Has your love of reading been Kindled yet?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Be warned, mangerton - you may find yourself sneaking downstairs at night for a snack of cheese - I'll say no more

[Anna]

I'm reviving this thread in order to ask a question of kindle owners. I have an elderly relative whose joy has always been reading but with increasing eyesight problems (and lack of choice of large type books) so it seemed a basic kindle (with the ability to magnify text) might be ideal.

The problem is that although she has broadband she doesn't have WiFi, her computer is not WiFi enabled and ditto the modem. Therefore - can she connect a kindle to computer via USB and download books that way?

[mangerton]

I'm reviving this thread in order to ask a question of kindle owners. I have an elderly relative whose joy has always been reading but with increasing eyesight problems (and lack of choice of large type books) so it seemed a basic kindle (with the ability to magnify text) might be ideal.

The problem is that although she has broadband she doesn't have WiFi, her computer is not WiFi enabled and ditto the modem. Therefore - can she connect a kindle to computer via USB and download books that way?

According to this, she can.

Hope this helps.

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm reviving this thread in order to ask a question of kindle owners. I have an elderly relative whose joy has always been reading but with increasing eyesight problems (and lack of choice of large type books) so it seemed a basic kindle (with the ability to magnify text) might be ideal.

The problem is that although she has broadband she doesn't have WiFi, her computer is not WiFi enabled and ditto the modem. Therefore - can she connect a kindle to computer via USB and download books that way?

Exactly, Anna. We are in exactly the same situation as your relative. I got one for my wife, who is not in the best of health. I got her the superior Paperwhite version for increased legibility. We have broadband but not WiFi (and a poor mobile signal). I spent Boxing Day morning on the phone to two Amazon Kindle specialists. They both said that while you could download books via USB, you had to register and initiate it in the first place via a wifi connection. It is not possible to do this via USB, apparently. Kindle man no.2 agreed it might have been an idea to point out on the shopping site that WiFi was necessary. They assume everyone lives in towns.

I also found the keypad into which you have to type your email address and password [why?] impossible to use - before it told us it could not find a wifi signal I had 16 goes at typing in my wife's email and a password. It is a duff keypad. Possibly desensitised by the plastic film they sell you to protect the touchscreen. I am quite computer savvy and indeed spent much of my last 3 years at work developing part of my employers' website.

I am so disgusted by the whole experience that the thing is packed up awaiting collection, and a full refund is back in my credit card account. All we wanted was something in which you could store books which you could then read. Why does it have to be so complicated?

[Anna]

According to this, she can.
Hope this helps.

Thanks mangerton, I did look on Amazon but obviously didn't see the page. Further basic question, can you still read the kindle in a non wifi area?

Exactly, Anna. We are in exactly the same situation as your relative. I got one for my wife, who is not in the best of health. I got her the superior Paperwhite version for increased legibility. We have broadband but not WiFi (and a poor mobile signal). I spent Boxing Day morning on the phone to two Amazon Kindle specialists. They both said that while you could download books via USB, you had to register and initiate it in the first place via a wifi connection. It is not possible to do this via USB, apparently. Kindle man no.2 agreed it might have been an idea to point out on the shopping site that WiFi was necessary. They assume everyone lives in towns.

I also found the keypad into which you have to type your email address and password [why?] impossible to use - before it told us it could not find a wifi signal I had 16 goes at typing in my wife's email and a password. It is a duff keypad. Possibly desensitised by the plastic film they sell you to protect the touchscreen. I am quite computer savvy and indeed spent much of my last 3 years at work developing part of my employers' website.

I am so disgusted by the whole experience that the thing is packed up awaiting collection, and a full refund is back in my credit card account. All we wanted was something in which you could store books which you could then read. Why does it have to be so complicated?

Richard, that's not good. I guess they expect you to go to a wifi hotspot in your nearest town to activate it initially? Assuming of course there is one. Obviously this aspect is a serious drawback to those in rural locations - some of which are still awaiting broadband let alone wifi or a decent mobile signal!

[mangerton]

Thanks mangerton, I did look on Amazon but obviously didn't see the page. Further basic question, can you still read the kindle in a non wifi area?

Yes, because once downloaded, the books, magazines or whatever are stored on the kindle itself, so no internet access is required.

[Richard Tarleton]

Richard, that's not good. I guess they expect you to go to a wifi hotspot in your nearest town to activate it initially? Assuming of course there is one.

Yes - out of interest we popped into the nearest Curry's to check on Kindles there (we were also looking at other things!) and the salesman confirmed what the Amazon Kindle men had said. He offered to sell us a wi-fi router and suggested as an alternative we drop into McDonalds to take advantage of their wi-fi

I think he meant well.

[Stunsworth]

The problem is that although she has broadband she doesn't have WiFi, her computer is not WiFi enabled and ditto the modem. Therefore - can she connect a kindle to computer via USB and download books that way?

As people have mentioned its possible if she syncs the Kindle with her computer.

I would consider buying the more expensive model with 3G. That would enable her to buy a book on her computer and have it delivered to her Kindle automatically without the need for a connection to her computer.

As said earlier, there are thousands of out of copyright books available for free.

[Richard Tarleton]

As people have mentioned its possible if she syncs the Kindle with her computer.

I would consider buying the more expensive model with 3G. That would enable her to buy a book on her computer and have it delivered to her Kindle automatically without the need for a connection to her computer.

As said earlier, there are thousands of out of copyright books available for free.

Yes but it seems you can't get past first base without a wifi connection. The "more expensive models" require registering via a wifi connection. You can't activate the device without one. And doesn't 3G presuppose a good mobile signal? We're talking rural locations here.

[Stunsworth]

Yes but it seems you can't get past first base without a wifi connection. The "more expensive models" require registering via a wifi connection. You can't activate the device without one. And doesn't 3G presuppose a good mobile signal? We're talking rural locations here.

It appears a Kindle can be registered without a wifi connection...

http://techtips.salon.com/register-kindle-wifi-25861.html

It's been a couple of years, but I seem to remember that when I bought my Kindle from Amazon it came pre-registered. I've no idea if that's still the case, and obviously it wouldn't be if bought from a supermarket etc.

You are correct about the 3G requiring a mobile signal.