More than just pleasure reading-other uses for Kindle

[Toby]

I am studying a "kindle" art book at the moment. I also enjoy "how to write" books, "how to learn books" & various nonfiction books. I put Oprah's, A New Earth Transcripts, on my kindle to read. However, ever since the kindle, I mainly read fiction & what fun I am having.

[Ann in Arlington]

I think I've said this before but since it's come up again. . . . . . .

I have some tax publications on my DX which are good to have available in a tax emergency.  (Hey, it's what I do! )

I have the Washington DC metro map as well as a couple of AAA triptiks.  Also a couple of bus schedules and route maps.  These were all PDF files that I put on there.

I keep users manuals to my gadgets on there. . .GPS, phone, etc.

I have some sheet music and also copies of 'handouts' that we'll use at the 'music camp' I go to each summer.

I know my brother uses his for scripts for the shows he produces with their community theatre group.

I have heard that if you put an airplane boarding pass on the Kindle that the gate people can scan it just like they would a paper one. . .haven't tried that, though.

On my Klassic Kindle I pretty much just have books for pleasure reading.

[Shastastan]

I think I've said this before but since it's come up again. . . . . . .


I keep users manuals to my gadgets on there. . .GPS, phone, etc.

....snip....

On my Klassic Kindle I pretty much just have books for pleasure reading.

Hi  Ann.  I've read some other posts about .pdf files, but I guess I'm still confused.  I could drag my camera file onto my K2 via usb, but when I tried to turn the page, it went into some reformat loop or something.  I thought it was due to drm and that I shouldn't bother to send the file to Amazon for conversion because it's probably copyrighted?  Could you educate me on this a little, please?

Stan

[BK]

>>>I keep users manuals to my gadgets on there. . .GPS, phone, etc.<<<

This is a GREAT idea, Ann! 

Bonnie

[Steph H]

I hope this will fit under the broad spectrum of "other uses for Kindle."  Next to my bed is my phone and kindle chargers. I must have been really tired the other night be cause I plugged what I thought was the charger for my phone and it was actually the kindle charger. The strange thing is it fit in the phone and started charging it! It only did it for less than a minute until I noticed it.

 Since it was charging the phone I followed the logic and plugged the kindle charger into the phone and it started charging the phone. I definitely did not leave it plugged in, just wanted to see if it worked.

My Blackberry and the K2 have the same charger plug and I interchange them all the time, especially when hooking them up to the computer.  Doesn't hurt anything, there's nothing magical about having to use the exact charger that came with each device, as long as it's the 'right' charger.

[Steph H]

I have heard that if you put an airplane boarding pass on the Kindle that the gate people can scan it just like they would a paper one. . .haven't tried that, though.

I know this can work on mobile devices (phones, blackberries, etc.), but only at certain airports and/or for certain flights. You basically have to have that option given to you when you check-in online, to send the boarding pass to a mobile device. [I've done that for my boss before and it worked on his Blackberry, never tried it myself.] But I don't know why it wouldn't work on Kindle too, in those cases, unless the contrast isn't as 'clean' as backlit screens for that purpose.

[bvlarson]

It's my emergency web-browser. Mostly for political news, I'm a junky. 

[NYCKindleFan]

I use mine for pleasure reading and I also have some business related books, docs, and PDFs on it.

[threeundertwo]

Besides pleasure reading, I keep up with a few newspapers on my Kindle and a few blogs (Lifehacker, Teleread, Kindle Nation Daily).  I'm currently scouting out some opera librettos with translations.  I'd love to be able to follow along on my Kindle while listening.

My kids mainly use them for pleasure reading, but also for required school reading.  They tell me that kids are starting to bring Kindles to middle school, and the teachers are great about it.  It's fun watching the next generation latch on to ebook reading.

[Ann in Arlington]

Hi  Ann.  I've read some other posts about .pdf files, but I guess I'm still confused.  I could drag my camera file onto my K2 via usb, but when I tried to turn the page, it went into some reformat loop or something.  I thought it was due to drm and that I shouldn't bother to send the file to Amazon for conversion because it's probably copyrighted?  Could you educate me on this a little, please?

Stan

I know I have my GPS and my phone users manuals, PDF files, on my DX.  I just copied them to the Documents folder via USB.  They read just fine.  I suppose it's possible your camera one has DRM though that seems odd. . .the whole point of having the things electronic is so you can have copies where you need 'em.

If they are indexed so you can jump from the ToC to the proper section, that part doesn't work on the Kindle PDF viewer as it is now.

Now, on a K2, you have to have software version of 2.3 at least to be able to view the PDF file.  And it's going to be small probably and difficult to read.  If you have the 2.5.x software, there's a pan and zoom but, honestly, I don't know how well that will work if you actually need to look something up.

[Annalog]

Does it count as a pleasure reading use if the Kindle is used to hold a large trade paper book open while reading the paper book? DH thought it was strange that I used my K2 that way the other day and then used my Fire the same way the next day. So I have used my Kindle as a paperweight. (I know that this is an older thread but it showed up on a "use Kindle paperweight" search. )

I have used my K2 for pleasure reading, business, folding and teaching origami, entertaining grandniece, Web browsing, reading and posting to KB, editing, list making, and many other activities. (All but the entertaining grandniece were activities I used my Kindle for back in 2010 in addition to recently.) I use my K2 nearly as much now that I have my Fire as I did before.

[valleycat1]

I use mine for pleasure, but have several friends who let their kids use them for school reading, especially when teachers post PDFs or homeword assignments online that can be downloaded.

[mom2karen]

There are several free HighSchool/College textbooks now.  Search for CK-12.

And the new Send To Kindle feature has made it so much easier to forward hotel confirmations, notes, documents... 

[balaspa]

I read books for pleasure. I like keeping my Kindle for pleasure reading only.

[PhillyGuy]

I answered pleasure only because I don't go to school or use it for work.

However, a lot of what I read on it, whether newspapers, essays on the current near-depression, or books on wars, isn't exactly pleasurable.

Also, I use it for email if traveling.

 

[fuschiahedgehog]

My boys' school text books are available as PDF files, so I've loaded them onto their Fires and they don't have to drag the heavy textbooks back and forth to school.

[Meemo]

You have to use the USB connection. 

You can also send wirelessly with the Send to Kindle app available for PC or Mac, it's a great tool and the document will be in your Kindle Archives. 

www.amazon.com/sendtokindle/pc
www.amazon.com/sendtokindle/mac

Actually you can also email to the Kindle and there's no charge, as long as you use wifi and not 3G to receive the email.  If your Kindle doesn't have 3G then you don't have to worry about being charged.

[Ann in Arlington]

Holy Zombie thread, Batman! 

Still. . . . .it's a good topic. . .note, though that the OP and most earlier comments are a couple of years old. . . .

But I'll happily update my list above.   In addition to the things listed, I also have the daily Readings and a sort of Missal for Mass.  And minutes and agendas of the parish Finance council meetings.  I've also got the confirmation receipt for a reservation at the B&B I'll be staying at on a trip later this summer.

The 'Send to Kindle' applets that meemo mentions have made it even easier to put stuff like that on a kindle -- or any device that has a kindle app.  I'm thinking it might be smart to do a scan of my car's registration and proof of insurance to have on there as well.

[Annalog]

Holy Zombie thread, Batman! 

I need to remember the phrase "zombie thread." I did say it was an older thread when I referenced the OP's paperweight use question and 2010 in my general use list.  I was surprised that the poll was still open.

[Ann in Arlington]

I just wanted to highlight the fact for any members who weren't around when it was started so they wouldn't be confused by some responses if they read from the first post.  Like meemo mentioning the 'send to PC/Mac' applet -- that didn't exist when the thread started.  Heck, it didn't exist 6 months ago.

It is kind of funny that you searched Kindle + Paperweight and actually got a hit!

[Annalog]

...
It is kind of funny that you searched Kindle + Paperweight and actually got a hit!

More than 10 pages of hits, even with the search Kindle + paperweight + uses. I picked the one on the first page or results that I thought was most appropriate, such as not broken or bricked.

[Ann in Arlington]

More than 10 pages of hits, even with the search Kindle + paperweight + uses. I picked the one on the first page or results that I thought was most appropriate, such as not broken or bricked.

Somehow, that's a little frightening!

[Meemo]

I just wanted to highlight the fact for any members who weren't around when it was started so they wouldn't be confused by some responses if they read from the first post.  Like meemo mentioning the 'send to PC/Mac' applet -- that didn't exist when the thread started.  Heck, it didn't exist 6 months ago.

It is kind of funny that you searched Kindle + Paperweight and actually got a hit!

And I didn't even notice that it was such a zombie thread (great phrase!) so much for my powers of observation! 

[sunfiregirl]

I use my Kindles for pleasure reading mostly....well my Fire I read on & surf & watch videos too... but nothing work or school related ..so I voted pleasure reading only

[mom2karen]

I'm thinking it might be smart to do a scan of my car's registration and proof of insurance to have on there as well.

Great idea!