Here’s another ques to add:

25. Does the Kindle come with a protective cover?

No, it does not, but you can order attractive ones (pink, aqua…) from Amazon and other sites. Until you get one, you’ll have to be careful about not damaging the screen.

You can also order LCD protection screens, reading lights and colourful skins!

Say hello to the proud owner of Kindle.

FAQ 15 mentions the contents of the box. Whatever is not mentioned, is missing.

Though I agree that I could have explicitly mentioned about missing screen protector. This is because many phones do ship with a screen protector – even if its of low quality.

Now since I have played and blogged about your Kindle, I should be able to return it back to you tomorrow, fully configured and loaded.

Hey, add something about the books themselves. The process of acquiring them–how, how much do they cost, etc.

Hey Nupur,

As per a quick search on Kindle store in Kindle, the price of books is < $12

You can click on “Buy” on the Kindle and the book gets downloaded onto your Kindle within minutes.

You can either use the Kindle to search for books in the Kindle store or use your comp to search on the Web and then buy your chosen book through the Kindle. The second is a better option because it’s easier to browse through various sub categories and you can make full use of Amazon’s recommendation engine!

Once you identify a book to buy, simply click on a ‘buy’ link and it will be downloaded in few mins. Before this you will have to register your kindle to your Amazon account and give billing details.

The second is a better option because it’s easier to browse through various sub categories and you can make full use of Amazon’s recommendation engine!

This is a noteworthy suggestion.

Thanks for the information. I was searching for Import Duty cost for kindle in India but could not find the cost, but thanks to you.

Hi Searock,
Glad to know that this information was useful to you!

s for the detailed post. I was looking for info about getting the kindle to India and bumped into your page. Thanks a lot for the info

Thank you for a very informative blog on Kindle! Fill us in with tips and tricks when you find the time.

Thanks Subir, Thanks Lionel for all the nice words of appreciation

I have a few PDF books in the hard drive of my laptop, collected over a period of time. Can i transfer them and read them to my Kindle? I could understand from the blog you can, but can you please confirm? A cousin working for Amazon in US is coming next week and asked me whether he can bring me one.

Hi Anand,
Yes you can transfer and read PDFs on Kindle. But it does not support zoom, changing font/test size and text to speech with PDFs.

However, you can use Calibre http://calibre-ebook.com/ to convert the PDFs to Mobi format and then transfer them to Kindle. Calibre makes this process a breeze and its a free software!

ATTN: Got a $36.93 refund on the export fee from Amazon! Refer to “Update (March 30, 2010)” in the above blog post.

Hello. I am from South Africa. Received my Kindle2 in pretty much the same way described in this blog. Do anyone know if there is a chance I could get a book where I could learn to read and write Hindi (e-book), please? Thanks in advance.

Hi,
I received my kindle; but the courier delivery in India took a while; nearly 4 days.
Thank you for the detailed review which helped me make up my mind!

I received my kindle; but the courier delivery in India took a while; nearly 4 days.

Congrats!!! Lionel. Were there weekends falling in between the shipping days?

There was an intervening weekend. The consignment reached Chennai on a Friday morning and to me, in Mangalore, on Monday evening.
I only wish the kindle had a SD slot.
Will be buying another ebook reader for my equal half; this time I may have a look at the Pi….

There was an intervening weekend. The consignment reached Chennai on a Friday morning and to me, in Mangalore, on Monday evening.
I only wish the kindle had a SD slot.
Will be buying another e book reader for my equal half; this time I may have a look at the Pi….

Hi Rita,

Do anyone know if there is a chance I could get a book where I could learn to read and write Hindi (e-book), please?

Refer to http://www.amazon.com/Your-First-Words-Hindi-ebook/dp/B002IUZM26/ The name of this book is “Your First 100 Words In Hindi” and it is available for Kindle. So you should be able to pay and download it directly on your Kindle.

I’m not really recommending this book because I haven’t read it. I found this book via a quick Google search.

if it has a SD slot it would have ben much better

Hi shekhar,

Was nice to read the post, was easy and explanatory.

Just have 2 questions.

1.How can the pdf file be transfered on kindle ? Through Usb, if yes then how(Like does it show folders etc on PC where the pdf file can be simply copied) ?

2.It does play audio file, how can they be transferred from PC.

3.Does converting the PDF file to mobi format enables the zoom and read text feature on kindle.

Was nice to read the post, was easy and explanatory.

Thanks! Manish

1.How can the pdf file be transfered on kindle ? Through Usb, if yes then how(Like does it show folders etc on PC where the pdf file can be simply copied) ?

Yes, Kindle will show its folders on the PC, when connected via USB. You can copy the files in the folder named Documents.

Though I recommend to use Calibre http://calibre-ebook.com/ for managing and transferring the books.

2.It does play audio file, how can they be transferred from PC.

When connected to the PC via USB, click on the folder named Music and copy your MP3s in this folder

3.Does converting the PDF file to mobi format enables the zoom and read text feature on kindle.

Yes!

Shekhar, I would believe you are based in India? Are you guys able to log on to the web to use twitter and facebook etc from there? I was given to understand that if we use a US address, we could, too. Please enlighten me on this. You seem well versed with the Kindle2.

Thanks for the detailed FAQ Shekhar. This really helps my decision making to buy a Kindle.

Hi Shekar,

First of all Thanks for writing a nice blog on kindle.

what is process of reading US newspapers and magazines on kindle?

Hi Rita,

Shekhar, I would believe you are based in India?

Yep

Are you guys able to log on to the web to use twitter and facebook etc from there?

No. This is explained in FAQ #18

I was given to understand that if we use a US address, we could, too.

I haven’t tried this out. But, it is possible.

What I have heard and read is changing the address or adding an additional U.S. address will allow you to browse U.S. only books as well as websites.

However the web browsing will be charged as per the data transfer.

Will update this blog post if and when I could try this out on a Kindle – since I don’ have one handy

You seem well versed with the Kindle2.

This blog talks about Kindle (Global Wireless). Kindle 2 (going by the name) is a different model.

Please refer to FAQ #2 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle

Hi Htumma,

what is process of reading US newspapers and magazines on kindle?

U.S. newspapers and magazines are available for download onto the Kindle from the Kindle store. You will spot them under the Newspapers and Magazines category by browsing the Kindle store on the device.

On the Kindle itself, you can pay using the credit card tied to the Kindle Store.

Subsequently magazines/newspapers will be downloaded onto the Kindle using its free wireless (global) connection.

Many popular newspapers and magazines can be subscribed to, using Kindle (registered with an Indian address).

A few to mention:

Newspapers: The New York Times ($27.99), The Washington Post ($23.99) and International Herald Tribune ($19.99)

Magazines: Time ($2.99), Newsweek ($2.99) and Forbes ($4.99)

The above mentioned prices are for monthly subscription and are current prices (as shown on Kindle) as of this writing.

Also note that the Kindle mentions that “Newspapers & magazines delivered outside the U.S. will not include photos and other images”

Sorry for the delay in response. I do not have the Kindle handy and had to ask my friend (the Kindle owner) to get this information.

Hey, Thanks a lot for the great FAQ.. it almost answered all I want to know.

Just one question.

Is it backlit? Can i read books, in dark?

Thanks Mohit.

Is it backlit? Can i read books, in dark?

No it is not backlit. Kindle mimics a book. No backlighting gives it a longer battery life per charge.

To read books on Kindle in dark, you may like to go for an accessory like this – http://amzn.to/a0dVQn Search Amazon or Google for more accessory like this.

Hi Shekhar, I wanted to know which networks does Kindle use in India (Vodafone or Reliance or ….). Do we have to pay any charges to any network? The network will also decide which are the places it will not work, no?

Nice blog. Thanks. The dialogue with everyone also clarified a lot of doubts.

I wanted to know which networks does Kindle use in India (Vodafone or Reliance or ….).

I do not know. Searched across but seems any tie up with specific providers is not revealed.

Do we have to pay any charges to any network?

No!!!

Refer to the section “No Monthly Wireless Bills” at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/

The network will also decide which are the places it will not work, no?

I’m not aware of connectivity issues in specific areas. Will try to find it out from friends (since I don’t own a Kindle myself )

Also escalating this question to other readers of this Blog post, who are Kindle owners. Please share your experience.

Nice blog. Thanks.

Thanks to you for reading and sharing your comments here.

Hey Bro,
After seeing your blog I have noticed that we can transfer pdfs to the kindle. But Is this possible in the initial Kindle, Kindle 2, Kindle DX and all other versions which come out????

Cobi,
PDFs are supported from Kindle 2 onwards.

As of this writing only Kindle (Global Wireless) and Kindle DX (Global Wireless) are available from Amazon. With these devices you enjoy buying & downloading books via free wireless connection.

Note: Kindle (Global Wireless) is not Kindle 1.

If you want to buy an older device, it maybe available as second hand. For example: http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Original-Wireless-generation/dp/B000FI73MA

For more on different versions of Kindle refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle

So ur telling me that PDFs are not supported by the Kindle DX and Kindle GLobal Wireless??

So ur telling me that PDFs are not supported by the Kindle DX and Kindle GLobal Wireless??

Kindle DX and Kindle Global Wireless are the latest and PDFs are supported on them. Read FAQ #20 in the above blog post.

Also news is Amazon is going to release an update to Kindle which will have PDF zooming + Facebook and Twitter! Refer to http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_kswup_nav_highlights?nodeId=200324680&#version

thanks bro for the information

I myself was thinking for buying an ebook reader

and seeing the comments I could figure out that ebooks from the net can be downloaded on kindle too
but just had a question
I have a huge collection of ebooks downloaded from rapidshare
( A4 size page ), does kindle sync the A4 size document acc to its screen size , does it reduce the font size etc plz help

Hi Anurag,

thanks bro for the information

Thanks to you bro for spending time in going through the information

I have a huge collection of ebooks downloaded from rapidshare
( A4 size page ), does kindle sync the A4 size document acc to its screen size , does it reduce the font size etc plz help

While you didn’t mention the format of the ebooks (doc/pdf etc.), I believe that converting the ebooks into .mobi format and transferring it to the Kindle should give an optimal view.

Use the wonderful and free software called Calibre http://calibre-ebook.com/ for the same.

PS: Also the upcoming Kindle update (as mentioned in the previous comment) should help in case your ebooks are in PDF format.

Hey Shekhar

We recently launched http://www.shopyourworld.com which enables international shopping on sites like Amazon, Target, Best buy, M&S etc.We have a merchant association with all the above mentioned vendors. What this allows is shopping on Amazon and buying it using Indian banking services and shipping followed by free delivery at your doorstep.
Keep us in mind for your next purchase:)

Cheers!

Where can i buy kindle in india?

Basant, as of now you will have to buy Kindle from Amazon.com.

Also refer to the earlier comment by Atul Shah.

I have recently started using a kindle and your blog has certainly helped iron out a lot of stuff while buying it. Now when i load a document ( PDF) onto the kindle the alignment of text goes bad.every line turns into two or 3 lines and the text looks like 2-3 liners all across instead of looking like paragraphs. Have u come across this issue?could you help me understand how to solve this

The Calibre e-book software seems to solve this issue.

Pavan,
Reets is right. Please convert your PDF into Mobi format using Calibre http://calibre-ebook.com/

do you pay per download or does amazon provide you options for subscriptions?

Priyanka,
You pay per download. Monthly subscription is available for newspapers and magazines.

Superb post, Shekhar. Was just curious about one thing: if we download a book on to the PC and then transfer it to the Kindle, will it still cost about $2 more (the roaming cost)? I mean, we would not have used Whispernet, na?

Superb post, Shekhar

Thanks Nimish. Hope you found some of the information useful.

Was just curious about one thing: if we download a book on to the PC and then transfer it to the Kindle, will it still cost about $2 more (the roaming cost)? I mean, we would not have used Whispernet, na?

You got me curious. How did you find out that on Kindle it costs $2 more?

As per http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/ (refer to “No Monthly Wireless Bills”) there is no billing for wireless connectivity.

Well, that’s what the folks at Amazon told us at the launch – that all books would cost about $2 extra. Hence even if you download an otherwise free book, you get billed $2. We were told these were actually the roaming charges of using Whispernet.

And ah, just got confirmation from Amazon that no, you will not be charged an additional $2 if you use the download to computer option. By the way, here is the page that tells you about the $2 extra charge:http://www.labnol.org/software/download-free-books-for-kindle/10990/

where can we repair a kindle?

Hi Shekar..

Kindle off to you(hats off to you) for this amazing one of its kind review.. I have 2 questions.

1. Recently kindle slashed its price to $189. But still shipping to india costs $300+ considering the import duties. My office mates travel to US frequently and it costs $ 189 in US. So, if he can buy it from there and bring to india, should he also pay the duties ?? I mean, will they check in Airport??

2. Is kindle water proof? I know i sound stupid, but my hands sweat a lot.. Does it make it messy ?

I live in India but am visiting the US for a few weeks. Can I buy Amazon Kindle here and take it with me to India or is the India Kindle a special device that has to be ordered and shipped to India?

Hey Nimish,

I just checked the prices of books on Kindle and Kindle Store on PC. They are the same.

I then went ahead and bought two books for $2, each.

For the first one, I opted to transfer to “My Kindle” and for the second one, I opted to “Transfer via Computer”

In both cases, the purchase details (in Amazon’s “My Account”) showed $2 charged against the credit card.

Now I’m not sure if the amount will get refunded, atleast for the second item. If it happens, will let you know.

By the way, here is the page that tells you about the $2 extra charge:http://www.labnol.org/software/download-free-books-for-kindle/10990/

I did not try changing the country.

PS: This experiment will cost me $4, if the owner of the Kindle does not like the books

Hi Basant,

where can we repair a kindle?

First, I hope that none of us have to go through this.

Please look at the discussions here: http://tinyurl.com/2bcmrq8

I went through some of them and it seems:

1. If Kindle is under warranty, and the damage is not accidental, it will be replaced

2. If the damage is accidental, you MAY return the broken Kindle and buy a refurbished Kindle for a discounted price.

3. There are some third party service providers. But not sure about their services in India.

Note that the discussions also suggest that the policies change and is subject to availability in the stock.

Hi Suj,

I live in India but am visiting the US for a few weeks. Can I buy Amazon Kindle here and take it with me to India or is the India Kindle a special device that has to be ordered and shipped to India?

Make sure you buy a Kindle (Global Wireless) or Kindle DX (Global Wireless) and it will work in India. The good news is, the price of Kindle (Global Wireless) has recently been slashed down to $189. Enjoy!

Hi Arun,

Kindle off to you(hats off to you) for this amazing one of its kind review..

Thanks a ton!

1. Recently kindle slashed its price to $189. But still shipping to india costs $300+ considering the import duties.

You will have to pay $283.92 (Base price: $189, Shipping & handling: $20.98 and Import Duties: $73.94).

My office mates travel to US frequently and it costs $ 189 in US. So, if he can buy it from there and bring to india, should he also pay the duties ?? I mean, will they check in Airport??

Depends on your luck on that day. One of the tricks is to unpackage the device and hold it in hand. Please do take suggestions from your office mates. I’m sure they would be carrying back such gadgets from abroad.

2. Is kindle water proof? I know i sound stupid, but my hands sweat a lot.. Does it make it messy ?

No Kindle is not water proof. But you can buy a cover for Kindle. See http://tinyurl.com/28cqo4x Please note you could order cheaper covers from outside Amazon.

With such a cover, you would be only clicking the device’s buttons by your thumbs – that too when flipping through the book pages (mostly). And the screen is not a touch screen.

Hi Shekhar,

I am working with Amazon on kindle support.if you have any queries with the use of kindle you can contact me

hey buddy thanks for an awesome blog ..
I wanna buy kindle on my b’day I live in Delhi… well after including all costs like import duty etc. it’s quite costly .. well i have an uncle in virginia u.s can he buy it for me or whatever kind of buy it as a gift and mail me here thus skipping duties ??? if yes … whats the procedure ??
Also a question arises if my kindle gets damaged by me accidentally what to do ?? how to repair it and all that …
please help me out I want it on july 7 or before !!!!

hey just one more question … how long does the battery lasts, if you have any idea … with battery lasts i mean when we have to replace the battery … i have read on other blogs that after the battery is useless you have to order a entirely new or refurbished kindle ….

Great post. I could find more info abt kindle on your blog than anywhere else. Just got kindle on my bday and am still trying to figure it out. All these touchscreen devices have so spoiled us that its taking all the more time to sort it out.

what is the warranty period

My sister, who lives in India, is currently visiting me in USA. I would like to buy her the Kindle as she is very fond of reading. From the blog above, I understand that I need to buy Kindle Global, so that it would work in India.

2 Questions: (1) Does she have to buy books or can she find books for free online. (2) Can I pay for the books she would like over here in the US, and she can get them in India.

Hi Gautam,

well i have an uncle in virginia u.s can he buy it for me or whatever kind of buy it as a gift and mail me here thus skipping duties ???

Not sure. The parcel may still be checked and duty could be imposed. Better bet is, if someone can unpack & carry it to India.

if yes … whats the procedure ??

You or your uncle can place the order and specify the delivery address as the U.S. address. Go for Kindle (Global Wireless) or Kindle DX (Global Wireless)

Also a question arises if my kindle gets damaged by me accidentally what to do ?? how to repair it and all that …

Please refer to my reply to to Basant : http://www.shekhargovindarajan.com/tips-n-tricks/kindle-to-india-frequently-asked-questions/#comment-8342

how long does the battery lasts, if you have any idea … with battery lasts i mean when we have to replace the battery …

No idea. My friend’s Kindle is about 5 months old and the battery is behaving as well as it was during the early days. Many claim that the battery is fine even after a year of usage.

i have read on other blogs that after the battery is useless you have to order a entirely new or refurbished kindle ….

This seems to be true. I also read the same. I Googled and found a site which ships Kindle replacement battery worldwide. Check out http://tinyurl.com/239vvhf Please note that I personally do not have any buying/shippng experience with them

Hi Basant,

what is the warranty period

1 year http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200401240

Hi Kashmira

(1) Does she have to buy books or can she find books for free online.

Free books need to be converted into Kindle friendly format. I use Calibre http://calibre-ebook.com/ for the same

(2) Can I pay for the books she would like over here in the US, and she can get them in India.

Yes, as long as she uses your Amazon account on the Kindle.

Hi Somya,

Great post. I could find more info abt kindle on your blog than anywhere else.

Thanks

All these touchscreen devices have so spoiled us that its taking all the more time to sort it out.

hehehe. So true. The same happened to me when I had my Android (touch screen) phone in one hand and Kindle in the other

Again thanks buddy for an awesome blog and fast replys ..
so i guess the best option for me is to buy directly … and for battery let’s see !!!!

Hiii…Shekhar

am already purchased a kindle from USA through my friend.Its cost only 189USD,white in color.My friend will come to India on coming Aguest20. he doesnt know anything about the kindle. global wireless or not? but he is sure that its their new model and not kindle DX. now am in a dilema…

is it a global modle?
can i use it in India? can i download books ?

Raibin,
Guess you have nothing to worry. You can use it in India as well as buy-n-download books on it. The reason is as follows:

Since June 23 (as per the e-mail I received from Amazon), the price of Kindle (Global Wireless) has been slashed down to $189.

The latest Kindle has two variants. One with 6″ display and the other with the 9″ display. They are called Kindle (Global Wireless) and Kindle DX (Global Wirless) respectively.

The device that your friend bought must be Kindle (Global Wireless)..

Sorry for the confusion about the price. My mistake, that I did not update my blog post with the new price.

hii…..Shekhar…tanxx…for..your…help.and support.

so…i can download books from amazon with my kindle.

is their any roaming charges? because the kindle is already registerd to my freind’s name,situated in USA. Can i reregister it to my name?

Raibin,

so…i can download books from amazon with my kindle.

Yes

is their any roaming charges?

No. But seems non USA users have to pay a slightly higher fee for books. For this reason, free books are $2 for us.

because the kindle is already registerd to my freind’s name,situated in USA.

If you continue using your friend’s USA account you get access to more books and free books

Can i reregister it to my name?

Yes, you can register it under your Amazon account.

hii….shekhar..
thanx…4..ur….fast..replies…its….awesome..i ..mean..ur…blog..really ..awesome
keep..it…man….keep….it…

so…everythin.,..seems…cool…
now am eagerly waiting for my..kindle…can i manuelly upload..my pdf..e books..to..kindle?

is their any other..e book..reader..other..than..kindle…?
cheap in price?

waitng…4 ur..commentss….
thankfullyy….
raibin…….

Thanks Raibin,

can i manuelly upload..my pdf..e books..to..kindle?

yes

is their any other..e book..reader..other..than..kindle…?
cheap in price?

You can take a look at the ones from Sony http://www.sonystyle.com/reader. Also free software ebook readers are available for many mobile phones.

say hello to proud owner of kindle !!!!
its awesome buddy !!!
better then I ever expected !!!!!

hey buddy just one problem .. I am now charging it from my laptop .. its wall socket is not compatible for me .. wat shud i do ???

Also how to start that text to speech feature ??? I uploaded a book in txt format and there is no option for text to speech ..

Gautam,

First, CONGRATS!!!

hey buddy just one problem .. I am now charging it from my laptop .. its wall socket is not compatible for me .. wat shud i do ???

Refer to FAQ 16 and go to any nearby electrical shop. Carry the cable along.

Also how to start that text to speech feature ??? I uploaded a book in txt format and there is no option for text to speech ..

While reading the book, click on the “Aa” key (on the keyboard below).

Select and click on “turn on” for Text-to-Speech, using the navigation key (between Menu and Back buttons)

yeah both problems are solved now .. infact I was a bit hasty haven’t explored my kindle ..
there are many things i love about it greatest of it is dictionary then its ability to directly go to chapters !!! It has two games also !!!
It is just best …

P.S To other guys , just dont think more abt it take the plunge , buy it !

hey one more thing .. the software you mentioned for converting my books .. calibre .. well I downloaded it & it is working fine but there is no azw format option on it to convert books to .. it only has mobi and many other formats .. can u tell me how to get azw or if mobi is as good ??

Gautam,
MOBI works! AZW is too proprietary

k thanx buddy !!

Hey buddy .. kindle is working like a charm !! But Just have a few problems maybe u can solve them ..
1. Well it says battery lasts 2 weeks .. mine lasted for 6 days after full recharge with wireless off .. In that time I have read 2 novels approx. 24000 in locations if u get my meaning .. well is that average or mine is not giving full charge ??
2. I didn’t order kindle with cover and they have given me absolutely nothing for screen guard .. so what should i do ?? it is getting dirty ..
3. Last .. one time I loaded 800 books on it at a single time .. it got hanged .. it automatically restarted and is working fine but its clock is giving wrong time .. what should I do ?? is there a way to right it ??
Hoping to hear from u soon … Thanks again for creating such a wonderful blog !!

Excellent page Shekhar with all the details one needs- thanks for doing a great job! Planning to get a kindle now.

Hello Shekhar

Firstly, many thanks for the excellent blog and most importantly, for your prompt responses. However, after going thru all the comments / responses, I still haven’t figured out the reading experiences of the Kindle owners. I like holding a physical book in my hand while reading. But the option of ready access to titles from Amazon (even though some may be restricted to start with, which I’m sure will be made available later), I am tempted to buy one (I am currently in U.S. planning to return EOM). Can you please tell me something about the quality of content, the reading pleaseure etc?

Hi Gautam,
Sorry for the delay in response. Talked to a few friends about Kindle’s battery performance, since I don’t own a Kindle myself.

1. Well it says battery lasts 2 weeks .. mine lasted for 6 days after full recharge with wireless off .. In that time I have read 2 novels approx. 24000 in locations if u get my meaning .. well is that average or mine is not giving full charge ??

One of my friends and a Kindle user say it lasts for 6 days and the other says 15-20 days! Give me some time to find out more about this. ATTN: Kindle users who have commented on this blog post, please voice your inputs

2. I didn’t order kindle with cover and they have given me absolutely nothing for screen guard .. so what should i do ?? it is getting dirty ..

I think you should not be worried just about the screen. You have the white color Kindle, rt? See http://tinyurl.com/28cqo4x Please note you could order cheaper covers from outside Amazon. Google for it.

3. Last .. one time I loaded 800 books on it at a single time .. it got hanged .. it automatically restarted and is working fine but its clock is giving wrong time .. what should I do ?? is there a way to right it ??

Turn on the Wireless. The Kindle’s clock is suppose to sync with the network (or cell) provider’s clock.

Thanks Vishnu,
This is what keeps me going – a line of appreciation!

Planning to get a kindle now.

Join the gang asap!!!

No problem buddy .. yeah if you got anything about battery do post it ..
yeah will order a cover its losing its shine .. again many many thanks buddy clock is fixed now !!!

Hey, Shekhar, I got my Kindle too. Quite awesome. Thanks for all the help..

after going thru all the comments / responses, I still haven’t figured out the reading experiences of the Kindle owners

Hi Subhashis

I have been using the Kindle for some six months, and my reading experience on it has been v good. The device is easy to hold and carry around (you may want to buy a cover to prevent screen damage) and the font is very readable. I haven’t switched 100% to the Kindle, and still read physical books — though when I’m on the Kindle, I do not miss the physical book at all. Bottomline from an avid reader: On reading experience, the Kindle is highly recommended.

On finding books: Generally, it is easy to find best sellers at Amazon or other sources. However, I prefer the literary fiction genre, and have to hunt around for such books. You could search Amazon’s Kindle store to see if your type of books are available easily.

yeah both problems are solved now .. infact I was a bit hasty haven’t explored my kindle ..
there are many things i love about it greatest of it is dictionary then its ability to directly go to chapters !!! It has two games also !!!
@Gautam: What Kindle are you using? I would like games on mine
Btw, my Kindle can go up to 2 weeks or more without a recharge.

I have also a silicone sock (cover) in Pink and a Pink leather case to keep my Kindle in. I bought it locally in South Africa and it came with 2 screen guards

@ Subashis “I still haven’t figured out the reading experiences of the Kindle owners. I like holding a physical book in my hand while reading.”

The experience is waaay better – no more turning pages; just one click – especially during cold winter nights under the blankets, lol.

hey buddy mine is Kindle 2 wireless .. It has one of my fav game of crozz & zero …
mine lasts for only 6 days .. how many books do you usually read in 2 weeks ?? maybe it depends on reading habits ….
Well you are lucky one , in India Kindle is not yet popular so no covers for me as yet …
Yeah reading experience is just awesome .. there are not enough words for it .. it is just great !!!!!!!!!

Awesome piece of article Shekhar!
I have this nagging question since the first time I explored Kindle on the Amazon site. I read through this entire page for the andwer but no one else has posted this:
Q1. Isn’t there any Kindle model with a normal WiFi option? Can’t I hook up to my home WiFi and browse/download books instead of using the Whispernet?
Q2. Given that we are still deprived of the 3G pleasures in India – (other than the cheap thrills one gets out of reading about the obscene bid amounts for 3G spectrum) – how is the speed in the normal Edge/GPRS network? How long does it take to download an average (300-400 page) ebook?

Hi,

heard that somebody was asking about pdf .now we have a new software update with which you can zoom the pdf format

yeah I got an emai too , there is many software upgrades mentioned , pdf viewing, book categorising and more, but I cannot upgrade them on my kindle .. can anyone tell me what to do ?? I switched on wireless selected sync but nothing happens .. please do reply …

the battery normally lasts for 1-2 weeks.make sure to put the kindle in a sleep mode when not in use

hi,

the time to download any no of pages of the book would not take more than 60 sec if the wireless is good enough.recently amazon are launching kindle that may work with wifi as well

The clock on Kindle updates when it connects to Whispernet. The time is delivered to the device by the wireless carrier. Unfortunately, its accuracy is not guaranteed

i dont know why .. but my battery not lasts for more then 6 days .. i also put it to sleep and keep wireless off .. hey how do you charge it ?? maybe thats the difference .. I use USB to charge from my computer ..

Shekhar,

I am impressed with the commitment and patience you show to educate others on Kindle. Thank you

I have a quick qn, did you hear anything about kindle wifi only. B&N nook released wifi only, and I heard the rumours abt kindle regd. the same.

please share any info you have.

Hey guys,
Following are a few pending responses from my side:

@Rupesh

Q1. Isn’t there any Kindle model with a normal WiFi option? Can’t I hook up to my home WiFi and browse/download books instead of using the Whispernet?

There are rumours about an upcoming Kindle model with WiFi. Vinita too is hinting about it –

Vinita: recently amazon are launching kindle that may work with wifi as well

@Vinita

the battery normally lasts for 1-2 weeks.make sure to put the kindle in a sleep mode when not in use

1-2 weeks is quite a range. Aren’t there any official benchmarks so that users can cross check their battery health ?

Also Vinita, I sent you a detailed E-mail on questions about Kindle at your Yahoo E-mail address. I sent the E-mail on 28th June and forwarded the same on 5th July.

@gautam

maybe thats the difference .. I use USB to charge from my computer ..

Gautam, charging through USB does take longer. But once fully charged, it does not discharge any faster.

@Naveen v

I have a quick qn, did you hear anything about kindle wifi only. B&N nook released wifi only, and I heard the rumours abt kindle regd. the same.

There are rumours about an upcoming Kindle model with WiFi. Vinita too is hinting about it –

Vinita: recently amazon are launching kindle that may work with wifi as well

Last but not the least, THANK YOU, ALL!!!

Delighted to notice the 100th comment on this blog post! Never imagined that a post which started off being an FAQ on shipping will attract so many comments and end up becoming a knowledge base in itself. It is apparent that the wealth of information lies more in the comments than the blog post itself. I honestly believe that this could not have happened without your contributions – your comments . Thank you again!

well, congrats! since the first comment was mine, and since i’m the owner of the kindle that this FAQ is based on, i thought it fit that the 101st comment be mine too on a serious note, this blog has been v helpful in figuring out the techie side of the device.

Hi Shekhar,

Sorry i was not able to get through your mails will reply you as soon as possible.Gautam was not able to update the software.ask him to get into http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_navbox_kspot_ksoft?nodeId=200324680

and then click on “Applying Kindle Software Updates Manually” and follow the instruction given below the download blocks

Vinita,

Sorry i was not able to get through your mails will reply you as soon as possible.

No problem at all. I too guessed that you would have missed my E-mails. Do let me know if you want me to resend.

Gautam was not able to update the software.ask him to get into http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_navbox_kspot_ksoft?nodeId=200324680

and then click on “Applying Kindle Software Updates Manually” and follow the instruction given below the download blocks

Gautam, the link and the procedure has worked for one of my friends, as confirmed by him. Should work for you too. Do share your experience.

Juhi,

well, congrats! since the first comment was mine, and since i’m the owner of the kindle that this FAQ is based on, i thought it fit that the 101st comment be mine too

Guys, this is so true. Hadn’t Juhi ordered the Kindle, this blog post would not have existed. I must acknowledge that Juhi has lent me her Kindle for weeks, whenever I asked for it, to answer queries/comments on this blog post. Tough for her since, she is an avid reader (I’m not at all into books)

What’s more, as of this writing, I’m in possession of her Kindle which I picked up to check out the Kindle updates.

Thanks Juhi

on a serious note, this blog has been v helpful in figuring out the techie side of the device.

This is the best I could offer with your Kindle

well thanx buddy for all your help .. it is just the best blog out here for kindle queries ..!!!
well the link you posted for manual upgrade worked and a file downloaded of approx. 26MB .. but when I try to copy it to my kindle’s root folder it wont copy .. so any idea what now to do ??

Gautam,

sorry abt the trouble .may be you are using internet exp.try using Mozilla while downloading the software

Vinita,

sorry abt the trouble .may be you are using internet exp.try using Mozilla while downloading the software

It seems, from Gautam’s comment, that he was able to download the update but there was a problem transferring the update file to the Kindle.

Gautam,

well the link you posted for manual upgrade worked and a file downloaded of approx. 26MB .. but when I try to copy it to my kindle’s root folder it wont copy .. so any idea what now to do ??

I downloaded and copied the file on the Kindle. It copied without any error. I did not apply the update because the Kindle was already updated (via Wireless)!

Could the problem be the space on your Kindle? You once tried copying 800+ books.

Check the free space on the Kindle in “My Computer” (assuming that you are using Windows)

nah buddy I deleted all that books and there is very much space now .. but it wont copy .. well my kindle was showing me version 2.3 so i upgraded it now to 2.3.3 then to 2.3.4 all those happen nicely .. and now I am waiting 2.5 to happen by wireless .. the file would not just copy so i think thats best for me .. anyway thanx 4 all ur help buddy and vinita for yours too !!

Hi Naveen v

I have a quick qn, did you hear anything about kindle wifi only. B&N nook released wifi only, and I heard the rumours abt kindle regd. the same. please share any info you have.

See this link! http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9179853/Amazon_launches_two_new_Kindles_one_with_Wi_Fi_only

oh man its awesome yaar !!! I left wireless switched on for night .. and in the morning my kindle’s version is 2.5.6 !! can u believe it !!!
hey buddy maybe you should post a comment on all these new features .. there certainly are many of them … again my appreciation for all your help buddy !!!

Good news the wi-fi kindle has been launched. one which works both on 3G and wi-fi and one which works only on wi-fi

Hi Shekhar,

Thanks for this helpful article. Although someone has already voiced a similar concern, i just wanted to re-confirm from u on how do i transfer the documents ( doc, pdf etc.) which i already have on my laptop , to my kindle. I have just pre-ordered the latest generation kindle dx (the wi-fi one which goes for $ 139) . This is one concern i have since i have plenty of such documents and ebooks in pdf format accumulated over a period of time on my PC. Do let me know on this. Thanks..

Hi Amit,

Kindle’s Personal Document Service (via Wi-fi) allows you to e-mail approved files to your Kindle’s e-mail address. Then, Amazon can download the file(s) wirelessly in a Kindle-compatible format to the device(s) for a small fee ($0.99/mb). To avoid a fee, or if you’re not in wi fi range, you can send an e-mail to “name”@free.kindle.com and download the files via USB in a Kindle compatible format to the device.

You can view or update your Kindle’s e-mail address on the Manage Your Kindle page (http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle). You can use the “name”@kindle.com address for wireless delivery or “name”@free.kindle.com for free delivery to the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.com account

Dear Shekhar,

I honestly think Amazon should take you on board for being such a gentlemen for first of all putting up this FAQ list and then promptly and very patiently answering and sorting out issues of all other fellow Kindle lovers

I’m almost on the verge of taking the plunge myself

Will certainly come back to you my friend if I have any issues that I’m unable to resolve by going thru this wonderful blog.

I think atlest you should patent this FAQ page and get royalty out of Amazon as I’m sure even if they had tried they couldn’t have put up such a wonderful customer support page -:)

Cheers
LK.

Awesome blog Shekar…a lot many of us are indebted to you for this service. One question – though it must have been answered earlier which I probably overlooked, can the e-book from Kindle Store be downloaded to the PC and copied to the Kindle where the Kindle is still not supported wirelessly.

Hi amit,

how do i transfer the documents ( doc, pdf etc.) which i already have on my laptop , to my kindle.

Connect your Kindle to the PC. Subsequently, the directories/folders on Kindle will show under My Computer (assuming you are using WIndows). You can copy the files (ebooks) in the folder named Documents.

For unsupported formats and even otherwise, I suggest that you use Calibre http://calibre-ebook.com/ for managing and transferring the books.

Ah man .. within 2 weeks of my buying 2nd generation they launch a third generation with more battery and more space and more stylish and less price .. well thats just not fair wouldn’t u say
??

hey buddy i have encountered a great problem .. see what happened was I opened amazon site and on the book list .. I selected many books which were free .. treasure island and books like that .. and i downloaded it to computer .. I thought that way they will not charge me as they were free books .. but when I opened my gmail account there was mails from amazon mentioning sales of 54 $ and will mentioned in my credit card .. damn it man they are gonna bankrupt me !!
So any what to do ?? or how the hell these happened ??

hey that was not $54 but $154 .. my mistake ..

Hi Lionking,

I honestly think Amazon should take you on board for being such a gentlemen for first of all putting up this FAQ list and then promptly and very patiently answering and sorting out issues of all other fellow Kindle lovers

Without the visitors, readers and most importantly, the commenters, this blog post would be long dead. So, thank you! And, thank you for a steady dose of pure appreciation besides queries

I’m almost on the verge of taking the plunge myself

Go, go for it!!!

Will certainly come back to you my friend if I have any issues that I’m unable to resolve by going thru this wonderful blog.

For sure.

Hi Ali,

can the e-book from Kindle Store be downloaded to the PC and copied to the Kindle where the Kindle is still not supported wirelessly.

Unfortunately no On a PC, the only way to download and read E-books from Amazon is by using Kindle app for PC http://tinyurl.com/yja443f

And Kindle app for PC does not transfer books on the Kindle device. The books purchased/delivered on PC sync, only wirelessly, with the Kindle device. I have even tried copying the book’s files from c:\program files\Amazon\–some-path– on the Kindle, but it doesn’t work.

Non-Amazon e-books can be transferred to the Documents folder on the Kindle, via USB.

Hi Gautam,

Ah man .. within 2 weeks of my buying 2nd generation they launch a third generation with more battery and more space and more stylish and less price .. well thats just not fair wouldn’t u say

Absolutely not fair, but that’s the game the vendors play with the customers Wish there could be a reasonable exchange offer.

Vinita, any inputs?

Gautam,

I selected many books which were free .. treasure island and books like that .. and i downloaded it to computer .. I thought that way they will not charge me as they were free books .. but when I opened my gmail account there was mails from amazon mentioning sales of 54 $ and will mentioned in my credit card .. damn it man they are gonna bankrupt me !!

Good News !!! See this link http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200144510&#content Quick!!! The books must be returned within 7 days. Let us all know if it worked for you.

Hi,
Iam very interested in buying a kindle and want to whether indian course books or other books for professional or general reading are available on the device can you please assist me???
Thankyou

thanx buddy for all u r help .. the no. they have mentioned on their site is not responding .. so I have sent a mail .. lets see what happens ..

AWesome man .. their response time is just great .. After i send the mail I received an reply within 7 hours telling me to mention all the books I want to return .. after I send them the list I received after 10 hrs 37 mails regarding the refund of all my 37 downloaded books which were on the list .. Isnt it great !! Thanx once again buddy .. One thing I dont understand is that I still Have books on my computer so how this return works if I still have books ???

Hi Rishi,

Iam very interested in buying a kindle and want to whether indian course books or other books for professional or general reading are available on the device can you please assist me???

You can search/browse the Kindle book store here http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Store/b?ie=UTF8&node=133140011

Also before browsing login/register with Amazon with an Indian address and you should be shown books available for India.

Hi Gautam,
Thanks for sharing your pleasant experience with Amazon’s refund process for Kindle books. This should help many

One thing I dont understand is that I still Have books on my computer so how this return works if I still have books ???

Book on computer means? You are seeing these books in the Kindle app for PC? If yes, clicking on the Sync button should make them disappear Let me know if it worked (that is, when you are ready to delete the books).

hehe well I am not gonna do that in a hurry !! Let my card statement come to me first !! Hey maybe I have found a great loophole of buying and returning books !!!

Which are the Indian magazines and newspapers available on the Kindle? Also are Indian paperbacks in at least English listed anywhere? Are these more expensive than buying the stuff? Like I was told India Today costs just as much on the Kindle as buying a magazine

Hey maybe I have found a great loophole of buying and returning books !!!

hehehe. Guess you would then need different logins, credit cards and addresses to play it longer

Yeah thats right .. There is lot of trouble to go through for just books .. and maybe it’s illegal too .. also it will hurt authors .. ah men dilemma of the modern civilized boys ..

Hi Shekhar,
When I go to http://client0.cellmaps.com/viewer.html?cov=1 this link – in order to understand Kindle’s Wireless coverage – it shows me GPRS/EDGE connectivity spread across India – Now – I have 2 Queries:
1.3G is available in my area – even in that case – would it use EDGE to download things?
2.If it uses GPRS/EDGE – then is this satisfactory to download /surf content from it?

Also, could your verify that in any case, even if surfing the web is not available in India – the Wikipedia surfing is absolutely available even in India to?

ONE MORE IMP QUERY – there’s not going to be any difference in its functioning in India even if I buy it from the US and use it in India?

Hi Shekhar !

First of all thanks a lot for starting this post , it was easy to read and understand the same

I am an avid reader and was looking for something like this

I had some queries.
1) I have a friend in UK who is coming after a month and i just checked that its available in UK for 109 Pounds, can i ask my friend to buy from their and bring it.
2) Once its in india , can i toggle the address between the option of selecting india or UK to enjoy the benefits or i need to keep it UK only
3) if i change the address to India how would i pay if i want some books from it

Thanks in advance shekhar !

Regards
Muffadal

Hi Satish,

Which are the Indian magazines and newspapers available on the Kindle? Also are Indian paperbacks in at least English listed anywhere? Are these more expensive than buying the stuff? Like I was told India Today costs just as much on the Kindle as buying a magazine

You can checkout the book, magazines and newspapers available for Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Store/b?ie=UTF8&node=133140011 Click on the links labelled Newspapers and Magazines at the top. Subsequently, on the left, you can filter by categories or countries. The subscription costs (in USD) are listing alongside for your comparison. Hope this helps.

there are some questions here reg how long the battery lasts after a full charge. i did a test and found that mine lasted for 11 days after a full charge with the wireless on.

congrats yaar !! Mine lasts maximum 7 days with wireless off .. Ah well as if 7 days are not enough !!

Hi Naveen,

1.3G is available in my area – even in that case – would it use EDGE to download things?

Kindle should be able to download at 3G speed. But I read it somewhere. Need to verify this myself. Will keep you updated.

2.If it uses GPRS/EDGE – then is this satisfactory to download /surf content from it?

Yep. It takes only a few minutes.

Also, could your verify that in any case, even if surfing the web is not available in India – the Wikipedia surfing is absolutely available even in India to?

With the latest Kindle update, surfing is available in India too!

ONE MORE IMP QUERY – there’s not going to be any difference in its functioning in India even if I buy it from the US and use it in India?

Nopes

Hi Muffadal,

1) I have a friend in UK who is coming after a month and i just checked that its available in UK for 109 Pounds, can i ask my friend to buy from their and bring it.

Sure. But I guess it the WiFi only model. Wouldn’t you like to go for the WiFi+3G model?

2) Once its in india , can i toggle the address between the option of selecting india or UK to enjoy the benefits or i need to keep it UK only

Yep, you will be able to toggle.

3) if i change the address to India how would i pay if i want some books from it

You will have to enter your credit card details at Amazon. Till then, you will not be able to buy books from the Kindle store.

Hi,

If I purchase a Kindle 6-inch with Wi-Fi (no 3G), can I still access the Amazon book store through the Wi-Fi connection? (I have wireless internet at home)

Hi Arpit,

If I purchase a Kindle 6-inch with Wi-Fi (no 3G), can I still access the Amazon book store through the Wi-Fi connection? (I have wireless internet at home)

Yes

hi Shekar,

U have provided just a awesome blog post on kindle.

I’m living in India and I’m planning to order the new Kindle 3 WiFi only which is priced at US$139. How much should i pay as custom duties and for shipping? What is form39 and i read from some blogs that it should be filled and given to the courier person. And finally is there any specific difficulty or problem in shipment if we ship it to India?

hey buddy I have looked everywhere on google and cant find a source for kindle cover in India .. If you know of any please help me out …

Hi Suresh,

I’m living in India and I’m planning to order the new Kindle 3 WiFi only which is priced at US$139. How much should i pay as custom duties and for shipping?

The device ships with shipping, handling and taxes, all inclusive. Following is the breakup:

Device Cost: $139.00
Shipping & Handling: $20.98
Import Fees Deposit $56.34
Total: $216.32

What is form39 and i read from some blogs that it should be filled and given to the courier person.

Guess Form 39 is required to be filled in for sales tax/VAT. I’m not sure whether you would need to fill it in, unless you order the device under the name of a company.

I did not have to fill in any such form when the device was delivered to me. Also I received a refund on the import duty. Refer to “Update (March 30, 2010):” in this blog post.

And finally is there any specific difficulty or problem in shipment if we ship it to India?

None, whatsoever. I didn’t go through any problem. The buying and shipping experience was quite pleasant.

Hi Gautam,

hey buddy I have looked everywhere on google and cant find a source for kindle cover in India .. If you know of any please help me out …

I assume that you don’t want to order it from Amazon or other sites because then you will have to pay the shipping charges, rt? Check out http://www.pdair.com or to be specific http://pdair.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=11000659_11000660_11000661 Pdair.com offers free worldwide shipping. I have ordered a few cell phone covers through them.

hey buddy thanks again !! where do u get sites such as these ?? amazing !!
But the kindle covers on it are not that good and their cost is equal to the ones provided by amazon .. I tried to buy from amazon itself but they are saying they cant ship it to India on my address .. so any idea what to do ??

Gautam,

I tried to buy from amazon itself but they are saying they cant ship it to India on my address .. so any idea what to do ??

That’s strange. I bought this cover http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001S25EVE/ref=oss_product and it was shipped to a Gurgaon, Haryana address in February 2010. Though currently it is marked as unavailable.

hiiiii….shekhar…

thanks agian for ur wonderfull blog…
…..

atlast…i got my kindle….hoooooooooooooooooo…its awesom….
….
it playss…music……but..i cn only skip to forwrd track..

how can i…skip backward..?

is it possible?
..

tnxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx…………………..

Congrats! Raibin,

how can i…skip backward..?

Seems there is no shortcut key for this

YEAH IT’S STRANGE ..
I wanted this one

SimpleCase for Kindle 2 – (Fits 6″ Display of 2nd Generation, NOT for New 3rd Generation Kindle)

But they are not sending it to my Delhi address .. well see if you can figure it out ..

Hi Gautam,

But they are not sending it to my Delhi address .. well see if you can figure it out ..

Try http://amzn.to/cUCAlZ Sorry about the color

Hey guys! I’ve been really busy lately and did not have time to check out the Music function on my Kindle. Just did today – and WOW! I can listen to the Sunderkaand while I read (used to do this with my iPod, btw); however, I have the hardcopy but does anyone know how I could get a Kindle format or good pdf?

Is this what you are looking for ? http://ramayan.wordpress.com/download/

hey got 22$ back from amazon for kindle .. someting abt export duty !! isnt it awesome !! Can buy 2 books from it !!!!!!!!

hey buddy cant understand from where do u get links like this !! hey have u got link to mahabharat also ?? in Hindi or English ??

Shekar,
I have gone through most of the Q&As in this blog.
I am thinking of buying the Kindle WI-FI which is $139.00 for my sister in India. Will this work in India in terms of purchasing/downloading/converting pdfs to .mobi format using calibre software? Or should I go for Kindle 3G + WF-FI which costs $189.00?
In summary will the cheaper kindle-139.00 dollars do all the job necessary in India.
Thanks in advance