Think before you buy a Kindle

[blythburgh]

I was bought a Kindle as a birthday present from my husband. The main reason for doing so was to be able to download ebooks from the Suffolk Library system.

I could not work out how to do this so emailed them. And was gobsmacked to get this reply:

Thank you contacting Suffolk Libraries Direct.

Unfortunately Amazon has exclusive rights to the Kindle and therefore none of the Suffolk Libraries eBooks are compatible with the Kindle.

[al101uk]

You may be in luck soon:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13155967

Apparently from what I've read the company involved in the library e-book system (Overdrive) are in talks to expand it's service with the Kindle outside the US, but as of mid-September no agreement had been reached.

[al101uk]

Interesting topic, the issue may not be the library or Amazon but the Publishers Association in the UK protecting their revenues:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/06/kindle_lending/

[markya]

Yes it's bad isn;t it!!! The only place you cn buy books from for the kindle is Amazon. They may as well give it away free and make the money on the books.

[HeavenlyCharm]

Are you having any luck getting more ebooks blythburgh?

The Kindle Users forum is extremely useful http://www.kuforum.co.uk/free_ebooks/latest/

[blythburgh]

We have both a basic Kindle and a Kobo. We use the Kobo for library books and the Kindle for free or cheap ebooks from Amazon. I much prefer the Kindle and unless you want to download library books then I would recommend you buy the Kindle.

[DennisAnderson]

I think the kindle is the better device. I think Consumer did a review recently and rated the top ones.
The problem with the kindle, is that it doesn't, or at least didn't, support overdrive, which is what many libraries use to lend out e books on. Don't know about the kobo.