Kindle, No Wi-fi, No worries, and other kindle tips

So Christmas has come and gone for another year! Yay.  It was carnage in our household.  I was surprised that the kids went straight to sleep, I think it had a lot to do with Norad freezing on occasion, and daughter thinking that the freezing was a result of kids not sleeping so Santa giving those kids a miss.

Husband had to erect a 3ft Barbie house, this did not go down without a billion curse words, took him 2hrs to do.  I arranged the furniture of the house, so, I did help!

On Christmas morning, my kids slept in! We actually had to go wake them up at 9am, son actually forgot Father Christmas was coming.

I turn into the usual obsessive compulsive with regards to mess.  Following the kids with a black bin bag as the frantically rip off paper and tear open boxes, which, can I say, you need an instruction manual in itself.  I mean, screwing in toys to cardboard!

I do have to say, I got my porn watch YAY, the Garmin forerunner 305, havent used it yet, snow and ice on the roads and I don’t fancy breaking my other leg.  But, come Jan 10th, when kids go back to school, I am running again, I have a half marathon to run in March….I digress.

We did the in-law visit, then went to our neighbours house for a glass of champagne or 5! Then up to my parents, by which point I was very merry!

Had Christmas meal, I think I shovelled in eleventy billion calories, then the present giving.

The kindle, the dreaded 2nd kindle under my tree for mum.

I got my mother the wi-fi version as I thought it would be more worth while than the wi-fi 3G version.  I like the 3G version as I use it for Facebook and twitter sometimes when I am on the go.  Mum barely uses her computer, so I thought the 3G would be pointless for her.

What I did not guarantee was the fact that my mother does not have Wi-Fi….What The Frig!? I thought everyone has Wi-Fi.

As I had consumed copious amounts of alcohol on Christmas day, and, I had not taking reading glasses, I could not fathom my blind, drunk, little head around the manual.  I did not expect I would require a manual.  When I got my kindle, it was on, books on, done.

Why The Frig does she not have Wi-Fi!

I told my mother dearest that I would come round the following day to help her out.

Boxing day, not so fresh!

In the evening, I went back round to mothers to battle with her kindle.

I want to add a footnote, (even though its not actually a footnote) I have been a Kindle user since September, and I adore it, and the reason why I bought my mum a kindle was because she also loves books, and, she kept admiring mine.

If you have received  a kindle as a gift, and the giver is also a kindle user, you may find that your brand spanking new Kindle is registered under the giver…..follow?

It’s easy to register your kindle under your own name.

If you have not yet got an Amazon account, just go to the Amazon website, Amazon.co.uk (if you are in the uk) or Amazon.com, if in the states.  Once you have registered, you can then register your Kindle.

If you have Wi-Fi (unlike my mother!) Just go to Settings, then Register then register with your Amazon login details.  If your Kindle is registered under another user, its Settings, Deregister then go back to register, and do so with your login details.

If, like my mother, you do not have wi-fi, (WTF!) login to Amazon, go to Your Account, scroll down to Settings and click on Manage Your Kindle, Under the heading ‘Your Kindle(s)’ Click on the link Register a new Kindle you need to enter your Kindle’s serial number.

To find this, on your Kindle, go to settings, and right down at the bottom, you will see your Kindles Serial number, enter this in the box, and voila your kindle is registered.

Adding books

Simple, if you have wi-fi, just shop, find a book you like, buy now with one click, and transfer to ‘name’s kindle’

If you don’t have wi-fi, it’s also easy, although if you are anything like my mother, I suggest you have a few trial runs with free e-books.

Instead of transfer to ‘names kindle’  on the drop down, choose ‘Transfer via computer’ download the book and open the download folder.

Plug in your Kindle, go to start, computer and open the kindle drive, then open documents. copy or cut the book from your download folder and paste it into your document folder in the kindle.  Unplug and turn on your kindle and there should be your book.

Now one thing I complained about was Kindle not allowing lending well, today, Amazon have announced that they have now implemented lending, but…woah there, if you are in the UK, like me, then don’t get to excited!! Amazon are Beta testing this, you need to be in the US, AND, there are only a few books they are rolling out.  Also, the lending is for 14 days only.  If you are a super fast reader then yay you, but, if like me, you are a busy mum, who works, runs a house hold and is generally frazzled, reading does not always fit into my day.  I am lucky if I can finish a book in 4wks.  Personally, I think 30 days is more reasonable.

Amazon are also only allowing lending a book ONCE, so not like a library, where, if I don’t happen to finish a book in 14 days, I can check it out again.

You can read more about Lending, here

All, I can say is Happy Kindling, once you get the hang of it, you will come to love it just like me.  I wanted to give this rough guide as I have had a good few hits on my blog recently about Kindles, so I am guessing many have received one, just like my mother, for Christmas.  Enjoy it, I promise, you wont miss the smell of books (which is what one of my friends said, her reason for not jumping on the Kindle bandwagon )

I love My Kindle, you will love yours

Kindle on the iPhone

I recently posted my experience on buying a 2nd kindle, which is a ‘surprise’ Christmas gift for my mum, you can read the post here.  I was disgruntled at the fact that Amazon don’t allow sharing or gifting books.  Well, apparently, they are going to change this at the end of the year.  Reading here Amazon maybe allowing book sharing for 14 days on a book, ONCE.  Maybe ok for some readers, but I have been reading my book since October!  You do the math.

Anyway, I am not here to be disgruntled.  I noticed a lot of hits on my post coming though varies searches, my favourite search being ‘Where to buy Amazon Kindle’ *herm* I think the clue is in the search

I know at this time of year, its possible that Kindles are becoming the in thing for book readers.  To purchase as a gift, unless you understand the buying and sharing of books for your recipient then I think it’s a fabulous thing.  I know my mum is going to love her Kindle when she opens up on Christmas day, dang she has been drooling over mine for months now! But I would have loved to put a book on it for her.  But alas, right now, it’s not really possible.

However, as a Kindle user, I LOVE IT I DO! It so so simple to use, the font is clear, and you can also change the size of the font if you so wish.  Flicking pages is smooth too.

I also love the dictionary feature, the book I am reading right now ‘Never Look Back – Lesley Pearse’ focuses around a London Lass in early 1800′s who emigrates to America with her employees.  A lot of the book, especially at the beginning uses a lot of old English slang, you’d think I’d get it huh? I mean, I am on the same continent.  But two things, I am Scottish, its hard enough getting my head around Scottish slang, and secondly, I was not actually around physically in the 1800′s.

So, where am I going with this???

Oh yes, the dictionary, yes, if I am struggling with the various unrecognisable words, then I highlight it, and voila,a meaning!

The only thing I dont use it the talking reader, I was expecting a gorgeous, sexy, sultery male voice, reading me off to sleep, but no, its one of those computer voices, real turn off, which I do turn off!

Amazon, are throwing the Kindle ads just now, you know, that thing, Christmas! Not only are the advertising the e-book reader, they have been advertising the apps for Iphone and Ipad.

For me, I never thought I would need the app, since I usually take my kindle with me.

But, reader, I am an app whore! simple as that.

I downloaded the app.  I just logged in with my Amazon details, and all my books were archived.  I just downloaded the book that I am reading right now.  And magically, it went straight to the page I bookmarked.  Clever!

So tonight, my hubby is on his Christmas works night out…..pfft

You know how it is, wives and mothers of the world, we are busy all year round, but this time of year, its manic! Santa has no freeking clue!!! Not only are we running the home, cleaning, grocery shopping, tending the young lawyers and doctors of tomorrow, we are now being left with stressing over what to buy for Christmas presents, who we are buying for and then finding time to wrap up the presents, oh, then make dinner.

I was close to exploding this evening, I am at the point where I am seriously considering ebaying off one used, now faulty husband, maybe someone can take him to bits and piece him up with other used faulty husbands. Then make a Stepford Husband.

I decided, that this evening I am not cooking.  I bundled the kids into the car and took them to a child friendly restaurant.

The kids were ecstatic! I was ecstatic, thanks to the crappy weather, every other decent family decided to stay put, we are on high weather alert….’only travel if necessary’ this was necessary, I would likely do a certain husband serious damage!  This was health and safety necessary.

But DANG! I forgot my Kindle, but hey, clever me downloaded Iphone app a few days ago, I hadn’t really used it, didn’t know how reliable it was (have read some pretty negative reviews).  So I opened it up.  If it wasn’t to par, I could always play Angry Birds

To my delight, the book was at my bookmark, and I enjoyed reading on my iPhone, the smaller screen size didn’t seem to bother me.  Because I was out of wi-fi networks, I couldn’t sync my kindle to my iPhone until I got home, ie, for bookmarking, after I had read nearly 2 chapters.

I synced at home and it took less than 30 secs.  I have to say, I am pretty impressed with the app and glad I downloaded it.

The app will never be a replacement for my Kindle, but it works for quick reading, I don’t think I will take my kindle back out, like I usually do, various appointments, kids swimming lessons etc, I can purely rely on my iPhone for that.  My kindle will be my bed time device (that sounds wrong!) and also my going away device .  But for little outings the iPhone really does what it needs to do.

Thumbs up for the Kindle iPhone app!

The trouble with a kindle…

Amazon Kindle

I want to say, I love my kindle, I can not compare it to any other book reader, but, I really wanted one when I first saw the advert on television back in August.

I read a lot of books, after I finish a book it just gets thrown in the corner of my bedroom, which in turn just becomes another useless ornament gathering dust.

The advert for the Amazon Kindle showed a woman lounging on a deck chair on an isolated beach, the sun beating down on her, but she managed to read her book comfortably with no glare on the screen.

This advert sold me, in a few months I was heading of for a week in Turkey and the last thing I needed was a couple of books taking up space in my luggage.  Also, there is nothing worse than getting sun cream squirted on a page, you try to rub it off but smear a couple of words which then becomes illegible.

I promptly logged onto Amazon, and ordered myself the 3G wireless version at £149.00 and waited patiently for the delivery guy to come with it, in the meantime filling up a ridiculous ‘wish list of books!’.  2 days later I had this genius bit of kit in my hands.  Very simple to work. I didn’t even have to register my kindle as the people of Amazon did it for me! I logged into Amazon and started going through my wish list.  I will just say, there are a huge array of books to choose from, but they are not cheap for a download version.

One of my favourite authors is Lesley Pearse I particularly love her period drama books, my Most favourite book is Remember Me a great book that had me in tears! So I thought I would download Never Look Back.  The price for paperback cost £5.49 the price for the kindle version, which is paperless, which will save the enviroment…..£6.49  yes, 1 whole pound more expensive! I don’t get the logic behind that, I have paid nearly £150 on an e-book reader, then I need to pay more than the paper back format to read a book!

The kindle is very easy to read, there is no backlight on it, so you need to purchase a little light, I bought the Mighty Light which clips onto my kindle, and there is no glare. Which  does have a downside, the other reason I bought the kindle was I read late at night, while my husband sleeps, he used to wake up when I turned pages, but with the kindle, of course, there is no physical page turning, just flick a button.  But yes, the mighty light kind of defeats the purpose of undisturbed sleep for the other half!

However, the kindle is my most used gadget, it slips into my handbag, I take it with me everywhere, when I go into Town, I might have a coffee so read my kindle.  When I take the car to pick up the kids from school, I will sit and read my kindle.  My son has eye appointments every 6wks, my kindle comes with me while we wait in the waiting room.  So yes I love my kindle.

My mum has been admiring my kindle too.

I purchased mum a kindle as her Christmas gift.  I got her the non wireless version, at £109, I wish I purchased the non wireless one myself!

She also likes Lesley Pearse, in fact she was the one that got me reading her books.  When the kindle arrived, I thought I would add ‘Never Look Back’ on the kindle for her.  I logged into Amazon, and, to my dismay, I discovered, it’s not possible to gift a book. I thought, maybe I could get a copy of the book of my kindle and put it onto hers.  I copied it from the relevant folder, saved it to my desktop.  Plugged in mum’s new kindle transferred the copy to hers, opened it up, and was presented with an error message ‘Registered to another user’

So I couldn’t do that, the other option was to register the kindle in my name for the time being, which I did, and all 10 of my books transferred over.  Mum doesn’t want to read all of my books, especially as I know she is not interested in the genre of some of them.

I tried going through the folders to remove the other 9 books, but it’s not possible on the 2nd kindle.

Lastly, I googled the problem.  It appears, Kindle will not allow sharing of books! I find this pointless, I share books between my mum and other book reader friends frequently, but Kindle will not allow it, Amazon just appears to want to make more money.  The only alternative is to give mum a gift card and demand her to purchase the book herself!

I really do love my kindle, but Amazon really do need to iron out these problem, mainly the price of e-books and allow sharing. Had I known this issue before I decided on a 2nd kindle purchase, I would not have bought it,  I would have saved myself some time and frustration had I just purchased the hard copy book from a book store.