Over the past week, I have posted (ranted) about various problems with the Kindle Touch – while I continue to receive notes from folks who must have missed those posts, I’m not going to repeat those rants again today. However, you can feel free to read the last one if you click here or type in http://wp.me/p2b82w-2Ql into your web browser.
So, what’s the purpose of this post? Equal opportunity! I received several well-thought out replies via email or via the blog’s reply interface, and I thought I would share another point of view because, after all, just because I believe it or say it / type it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true for the rest of you.
A New “Option F”
Here’s a potential solution I received from Alex Z. which sounds pretty good and should work for many of you:
Hi Michael,
I just read your post on not being able to download the books on the Kindle Touch by using the links you provide. I was a little confused by this at first, too, after the update, but quickly came across a simple solution. Really, I thought it would be obvious, but since you didn’t mention it in your post and you say you don’t like using the Kindle Touch, then I guess none of your readers have tried it.
So when you click on the link (either one) you provide, it sends you directly to a screen that basically tells you that you cannot purchase it from the mobile site. However, it does give you the option of clicking a button that says “Add to Wish List.” What I have been doing since the update is clicking this button for each title I want to purchase, then I exit out to the home screen and click the shopping cart button to go to the store. Once there, clicking on Menu will show the Wish List option on the very bottom. All of the titles from the blog should show up here. Click each one, make sure it still says “Buy for $0.00″ and click the button. Voilá! You have now received the book for free without having to touch your computer.
It’s not as quick as before, but when getting free books, I can’t complain. Also, I happen to love using my Kindle Touch, and I hope this helps out your readers who feel the same as I do about it.
Keep up the great work. You have provided me with countless hours of entertainment past, present, and future.
Thank you, Alex, as this solution looks like it will work!
Bonnie’s Solution
Bonnie S. from Hemet, CA has a similar solution but with some detailed steps that seemed like a good idea to share:
When this new “way” of buying the books on kindle. I started that very day on the phone with the people at Kindle Help. I was on the phone for more than two hours. Nothing was accomplished. But I did figure it out, that day. I’ll give you the steps I take and it complicated what needed to be done. Just more steps. Happy Tapping!
- You will tap on the book you want to buy and that will take you to the Amazon: Kindle Store – You’ll find that in the black banner at the very top of the screen. That is the screen that tells you “This mobile site does not currently support the purchase of this item…….
- Tap on Add to Wish List that will take you to a list of your Wish List. That screen will show the items on your wish list, plus the item you just put on there. Do not do anything on this page but tap on the Back Arrow in the upper left hand corner. This will take you to Michael Gallagher’s screen where you first ordered your book. You can do the same procedure to all the other books you may want to order. Then when your ordering is all done.
- You will need to go to the “Wish List” itself.
- Go back to your Items page. On the information banner at the top left of the screen is a little Shopping Cart, tap that and it will take you to the Amazon.com Kindle Store.
- Tap on “Menu”
- The next screen to appear is the Menu.
- At the very bottom of this menu is the Wish List. Tap on this.
- Your Wish List screen will come up and there will be your Wishes.
- Tap on the book you want and Walla, there is the familiar screen we are so fondly used to.
- Now you can order you book or books. Order your book and tap on the Back Arrow to bring you back to your Wish List then you can delete that item if you like and go on to the next item.
- I do all my “Add to Wish List” then go to ”Buy” all my books.
It’s not that hard, it causes taking a few more steps than necessary. Can’t see why Kindle had to change it. Try this, it works for me
Thank for your service Michael, I am a new Kindle user and I love it. But I did order a Kindle Fire – it’s so much easier for me to see with the color. The only thing I will really miss is having my books read to me while I work on something else. I do think I will still keep the old Kindle on hand. I have started to read. You make it a little more interesting.
Bonnie, thanks for the kind words and thanks for sharing with the group!
Just Because Michael Dislikes It Doesn’t Mean Everyone Hates It
And, finally, here’s a nice note I received from Carol which made me realize I should have just said I disliked the Touch the first few times I said it vs. three times this past week alone!
Hi Michael. I do enjoy your e-mails every day, but today’s was kind of a bummer.
It took me a long time to finally be able to purchase a Kindle, which turns out to be the touch, and I really like using it. Of course I’ve never used any of the others, so I don’t have those to compare it to, but it’s really a fine little e-reader. It does everything I need.
From what I can tell it’s much lighter in weight than the more expensive Kindles, which is important to me since I have carpal tunnel and holding too much weight too long causes pain.
The battery life is much longer than the more expensive Kindles, meaning I’m not always plugging the thing in to charge it up.
Seems to me a very smooth action to go from page to page. And if I don’t want to turn pages manually, all I need to do is turn on the text-to-speech, set the speed at a comfortable reading level, and turn the audio down low enough so not to listen to it. It’s an easy thing to get into the pace of reading at the right speed and the pages turn on their own.
I have the free ESV Bible on my Kindle, and have also loaded up the ESV mp3′s which were also free at http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/, and I listen to the audio while reading.
So Michael, even though you hate the Kindle Touch, there are those of us, well, it’s what we have. And I believe it’s a good thing to try to look for the positive. There are many positives about the Kindle Touch.
Thanks for your great website. It’s the first one I go to every morning.
Okay, I’ll call a truce on the Touch (for now)!
I hope each of you have a great weekend-
Michael
Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription! Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips or type in http://www.tinyurl.com/fkblog into your computer’s web browser.
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Posted in: Kindle Tips, Misc. and Random Stuff
June 15th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Hi Michael,
I don’t know what all the fuss is about with Kindle Touch. I have one and am able to download anything from your emails just by hitting the “click here” link. It has opened up a whole new way for me to enjoy my Kindle and I am so appreciative of your time and efforts in providing free books. I love the old, classic and unusual books that I would never have found and am enjoying my Kindle Touch more than ever thanks to you. I only read my email daily now to see what you have sent. It’s Christmas every day. Keep up the great job and thanks bunches!
June 15th, 2012 at 11:20 am
I love my Kindle Touch! And today in your blog I learned more about using it. I always read your blog on my computer so I have not found a problem in buying your blog suggestions on my Kindle. But I may try it. I do buy books from my Kindle in the Kindle store all the time. I have not had a problem with my KT and love using it. I learned how to make collections, use my archives and turn pages by page or chapter. With your reader suggestions I now can do even more that I wasn’t even missing. Thanks!
June 15th, 2012 at 11:24 am
I also have a Kindle Touch. It is my first Kindle and I am very happy with it. I get your blog via email and usually read it on my Blackberry while riding the bus to work in the morning. Since I am not able to order the books from my BB (“This mobile site does not currently support the purchase of this item…”) I usually just make a mental note of which one(s) I want and then later in the day when I am at my computer I place my order. I like Alex and Bonnie’s suggestions of adding the books to my Wishlist. That certainly sounds easier than trusting my memory. I am going to give it a try. Thank you Michael for this blog. It has been very helpful and I have found several new favorite authors because of it.