Kindle for Reading AND Quilting?!

[Judith T.]

Hi everyone!

Husband and I were debating this morning as to how technologically advanced quilters are -- and of course I asserted we are VERY advanced! So I'm wondering how many of you own a Kindle, and are there any quilting books available on Kindle? How do you use your Kindle for quilting (if at all). As you can tell, I'm angling for one!

Kathy B.

[Pam D.]

Kathy, For those of us the other side of the pond, :lol: , What is a kindle please? Pam

[Pam D.]

A Kindle is an electronic reading device, handheld. You buy a "book" from an online service such as Amazon, and the book is downloaded to your Kindle in about a minute. The price of books is about 40% of the hardcover, and you don't have to go to the bookstore! I find the idea compelling, but I read mostly quilting books -- can I get my applique patterns off the Kindle, by tracing or printing on my printer?

[Pam D.]

I haven't used my Kindle for anything quilt related, but I wouldn't be without it! It's the best thing since sliced bread!

I do have some apps on my iPhone for sewing... a fabric calculator, and a database.

Created by CJ

[Patricia H.]

I have a Kindle and love it! I haven't used it for quilting books (I like color pictures) but there are a number of titles available. If you go to http://www.amazon.com you can do a search of the Kindle Store and see what's there.

[Pam D.]

Thanks, Kathy. I didn't know there was such a thing, but you live and learn. Pam

[Hannelore N.]

It's an expensive gadget, so only worth it if you are are quite sure you'll make good use of it. Even though I pretty computer literate and find anything technical very interesting, I also love handling and reading 'real' books. I sometimes wonder if there are more books in my house than in the local library.

Lorchen

[Paula D.]

And I quote one of my favorite lines in the movie "Sex and the City" = when "Big" questions Carrie about the library book she is reading, she responds: "I love the smell". 8)

[Liberata T.]

I personally have a difficult time with manuals and instructional materials on computers and reading devices. I download all my "entertainment" books on my iPod and listen to them when I'm on public transportation or doing "mindless" tasks. DH and I love to "read" but the weight of books when we travel and the space they take up was getting out of hand. Plus the cost of English books in Switzerland is $$$. I recently subscribed to the digital version of Quilting Arts Magazine for the same reasons.

I am trying to do a project I downloaded from the Bernina site without printing it out and also to use the Final 830 Manual I downloaded. I'm sticking with it but I'm finding it difficult. I guess I just love paper. ops:

I suggest that before you make this investment, download to your computer to see if you really enjoy using "soft" documents.

[Ken W.]

I LOVE my Kindle! However, as far as quilting, it won't design a quilt or run your sewing machine for you. It's a book reader and designed to be just that. The design features were obviously thought out extensively, since every button seems to be right where you naturally would expect it when reading a book.

The Kindle has a special e-ink screen for ease of reading. It does not have a backlight in the screen for that very reason. Backlighted screens often cause eye strain when used for a long period of time. Also, because it's not backlighted, if you want to read in bed, you need an external book light.

As far as liking the "feel" and "smell" of a real book, I got over that about 3 minutes after I started reading on my Kindle. I, too, always liked the feel of holding a book, but I can honestly say I haven't missed that at all. As far as the smell, do you really want to know where all those smells came from in the library books you check out??

While you're quilting, the Kindle can be used as an mp3 player with headphones. It also has the capability of reading a book to you in audio, although the voice sometimes sounds a little too computerized and robotic. It's not like an audio book. It simply speaks the words to you.

The Kindle also has built-in wireless connection capabilities that uses the Sprint network. The wireless can be used to download a book from Amazon in about 30 seconds. Wireless connection can also be used with the built-in web browser anywhere there is a signal on the Sprint network. And there is no charge for the wireless connectivity. It comes as part of the Kindle.

So if you're an avid reader, I highly recommend the Kindle. Amazon has the largest selection of books available for any ereader. You can go to http://www.amazon.com to check if the books you want are available for Kindle. And you can also download a free sample of the book to your Kindle.

Kindle is not exactly a quilting tool. But it's a great little toy.

BTW...I do not work for Amazon, nor affiliated with it in any way, other than being a completely satisfied customer.

Ken

[Ken W.]

I'm with Lorchen in that I love to handle books although I can understand why Libbi would not want to carry them on her travels. Unlike Carrie Bradshaw, for me it is not the smell, it is the feel. Maggi

[Ken W.]

Thanks for the lowdown on the Kindle! Sounds like I'll need to stick to good ol' books for my quilting needs -- for instance, no backlight would make tracing applique patterns pretty tough! But it sounds great for reading, ain't technology great! Kathy B.

[Ken W.]

My DH just bought me my kindle and I absolutely love it. I've gotten into more reading over the past 30 days than in the last 7 years. I always hated trying to find a book or book series that I liked. Storing all the books was not a problem until we moved. My DB loves the feel of books and can't imagine reading any other way and he now has a kindle and is enjoying it. They are great on vacations, less to pack and haul around and you can never run out of reading material. Bobbi

[Ken W.]

I'm trying desperately to get my dh to buy me one. I love reading books, but after seeing one of these in action I can see SO much potential, especially for those of us who do a lot of traveling. In fact that is my selling point for my dh. He is one of those kind that like to read 5-6 books at one time (don't ask me how, he just does it lol) and when he travels he takes one whole bag just for his reading material. If he had a Kendle then he could just load the books he was currently reading and it would fit in his regular breifcase!

[Ken W.]

Mandy, sounds like you need to buy DH one for Christmas, and just borrow his!

Maggie from E. Central Illinois, still in Tucson