Free Kindle

[DouglasGlennClark]

I'm amazed that so many readers still don't realize they can download FREE Kindle to their PC.   This is an ideal way to get familiar with e-books.  And it naturally feeds the wish to be mobile -- thus the urge to actually purchase a Kindle tablet.

Spread the word  --  Kindle for PC is a great intro offer.  Merry Christmas.

[C.A.Wodensen]

I'm surprised more people don't take advantage of it.

[Betsy the Quilter]

I'm actually not.  A lot of people read for pleasure and don't find reading on a PC or laptop a relaxing experience.  The backlit screen may be hard on their eyes, it's difficult to curl up on the sofa with a laptop, let alone a PC  , there are too many distractions.  And those are the reasons that an eInk device in general and the Kindle in particular is such a success as a reader.

So I think many who know about it (me, for example) don't want to read on a computer and those who don't...aren't into reading enough to seek it out.

Betsy

[Ann in Arlington]

I'm going to agree with Betsy. . . . I discovered Project Gutenberg at least 15 years ago.  And I downloaded a couple of classics.  But, you know, it just wasn't fun to sit at my desk and read.  Even when laptops came along (afford-ably) it wasn't that great to sit on the couch with a laptop. 

Which is why when I saw the Sony eReader I sat up and took notice. . .but I found it to be rather expensive so wasn't completely sold.  Then the First Gen Kindle was released, at a lower price and with the wireless book download feature and I was, basically, sold.  But by the time I convinced myself to splurge and clicked the button that November it was sold out.

O.K. then. . .I had time to do research. . . .checked out the Sony model more thoroughly. . . .continued to read up on the Kindle in tech blogs and such, and took the plunge the following spring. Even then I had to really think about spending the money. . .and it had gone down in price by $40 by then.

And the rest, as they say, is history.  I recently bought a Fire and  4th Gen Kindle for less than I spent for that first one nearly 4 years ago.

That said. . .I find the Kindle for PC useful as I can use it to manipulate collections and categorize books. . .and then can import those collections to one of my devices and the books will sort themselves.  But, no, I'm not going to use it just to read. . .not portable enough.

[Betsy the Quilter]

I'm going to agree with Betsy. . . .

*marks calendar*
 

Betsy

[Ann in Arlington]

My, aren't WE in a mood this morning!

[KayakerNC]

I'm actually not.  A lot of people read for pleasure and don't find reading on a PC or laptop a relaxing experience.  The backlit screen may be hard on their eyes, it's difficult to curl up on the sofa with a laptop, let alone a PC  , there are too many distractions.  And those are the reasons that an eInk device in general and the Kindle in particular is such a success as a reader.
So I think many who know about it (me, for example) don't want to read on a computer and those who don't...aren't into reading enough to seek it out.
Betsy

I use my Kindle for PC mostly to check out samples and free books.  It is OK for looking at the color pictures in cookbooks, but certainly not my eReader of choice.

[Ann in Arlington]

I use my Kindle for PC mostly to check out samples and free books.  It is OK for looking at the color pictures in cookbooks, but certainly not my eReader of choice.

That reminds me that I have used it when there was a colored map in a book. . . I could open to the map page and read the book and refer to the map.  Though, at this point, my Xoom or Fire work better for that. . . . .

[kindlegrl81]

Before getting my Kindle I had a couple of free books sitting in Adobe Digital Editions that I kept saying I would get to someday.  Well, someday never came since I really didn't like reading on my computer; I would get a couple of pages in before giving up and going back to a physical book.

I think the Kindle for iPhone/Android/Blackberry would have been a bigger success with me than the Kindle for PC, since you can actually lie down and read comfortably with it.  However, I still don't think it would have replayed physical books for me like the Kindle itself did.

[B-Kay 1325]

I have Kindle for PC on my Netbook and use it to for cookbooks and instructional books.  My K3 is my go to ereader for regular books.

[QuantumIguana]

I'm not surprised. I had no interest in e-books until I tried the Kindle.

[dori chatelain]

yes you can read kindle books from amazon on your laptop or desktop for free but it isn't a free kindle there is a definitely different. I have read books on my laptop and there is nothing comfortable or cozy about it. I think I will stick with my actual kindle thank you.

[Toby]

Did not use it. I like an eReader or a tablet to read.

[Jan Strnad]

Before Kindles, I read one book on my laptop. Hated the experience and never repeated it.

[dons2346]

Kinda hard to hold a puter while laying in bed.

[MichaelPaytonMZ]

My laptop is ok for reading comics. Quick bursts of reading, 15-20 minutes. (5 minutes for a modern comic, but that's a complaint for another discussion.) Long-term reading? No. I can't stand it. Even switching to white text on black, my eyes get sore after awhile. That's why I got the KT instead of the fire actually.

When I saw this headline I thought it was about the Amazon/Audible deal. Join Audible and get $100 coupon for a Kindle, mp3 player or iPod. That's actually how I got my free KT.