Kindle, can anyone tell me how to......................

[Dusty964]

Use the fking thing?

My wife bought one from the lazy, disinterested shop assistant at Heathrow duty free when we returned last week, following assurances that they do of course function worldwide, and no, there wouldn't be a compatability issue.


Suprise, suprise............out of the box, connect to the internet..............and it lists hundreds of books.


Only problem is that when you attempt to download one, it tells me that (or rather, her) that 'item is currently unavailable'.
Now, i know that lots of folk use them, but being less than technically minded with such things, i am more inclined to simply sling it off the balcony.

Does anyone use one/can anyone tell me what to do, or am i being terminally hard of thinking?


(ps, i wanted a Parrot drone, but that was soon dismissed after a 7am pint)

[Baron Greenback]

Can you tell me what book you are trying to download I'll have a look. Can you download any book? I have been reading load of free book from the top 10 list trying to find new writers, there are load worth reading.

[Dusty964]

Cheers,

Its an Author by the name of Tana French, although i cant remember the name of the book- my reading limit is Octane, whereas the missus will read any old tripe that she can find.

[marshalla]

How is the Kindle connecting to the 'net (wifi or 3G [builtin or external] ) and where in the world are you ?

[Dusty964]

Its connecting via the wireless network in the apartment, and im in Dubai.
Luckily, im up on the fourth floor, so can practically guarantee its demise when I sling it off the balcony.

[TheBear]

Have you registered it on Amazon?

You need to do that first before you can download anything.

[Baron Greenback]

As per Thebear said! you need to register in amazon via the kindle then you can either buy straight from kindle or from the amazon site via computer! There seems to be lots in stock under the author you quoted http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tana-French/e/B001H6IGWU

[IanUAE]

Stu,

If it needs connecting to the internet in the UK for any strange reason, I will in London on the 11th.

[Dusty964]

IanUAE said:

Stu,

If it needs connecting to the internet in the UK for any strange reason, I will in London on the 11th.

Cheers Ian.

All-

I have registered to the recognized amazon account and no issues, it shows the books that are available from the store, yet as soon as I attempt to download one, it says unavailable. Similarly, when i go into the same account on the mac, it says content unavailable in your region. All despite the assurances from the (commission led?) store assistant telling us they worked globally.

[Baron Greenback]

So you can download any free book or is it just from that author?

[Dusty964]

Baron Greenback said:

So you can download any free book or is it just from that author?

Its any content whatsoever. Strangely, through the same amazon account, they download fine onto an ipad (begging the question exactly why a kindle was required in addition to the ipad, but by all accounts "the screen is nicer to read on")

I will NEVER understand them

[Rick101]

Stick with it. May be something local to Dubai which is causing problems.

When you get it working, it'll be worth it.

[Baron Greenback]

Dusty964 said:

Its any content whatsoever. Strangely, through the same amazon account, they download fine onto an ipad (begging the question exactly why a kindle was required in addition to the ipad, but by all accounts "the screen is nicer to read on")

I will NEVER understand them

mm that is a strange one as you have no problem with account. You are connecting through wifi/3G ok on the kindle? Then I would take back the kindle ask for a replacement, dont forget to deregister the kindle before handing it back!

I have a tablet which I like reading it at night but during the day kindle is better and the battery last a hell of a long time and it lighter then the tablet which make reading more relaxing! Good luck!

[Dusty964]

Baron Greenback said:

Dusty964 said:

Its any content whatsoever. Strangely, through the same amazon account, they download fine onto an ipad (begging the question exactly why a kindle was required in addition to the ipad, but by all accounts "the screen is nicer to read on")

I will NEVER understand them

mm that is a strange one as you have no problem with account. You are connecting through wifi/3G ok on the kindle? Then I would take back the kindle ask for a replacement, dont forget to deregister the kindle before handing it back!

I have a tablet which I like reading it at night but during the day kindle is better and the battery last a hell of a long time and it lighter then the tablet which make reading more relaxing! Good luck!

Yes, it both strange and bloody infuriating. I have the amazon account set up to our Australian address, and it works fine, yet the kindle always says- content not available in your region.
The taking it back bit is the pain in the arse, as it was purchased from Heathrow duty free before returning home to Dubai.
Cheers for all the replies anyway folks.

[marshalla]

Dusty964 said:

Cheers Ian.

All-

I have registered to the recognized amazon account and no issues, it shows the books that are available from the store, yet as soon as I attempt to download one, it says unavailable. Similarly, when i go into the same account on the mac, it says content unavailable in your region. All despite the assurances from the (commission led?) store assistant telling us they worked globally.

It sounds like the Kindle is working fine and you're falling foul of local restrictions on the Amazon store. Since you have a Mac, it might be worth getting a copy of Calibre installed to that so you can get ebooks from other sources and send them to the Kindle through email or direct (cabled) transfer.

[Baron Greenback]

You maybe be right I lived in UAE for four years they did have some local rules but surely buying books from Amazon isn't restricted unless the author is on their band list maybe but he couldn't download a free book. This strange problem!

[IanUAE]

Dubai, where else can you buy in the same apple shop a iMac that comes with FaceTime and an iPad that doesn't.

[Mike Biddle]

Downloading books over the net is not allowed in UAE, it bypasses the censorship. Amazon et al play the game and comply.

I did exactly the same as you and bought a Kindle in UK, then could not use it because they would not accept my UAE based credit card.

There is a way round it, you register your account with a particular USA address, and bingo, it works.

I have the instructions,m and the address to use, so if you send me a private mail with your mail address I can forward same to you.

[yorky500]

Mike Biddle said:

Downloading books over the net is not allowed in UAE, it bypasses the censorship. Amazon et al play the game and comply.

I think is your root cause.

Why not try through a UK VPN?

[rabailey]

I have a kindle and love them (on my 3rd) but they are a ball ache to use here.

The kindle knows where it is (via 3G and IP address) and doesn't like being out here.
Amazon online also knows where you are via IP address.
I even go caught by Amazon and had to send them proof of UK residency :-(

The way around it is to use a UK Based VPN.
Regsiter with amazon.co.uk using it, then do NOT download via wireless.
Use the VPN and buy online but select delvier via USB.
Once downloaded then sync your kindle to your PC by just drag and drop the book files accross.

Sometimes Amazon.co.uk gets fussy about credit cards as well, apparently the way around that is to use gift certificatfes.