Author Topic: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited  (Read 15550 times)

steadierfooting

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Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« on: July 18, 2014, 07:55:40 AM »
Yet another 'monthly service' that will probably explode in popularity: Kindle unlimited, 9.99 a month + tax for free readings of 600,000 books. 


https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/b/ref=ARRAY(0xa4d03168)?_encoding=UTF8&ie=UTF8&node=9578129011&pfShowFeatures=&ref_=amb_link_421230862_2&ref_=amb_link_421230862_2




I wonder how many people buy $120 worth of kindle books a year to make this worth while.  I read on average 20 - 50 books a year, and long ago reached the price point where I read books too quickly and too often to justify paying for them, so I've been using the library forever.  I do occasionally buy a book from a very small handful of favorite authors that have long holds and I don't want to wait.  I'll be doing this with Ken Follet's book coming out in September, some of the harry potter books years ago.   So I buy the hardcover, will read it in a day or two, then be one of the first to drop it on half.com and recover a worthwhile amount.  This happens maybe once every other year.




socaso

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2014, 08:06:47 AM »
I have owned a Kindle for years now and I love love love it but rarely pay for books. I might buy 10 or fewer books per year. The rest of my reading comes from the free content available on Amazon and borrowing library books for my Kindle. When I think I want to buy a book I will often put it on my wish list and wait to see if the price drops. I read about the Kindle Unlimited service yesterday and for $10 a month it's too rich for my blood! If they offered a limited program with maybe 5 books you can borrow a month for $3-5 I would be more tempted.

PloddingInsight

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2014, 08:16:53 AM »
The crazy thing is, it's not even the whole kindle library.  So if you want to read a book that they have decided not to make available on kindle unlimited, you have to pay for it.

steadierfooting

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2014, 08:25:08 AM »
I immediately went to check to see some of the titles, and it seems very limited for popular.  Just like netflix and amazon prime (which i'd done trials on) you can't say, "I want to watch movie" you have to browse and say, "eh yea I guess I can watch this".  So yes, it'll be$9.99 + the few extra books you want to read.


For a price point for me to buy...Eh, maybe $3 a month.  $3 a month would save me the inconvenience of biking to the library, or trading kindle books with friends, or other means...  I'd still not do it month to month, but occasionally go on kicks where I'll read lots of old books that more than likely would be on there (depending on publishers) like now I'm working my way through old Tom Clancy and Stephen King books. 


Bah, on second thought, there's no way I'd even do it then, I DESPISE monthly or yearly payment plans, ha.





eliza

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #4 on: July 18, 2014, 10:04:26 PM »
I signed up for the free 30 day trial.  Will re-evaluate before the first charge, but I might actually keep this.

I travel full-time for work so physical books from the library are difficult to manage (space, weight, the unlikelihood that I'll be back home to return them before they are due) and unfortunately my home library doesn't do e-books yet...a girl can dream.

I love my kindle and have been getting by with sending reading material from the web via "Send to Kindle", trolling the free listings on Amazon, and purchasing the occasional book off of Amazon.  But, I've been missing access to a better range of books.  There are lots of free trashy romance novels (not that I don't read more than my fair share of those), but fewer free non-fiction and serious contemporary literature.   Having access to 600,000 titles (even though the selection is still limited) at any time no matter where in the country I am seems like the height of luxury and abundance.

I'm looking forward to seeing how much utility I get out of the service - I'm generally opposed to recurring payments, so I'll have to keep a close eye on this and cancel if and when I find that I'm not getting good value.

gooki

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2014, 10:16:22 PM »
If it was the full library of kindle ebooks, I'd be all for it. The reality is it probably cost $10 per household per month in local taxes to keep a library running. So if unlimited ebook rental replaced libraries I'd be ok with that.

vern

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2014, 10:33:52 PM »
Beware of recurring charges.

http://livingstingy.blogspot.com/2010/12/subscription-model.html

I just downloaded seven free W. Somerset Maugham books on my kindle earlier today.  That'll hold me for a while!

austin

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2014, 01:28:16 AM »
How much do some of you people pay for cable? Or internet on your phone? Or netflix?

ch12

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2014, 02:43:46 PM »
I signed up for the free 30 day trial.  Will re-evaluate before the first charge, but I might actually keep this.

I travel full-time for work so physical books from the library are difficult to manage (space, weight, the unlikelihood that I'll be back home to return them before they are due) and unfortunately my home library doesn't do e-books yet...a girl can dream.

I love my kindle and have been getting by with sending reading material from the web via "Send to Kindle", trolling the free listings on Amazon, and purchasing the occasional book off of Amazon.  But, I've been missing access to a better range of books.  There are lots of free trashy romance novels (not that I don't read more than my fair share of those), but fewer free non-fiction and serious contemporary literature.  Having access to 600,000 titles (even though the selection is still limited) at any time no matter where in the country I am seems like the height of luxury and abundance.

I'm looking forward to seeing how much utility I get out of the service - I'm generally opposed to recurring payments, so I'll have to keep a close eye on this and cancel if and when I find that I'm not getting good value.

I also signed up immediately yesterday. I will note that a fair number of the unlimited books are in other languages, such as German or French.

Last June, I read over 70 books from the library. $10 a month for me - on top of the books I get from the library physically and as ebooks - is worth it. I read 4 Kindle Unlimited books yesterday after I signed up when I got home from work. 1) the first month was free and 2) yeah, I can't read 4 books a day every day, but I can try ;)

It means lessened wait times. I get $5 Amazon gift cards from doing Bing Rewards (see the thread) and I was saving up to get a book on Friday. I'm really glad that I waited, because I just read it for free and the 3 books after it. It felt amazing. It's not the 100% most Mustachian thing to do, but I read a lot more than a normal person. The TIME article I read about it said that you'd have to read 16 books a year to make the subscription worth it. Considering that I can exceed that number in a month (or a week, if I'm trying or on vacation), I love the idea. Just another example of my flabby anti-Mustachian tendencies. Mr. Money Mustache is probably not annoyed by 3 months of waiting for the latest releases.

greenmimama

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2014, 05:22:48 PM »
I signed up for the free 30 day trial.  Will re-evaluate before the first charge, but I might actually keep this.

I travel full-time for work so physical books from the library are difficult to manage (space, weight, the unlikelihood that I'll be back home to return them before they are due) and unfortunately my home library doesn't do e-books yet...a girl can dream.

I love my kindle and have been getting by with sending reading material from the web via "Send to Kindle", trolling the free listings on Amazon, and purchasing the occasional book off of Amazon.  But, I've been missing access to a better range of books.  There are lots of free trashy romance novels (not that I don't read more than my fair share of those), but fewer free non-fiction and serious contemporary literature.   Having access to 600,000 titles (even though the selection is still limited) at any time no matter where in the country I am seems like the height of luxury and abundance.

I'm looking forward to seeing how much utility I get out of the service - I'm generally opposed to recurring payments, so I'll have to keep a close eye on this and cancel if and when I find that I'm not getting good value.

It sounds like a nice value for you, But maybe not for the majority of the population, but that won't stop them from paying for it.

kyleaaa

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2014, 09:57:20 PM »
I definitely read enough ebooks for it to be worth it provided the books available are the ones I would actually be most likely to read.

Wolf_Stache

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2014, 11:23:07 PM »
The Author K-boards are blowing up about this.

Note - it is OPT-IN for authors to decide which books are available on Kindle Unlimited, AND, only KDP Select books available to opt in (KDP Select means that book is ONLY available through amazon in the first place).

Which means that there will be pretty much no older titles available through the program.

A lot of authors on the boards are also talking about doing a strategy where they put their short stories and novellas in the program, but leave out their novels so that you have to go pay full price for those. Another strategy discussed was to put only the first few books in a series in the program.

One thing I like about it is that the author does get paid for any books you read through the program, just not as much as they would have been paid if you'd just purchased it outright.

Wolf_Stache

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2014, 11:25:42 PM »
As for me, technically I read enough that the program would be worth it IF the books I was interested in were available through the program.

I spent over $250 last month on kindle books - but they were all graphic novels, comic books, and writing books that most likely wouldn't be available in the program. (I'll have to check, I haven't looked at it in detail yet, just heard about it yesterday).

lifejoy

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2014, 11:26:27 PM »
Hope you're all using the Gutenberg project (.org? I think?) instead!


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davisgang90

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #14 on: July 20, 2014, 05:04:46 AM »
I also read a lot on my kindle.  Mostly free/cheap from http://www.bookgorilla.com/ daily email.  I will probably sign up for the free trial. 

Albert

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2014, 05:25:44 AM »
I think if you read something written recently it's only fair that you compensate the author for his/her efforts.

ch12

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #16 on: July 20, 2014, 07:19:31 AM »
The Author K-boards are blowing up about this.

Note - it is OPT-IN for authors to decide which books are available on Kindle Unlimited, AND, only KDP Select books available to opt in (KDP Select means that book is ONLY available through amazon in the first place).

Which means that there will be pretty much no older titles available through the program.

A lot of authors on the boards are also talking about doing a strategy where they put their short stories and novellas in the program, but leave out their novels so that you have to go pay full price for those. Another strategy discussed was to put only the first few books in a series in the program.

One thing I like about it is that the author does get paid for any books you read through the program, just not as much as they would have been paid if you'd just purchased it outright.

I think that it's an amazing program. As an aspiring author, I'd probably use the same strategies. I've been sucked into series by reading a free first book more times than I can count, so as an author, that strategy is likely to pay off.

Wolf_Stache

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #17 on: July 20, 2014, 09:16:04 AM »
I think if you read something written recently it's only fair that you compensate the author for his/her efforts.

Albert,
The authors still get paid for whatever you read through the program.

eliza

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #18 on: July 20, 2014, 10:21:45 PM »
Hope you're all using the Gutenberg project (.org? I think?) instead!


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One thing that is nice about Amazon is they have a lot of public domain ebooks listed on their site that you can download to a Kindle or Kindle App (smartphone, laptop, tablet) for FREE.   Every once and while I think about the fact that I essentially have access to the vast majority of the Western Canon at my fingertips constantly and it blows my mind.  It's like I'm living in a sci-fiction novel.

Noodle

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #19 on: July 21, 2014, 10:33:17 AM »
There's always someone who raises an eyebrow at these book subscription services but honestly, I get e-books through two libraries...one is fabulous and the other is awful. If I lost access to the better one, I would be the perfect market for this. I read enough that even buying used books or bargain Kindle books adds up fast. Now, which service is best for the cost is an interesting question. If anybody has a review of Oyster vs Scribd vs Amazon, I would love to hear it.

eliza

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #20 on: August 17, 2014, 04:54:28 PM »
I just finished my free month of kindle unlimited. 

Results:
I read 33 books using my kindle unlimited subscription.
Total cost if purchased would have been $153.85

I did end up cancelling for a couple of reasons - I read a lot of books that I probably wouldn't have paid for if I didn't have the free subscription and I don't think that I would get that much utility out of it on an ongoing basis since I really pushed to read only books through Kindle limited over the last month.

Since it looks like you can join at any time and cancel without penalty - I'm thinking that in the future I'll sign up for one month at a time when my reading list of books available on Kindle Unlimited gets long enough to spend a month reading only those books.

« Last Edit: August 17, 2014, 06:00:41 PM by eliza »

daverobev

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #21 on: August 17, 2014, 05:59:51 PM »
How much do some of you people pay for cable? Or internet on your phone? Or netflix?

$28 for DSL, $0, $0 (we've paid for a month, and had the free trial, and will possibly pay for another month this year).

davisgang90

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #22 on: August 18, 2014, 04:31:30 AM »
I'm enjoying the free month but won't continue it.  If they offered more books I want to read, I would do it as I read a great deal, but the selection is pretty limited.

Lis

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #23 on: August 18, 2014, 12:16:01 PM »
When I first heard about this feature, my initial thought was "oh look, people will now pay to have a glorified library card."

Somewhere over in the Reader Recommendations section is a thread on an app called Overdrive. It syncs up to your library and you can download up to 10 ebooks at a time. There are various hacks that can keep the book on your device longer than the library allows it, downloading new books, etc. It's available through any device, including your standard desktop/laptop. Mine actually syncs up to all the libraries in my county, so I get a really good selection.

ch12

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #24 on: August 19, 2014, 04:40:24 AM »
I just finished my free month of kindle unlimited. 

Results:
I read 33 books using my kindle unlimited subscription.
Total cost if purchased would have been $153.85

I did end up cancelling for a couple of reasons - I read a lot of books that I probably wouldn't have paid for if I didn't have the free subscription and I don't think that I would get that much utility out of it on an ongoing basis since I really pushed to read only books through Kindle limited over the last month.

Since it looks like you can join at any time and cancel without penalty - I'm thinking that in the future I'll sign up for one month at a time when my reading list of books available on Kindle Unlimited gets long enough to spend a month reading only those books.

I think your approach is sensible. I didn't cancel after the first month, because I've used quite a bit of Kindle Unlimited and have done the analysis. I can see myself canceling next month if I don't keep up the pace. I, too, have read books that I otherwise wouldn't have.

However, I am pretty frustrated by the attitude on this thread that Project Gutenberg and the library are better or equal substitutes. They aren't. I have read more than 200 books from my library and the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (as well as the Carmel Clay Public Library) in the last year. Props to you for going the Mustachian way if you go with the free option; there's nothing wrong with it. There's lots of reading material in both places, and I have been happy with it. I love my library card and WPLC (my local version of Overdrive).

I also read so much that it's actually worth it to me. Also, some of the books I've read are ones that I otherwise would have bought. My reading value is not as impressive as Eliza's, but I exceeded $60. I read more than 20 KU books. I didn't make a concerted effort to read only Kindle Unlimited books, but I also kept up with every ounce of reading I'd do otherwise, which means I've read 15-20 books from other sources as well. It's not that usual to read more than 40 books in a month (although obviously people like Eliza can outpace that), and I respect that.

If it doesn't make sense for you, don't do it. If it does, then do it. I'd like to ask for respect for conscious choices made after careful consideration.

Lis

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #25 on: August 19, 2014, 09:56:40 AM »
If it doesn't make sense for you, don't do it. If it does, then do it. I'd like to ask for respect for conscious choices made after careful consideration.

Very fair statement. We tend to jump on things that seem excessive, and I'm going to assume the vast majority of the users won't use it like you. That being said, you're right; not fair to judge someone if it works out for them. Sorry for being judgemental!

Scandium

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #26 on: August 19, 2014, 11:04:50 AM »
How the heck does someone read 30 books in one month!!? I may have time to get through one book in six months. I was proud I'm 200 pages into John Bogle's book in "only" one week.. So yeah, KU makes little sense to me.

And let me guess; the cost is being compared to "for only the price of a few cups of coffee!" ?

Wolf_Stache

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #27 on: August 19, 2014, 02:07:30 PM »
How the heck does someone read 30 books in one month!!? I may have time to get through one book in six months. I was proud I'm 200 pages into John Bogle's book in "only" one week.. So yeah, KU makes little sense to me.

And let me guess; the cost is being compared to "for only the price of a few cups of coffee!" ?

I read about 30 books in the 2 weeks I was unemployed. I'm a fast reader. If I wasn't working full-time, and didn't have access to the amazing Seattle public library online collection, I would jump all over this.

MgoSam

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #28 on: August 19, 2014, 02:38:18 PM »
I just finished my free month of kindle unlimited. 

Results:
I read 33 books using my kindle unlimited subscription.
Total cost if purchased would have been $153.85



Respect! I think of myself as a fairly fast reader, this calendar year I have read 64* books (I think) and I am amazed at finishing 33 books in a month, especially all reading.

*that number includes audiobooks as well.

Any chance of getting the list of books? I would be interested in created a stockpile of Kindle unlimited books for when I have plenty of time.

DragonSlayer

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #29 on: August 19, 2014, 05:45:53 PM »
I looked into it, but the selection doesn't include very much that I'm likely to read. Plus, I'm very fortunate to live in an area with great libraries, universities, and strong interlibrary loan programs, so I can get pretty much everything I want to read for free. But I could see the value, maybe, if you lived in an area without great library services.

eliza

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #30 on: August 20, 2014, 09:02:47 AM »
[
Respect! I think of myself as a fairly fast reader, this calendar year I have read 64* books (I think) and I am amazed at finishing 33 books in a month, especially all reading.

*that number includes audiobooks as well.

Any chance of getting the list of books? I would be interested in created a stockpile of Kindle unlimited books for when I have plenty of time.

Thanks.  I do tend to be a faster reader, but many of these were fun and/or quick easy reads.  There was only one "serious" non-fiction book which was enjoyable but dense.   There is no way I would have got through 33 of those in a single month - maybe like 5. The spreadsheet I kept is on my laptop, so I'll try to remember to post it tonight when I get back.  I did read a number of "early retirement" or "frugal living" type books to see if I found anything new/exciting - some of these went very fast as I skimmed but didn't find anyting intriguing/exciting to slow me down.

I do make it a point to schedule reading time.  At least a half hour each night before bed, but I try to get in a full hour.   Plus when I'm in my home-base city I usually have a 45 minute train ride to and from work each day which adds up to lots of extra reading time. 

FYI: Here's the books I read.

Water for Elephants   8.52
How to Retire Early   9.99
Hatching the Nest Egg   2.99
Kitchen Confidential   7.99
Upstairs at the Whie House   9.99
The Giver   4.09
A Moveable Feast   9.99
Travel: Drop Everything   2.99
Living on a Shoestring   2.99
World's Richest Busboy   7.99
Gathering Blue   4.66
Messenger   4.51
Son   7.39
Creative and Cheap Retirement   2.99
Early Retirement on a Shoestring   2.99
Your Best Retirement   3.99
Retire Rich Retire Early   2.99
Early Retirement in a Nutshell   1.89
How I Retired on $1000 per Month   2.99
Zen and the Art of Early Retirement   1.99
Run Away to Paradise   2.99
Frugallife   2.99
#FrugalityPays   2.99
Minimalist Budget   2.99
Retro Budget Prescription   2.99
Radical Frugality   2.99
Full Time Travel   5.95
365 Day Vacation   2.99
The Main Dish   1.99
Getting Shit Done   4.99
Boomerang   9.09
Tips from Cruise Addict   3.99
Blackbelt Tightwad   2.99

« Last Edit: August 21, 2014, 08:43:02 PM by eliza »

Metta

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #31 on: August 23, 2014, 03:12:26 PM »
I'm also a heavy consumer of books and our library system here is sub-par (much worse than other cities I've lived in). Currently I spend about $1000 on books each year and I'd rather cut out just about anything (other than food itself) than scrimp on books. I made my husband vow before I would marry him that he wouldn't restrict my book buying. That's just the way it is for me.

I joined KU when I realized that the books I was about to buy cost more than the price of KU for a month. If I don't get value from it in the future, I'll stop paying for it.

That is the essence of sensible spending, I think. You evaluate what is important to you. You price it. You figure out if there is a substitute or a cheaper way. You compare it to other uses for the money (including the freedom that money buys). If it still makes sense, you buy it. If it doesn't make sense, you put it aside. For example, I own a lot of books but virtually no jewelry. Books are the right choice for me and right now it looks like KU is a good way to get the books I want.

zing12

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #32 on: September 23, 2014, 10:56:08 AM »
I generally don't do subscriptions, but for digital things, I like it better than buying something I can't hold in my hand. I'd rather pay $10 a month for Netflix than "buy" a DRM'd video file off of amazon. I'd rather pay a certain amount a month for all books, than "buy" a book that doesn't really exist, is more like a 99 year lease that amazon could back out of at any time, etc.

That being said, my rate of consumption for both books and videos doesn't justify the cost of the subscription for either. I occasionally will buy a kindle book, and like the convenience of not having to carry around/store separate books, but I just hate buying something that doesn't really exist in physical space, and has no resale value.

vivophoenix

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #33 on: September 23, 2014, 11:24:42 AM »
I just finished my free month of kindle unlimited. 

Results:
I read 33 books using my kindle unlimited subscription.
Total cost if purchased would have been $153.85

I did end up cancelling for a couple of reasons - I read a lot of books that I probably wouldn't have paid for if I didn't have the free subscription and I don't think that I would get that much utility out of it on an ongoing basis since I really pushed to read only books through Kindle limited over the last month.

Since it looks like you can join at any time and cancel without penalty - I'm thinking that in the future I'll sign up for one month at a time when my reading list of books available on Kindle Unlimited gets long enough to spend a month reading only those books.

I think your approach is sensible. I didn't cancel after the first month, because I've used quite a bit of Kindle Unlimited and have done the analysis. I can see myself canceling next month if I don't keep up the pace. I, too, have read books that I otherwise wouldn't have.

However, I am pretty frustrated by the attitude on this thread that Project Gutenberg and the library are better or equal substitutes. They aren't. I have read more than 200 books from my library and the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (as well as the Carmel Clay Public Library) in the last year. Props to you for going the Mustachian way if you go with the free option; there's nothing wrong with it. There's lots of reading material in both places, and I have been happy with it. I love my library card and WPLC (my local version of Overdrive).

I also read so much that it's actually worth it to me. Also, some of the books I've read are ones that I otherwise would have bought. My reading value is not as impressive as Eliza's, but I exceeded $60. I read more than 20 KU books. I didn't make a concerted effort to read only Kindle Unlimited books, but I also kept up with every ounce of reading I'd do otherwise, which means I've read 15-20 books from other sources as well. It's not that usual to read more than 40 books in a month (although obviously people like Eliza can outpace that), and I respect that.

If it doesn't make sense for you, don't do it. If it does, then do it. I'd like to ask for respect for conscious choices made after careful consideration.

agreed that combined with the assumption that access to any old repository of books, aka library or Gutenberg project will do for a reader. i am an avid reader, and i enjoy certain authors and genres. project Gutenberg doesn't exactly stock up on the urban fantasy genre, and the library system a lot of times does not purchase non 'new yorks times best sellers'  new releases.

i got a kindle back when they promised no book would go over 5.99. ( moment of silence for that loss)

i can burn through two books a week, if i am being lazy  and i do have a full time job. but guess what? a $2 ebook is not as well written as a $15 ebook.

i opted in for the unlimited with the free month. i read seven of the books available. even if each book was only $2, its the equivalent for readers  with netflix and huluplus.




Chranstronaut

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #34 on: September 23, 2014, 12:15:31 PM »
Can we take a minute to mourn the death of the kindle lending library thanks to KU? They had a small, but steady collection of decent books and one a month was plenty for me.  I really enjoyed accessing foreign language children's books, but all those authors are exclusively on KU now.  It's not a big enough draw for me to pay the subscription, but was a nice perk to Prime membership.

vivophoenix

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #35 on: September 23, 2014, 12:26:19 PM »
NOOOOOOO


have you tried lendle?

its a third party service that lets you built a network of people to lend you their kindle books.

Can we take a minute to mourn the death of the kindle lending library thanks to KU? They had a small, but steady collection of decent books and one a month was plenty for me.  I really enjoyed accessing foreign language children's books, but all those authors are exclusively on KU now.  It's not a big enough draw for me to pay the subscription, but was a nice perk to Prime membership.

mydogismyheart

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #36 on: September 23, 2014, 12:43:36 PM »
I looked into this to see if it was something that would be worth spending the money on since I like to read a lot.  But I found that all of the books they have for $10/mo are all ones I can digitally check-out from my library.  The ONLY thing I can see that would make the money worth it is the fact that sometimes with the library there can be a waitlist for a book, their digital service is very similar to their hardcopy service in that they only own so many digital copies. So if all digital copies are checked-out, you have to wait.  Also, they sometimes put a time limit on the digital copy for how long you have to read it.  So I have had books before where I waited to get and then only had a few days to read, and during those few days I was REALLY busy and was unable to read and had to send back and then wait again.  But honestly, I do well enough with the free digital books from the library that I am never short on things to read.  Plus it motivates me to turn off the TV and read because I'll have a digital book suddenly arrive that I've been waiting for and only have 4 days to read it, so I am then motivated to read!!!

DragonSlayer

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #37 on: September 23, 2014, 01:56:16 PM »
Can we take a minute to mourn the death of the kindle lending library thanks to KU? They had a small, but steady collection of decent books and one a month was plenty for me.  I really enjoyed accessing foreign language children's books, but all those authors are exclusively on KU now.  It's not a big enough draw for me to pay the subscription, but was a nice perk to Prime membership.

The KLL library isn't dead, and I don't see any difference in the offerings. They have had it harder to get to, but it's still there. You do have to be looking through your kindle, though. When you look at books through the computer, all you see is the unlimited option. But if you go through the library option on your kindle and pick a book, you'll see the borrow for free button.

prosaic

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #38 on: September 23, 2014, 03:12:01 PM »
I think if you read something written recently it's only fair that you compensate the author for his/her efforts.

Albert,
The authors still get paid for whatever you read through the program.

Not quite - not full royalties, at any rate. I am a self-published romance novel writer, and some of my books are in KU. Here's how it works:

1. You, the reader, have to read 10.01% of the book or more before the "borrow" is considered a "paid borrow" by Amazon, for the author's revenue report.
2. Amazon has a pool of money (about $3-4 million), and they take the total number of "paid borrows" and divide the pool by that number.
3. In July the figure authors earned was $1.80 per paid borrow. In August it was $1.54.
4. For a $.99 book, that's GREAT for the author, because the normal royalty is $.34/35. For a $4.99 book, the borrow revenue sucks, because the normal royalty is $3.49.

FYI. If you use KU, click on the "read this book for free" button, and don't read past 10.01%, the author earns nothing. Zero. Not a penny.

Edited to add: if you do the free 30-day trial, authors DO earn their borrow revenue for all the books you read past 10.01%, even though you're not paying the $9.99 monthly fee. So read up! :)

Wolf_Stache

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #39 on: September 23, 2014, 06:58:24 PM »
Thanks for the info Prosiac. I decided not to go KDP Select with my novel when I published, meaning my book is not eligible for KU, so I hadn't looked too hard at the details.

Chranstronaut

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #40 on: September 26, 2014, 10:14:58 AM »
Can we take a minute to mourn the death of the kindle lending library thanks to KU? They had a small, but steady collection of decent books and one a month was plenty for me.  I really enjoyed accessing foreign language children's books, but all those authors are exclusively on KU now.  It's not a big enough draw for me to pay the subscription, but was a nice perk to Prime membership.

The KLL library isn't dead, and I don't see any difference in the offerings. They have had it harder to get to, but it's still there. You do have to be looking through your kindle, though. When you look at books through the computer, all you see is the unlimited option. But if you go through the library option on your kindle and pick a book, you'll see the borrow for free button.

Hmm... I saw a huge difference in selection, but you are correct that there is still a KLL option.  My KLL directory was flooded with KU only options and the authors I had written down to use KLL on were switched over to KU exclusively.  Anything marked with "kindle unlimited" did not have a borrow for free button for me.  Did I miss a step somewhere?

I did find a few books not marked for KU that could have been borrowed, but I was shut out of all the things I was looking for.  They were all still listed in the directory, but I couldn't get a copy without a subscription.

DragonSlayer

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #41 on: September 26, 2014, 12:17:58 PM »
If you'll give me an example book that you're looking for, I'll look for it on my Kindle and see what I see.

2ndTimer

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #42 on: September 27, 2014, 10:25:47 AM »
I was really pleased to find this thread.  It convinced me that sometime, maybe late in the winter when I am cacooning, I will try the free month.

ch12

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #43 on: September 29, 2014, 09:05:59 PM »
I was really pleased to find this thread.  It convinced me that sometime, maybe late in the winter when I am cacooning, I will try the free month.

Good choice. I live in Wisconsin. I definitely hibernate during the winter, so I know how it is. :)

Melody

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #44 on: October 08, 2014, 05:38:18 PM »
I think this would be worthwhile for me, at least next time I have a vacation planned. I probably spent close to $100 on kindle books during my last 6 week vacation. I hope it's available for non Americans.

ch12

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Re: Amazon's Kindle Unlimited
« Reply #45 on: October 09, 2014, 03:06:24 AM »
I think this would be worthwhile for me, at least next time I have a vacation planned. I probably spent close to $100 on kindle books during my last 6 week vacation. I hope it's available for non Americans.

It just launched in the UK. http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/24/amazon-kindle-unlimited-ebooks-uk It's not available in Australia yet. :(