Customer Reviews

The Complete User's Guide to the Amazing Amazon Kindle (First Generation)

5 star:		(78)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

Informative and expanding, much information that an avid reader-turned-Kindle-reader might otherwise miss. Available elsewhere? Definitely, and those with an urge to tinker will find it. But if your focus is on the books and you are the sort who looks for answers in the user manual, then articles such as this are invaluable.

This is the first review I have ever submitted to Amazon. Must admit that the electronic shouting matches that many of these review lists become puts me off. But the potential for a real paradigm shift in how we use, and value, "cyber access" exists here and the window won't likely stay open long. The more folks learn about the possibilities, the greater the push. Stephen Windwalker appears to be writing for the "typical Kindle buyer" who wants an electronic reader for the convenience of having a lot of books in a small, transportable package. Thoughts of expanded uses are not even entertained in many cases. Without articles like this to inform the conventional user of these possibilities, many will be happy, contented readers and never know other capabilities exist.

Kindle is a terrific way to read books. I started a skeptic, bought my wife one as a gift, and we now have a pair. (She offered to share but I knew she didn't really want to.) We are both voracious readers, several books a week when we aren't being consumed by one work crisis or another. While we both have the tech savvy to figure out anything that is discussed in this article, for a couple dollars we didn't have to. It came instantly to my Kindle at the push of a button. And that is the bottom line for me.

Any information worth having is worth a couple dollars if you can get what you need in a concise, ordered format and if it saves you the time you would have spent in finding it yourself. The more people that have this information, the more clamor there will be to enhance and expand these capabilities, and the sooner the better. And that will make a $2.39 investment seem like a prophetic decision.

Like many new Kindle users, I bought this "cool tricks" Kindle book on my first buying spree about 2 months ago. I reserved judgment on how useful it would be until now, giving myself a chance to both read the material and receive the very helpful free emails that the author offers as a bonus, if you choose to send him your email address. The very first tip that came through that I used, a tip on a free download, in one click repaid the cost of the initial "cool tricks" book. High energy author who is motivated to find a position in this new market, and why not? Someone's got to save time for the rest of us, and I appreciate it.

Yes, technically all the information contained therein could be found for free if one had enough time, but if I had that much time and energy, I could also eventually travel to libraries to borrow, and back to return, every time I wanted to read a title for "free". "Free" is not the primary motivation of Kindle users, it's convenience, and personally, I find this "cool tricks" Kindle guide a no-brainer, common sense investment. For a couple of dollars, you get the benefit of this author's many hours of beta-testing. What's to regret?

This book was my first Kindle purchase, because I was looking for some info on how to use the device. Little did I know how this seemingly helpful chap would misuse my e-mail address to promote his political ideology!

The book is "OK" -- it covers the basics, and gets you to the point where you can use the fundamental features, but it does not go too much further. On the book's content alone, I would maybe give it 2-1/2 stars.

I then went on to follow his suggestion of adding my e-mail address to his list. He claimed that he would be sending alerts when his Kindle book was updated.

Surprised was my reaction this morning when I opened a lengthy e-mail from Stephen Windwalker (yes, it was a real e-mail from him) in which he wrote an extensive note about the importance of buying a Kindle book that paints a certain female candidate for VP in a very negative light.

I have read several books and articles about that particular candidate -- enough to realize what is agenda-driven and what is detached accounting of the facts. The rag this Windwalker guy is pushing is something that clearly advances one particular political opinion.

Whether you agree with Windwalker's viewpoint or not, how dare he mis-use my e-mail address to send me his thinly-veiled political opinions!

I would therefore recommend find an alternative source of Kindle information, and definitely not providing your e-mail address to this guy. The "sheep in wolves' clothing" image comes to mind.

I cannot disagree with many of the posted reviews. This book is a little light on content. Much of it can be found in the user guide that came loaded on the Kindle. But, then again, you buy for pennies more than two bucks.

I love my Kindle. I received it in December. I have subscribed to newspapers, blogs and magazines. Books are great to read on it. I particularly love it when I travel. With Whispernet, a new book is never out of reach.

Although I am a satisfied user, this book whets my whistle with potential applications.While I use it, I have a sense that it will do much more. For two bucks, this book opened my eyes to many of those new gadgets and applications. Plus, one of Kindle's promises intrigues me. I can upgrade by collection whenever there are content changes.

As a writer, I am particularly interested in the concept of "progress payments" for material. This book cannot be described as anything near complete. Yet the author is receiving payments. He promises to update this book. I hope so. He and Amazon have my 2 bucks. They will reap many more with a full compliment of content.

Unfortunately a rather disappointing article, even for $2.50. I expected a little more insight than "use Google's mobile version" That said the writing style is good, but if you're at all technically minded, the money is better spent elsewhere.

If you're not very good at navigating the internet and if you've never heard of gmail, then there is a tiny bit of information here that you might find useful. Anyone with even a little 'net know-how will likely already have figured out how to check their gmail and a host of other useful sites not discussed here using the streamlined "mobile" content many websites offer and the "Basic Web" functionality on their Kindles. I spent $2.50 on this document hoping to learn some of those other "cool tricks" mentioned in the title, but you must have to buy the full version of the book for that information because this document only covers gmail.

Update August 2008: I noticed the price for this publication has gone up from the $2 range that I paid for it, to $3.99 but I still think if you are a new Kindler it is a helpful tool. I appreciate Mr. Windwalkers help and all of the users input at the KindleKorner on Yahoo Groups. It's great to be able to share shortcuts and hints with other users.

Yes, one could play with the Kindle and eventually find out how to use certain functions, but why do trial and error? Why not have step by step instructions from someone who knows? I'm too impatient, I want to know how to do it NOW.

Having the recommendations for sites and links to visit for more info such as the KindleKorner users group is also another nice feature. The Kindle is a wonderful tool and will revolutionize how we read today just as the iPod did for music listeners. Imagine future generations of students not having to lug bulky bags of books around campus. I am loving my Kindle's adjustable fonts and features. The email function is so cool and handy, as one doesn't always have a WiFi hotspot available when traveling and a laptop is so much more cumbersome. Sending email is a lot like texting on a cellphone what-with the small keyboard, but it is doable - still better on a PC, but in a pinch will do. The Kindle has been the best gift I have ever received. I have a very cool son :)

The author has found a wonderful way to make money move toward him! There's nothing in this tiny work that you won't learn for free, don't waste your money.

There are, perhaps, other sources for the information contained in this article, but they are not easily located--and I certainly didn't find many of them in the literature that accompanied my Kindle. That is why I am very grateful to Mr. Windwlaker for writing a collection of very useful tips. The cost, in my opinion, is negligible compared to the value received. Not only is his writing style very clear and readable, he is obviously a talented teacher given the way the material is organized. This author's work also seems to me to be a good example of the way information will come to be disseminated with what he calls "convergence devices" such as the Kindle. I am grateful that I found this work. I will cheerfully purchase anything Mr. Windwalker writes.

Without this aid I would never have found out how to delete, how to get a SD and on and on. Thanks so much Stephen.