to make the move, but still not the books I need. But that would be the best. The idea that all I would need to carry with me would be a notebook and a Kindle! Talk about the ideal reason for this thing!

When I was in college I broke my back carrying around a backpack of all the books I needed. That would be wonderful for students to be able to put them all on an eReader. My son's college experience is going to be so different from mine!

LOL, my daughter is 14 and I have 2 1/2 years until I graduate. I have a feeling my college experience will be almost exactly like my daughters! That is unless she goes away to college for her 3&4+ years.

Ha, so true, Carl. You two can stroll the college campus together. Lucas is only 7 and I'm done with school. I want to read for pleasure for my remaining years here on earth. Done with writing papers and taking tests.

I believe I will be continuing on and shooting for a masters in psych when I am done getting this degree.

I do have two nieces in college right now, and one of them had planned on going to NIU (where I am at). That would have been crazy. As it turns out, though, I do have a girl in one of my classes that is a dead-on lookalike of her! Threw me for a HUGE loop on the first day, and I had to text her to make sure she wasn't in my class.

I have a Kindle, so probably wont get a Fire anytime soon but it sure is a great item. Amazon is cornering their market much as Google has. And now the two together is quite a force. I especially am intrigued about magazines on Fire, like Nook has. Beautiful color!!

It doesn't have a camera, which makes it different than most tablets, and makes it cheaper. I read they lose $10 per Fire sold. They will be making the money with the dedicated sales from Amazon site.

This is looking like the year I will have to break down and finally get a Kindle. If they could drop the price of the Kindle in Canada to something close to $79, it'd be a done deal

Gef wrote: "This is looking like the year I will have to break down and finally get a Kindle. If they could drop the price of the Kindle in Canada to something close to $79, it'd be a done deal"

If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts we'd allllll have a Merry Christmas.

I was offered a kindle (the 4G/Wi-fi version) for $114 dollars from Amazon.com. That offer might still be going on.

Gef wrote: "This is looking like the year I will have to break down and finally get a Kindle. If they could drop the price of the Kindle in Canada to something close to $79, it'd be a done deal"

I expect the Canuck price may drop a little towards Xmas. One thing to consider though is your local library. The Toronto library has ebooks but only for the Kobo device. I love my Kindle but had I known this beforehand, I may have gotten a Kobo.

So far as I know my local library doesn't lend Kindle format books either. Oh well, I get plenty from the Kindle Store, small press, and authors.

It was only a day or two after I received my Kindle when they released the new ones and dropped mine by $40. Doh!

Funny, just a month ago we were having dinner with another couple and my GF and her friend were going on about how they loved their Kindles. I was the staunch book purist, saying nothing could take the place of the feel of a real book in my hands.

Now, I'm a Kindle snob. I'm loath to go back to real books, I just love the font setting I have and that it can be the same across all books. I know I am reading faster on it.

So while I'm here, a question: I want to read The Devil of Nanking but the Kindle version is unavailable at Amazon.com, but is available at Amazon.uk. Has anyone bought a Kindle book from another Amazon? How did you do it...I assume my Kindle can only be registered to one Amazon.

Bill wrote: "It was only a day or two after I received my Kindle when they released the new ones and dropped mine by $40. Doh!

Funny, just a month ago we were having dinner with another couple and my GF and he..."
Bill, what do expect from The Devil of Nanking?

I bought into it from the description on GR "a harrowing thriller" etc.

IMHO I did not find it harrowing nor thrilling but a lot of friends whose opinions I respect really liked it so...

I'm hoping for the same quality as Birdman and The Treatment. They were outstanding.

Michael, I found both Birdman and The Treatment to be both harrowing and thrilling...did you read those (you need to read Birdman first!)

Michael wrote: "Bill wrote: "It was only a day or two after I received my Kindle when they released the new ones and dropped mine by $40. Doh!

Funny, just a month ago we were having dinner with another couple and..."

Nanking is my favorite Hayder book. I've read them all.

Bill wrote: "I'm hoping for the same quality as Birdman and The Treatment. They were outstanding."

All three of those books are fantastic. I love Hayder's work.

Bill wrote: "I was the staunch book purist, saying nothing could take the place of the feel of a real book in my hands...."

Yeah, weren't we all. I was just talking this kind of smack last year.

Gatorman wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm hoping for the same quality as Birdman and The Treatment. They were outstanding."

All three of those books are fantastic. I love Hayder's work."

Gator I knew you gave it 5 stars and it was partly your opinion that swayed me to buy it. I will say that this was an audio and I did not care for one of the narrators so could adversely affect me.

However, (view spoiler)[ the cannibalism aspect of both stories was tried to be kept a mystery to the reader. I found this to be so transparent. I knew of the massacre at Nanking but had never heard of any cannibalism but I figured it out at the first mention of a delicious aroma in the city. As well as when Grey was told don't eat the meat. She then goes on for the next 100 pages she keeps asking why not. For crying out loud! (hide spoiler)]

@ Gator I will try one of her other works. I also really like her looks.

Michael wrote: "Gatorman wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm hoping for the same quality as Birdman and The Treatment. They were outstanding."

All three of those books are fantastic. I love Hayd..."

Sorry Michael, now I feel bad! Hate it when someone reads a book I recommend then doesn't like it. On the spoiler issue, I don't think it was supposed to be a big mystery to the reader but rather just another aspect of the story, one Grey just did not get. It certainly didn't bother me. I just think the ending of Nanking is so gut-wrenching.

The ending is what made me push it to 3 stars. I did enjoy the 1944 storyline much more than the present day.

We've got a group going about the Kindle Fire if anybody wants to join: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/55960

Absolutely love the Kindle I got last year. I will say that I love how it looks without the keyboard, I don't need one of those on my book, thanks.So, I really am tempted to get the low end one, but with out the adds as well. But, NOT the touchscreen one actually, I really like the page turn buttons, and don't need to get the screen smudged or worn.
One of the things I'll be waiting for is when the screensaver hack is applied to the newest Kindle, being able to customize it with LOTS of pictures that I had picked out made it much more of a personal possession.

That is one of the features I love about the Kobo. The fact that when you put the book down the screen saver is the book cover is really nice. I wish he Kindle worked like that. That is probably my only complaint about the Kindle.

I get sick of those book "covers" on the Kindle. Zzzzzz...

Yup. Never read Charlotte Bronte and would rather her not be stinking up my Kindle cover.

I'm surprised at this crappy feature.

My nook lets me put my own pics on as a screensaver, too. Or I assume it would since there are sites where you can download pics to use as a screensaver. Kind of amazes me that the Kindle doesn't let you do that.

My guy & I have been recently reading a great deal more. I myself have been interested in buying a Kindle for the first time. (Yes. Never had one before, amazingly) I had some questions about them and I came here today to inquire. But now, I am torn about which one to get, or if Kindle IS the wtg. The one that is lighter and smaller would be the Kindle FIRE, is this right? If this is true, this would mean that my man would benefit from using this model the most, since it fits in his shirt pocket that way.

-----> However, for me, I am not sure I need all the bells and whistles of the more expensive models. SO, my only question today was "Is there an option, on each of the models, to DIM the brightness of the reading screen? - and - Is there a easy scroll feature without dragging my finger? On the lower cost models???"

So, what are the TOP 3 reasons to buy "x" (useful or important to you) by experience you've had with the one you have used?

I don't want to spend much, just want a comfortable read in any conditions. Thanks for your opinions.

there is no brightness on the basic $79 Kindle- the screen has no lights either behind or in front that come with the Kindle itself. The basic model does not have touch screen, just buttons on either side that allow you to turn pages in both directions. I an enjoying mine- exactly what I wanted at the cheapest Kindle price. It's too big for a shirt pocket, but fits in my purse just fine.

-----> If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts we'd allllll have a Merry Christmas.

LOL, Tressa. Exactly.

I use a Kindle Dx for most of my reading. It's not the current generation (not even the current generation of the basic kindle) and I love it.

1) I like the E-ink feature, which means' there's no back light to the screen. It needs a light to read (like a book) and you can read it in direct sunset. THe adjustable font size makes it really easy to read.

2) 3G connectivity. That's cool. NO fee, self contained. Done with a book, as long as you get a cellphone signal you can get a book. During Hurican Irene, that was one of the few ways we had internet while the power was out.

3) Text to speach. I've become completely aclamated to the computer voice (which is pretty good, but not a narrator). Think about it. Audio book 20 bucks (Dollars) Kindle book, starting at 0 dollars. I listen when I walk the dog, when I get ready to go to work and when I drive.

I also have a Kindle Fyre coming but I still see the Dx as my primary reading tool (the fyre will be great with multi-media and it's wi-fi which works better around the house.

Hope that helps.

Does anyone here have Amazon Prime, where you pay $75 a year and get free two-day shipping? Now AP members can borrow eBooks for free, and I think stream movies from their collection for free. We're thinking about joining AP because now we order more Xmas presents online because we hate Xmas shopping at stores. It's one thing to be in a store and see a present someone might like, it's another thing to spend a day going from store to store searching for a specific gift and not finding it. My God I hate that!

I signed up for the free trial yesterday. We are looking to kill our Netflix DVD option and just do streaming and Redbox. AP is a $1.50 cheaper per month, and it has all of the bells and whisltes.

Searching through the AP lending books I was not impressed. My wife might got more use out of it, but as I signed up through my Amazon account, I am not too sure how she would go about the lending bit. I need to look into that.

Well, you and I probably don't read the bestseller type books all that much, but there's probably some on there I would be interested in. I'm more interested in the streaming. I'll have to look into that some time today.

Yeah, I think only the person who signed up can enjoy the free ebooks. Guess you'd have to download one for your wife and let her use your Kindle.

Yeah, as I sat there flipping through the lending books I kept asking myself "why am I bothering?" It was a foolish mistake on my part to sign myself up and not my wife. She has a Kindle and I should have thought a little bit longer about who would benefit most from the lending program. For a rare time in my life, though, I was being proactive and it ended up biting me in the butt. This always happens when I am proactive with things.

That happens to me, Carl. When I make a decision too quickly there are other factors I wasn't even thinking about.

Thank you Alana and Hugh ;)

I am looking for a reader that does have a lighting feature so I can read in darker environments and still be able to adjust/dim the lighting on it.

Hugh, have fun with your Kindle Fyre and let us know how it compares. I am thinking on getting one for the simple fact that they are always coming out with a NEW model and I want my choice to hold me for a while, lol ~

I'll let you know how the Fyre Fares... I'd also say a reading light that clips onto the kindle frame is light, cheap and very effective. I got one from Amazon that was fantastic (especially when the huricane put the lights out.) It doesn't slow the reading down a bit and saves the kindle battery.

I was going to listen to Night Eternal on my Kindle in the Text to Audio feature and it is HORRIBLE. Sounds worse than a robot. Of course the words are just read in a monotone, so there's no enjoyment from a human acting out the scene. Will just have to download some audios to it.

I suspect my ability to listen to the voice has a lot to do with years of listening to radio networks on ships where everyone's voice was distorted etc. Also, to me, my brain has to do the same thign when I hear it that it does when I read. When I listen to a real live narrator, I don't have to do the same mental gymnastics.
It took a while to get aclimated, though, and even if it didn't do that, I'd still like my kindle.

I love my Kindle, and I can even download free audiobooks through work; just haven't done it yet. Just the text-to-audio sounds robotic; I'm sure a downloaded audio sounds fine.

It is Robotic... um... but it's great for those Asmovian Sci-fi Robot reads.

Oh, I'm no expert in the best eReaders. I have a Kindle that's about a year old. It's easy to use, and I love the ease of buying affordable ebooks from Amazon and having it transferred in a click via their whispernet. I got my Kindle mainly to purchase hard-to-find horror/bizarro books at a good price. And I've built up my collection that way.

There's a Nook thread here, too. You may want to check it out and see what they say about it.