E-book readers on Samui/Phangan

[AngThong]

Need a replacement for my smashed Kindle.

I'm pretty certain none are for sale on Phangan, but do they sell e-readers somewhere on Samui? Where? (If someone has one to sell, I'd be interested.)

Which models?

Price?

I want a decently recent model like Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Glo or similar. I don't care which brand it is, but specs are important (built-in light etc.).

Thanks

Edited June 29, 2014 by AngThong

[sketcher]

Kindle available in bookshop in Central Mall, chaweng

Sent from my GT-S6310B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[AngThong]

Kindle available in bookshop in Central Mall, chaweng

Sent from my GT-S6310B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Thanks. Any idea which models and what the prices are like?

I'll visit Samui (live on Phangan) and would like to visit as few shops as possible, preferably just one

[sketcher]

Sorry no idea of prices or models but remember seeing them and remembering other threads of people trying to find them. Maybe people who shop there more regularly can help with specifics.

Sent from my GT-S6310B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[CaptainS]

I have a basic kindle (new, not used), its with wifi but not paperwhite and also no light. Just in case you cant find something else. I am in Bangrak.

[Tropicalevo]

I bought a paperwhite Kindle on-line from Amazon. No problems. Delivered to my door. Amazon deducted 'possible' taxes from the credit card but these were re-imbursed when there were none.

I was so impressed with the paperwhite that I bought a second one for wifey. Same thing. Ordered from Amazon. Delivereed on time. Additional 'taxes deducted then re-imbursed.

Exellent service. No issues. Any spec that you want. When you make the order they state that you 'cannot have deliveries to your area' - but I just carried on and bought the things. All good. No problems. Price as on the web-site.

[ParadiseLost]

There is a recent thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/737706-amazon-kindle/ where I posted some info.

If you check out this online seller I am sure you will like their prices: http://www.lazada.co.th/shop-tablets-2/amazon/

Edited June 29, 2014 by ParadiseLost

[robsamui]

Do you realise that any and every Android-based tablet is able to use ebook reader software? Even if it is a 2,000B Chinese clone?

There's no need to buy a purpose-made book-reader.

Plus you get all the incidental extras that a net-connected wi-fi tab has built into it.

I bought a Galaxy Tab 7-inch tablet 2nd hand (model 1, but with SIM card too) for 4,000 baht locally just to have for ebooks.

PLUS - how is it that Kindle (iPad too) can get away with selling square-ish tablets that ARE NOT BOOK SHAPED? The 7-inch tablets are exactly in the same proportion as a paperback!

So much better than a whole bag of Kindles, and also not tied to contractual downloads from one supplier. (But I had to take the SIM card out cos people kept calling me when I was getting to a good bit.)

R

Edited June 29, 2014 by robsamui

[AngThong]

I do, thanks. For my tired eyes, the difference in reading experience between an e-ink reader and a tablet is ginormous, and as I read a lot, I very much prefer e-ink. In fact, I prefer e-readers to everything, including paper books - nothing is as easy on my eyes as a good e-reader. The way I read, I'm not tied to contractual downloads either - which is why brand isn't important to me.

Edited June 29, 2014 by AngThong

[robsamui]

I do, thanks. For my tired eyes, the difference in reading experience between an e-ink reader and a tablet is ginormous, and as I read a lot, I very much prefer e-ink. In fact, I prefer e-readers to everything, including paper books - nothing is as easy on my eyes as a good e-reader. The way I read, I'm not tied to contractual downloads either - which is why brand isn't important to me.

OK - maybe if you're disabled it makes sense. You didn't mention this before. I'm a pensioner and don't have this problem

R

Edited June 29, 2014 by robsamui

[AngThong]

I do, thanks. For my tired eyes, the difference in reading experience between an e-ink reader and a tablet is ginormous, and as I read a lot, I very much prefer e-ink. In fact, I prefer e-readers to everything, including paper books - nothing is as easy on my eyes as a good e-reader. The way I read, I'm not tied to contractual downloads either - which is why brand isn't important to me.

OK - maybe if you're disabled it makes sense. I'm a pensioner and don't have this problem

R

I am indeed E-readers (and audiobooks) are a godsend

[robsamui]

I do, thanks. For my tired eyes, the difference in reading experience between an e-ink reader and a tablet is ginormous, and as I read a lot, I very much prefer e-ink. In fact, I prefer e-readers to everything, including paper books - nothing is as easy on my eyes as a good e-reader. The way I read, I'm not tied to contractual downloads either - which is why brand isn't important to me.

OK - maybe if you're disabled it makes sense. I'm a pensioner and don't have this problem

R

I am indeed E-readers (and audiobooks) are a godsend

Thanks for the advice - good to remember for when I need it! (Fingers crossed!)

Audio books? That's a whole different bag of worms. Ever heard Dylan Thomas's poetry read with an American accent?

I'm still traumatised from hearing Pooh sounding like Benny from Top Cat, and Piglet whining like a gay nancypig, both with dubbed America voices.

(

)

R

Edited June 29, 2014 by robsamui

[susquosh]

From memory of BBC recordings that sounds very much like Dylan Thomas himself reading.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[futsukayoi]

The Kindles on sale in central were about 60% more than direct from Amazon. I have had 5 sent from Amazon for myself and friends over the years and have never had to pay duty. In addition I do not know what the service from the stationary place in central would be like but from Amazon it is superb. Any problem that they cannot fix over the phone and a replacement arrives very quickly.

I agree eInk is an absolute essential for anyone who reads a lot in Thailand. Even if you have great eyesight a tablet is awful in sunlight or glare (even with new anti-glare screens). So if you only read indoors then a tablet will do but if you want to read around a pool or on the beach eInk is the way to go.

Edited June 30, 2014 by futsukayoi

[robsamui]

From memory of BBC recordings that sounds very much like Dylan Thomas himself reading.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Erm . . . that was kind of, like, my point . . . but you also get a clue from the title of the video

Edited June 30, 2014 by robsamui

[robsamui]

I do, thanks. For my tired eyes, the difference in reading experience between an e-ink reader and a tablet is ginormous, and as I read a lot, I very much prefer e-ink. In fact, I prefer e-readers to everything, including paper books - nothing is as easy on my eyes as a good e-reader. The way I read, I'm not tied to contractual downloads either - which is why brand isn't important to me.

Hmmm. You mentioned tired eyes but you missed the most important thing of all - the e-ink's ability to show clearly in bright conditions or sunlight. And that's a HUGE plus.

I've always avoided the whole Kindle thing due to thinking I'd be tied to Amazon for the books and the cost-for-cost comparison between a device which can only read books and a computer tablet.

But you've triggered off a new investigation on my part - and I've also discovered there's a battery life of weeks, not hours.

Thanks for this - but one question - any problem with the device being able to read epub format? At the last count I had more than 10,000 books in epub format on my external hard drive. AFAIK Kindle is in mobi format? Something of a pain to convert - but I could just do it with existing favourites and the future new downloads.

R

Edited June 30, 2014 by robsamui

[finy]

I do, thanks. For my tired eyes, the difference in reading experience between an e-ink reader and a tablet is ginormous, and as I read a lot, I very much prefer e-ink. In fact, I prefer e-readers to everything, including paper books - nothing is as easy on my eyes as a good e-reader. The way I read, I'm not tied to contractual downloads either - which is why brand isn't important to me.

So true!

I have to use Audible at the moment because I can't use the Kindle app on my laptop, but will but a paperwhite as some books ain't available on Audible.

[AngThong]

I do, thanks. For my tired eyes, the difference in reading experience between an e-ink reader and a tablet is ginormous, and as I read a lot, I very much prefer e-ink. In fact, I prefer e-readers to everything, including paper books - nothing is as easy on my eyes as a good e-reader. The way I read, I'm not tied to contractual downloads either - which is why brand isn't important to me.

Hmmm. You mentioned tired eyes but you missed the most important thing of all - the e-ink's ability to show clearly in bright conditions or sunlight. And that's a HUGE plus.

I've always avoided the whole Kindle thing due to thinking I'd be tied to Amazon for the books and the cost-for-cost comparison between a device which can only read books and a computer tablet.

But you've triggered off a new investigation on my part - and I've also discovered there's a battery life of weeks, not hours.

Thanks for this - but one question - any problem with the device being able to read epub format? At the last count I had more than 10,000 books in epub format on my external hard drive. AFAIK Kindle is in mobi format? Something of a pain to convert - but I could just do it with existing favourites and the future new downloads.

R

Yes, it's like reading a paper book except better. I love being able to choose font size, it's bliss for my eyes. The new paperwhite is said to be really crisp, too, and I already loved my old 4th gen Kindle.

No, Kindle cannot read ePub, you'd have to convert in Calibre or something. You don't have to choose Kindle though, there's others - Kobo Glo is said to be almost as good as Kindle paperwhite, for instance, and sometimes cheaper. The Kobo can read ePub. I use Calibre and I never buy books (or anything else) from Amazon (don't like Jeff Bezos and I regard every penny I spend as a vote). Bought my previous Kindle used for £40, I'm kind of feeling like going with the Kobo this time. It's just that I'd like to see it before I buy... With Kindle, I would know what I'm buying.

Edited June 30, 2014 by AngThong

[futsukayoi]

I also use Calibre and highly recommend it for whatever reading device you use. Great for storing and organizing books and makes it very easy to convert between different formats. Occasionally get formatting errors when converting but usually can still read fine just a little irritating. The only problem I have experienced with the Kindle and for smaller tablets is that PDFs don't really work even if it will try to let you read them and this format does not convert well to Mobi or Epub. Luckily I don't need to read too many PDFs.

[finy]

Did you manage to buy one yet?

If so, what are the prices like?

[AngThong]

No, haven't. Still looking.

[DMC1]

I've got around 10,000 books in mobi format that I just drag and drop onto my Kindle - all free. I do buy the odd book from Amazon though.

Nothing like reading on a Kindle & I do own an ipad. I get around 3-4 weeks of battery life on my Kindle. I do a good 2 hours reading every evening.

[finy]

Saw some on Lazardo.com? for about 5K.

Think I might order one from there.