Reading with Kindle

[meg321]

I just can't read books now, I think it is all the "words" and maybe the size of the words....I am not really sure but its just overwhelming to try to read now.

Has anyone tried a Kindle or one of the other readers and did it help you?

meg

[meg321]

You know what, I am having a hard time using this kindle..its the brain damage, tremors and whatever else but I am not having much luck...


So i think I am going to return it...

thanks for all your help..

hugs,

meg

[maestro1959]

I have a Nook Color that I received for Christmas last year.  I just love it.  It is easy to "turn" pages with a simple touch.  The "Read it to me" option is great if I am feeling badly, and need the distraction of a good book.  I also found that I could read with it, even when I was still struggling to read paper books.

I also enjoy some of the features it has for children's books.  It allows me to read with my great nieces even if I am not really up to it.  It is quite entertaining.

My main reason in asking for the Nook is the feature that allows me to check out library books, but the other manufacturers may have that ability now, too.  Barnes & Noble also has a feature that gives you 2 hours to read any book while you are in any of their stores.  They also will send in-store coupons to use during your visit, too.  Those include discounts on purchases or a free coffee while you read there.

Barnes & Noble has also upgraded it to the point that it is nearly a tablet.  Then, this Christmas they rolled out their tablet at the same price.  The applications available are amazing.  I do not know what I would do without my Words With Friends/Scrabble....um I mean my Microsoft Office for keeping up with work.  LOL!  I only wish this had a USB port for printing.

I carry mine everywhere, and have many things downloaded into it.  I also have a case that has a zippered portion and a place to hold a pad of paper and pen.  It is wonderful.  I make notes on it all the time to have when I see my doctors.  They make 2 style of screen protectors that are great to use.  I prefer the ones that are a matte finish that reduce the glare if that is a problem for those with vision challenges.

I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to try a reader, especially when we never know the moment when our hands may give us trouble.

Happy hunting for the best unit for you.

Beth

[candy158]

Hi Meg, I have a KOBO and I LOVE IT !!!!!  My hubby found a free spot to get books, and PM me, and I will give you the site, if you want.

I really like it, I have a little light to attach to mine for night time, but you don't get the puter glare and bright lights, that hurt your eyes, especially at the end of the day.

Hope this helps,
Candy

[meg321]

I am still trying to learn how to use it.   I seem to have a problem with it responding to touch and then i will lose my place when reading.  I finally got the fonts enlarged.

I just have a hard time learning anything now.

Maybe the Nook would be easier?

Someday I might get a book read, I do have one but haven't really been able to start reading it.  Its a book a friend just had published so I am looking forward to it.  

meg

[Lulu54]

Wow!  All these reviews make me want to get my own Kindle.  I bought my adult children readers last year.  And my son gave me an Ipad2 this year, but I haven't tried the book function yet.

Kindles and their equivalent make so much sense on so many levels.

Meg, you'll get the hang of it.  If not, take it to your Barnes and Noble and ask for their help.  They love it!

[Beula88]

Meg- I am a HUGE reader and ended up with the First Kindle Amazon came out with and it was wonderful to have when the print in books became too blurry to read.  I recently got a Kindle Fire for Christmas and actually find that easier to use then my original one.  The "button" pushing to constantly turn pages would get difficult for me at times.  I would REALLY recommend a Kindle if you are missing out on reading.  :O)

[SarahL2491]

I didn't find the Nook difficult, it was rather simple to use and they walk you thru it step by step.  B&N store employees are very helpful also.
Can you return your Kindle?
Just wondering, sorry to hear you are having problems with it.  I tried the Kindle and sent mine back the same day.

[meg321]

Got my Kindle and I am having a terrible time learning to use it so I decided to wait til today ..maybe my mind will be fresher.  I just cannot understand all the instructions

I hate this...I was so much into hi-tech things before.  I always fixed my computers myself or I learned how to do it.  Now I call tech support.

It was one of the things I loved to do.  But I will work on it today..I did buy a book but I did it on-line.  The book was one of the reasons that i wanted a kindle.

later alligator...
meg

[meg321]

Leap of faith here ...I just ordered a Kindle Touch 3G.  I read reviews until I was turning blue so I picked what I thought to be the best for me.

I am excited, I can't wait to get it.  I haven't told my hubby yet, well, I did mention it. He will be okay with it, he always is.

Will let you know how I like it..

hugs, meg

[NormanG22]

I have a Nook Color I bought last year, it has worked well for me.  I got tired of trying to carry around the book I was reading at the time, rather bulky, loaded it to the Nook, it has worked well for me.  I now have my MS reference books loaded on it.  I may have missed if it was posted, I believe both kindle and nook have apps that can be installed on you computer or "smart" phones should you get caught with out your reader, you can still access your books.

[meg321]

Good Idea!!!

[meg321]

Thanks everyone, I might do some more looking into one.  It sounds like it might work for me.  I am on a budget but oh, well...lol

I am looking at Consumers Reports to get the best deal.  I have a netbook that I planned on taking to appts with me but so many of them do not have wi-fi and if they do sometimes you cannot get on it.

I loved reading your posts too...

hugs, meg

[SarahL2491]

I use a Nook Color from barnes and noble and its my dear companion when I can't sleep at night or am up and on the heating pad trying to get my legs to stop hurting.  It wakes no one.  It's the best investment I made.

I tried Kindle and just couldn't get into it, the tiny keys and so sent it back, getting the Nook and then of course they came out with the touch screen, but LOVE my Nook.

I too miss real books, but with the severe humidity here in the summer and the house closed up, books would mildew anyway and Nook is so portable.  I ALWAYS take it when I go to the doctor's office.  Specially since I had to wait an hour and 45 minutes for my last neuro appt......I almost read a book!  My cardiologist was really taken by it, wants to get his daughter one!

[twopack]

My mother got a Kindle several years ago in hopes the adjustable font feature would help her be less reliant on audio books.  She didn't get to give it much of a try however because a stroke took her life soon after it was purchased.

It wasn't something I would have purchased for myself but decided I would give the expensive gadget (about $400 at the time) a try rather than let it collect dust.  I used it off and on.  It was okay.  I liked it mainly for the ability to read items that weren't available in large print.  It was also MUCH easier on my eyes than the harsh light of the computer screen.

I noticed other electronic readers were coming out.  These had more features and cost less.  When I saw one at <$80 capable of receiving library book 'loans', I bought two to give as Christmas gifts.  They were a big hit.

My inherited Kindle suffered screen damage several months back that made it unusable.  Amazon replaced it with an upgrade product at a greatly reduced price even though I had no paperwork and the warranty was long expired.

I love this Kindle.  It has the same size screen but the unit itself is smaller and lighter.  It has many more features including the one that allows library uploads.  I can adjust type size, typeface, line spacing and how many words I want per line.  That really allows me to customize a page to what is easiest for ME to read (and my husband when he borrows).

And Meg, it has an option to turn on a TEXT-TO-SPEECH feature.  If I'm not up to concentrating on reading I CAN CHOOSE A MALE OR FEMALE VOICE TO READ TO ME through external speakers or earphones.  I just follow along while the Kindle reads and turns pages for me.  I even get to decide if the reader needs to go FASTER OR SLOWER!  (Instructions are delivered to the e-reader so they are always available if I need refreshed on how to use a feature.)

Since the prices for e-readers have come down so much they are much easier to fit into tight budgets.  THANKS FOR ASKING ABOUT THIS MEG.  My Kindle has been a great tool to help get me reading again.  I take it in my purse to appointments and almost hope I have wait time so I can read (or play a game). I use it more all the time yet probably wouldn't have thought to recommend it without your prompt.

Have a look at one as was suggested.  Maybe MH has a place to share good reads.  Some of these devices let readers borrow titles from one another (I'd have to read up on that one).

Hope an electronic reader allows you to thumb your nose at MS and resume an activity you enjoy.

Mary

[debgen]

I also have an iPad and I read everything on it- books and magazines. It is wonderful. I can make the print as large as I need it to be and it's always bright Soit has made reading enjoyable again! It is very light and you easily tun the pages with just a swipe over the page.

[doublevision1]

I have the Sony e-Reader and like it a lot.  I do use the zoom function for the font, not because of my MS related vision issues but because of my 44 year old eyes.  I like the touch screen, it takes just a very light graze to turn the page.  When my hands are really bothering me, I prop the e-Reader in the folds of my duvet (I always and only read in bed) and donèt have to fumble with it.  I was finding this was becoming more awkward with conventional books, esp if they were thick.

When we travelled in France earier this year it was great to have all my Frommer's, Rick Steves, etc loaded on this small, light device instead of hauling travel books around with me.

I got an IPad for Christmas but haven't tried reading books on it, though I do read the papers on it and it's great, again less awkward than the paper version and no ink on hands.

[zoefromsussex]

I think I'm gonna have to join the kindle club too! Two bouts on ON have made books fairly impossible!

[JaneK1975]

I have a Nook e-reader and I love it. I agree with Mand that it's a lot easier to hold onto than a regular book. Lighter, too.

It's tough to say whether it would be beneficial to you without knowing more about the causes of your reading difficulty, so I would recommend either finding someone who owns one so you can take a look at one yourself, or heading out to a Barnes & Noble to check one out. I think all the Barnes & Nobles have displays right now, and they're more than willing to let you touch and try one. I did it before I got mine.

I believe most Best Buy stores have e-readers on display as well. There are some that are not attacehd to a bookstore. I think Sony has a few different models.

[Mand125]

Hi Meg

I read with a Kindle, I find it much less "awkward" to handle than a book, you can also change the size of text to suit.

Don't get me wrong, I like the look and the feel of a "real" book but I haven't bought any since I was given the Kindle as a present over a year ago  

Mand