Should I get a Kindle?

before I GO to bed (!)

I have a Kindle Fire HD, and love it!

Use for net (am using it now), taking the odd photo, and reading books.

I don't think a Kindle would be a problem for your eyes as you can enlarge the print and reduce the background light, so you can make it very user friendly. However, I have one, but much prefer reading actual books rather than my Kindle and it has been retired to a drawer for the last year or so. I only use it when I am going on holiday so I can take lots of reading with me which is easily packed.
Some people love them and some people just can't get on with them, and I fall into the latter category.

I love my Kindle paper white. It doesn’t have the same lighting as a laptop or ipad, saves putting the light on, and no hunting out a good read - you can get a book instantly.

I was very anti Kindle until I was given one as a gift. I’m totally reformed! I can carry a library of hundreds of books with me at all times. I can download almost anything instantly and start them straight away, usually cheaper too. The authors still get paid of course though I feel a bit sorry for booksellers. I make an effort to buy cookery books and children’s books as well as gifts to show my support. This week I treat myself to a signed copy of Raynor Winn’s new book “The Wild Silence”, in hardback even. She is the lady that wrote “The Salt Path” that I know many people loved.
I would highly recommend a Kindle Fire though.

Aren't we a contrary lot?

I wanted a kindle or similar and was given a Kobo.
I have hardly used it.
There is nothing wrong with it, but I still prefer a real book.

I was given a Kindle and hated it. It's now in the drawer waiting to go on Ebay.

I bought a Kindle Fire a few months ago in a fabulous sale on Amazon. So cheap I could not leave it there!

I am slowly learning how to use it- well worth every penny.

Apart from using mine for internet, I can read a book on it without waking Mr P by having the light on, which I would need for a "real" book.

Still prefer real books, but the Kindle is a good compromise in our house.

I have a kindle fire. You can put blue shade on at night, and time it to come on and go off automatically. I read mine in the dark without any problems.

I have a Kindle Paperwhite which I bought at the beginning of the Lockdown. It is the best purchase this year.

You have DryEye ExD the same as me - you need to have half an hour without any screens before sleep. You need to blink more whilst using any screen. I suggest you get a gel for dry eyes drop for night time. I also have dry eye drops for dry and irritated eyes (All in one) which Boots sell. I use the irritated one when I feel there is a rock in my eye !

I’ve quadrupled my reading since buying my Kindle. ?

I love my original Kindle as it is easy to read in bed. I increase the font if needed. It is also good in bright sunlight. If you go on holiday, easy to pack the kindle rather that several heavy books. After a while I found the free and cheap books are not that great. Authors I really want are quite expensive, seeing how I only read them once usually.

However, you cannot get library books on a normal Kindle. This is why I later got a cheapie offer for a Amazon fire tablet, as you can join the online section of your local library and borrow books on the tablet, it is great, and free. They are returned automatically so no fines, and you can reserve too. However, the screen is different to a normal Kindle, so it is very hard to read outside in bright sunlight.

So they both have advantages and disadvantages.

Like NanKate, I have a Kindle Paperwhite that my DH boght me for Christmas (and which I didn't want). However, I love it and although I need glasses to read proper books, I don't need them for my Kindle as you can enlarge the print to something you are comfortable with.

Instant downloads, lots of books, it's brilliant. Best of all, when you're reading in bed and you drop off, it doesn't fall and biff you on the nose, it just turns itself off!

The library have made it easier to borrow e-books. I downloaded something called Libby and it is very easy.

I should have said you can't download library books to a kindle so I read them on my ipad.

I love a real book but my Kindle is great for travelling and holidays. I also have a Kindle Fire and you can have your library of books on both devices.

I had one but only used for a while i went nack to books but now i download books via libby from my library its perfect on my ipad.

Mr C upgraded his ancient Kindle to a Kindle Paperwhite and loves it. The screen is clear in all lights, and he says it’s more intuitive.

Another kindle paperwork fan here. I was adamant I only liked 'real' books but DH really wanted me to try it out and I haven't looked back since.

I wouldn't be without my Kindle paperwhite. I can adjust the lighting and the size of the text, and I have a great choice of over 300 books on it. It's brilliant for those times when you don't want to pack heavy books. Your whole library comes with you in a small package.

I was terribly excited to get a Kindle. I love to read and thought this would be perfect, especially in bed

However I hate it. No idea why.

I just hate it

I agree with Sashabel. I find my Kindle is wonderful for going away with, but at home I prefer "real" books! (This said, I do use my Kindle when I can't access books any other way.) DH uses his Kindle most of his reading and finds it excellent for reading in bed. Each to their own, I guess.

I was sure I did not want a Kindle, only books would do until I was given one in 2012 and it's still going, not sure how as it has been dropped quite often. Up until Lockdown I was also a frequent Library user and bought books, quite often from charity shops. It is ideal for travelling and I will get another immediately if this one finally stops working. Would not be without it now. What I have found is that I really do not like reading gardening, cookery books or magazines on the Kindle and those have to be the real thing, hardback or paperback.

I love both real books and my Kindle, which is great for holidays, books I don’t think I’ll want to keep, such as some of my reading group choices, and reading for a while to get me back off to sleep without waking DH if I have a bad night. I’ve even been known to buy and download a book at 4am if I can’t get back off! During lockdown it’s been useful to download books and audio books from the library. I don’t know about the dry eye thing though, as I’ve never had that.

Best of all, when you're reading in bed and you drop off, it doesn't fall and biff you on the nose

Mine does, though, and it’s heavier than a book.