If you're considering buying a Kindle device right now,

[MineralMan]

may I recommend that you choose the basic Kindle. It uses a screen that is visible in any light situation, including full sunlight. It's not much use as a general purpose tablet, but it remains the best screen for reading e-books. Seriously.

It's also only about $80. The battery life is long, it's lightweight, and holds more books in it that you can read in the next several years.

It's your choice, but if what you want to do is to read, it's your best choice.

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Kindle-eReader-6-Inch-Touchscreen/dp/B00ZV9PXP2

[emulatorloo]

1. Better yet, get the free Kindle app for your existing Mac, PC, iPad, or Android tablet

Save a few bucks


Kindle app for PC
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Digital-Services-LLC-Download/dp/B00UB76290/

Kindle app for Mac
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Digital-Services-LLC-Download/dp/B00UB769KC/

Kindle app for Android
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-Kindle-for-Android/dp/B004DLPXAO/

Kindle app for iOS (iPad, iPhone)
Available free from the App Store on your device

[MineralMan]

4. Those are fine, unless you're reading outdoors.

Also, having a Kindle lets you access new books instantly, using your Amazon account, which is linked to the device.

[emulatorloo]

5. I have access to new kindle books instantly on my iPad as well, using my Amazon acct

I can buy books instantly from inside the Kindle app. Or I can buy books through the Amazon site, and they immediately show up in the Kindle app.

I ass-ume Mac, PC, and android apps work the same.

Makes sense as Amazon is in the business of selling books to as many folks as possible

[MineralMan]

6. Oh, OK. I've had a Kindle since the beginning, so

I've never used any other platform. Thanks.

[emulatorloo]

7. My stepmom loves hers, it is a very nice device

[BumRushDaShow]

15. The Kindle app works great with both android and iOS

I have it on both (Galaxytabs & iPads) to go with my older Kindle Fire HD 7".

I had this book "delivered" to the app on my iPad and just turned the screen on my Kindle and see it is sitting there on the display as available. lol

[exboyfil]

2. I have two of the older version 6" with ads

I got the 2nd one when I thought that I killed the first one by leaving it in sub zero weather in the car overnight. It came back and both still work. They are stocked with lots to read. It is like having immediate access to 10 plus paperbacks.

I also have a $25 Kindle Fire 7". It works great as a comic book reader of Hoopla comics and as a general purpose web browser. Its primary claim to fame though is its text to audio feature. I like it for when the audiobook is unavailable or too expensive.

[MineralMan]

3. I still have a Kindle II, with the keyboard buttons.

I never used the keyboard, though. We had two of them, but one got forgotten and completely discharged the battery, which wouldn't recover. I'm glad they still make the basic Kindle with the e-ink screen. They're wonderful. They won't always be available, though, I imagine. Eventually you'll end up having to buy the Fire, which is not nearly as good a reading platform. Neither are other types of tablets. You essentially cannot read them outdoors. The original Kindle screen doesn't care. Read it anywhere.

I have the original high-definition Kindle Fire, which I use as my tablet PC. It's great. I even visit DU in the normal full-screen forma, and have no trouble reading it, although tapping on links can be challenging. You can zoom the screen, though, with a gesture. I don't like reading books on it, though.

[DonaldsRump]

8. Kindle Paperwhite

I have had mine for nearly five years, and it is first-rate for reading. I cannot say enough great things about this device, especially if you are only using it to read books, like me.

I actually only take it when I travel (which I do fairly frequently), and it beats the hell out of lugging tons of books around. For whatever reason, I much prefer it to reading off of a laptop or another tablet.

I don't know what the current ones are like, so they may have more functionality than my simple Kindle Paperwhite circa 2013 has.

[JI7]

10. I think i got mines around the same time and agree

Only thing i wish ereaders would do is to offer option to scroll up and down when reading .

[Towlie]

9. I have the hard copy coming from Amazon but I'll probably never bother opening it.

Since I've already done my duty by paying for the book, I see nothing wrong with downloading any of the several copies available on the web via BitTorrent, and enjoying the convenience of reading the book with my smart phone.

[Sneederbunk]

11. I enjoy Kindle Fire. But does not work well with PDF. Any fixes?

[BumRushDaShow]

12. You should be able to find a different app to read PDFs

There are several out there or you can go find the full Adobe reader from Amazon (vs using their default one) and try that.

[MineralMan]

13. Not that I know of.

Although the Kindle Fire is an Android device, the version of Android it uses is not compatible with all Android apps.

I don't really use it for looking at pdfs. I use my desktop PC for that purpose.

[spanone]

14. i have a macbook with a kindle app...don't need a kindle, plus you can send it to all devices

iphone, ipad.....don't know about pc's

[meadowlark5]

16. I bought one a couple of months back when they were running a sale

I had an original Kindle for reading. But I can't read in bed in the dark (hubby sleeping) without a booklight. I always had trouble finding one that would fit on my Kindle case and still not make a bright spot with the light when I was reading.

The one I bought was pretty much like my old one but back lit so I can read in the dark without a book light.

I have enough other devices, smart phone, Kindle Fires, laptops etc. I just want a book type device. I love it!

[MineralMan]

17. Yes. If you read a lot of books, a dedicated e-reader is

almost essential. You can hold it in your hands like a book, and read it anywhere, anytime. I love my Kindles.

I like my old one, because it is easy to download books from gutenberg.org for free to your PC and then move them over to the Kindle. The Fire doesn't make that easy at all. I read lots of old public domain non-fiction books, so that's a very valuable capability for me.

I don't know about the current basic Kindle. I think Amazon has made it more difficult now, so you pretty much have to get your e-books from them, even the free ones.

[meadowlark5]

21. It's still easy to check books out on my Kindle from the library

I have library cards with a few libraries in different counties so I can try and find the books I want. But in demand books are hard to get since they only a few copies to "check out".

I am amazed at how expensive Kindle books have gotten. I remember way back when I got my first Kindle, you could get books for a couple dollars, even best sellers. They also did a great borrow a book. My boys read a lot of books that way, just borrowing for a month or two at no cost. As far as I can tell, that is not an option. A lot of free books through Prime but usually not what I am looking for at the time.

I don't read nearly as much as I used to, though.

[Mosby]

18. The fire hdx's are the best

Even though they are discontinued you can still get them on amazon.

I broke my original 7 inch, and bought the 8.9 "used" for 120 I think. Its third gen, with 2560 x 1600 res.

[MineralMan]

19. They're not the best when used as an e-reader.

A dedicated e-reader is a far better choice if you plan to read a lot of books. Either the original or paperwhite screens are far superior, since they do not use backlighting. You can't read on a Fire in the sunlight. No problem with the Kindle e-books.

I have both. I use the Fire as my tablet PC, but read on the Kindle e-book. Since you can buy a Kindle for less than $100, it's the best choice for book-reading, by far.

[d_r]

20. If you are a little techy

And it doesn't take much, the Barnes and nobles use Android under neath the screen reader. Years ago when my Kindle died, I got o e and rooted it run both Barnes and noble and Amazon Kindle, plus a few basic Android aps and cool reader, which I like better. It still isn't like a tablet, because it has e ink, so it can't play any videos or action games or anything, but has weeks long battery life, it is a good e-reader.