Kindle

[All U Get]

Hi all,

Seems like the Quilting group has been advising my wife on the benefits of reading from an electronic pad. Do any sailors use a Kindle (Apple)or Nook (the other guys)? I saw a Nook in Barnes and Noble and it appears that you could add GPS and other Apps like Active Captain. Maybe I could salvage some little corner of the memory for nautical purposes.

(The Quilting group is that group of friends that talk about visiting the world but can't get out of their rockers to get their next glass of wine. I guess paperback books are a lot of trouble to deal with. Order on line, pay on line, drink some wine.)

I did a search and see mostly Kindle posts, does it compare better than the Nook? Any input would help.

All U Get

 

[woodster]

i just wonder if it works the other way around .....books on Ipad instead of getting a kindle

 

[justsomeguy]

Yes, woodster, there's an app called Overdrive, which I'm using to read The Innocents Abroad on my iPad 2.

Works okay, but the main drawback on an iPad is readability in bright light. Kindles and Nooks supposedly have this issue figured out.

Just to be clear, Kindles are made by Amazon.

 

[All U Get]

Works okay, but the main drawback on an iPad is readability in bright light. Kindles and Nooks supposedly have this issue figured out.

That's a good point, how about memory? There was an upgrade for 32 G. Will that hold enough books? I don't think there are many pictures other than the covers.

All U Get

 

[justsomeguy]

That's a good point, how about memory? There was an upgrade for 32 G. Will that hold enough books? I don't think there are many pictures other than the covers.

All U Get

I've got a 16 gigabyte version, and have had about 5-6 books stored on it at once, plus a boatload of music.

Haven't maxed it out, yet.

 

[Capt jgw]

My wife uses a Kindle with the paperwhite screen. Looks just like ink on paper and very readable in the sun, but needs a separate light in the dark. That model can only be used for reading and playing a few simple games though. The Kindle Fire and the Nook equivalent are like a regular Android tablet and you can do anything you want with them, but they're not as good in bright sunlight. Both Nook and Kindle (and others) have apps to let you read their content on PC, windows phone, Android, and IOS, so you can use the services on just about anything. While reading a real paper book has a nicer feel, with the electronic version you can have the whole library in your hand all at once. The Kindle and Nook are both androids, but they have limited access to apps, so depending on what else you want to do a regular tablet may be a better fit. I don't know what kindle has available for navigation, but there are lots of apps in the store for a regular tablet or iPad. Just make sure whatever you get has GPS and a good sunlight screen. Not all do. I'm using a Samsung galaxy tab and an very happy with it for both reading and other uses.

 

[Boomer54]

I have a kindle and iPads. I haven't used my kindle since I got the iPads. iPads clearly have tons of apps, including a Kindle app. I also use iNavx for charts/navigation. GPS can come from the LGE if in range of cellular service. Otherwise Bad Elf has Bluetooth or USB devices to pull down GPS (Bluetooth to iPad since iPads don't have USB ports). Works great on iPad but basically I use as backup to chart plotter and paper charts.

 

[Alan Gomes]

My wife uses a Kindle with the paperwhite screen. Looks just like ink on paper and very readable in the sun, but needs a separate light in the dark. That model can only be used for reading and playing a few simple games though. The Kindle Fire and the Nook equivalent are like a regular Android tablet and you can do anything you want with them, but they're not as good in bright sunlight. Both Nook and Kindle (and others) have apps to let you read their content on PC, windows phone, Android, and IOS, so you can use the services on just about anything. While reading a real paper book has a nicer feel, with the electronic version you can have the whole library in your hand all at once. The Kindle and Nook are both androids, but they have limited access to apps, so depending on what else you want to do a regular tablet may be a better fit. I don't know what kindle has available for navigation, but there are lots of apps in the store for a regular tablet or iPad. Just make sure whatever you get has GPS and a good sunlight screen. Not all do. I'm using a Samsung galaxy tab and an very happy with it for both reading and other uses.

If your wife needs a separate light for reading in the dark then she must not have the Paperwhite version but an older, non lit model. (Either that or she has the illumination turned all the way down for some reason.) The Paperwhite has small lights that illuminate the screen from the bottom up and is highly visible in total darkness--more visible, if anything. But the Paperwhite also works very well in bright sunlight--just as the older models did. I think it's easier on the eyes than an iPad with the Kindle app. (We have both.) Of course, if you want the versatility of running apps then the iPad is your choice.

 

[Capt jgw]

Yea, it's the older one, no backlights

 

[Gunni]

My wife has hundreds of books on Kindle (and on a Amazon / kindle app for iPad 2). But I notice that she rarely uses the iPad for reading - she says it is too heavy, and not as easy to read.

 

[Capt jgw]

My wife has hundreds of books on Kindle (and on a Amazon / kindle app for iPad 2). But I notice that she rarely uses the iPad for reading - she says it is too heavy, and not as easy to read.

My wife agrees. She prefers the Kindle, I read on the Samsung or more often on my phone as I always have it handy.

 

[gfrazzle]

One notable feature of the Kindle is excellent battery life. I turn mine (non backlit model) on and leave it on, use it every day and recharge about once a month. I only use it for reading- have 1000+ books loaded.

 

[Chris & Lenore]

I have a Kindle paperwhite and iPad and iPhone - I prefer...

When it comes to "just reading" books the Kindle paperwhite is hands down the best. Besides being crisp and sharp in direct sun (and in the dark - it has a backlight) it's LIGHT enough to hold for extended periods and the batteries last almost a month of continuous use (even with backlight).

But for anything else (like my Yanmar shop manual, Yanmar part number cross reference, etc) the iPad is the only way to go - higher resolution, color and easier to zoom and navigate.

I can also access any of the Kindle books on the iPad using the Kindle app (since my wife has the actual Kindle most of the time).

Love the other apps (like Navionics, Active Captain and many others) on the iPad.

Chris

 

[Scott B]

My wife has the Kobo Arc and has problems reading in bright sunlight, which is where she wanted it mainly for was on the boat. We're going to try a non-glare screen protector next summer to see if it helps. She wanted it for a browser at home as well as reading books. My son has the Kindle for books only and loves it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

But for anything else (like my Yanmar shop manual, Yanmar part number cross reference, etc) the iPad is the only way to go - higher resolution, color and easier to zoom and navigate.

Chris is right. Since this is not really a boating-specific issue, you also might want to try a Google search on "advantages and disadvantages of Kindle for..."

And, yes, Virginia, "Do any sailors use a Kindle (Apple)or Nook (the other guys)?" - You betcha they do.

A good friend moved his boat into our marina recently. He had two slip choices; each facing different ways. Another friend and I suggested he take one specific one. "Why?," he asked. "So your significant other can read her Kindle without getting blinded by the setting sun when you come in after a nice day of sailing!" :dance:

 

[shemandr]

I like my Kindle. Plenty of room on it. Mine did suffer some with the marine atmosphere last summer and needed the rice treatment. It is pretty much back to normal now. I suggest a plastic bag with a desiccant in it for storage on the boat.

 

[caguy]

I prefer Kindle on my Surface Pro over the Kindle tablet. The picture is justice as crisp and readable in sunlight. I like reading magazines on it as well. here are some examples from Boat Works

 

[Benny17441]

I see conflict if she wants to read while you are underway. Allow me to suggest for the wife a Kindle 6" non-glare reader for $79 and for yourself a Samsung Tab4 7" tablet at $149. Color HD display,GPS, expandable memory to 32G, Android Kit-Kat operating system. Do your homework, look them up online and check the specs.

 

[Gunni]

But for anything else (like my Yanmar shop manual, Yanmar part number cross reference, etc) the iPad is the only way to go - higher resolution, color and easier to zoom and navigate.


Chris

Chris, what app do you use to store and read documents like your shop manual?

 

[paul1938]

By the way if you have more than one kindle[up to six] they can share books, When my wife buys a book she also downloads it to our two daughters. i know someone who keeps an older kindle on the boat, turns his wireless on and gets his downloads.
What is also neat, is that each Kindle or iPad[with Kindle app] will sync what you are reading from device to device. So if you are reading at book at night at home and decide to go to the boat the next day, you can P/U your boat Kindle and continue reading.
Enjoy!