topic Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions! in Electronics

Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Nicecupoftea — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 20:11:28 GMT

what does "Includes Special Offers" mean? I do not want advertisements on my new kindle!

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

terriebear — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 20:35:20 GMT

If your Fire or Kindle device includes Special Offers, you'll receive Sponsored Screensavers and special offers for Kindle books from Amazon directly on your device. For eligible Fire tablets, you will also receive Limited-Time Special Offers for items from Amazon.

If your device includes Special Offers, you see them as a screensaver when your device is in sleep mode. Once you receive your Kindle you can unsubscrible from these notices.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

mima — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 20:44:58 GMT

The ads are only on the screen until you unlock it to use it. After that they are never shown unless you let it go to sleep or shut it off. As soon as you unlock it to use it, there are no more.

They do not ever bother anything. I have it all of on mine. I actually did use one of the ads once.

I would never pay to have them taken off because you only see them once when you open your Kindle. That is it.

One more thing...it isn't at all like when you get ads with free games and the ads are there constantly. Those are so annoying. Nothing like that at all.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 20:51:33 GMT

@Nicecupoftea wrote:
what does "Includes Special Offers" mean? I do not want advertisements on my new kindle!

You probably do. I've done it both ways, and the special offers only affect the lock screen and a/or a very small portion of the screen while you're viewing a book in the store, depending on the device. Ads are not displayed while you read or view your own collections.

They "special offers" are unobtrusive and have been, for me, absolutely worth the money saved.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Porcelain — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:00:30 GMT

You don't see any advertisements when you are reading. That was my primary concern when I got my first e-Ink Kindle with special offers. (I can only speak to the e-Ink style Kindle such as the Paperwhite. The Fire is more of a tablet.)

There is a static image that shows on the screen even when you have the Kindle off. If you have an offers-enabled Kindle, that image is typically a book cover and a blurb that Amazon thinks you might be interested in. Back when I had a Kindle without offers, the image was a woodcut of a random famous author.

The image changes when you turn your Kindle on and then off again. Also, sometimes I see a small unobtrusive rectangle book or Amazon product ad on the bottom of my Home Page list of books that are on the Kindle.

It's not distracting or annoying.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:14:18 GMT

@porcelain wrote:
You don't see any advertisements when you are reading. That was my primary concern when I got my first e-Ink Kindle with special offers. (I can only speak to the e-Ink style Kindle such as the Paperwhite. The Fire is more of a tablet.)

There is a static image that shows on the screen even when you have the Kindle off. If you have an offers-enabled Kindle, that image is typically a book cover and a blurb that Amazon thinks you might be interested in. Back when I had a Kindle without offers, the image was a woodcut of a random famous author.

The image changes when you turn your Kindle on and then off again. Also, sometimes I see a small unobtrusive rectangle book or Amazon product ad on the bottom of my Home Page list of books that are on the Kindle.

It's not distracting or annoying.

I have both and it's the same for the Fires and the Kindles. The first Kindle I bought had no special ads. I've since bought a Fire and 3 more Kindles for myself or as gifts and I've always opted for the ads.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Moonchilde — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:16:46 GMT

My brain no longer even registers the ads I glimpse for a fraction of a second before I turn my Paperwhite on. It's a complete non-issue for me, and it saves you $20.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Nuttmeg — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:32:29 GMT

Iam not a big fan of the current line of Kindle tablets. I would not be happy with the quality of the display. I would buy a Kindle PaperWhite, for reading books. I have Samsung, Apple and an older Nexus 7 2013 tablets.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

jaxs mom — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:40:18 GMT

I actually found a good book with the offers once or twice. My next kindle I won't hesitate to get the one with special offers.

By the way, I got an email that the paperwhite is getting an update soon.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

mima — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:47:14 GMT

@Nuttmeg I agree with you. I have 2 Kindle Fire HDXs, one in the 7" and one in the 8.9" (I think that's it). I also have 2 HD's, one in each size.

The HDS's are superior to the HDs. They are now just mainly offering the HD's. Last I checked, you could find the ne HDX, but it was hard. They had it kind of hidden. I don't know why they are pushing the HDs.

I've been waiting for an upgrade and the only thing they have come out with it is 10", but it is only HD. I would want it if it was an HDX.

I can't figure it out. I think they want a cheap price tag on them, so they aren't putting as much into them.

That's how I see it anyway. I've got enough right now unless they come out with an awesome 10", I won't be buying anymore.

If I get a new one, I will sell one of my others.

I know it sounds crazy to own 4 plus a paperwhite. But I use them all. I have two at home and two at work. I own my own business and I play or watch Netflex when it is slow.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Sooner — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 09:50:57 GMT

@mima

You know I am a Kindle fan from WAY back! I also thank you for all the good information you've given us on these forums!

I just got an IPad Mini and find I love reading from that and my Voyage best. I have never used my Fire HDX a lot, so I was thinking of sending it in the for Amazon gift card--but it isn't on the list. I could only find HD models. Do you know why that is? I guess they are phasing out or have phased out the HDX? I bought 2 (hubby loves his) because I got a real deal on them right after they came out--sometime around CHristmas a couple of years ago) but never did understand what the HD HDX difference is. Could you enlighten me?

THANKS!

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

mima — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:40:31 GMT

@Sooner I don't know if they are phasing out the HDX, but it looks like it to me too. for some time now, they don't come up in searches. You can find them, but in a roundabout way.

Noticable differences for me is that the HDX is faster in responding and loading pages, charges faster and the battery lasts longer per charge.

I believe they have more pixels, but I don't notice that as much. If you put them side by side, the HDX looks better. Side by side, you can clearly see movies, etc. load faster too.

There were some more perks, but I can't remember them all. Those above are what I notice.

I was thinking about getting an Ipad to see what all the hub-bub is about. I'm tired of my friend bragging she has an Ipad and I have "just" a Kindle. LOL So I assume you like it better than the Kindle? If so, why?

You can do everything on the Ipad except borrow Kindle books. Is that right? Can you download the Kindle First books?

Now I'm asking your advice. Thanks!

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Sooner — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:55:42 GMT

@mima

YES! You can download Kindle books right to the IPAD! Easiy peasy. I have had an IPad 3 since they came out (years ago?) but wasn't crazy about it. To me, it is too big to read a book on, to small for a magazine, and I am a keyboard addict for talking to you and others. I am a whiz kid at typing! LOL!

SO, I was at Sam's the other day looking at electronics (waiting on hubby to look at tv's) and looked at the mini IPad. I had wondered what the deal with the mini was. WELL, I fell in love right then and there.

I went to the Apple Store and bought the Mini2, and the total cost was if I remember $319. I LOVED it immediately and decided I wanted to upgrade to the Mini4, so I did that a couple of days later. TO my mind, the 2 is a good as the 4. Not sure I would make the trade againBUT wanted more storage spage, which the 4 had, and the glare free screen (not that big a deal after all). THe 2 was great.

I can check mail easily, do facebook effortlessly, surf the web, and even with my not razor-sharp eyesight the screen size is fine for me, and the photo quality is outstanding. It IS LIGHT WEIGHT AND SMALL ENOUGH TO HOLD AND READ EASILY FOR ME! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it and the screen is backlight like the Paperwhite reader. Which, it occurs to me, I haven't picked up since I got the mini IPad.

If you have any more questions ask and I'll try to answer. You can go to the Apple site and get model numbers and comparisons. Check it out! I think you would be wild over one. There are SO many apps for them too! I got a white and gold one actually though I think the silver and white is prettier. . . and I didn't buy a case. I think cases make them bulky to hold and I just slip mine into an old Vera Bradley quilted case that is VERY flat and easy to use so I carry it with me in that and just take it out "nekked" to read (the MINI not me NEKKED!!!!!).

So is that helpful?

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

mima — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:58:27 GMT

Yes, thank you Sooner for the info. I'll think on it some more. I DO NOT need another tablet. LOL

The only other thing I would miss is that I download movies off Amazon Prime (the free ones) and I would be able to do that. I would have still take my Kindle HDX with us for trips.

I "think" you can only download movies directly to the HDX and HD, so that is another difference. At least on my older ones. I bet you can download the movies onto the newer HDs now.

I have been waiting for Kindle to upgrade and if they don't, I might just give the Ipad a whirl.

Thanks for your info!

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Sooner — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:37:59 GMT

@mima

OKIE Dokie! This Okie just downloaded the Amazon Movie app, then easy peasey downloaded and watched some of a neat Prime documentary about Queen Elizabeth. SO easy, good picture quality and glad you asked me! LOL!!!!

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Moonchilde — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:54:51 GMT

Most dedicated readers, those who read for hours at a time, are uncomfortable reading on back-lit screens. iPads and Kindle Fires are tablets with back-lit screens.

Kindle Voyage and Kindle Paperwhite are (book) *reading* devices only. They are in b&w and use e-ink technology and *front* lighting, which is much easier on the eyes as it is the same as sitting under a lamp with a physical book.

A back-lit device is for the internet. An e-ink, front-lit device is for serious reading. Many people routinely own both.

If you don't do much book reading and like to read magazines on your device, an iPad or Fire is great. If you're the type of person who can read a book from start to finish in a few hours and often does, reading on a back-lit device will kill your eyes.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

mima — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:00:56 GMT

@Sooner Wow, I thought you had to have a Kindle HDX to do that. Interesting! So you can watch movies on Amazon Prime (just certain ones) and watch while offline?

That is the thing that was holding me back because we use that feature quite often while traveling.

Thanks!

I just searched and Amazon has made it available to regular android users and apple users. Glad to know!!!

I'm so glad we have this forum to learn things!

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Sooner — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 04:21:02 GMT

@mima

Well I have learned more from you than you have from me! I am sure of that!!! I'm always asking you something. You or Alexa! LOL!!!!!

I will say I am in love with that Mini IPad! WHO knew? I sure didn't!

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

mima — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 14:12:43 GMT

@Sooner Thank you so much! You know, I think my next toy might be an ipad. Like I said, I'm tired of my friend bragging about hers. LOL I truly won't know whether to get the mini or regular. I like the big ones for home but the mini for portability.

Thanks again. Glad I helped you in the past.

Re: Shopping for new kindle- questions!

Lilysmom — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 15:07:13 GMT

@Moonchilde@mima@Sooner et al, interesting discussion. I always read the ereader discussions thinking I may soon want a new one. I have a Sony ereader that is 4-5 years old.

In the discussions on iPads, I have iPad 3 and have loved it from the beginning. DH has iPad Air. He is very non techie and he loves it also. I was thinking it would be great if iPad had an e ink app for reading books. Then you would not have to carry iPad and ereader when traveling. What do you think? I could never not read e ink as I read a lot so that makes iPad not an option.

i have the iPhone 6+ and I love it. I never carry a camera anymore and I use it a lot instead of GPS. Now if we could get an ereader function on iPads, I would be a happy woman.

i still really like my Sony ereader and haven't seen a new one that would make me jump for it.

thanks for your comments. Helps me stay informed! LM