Help! with Christmas Kindle Present

[JOHNNIE36]

Please help! I heard DW talking to our daughter on the phone tonight. She told me later that we have a problem. DW has already purchased some gifts for daughter and thought we were finished. Tonight on the phone, daughter told her "I know you are getting me a Kindle". DW was speachless. Where did she come up with this? Because she saw DW making holders for ipads and other electronics devices on her sewing machine. Well, DW denied that she was getting daughter a Kindle and this is true. Guess the kindle will be coming from me.

Now, how do I know what to buy? Went back to some threads about Kindles and Nooks(?) and don't know what I read. All I know is that daughter reads in bed at night and that is it. Any recommendations out there from all you knowledgeable folks? Should I buy her one or give her a gift certificate? I don't know beans about Kindles. HELP!

 

[W2R]

Since you don't have much time left, I'd suggest getting her a $200 gift card from Amazon, which has free one day delivery. Then she could make her own choice. She could either get the Kindle Fire, or she could choose between less costly Kindles and have some left over for e-books.

This could help because she may already have a particular Kindle in mind that she wants.

 

[MissMolly]

You can also buy the Kindle 4 for only $79. You probably still have time to order from Amazon if you pay for overnight shipping. Also, many places like Best Buy stock the Amazon Kindles. I frequent a Kindle forum and a lot of the Touch users complain about the sensitivity of the touch screen. They are always inadvertently touching the screen causing the pages to turn and prefer the Kindles with the side buttons. One poster commented this week tha a fly landed repeatedly on her Touch causing the pages to turn.

 

[donheff]

If she reads in bed I would go with the Kindle Fire. It is a tablet with a backlit screen and will work fine in low light in bed. The regular e-ink Kindle will need an attached light or room lights to read in bed. The Fire is more costly but worth it for reading in bed.

 

[soupcxan]

Since when do kids receive everything they "know" they are supposed to get?

 

[easysurfer]

Good thing your daughter didn't say "I know I'm getting a $500 gift card"

 

[JOHNNIE36]

Since when do kids receive everything they "know" they are supposed to get?

For the life of me I never have understood the games they play. Daughter is 47 and it has always been this way. She starts about Thanksgiving trying to guess what we got her for Christmas. We haven't even been shopping yet but she wants to know what we got her. I don't play that game with her so she is always after DW. Neither one can keep a secret. I always tell her she getting a lump of coal. Something from my childhood my parents always said. If I could find a lump of coal, I'd put it in with the Kindle. DW is researching all the deals on the internet. She loves that stuff. Me? I'm watching the Steelers and the 49ers. Golf tomorrow morning so I've got better things to do. I've been passing all the posts on to DW. Thanks for the help.

 

[naggz]

If she reads in bed I would go with the Kindle Fire. It is a tablet with a backlit screen and will work fine in low light in bed. The regular e-ink Kindle will need an attached light or room lights to read in bed. The Fire is more costly but worth it for reading in bed.

E-ink should be easier on the eyes to read, especially in the dark (but yes, you will need a light source).

(I don't have any personal experience...yet. The DW's kindle keyboard is wrapped under the tree)

 

[Meadbh]

I agree with W2R. Better to give a gift card so she can choose the Kindle she wants, and you won't have to worry about shipping before the holidays.

My Kindle is the second generation and I have the lighted cover. It works very well for reading in bed. eInk is very easy on the eye.

 

[NW-Bound]

For the life of me I never have understood the games they play. Daughter is 47 and it has always been this way... I always tell her she getting a lump of coal... If I could find a lump of coal, I'd put it in with the Kindle...

We have not had to buy presents for our children for many years, and they are only 26 and 23 now. I do not mind spending money for their college costs and other expenses, but having to shop for presents? Arghh... I used to buy things for my wife, then she had to return them because it was not what she liked. Well, that did not even hurt my feelings, because being frugal we both hated to see things not getting used. So, we came to an agreement that she could just get what she wanted, and that worked out well for everybody.

No presents in my household for many years now. Holiday season means lots of food and drink and a merry time. And I even cook. That's it.

 

[donheff]

E-ink should be easier on the eyes to read, especially in the dark (but yes, you will need a light source).

(I don't have any personal experience...yet. The DW's kindle keyboard is wrapped under the tree)

My Kindle is the second generation and I have the lighted cover. It works very well for reading in bed. eInk is very easy on the eye.

The reaction to the screen may vary from individual to individual. DW and I have one of each - A Nook Color (LCD screen) and a Nook Touch (eInk). I actually prefer the LCD screen, particularly in bed. I can adjust the light level and get it perfectly comfortable for a dark room or a bright one.

But the best all possible worlds may be on the horizon for eInk fans. Engaget has a piece on Flex Lighting's front light LED film, a laminate that incorporates a single LED that spreads light laterally across the cover and deflects it down onto the eInk screen. They were able to get nice, continuous light across the page. Sounds like something that may be available in future eInk readers.

 

[rescueme]

Daughter is 47 and it has always been this way. She starts about Thanksgiving trying to guess what we got her for Christmas.