Traveling With Your Kindle
If you like to read and travel then you know the dilemma of trying to pack light and still have enough books to read during your trip. The Amazon Kindle, an electronic book reader, solves this problem. It is one small thing to pack but it can hold all the books you will need for your trip - novels, newspapers, magazines, travel guides.
Your Kindle is linked to your online Amazon account - purchase Kindle books directly from your Kindle or purchase online and send them to your Kindle. Or download books to your computer and then put them on your Kindle.
The Kindle communicates with the internet via the 3G cell phone network (called "Whispernet"). You do NOT pay for this connection (i.e. you do not have to have a cell phone account). Read more below about how the Amazon Kindle works.
Take Your Kindle to Europe
The latest version of the Kindle works in most countries, so take your Kindle with you when traveling to Europe. It works the same as it does in the US. All you need is the plug adapter so you can plug it in to charge. Check the Amazon site to see which countries it works in (works in most European countries).
The first two versions of the Kindle worked only in the US. If you have one of these older versions, you can still travel with it. Read more below about traveling with the older Kindle.
Beware of Hidden Charges When Traveling!
The new Global version of the Kindle works in Europe, but if it was purchased in the US you are charged each time you download something via the 3G wireless when out of the US!! $1.99 per book, $4.99 per week for newspapers/magazines! You can avoid these charges if you travel with a computer. Download to your computer then transfer (for free) to your Kindle.
We bought the first Kindle as soon as it was available (December 2007) then upgraded to the new slimmer version. We always take our Kindles to Europe.
Charging the Kindle in Europe
The Kindle works on North American or European voltage for charging. You do not need a converter. The plugs for both the Kindle 1 and 2 say 100 - 240V meaning that they work on North American and European voltages. You need an adapter for the plug so that it will plug into a European wall socket (varies by country).
How the Amazon Kindle Works
The Kindle is an electronic book reader available only from Amazon. Purchase from Amazon ($259). The Kindle communicates with the internet via the 3G cell phone network (called "Whispernet"). You can turn this on and off (it uses more battery when it is on). You do NOT pay for this connection (i.e. you do not have to have a cell phone account).
The Kindle was introduced in December 2007. A new slimmer version was released a year later. These early versions were only available to purchase in the US and could only communicate with the Internet from the US. In mid-2009 the new Global 3G Wireless version, which works in many countries (US, Canada, most of Europe), was released.
Purchasing Books
Purchase Kindle books on Amazon.com from your computer or straight from your Kindle. Books purchased download within a minute or two via the 3G wireless. If purchasing on your computer, you tell Amazon which Kindle to download the book to (if you have more than one). As soon as you turn on the 3G wireless on your Kindle, the book is downloaded. Books usually cost $9.99 for new releases, $6.99 for older books.
A nice feature from Amazon is that you can download books samples (usually the first chapter) for free. Read the sample then decide if you want to purchase it.
Every morning I turn on the Kindle, then turn on the 3G wireless (I don't keep it on all the time because it uses more battery) and that day's New York Times is downloaded.
The Kindle holds a lot of books (I have hundreds on mine and have not used up the space) and your books are also stored up on Amazon. If you lost your Kindle, you could download everything again. Or if you filled up your Kindle, you could delete some knowing they are on your Amazon account and could be downloaded again. You can also store the books on your computer.
Sharing Books
The Kindle is associated with your Amazon account. If you purchase a second Kindle on the same account, you can download a purchased book to all your Kindles (this works for up to five Kindles). You cannot share newspaper or magazine subscriptions like this.
When I purchase a book Steve can choose to download it to his Kindle (and vice-versa). Since you cannot share newspaper and magazine subscriptions Steve and I both subscribe to the New York Times.
Free Books
Amazon owns MobiPocket which has a lot of free books (older, out of copyright books) - MobiPocket Free Books. Download these books to your computer, attach your Kindle to your computer and copy the files to your Kindle.
I downloaded many books from MobiPocket and put them on my Kindle so I will always have something to read.
Putting PDF and Word Documents on the Kindle
The Kindle now reads PDF files, Word documents and HTML format (previously they had to be converted). Copy them to your Kindle from your computer or email them to your Kindle (there is a small charge for this - read more on the Amazon site).
I purchased a book in PDF format from lulu.com, emailed it to my Kindle email address (you set this up when you get your Kindle) and the PDF appeared on my Kindle in a few minutes. When preparing for a trip, I create Word documents with information I want to take with me and put them on my Kindle.
Reading Books
It is very comfortable reading a book on the Kindle. The screen is designed to be easy on the eyes. You can bookmark multiple pages, make notes, save a page to a clippings folder and search the book for words or phrases. The Kindle remembers where you were in a book, even if reading several at once. Read more about the Kindle on Amazon.
I find it very comfortable to read books on the Kindle. Since I got my Kindle I have only read one physical book - all my reading is done on the Kindle. I used to be a book collector. I bought my favorite authors in hardcover and have a good library. But, I read a lot and go through a lot of books (many junky detective novels). With the Kindle I no longer have to box up my used books and haul them to the library or used book store.
File Size
The book files have a .AZW extension and are not large since they are text with no graphics. Book files range from 274kb to 1,009kb (1,009kb is about 1mb). One issue of the NY Times is 1mb.
Some books (usually older ones) come in a .AZW1 format which is a larger file size (2 - 5mb) and does not look as good as regular Kindle books.
I checked the book that I have in .AZW1 format (an older Peter Lovesey - The Summons) and the page is not as nicely formatted as on the other books. It almost looks like a scanned page.
Traveling With the Older Kindles
The older Kindles work without being attached to a computer only in the United States. When traveling outside the United States, you must attach them to a computer to download new items. Even with the new Global version you may want to do this to avoid the roaming charges.
If you travel outside the United States the older Kindles cannot connect to Amazon via the 3G wireless, so you can only purchase new books or get newspaper and magazine subscriptions onto your Kindle via a computer with an Internet connection.
- If traveling without a computer, purchase books and load them onto your Kindle before you leave. You will not receive any newspaper or magazine subscriptions direct to your Kindle while traveling.
- If you have access to a computer while traveling, download purchases and subscriptions from Amazon to your computer and then move to your Kindle via the USB cable (more details below).
Downloading from Amazon to Your Computer to Your Kindle
All the books and periodicals you purchase are stored online in your Amazon account. From your Amazon account you can choose to download a book to your Kindle or to your computer. If you download to your computer, a .tpz file is saved (you specify where to put the file). When you connect your Kindle to your computer via the USB cable, the Kindle is seen as an external hard drive on your computer. Drag the book files from your computer to the Kindle. You can also do this with newspaper and magazine subscriptions.
Resources
- Kindle Community on Amazon
- Read more about Free Kindle Books on ireaderreview.com. They recommend manybooks.net. And they say that Amazon has 7,000 free public domain books that were added in January.
Slow Europe shows you how to find vacation rentals in Europe - villas, houses, cottages or apartments that you rent by the week.