Amazon Kindle

Possibly a better topic for the PDA forums, but does anyone have any opinions about the Amazon Kindle?

Along the same line, what do you guys think of the competitors for it, etc. (Sony, etc.), or multifunction devices that aren't as specialized (pdas, tablets, etc.)?

 

Don't know much about it other than it uses some kind of technology that makes the screen display a background that looks similar to the the paper in books, making it a bit more comfortable. Also many were waiting on version 2 which is out.

Still reminds me of Captain Picard reading a memo from starfleet

 

Yeah
I started trying e-books with many devices
The problems with my cellphone and PSP was that the screen was too bright and caused eye strain hurting.
I had to lower brightness which can be a pain if you want to read for lots of short periods at a time.

What I like about this, is that it resembles a paperback closely in size and the way it is displayed, as mentioned above
Its not available here but I look forward to it

Till then paperbacks FTW [avid reader]

 

I think I saw the Sony Reader at a Waterstone's store in - Oban Scotland...

Overal, I didn't really stay long - but learning how to control the things... then the contrast isn't as good as a real page...
What's easier to use than a book? Not these things.,

I think I stay with good old books.
(And books look nice on a shelf too)

 

I wanted to get this...because I read so much.

But, we can download books and peripherals to our computers for free from our local library system...(library 3 week checkout).

So, that will work find for me..for now~!


Cin

 

Wow, really? You can download books from your library? I don't think any near me has a system like this in place. Is this what libraries are switching to ?

 

Yeah, its pretty cool, most larger library systems have them intact. They are called EBooks

• An eBook is an electronic copy of a book that can be read on the screen of your computer or hand held device. eBook features vary by provider.
  
• Downloadable video is online video content that can be downloaded to your PC and viewed from a variety of sources including PC, television, or compatible mobile device

I think most libraries are switching..mine has had it for a few years now!
Its kind of cool..if you want a book from the library and their is a hold on it, you can check the ebooks catalog and usually download it!! It's also nice to be able to use if you are going on vacation or something vs. carrying around books its all on your lappy or mobile device!!!

There are a few hosts thru the library you can use to download: NetLibrary, Overdrive Digital Library, and Gale Virtual Reference Library.

I was able to read the last Harry Potter book on my computer without having to wait on the *hold* list, for it!! It's also a great resource if you need to do some research and referencing!!

You should check with your local library system, and surrounding library sharing partners..in the counties nearby where you live..to see if they offer this!!! Most libraries nowadays are tied into each other statewide, county to county..making it easier for library patrons, such as you and I ~ to use the library system!!

Cin

 

I don't understand why people would want to read a screen instead of getting stuck in to a real book. I would love someone to explain this to me. just my 2 cents.

thanks

fattail95

 

Really they do, my shelf is really filling up nicely (I Love to read)

Apparently this was one of the reasons the kindle was so popular because they say that the contrast is very close to a real book

They are very portable
Say you are going on holiday, you can take one of these things (~ the size of a thin paperback) with a load of books on it
Much lighter and easier to travel with

Also, as Cin said many libraries are adopting e-books which will increase the popularity of these devices

Personally, I still like books, but here I have to buy any book I want to read beacuse there are no libraries where I live
It's very sad

 

thanks, i kind of see the point of one now

fattail95

 

No worries, glad i could help

 

Well, the Kindle 2 seems to be a nice device, i'm gonna say a few words about it.

1. New looks. Overall design got rounded corners and looks more solid than the old one. From some viewpoints the old one looked like a cookie, and it felt like you can snap out a piece out of it.
Also, it's much thinner now - 0.36" instead of 0.7

2. The new electronic paper screen is still easy to read under direct sunlight, but the refresh time is reduced by 20%. However, still almost a second.

3. Amazon claims the battery capacity is 25% bigger, allowing up to 2 weeks of use on a single charge. Perfect holiday timing, in my opinion.

4. The method of getting eBooks is the same - device connects throug 3G to the store, where you can buy a book. This annoys me - I prefer freedom of choice. Especially taking into account that some of the books I'm interesred in will doubtly ever appear there.

5. Memory. Now it has 2Gb instead of 256Meg, which is a very good improvement.

6. It now can read texts for you. But you gotta be really lazy)))


I hope it was a useful post))

 

if ebooks were significantly discounted, then i would say it's worth it to spend $300+ on an ebook reader... but 5% or 10% discounts don't really justify a $300+ ebook reader in my case.

as of now, the only benefit i see is that you can cary several books with you at all times... this is a plus but, in all honesty, how many people really need to have 10+ books with them? certainly not me and certainly not *most* (not all) readers out there......

and i love how publishers say that publishing costs are what bring up the price of books. if this was the case, then $30 books should be $5 in ebook format, and not the $25 'discounted cost' that publishers are 'blessing' us with...

:: rolling eyes ::

like someone else says, either until the ebook reader prices fall dramatically or ebook prices fall dramatically, i am sticking to paperbacks.

 

I can get them for free thru my library, download for up to 3 weeks (renew, if needed)...and return w/out paying a dime!

I must prefer a good book to curl up and read though!

The e-books are good for when traveling and such!


Cin

 

Great post (+rep)
Me likey, but point 4 really turns me off
I agree, I like freedom

It's great that you can get em for free
But I also like reading an actual book, but I don't really curl as much

 

Oh you should try curling up with good book...and let the book take you away A nice oversized chair does the work!

Really, I read anywhere and everywhere..I can! It's not the atmosphere that matters, it's whats inside those pages!

Cin

 

I read a lot too, usually with my feet up.
I'll try curling up

But as you said it's the pages not the atmosphere

That's another great plus point of the device

It saves paper

 

Other benefits are that you can do keyword searches on your books and that you can download content over the cellular wireless 3G network.

I don't have a Kindle... but I do see the appeal of it.

 

Same here

I didn't know you could download using 3g
Thanks for the info

 

I'm sort of looking a a Kindle/2. Or perhaps the one from FoxIt.

I have a bunch of readers on my PPC (iSilo (under StyleTap), RepliGo, Adobe, Palm Reader Pro (under StyleTap), eReader, Microsoft Reader, Word, Notepad, MobiPocket). Pretty much cover the majority of eBook formats.

 

WOW
That's alot of reader programs

I just have Microsoft reader and adobe for the meager amount of ebooks I have

 

Most eReader software is free. MobiPocket is quite nice. I believe that they also have a PC reader. eReader is the worst of the lot on the PPC platform; it does not even support having the books on a memory card without using a PC-based transfer program (no direct loading via USB card readers).

UPDATE: I sent a query into the eReader folks and got a response back. I was mistaken. The eReader reader does allow USB card reader transfer of .prc files. In fact, I tested it and it recognizes both an SD and a CF card in addition to main memory on my X51V running WM5. The .prc files do have to go into \My Documents\Peanut Press\ regardless of which file store.

 

I'm just surprised that there are so many e-book formats
I take it you read alot on your PPC (which is ..... )

For my PSP, I found a program that converted them to images on the memory card
Great app, with changeable font sizes and styles, only worked with text files though

 

My PPC is a Dell X51V with a 3.7" VGA screen.

Still, the reflective screens of the Kindle/2 and the Foxit eSlick might be easier on the eyes than the light source screen of the X51V, not to mention 62% bigger at 6".

 

yea

I also find that reading books on my pc also causes my eyes to hurt unless I turn the brightness way down

6" is a good size IMO

 

For a screen, it is about right, depending on the font. I find I read about a page in a little under 2 seconds on the 3.7" screen of PPC with a font just slightly larger than the smallest available. Tap...Tap...Tap... Anyone know if the page turning button of the Kindle/2 and on the eSlick is quiet or clicks? I can use a button instead of tapping on the PDA.

 

The best PPC reader, in my opinion, is HaaliReader.

 

Oh? I need to check this one out!


Cin

 

Do you read Cyrillic?

 

Nope, I just checked it out.

Do you?


Cin

 

No, but given enough time, I might learn. I do know several dozen programming languages, though.

 

Sorry to butt in. But I speak a lot of german.And I want to learn cyrillic and arabic.

 

Oh, don't be sorry. No one has objected to this thread going off-topic yet!

I think if I were to attempt another human language I would probably go with Spanish and Japanese. I know a bit of Spanish, but not enough and I know a smattering of German, too. Not a lot, though.

I know Iowan, too. It is easy to learn. Just put the word at after every question. Example: Do you know where the cell phone is at?

 

I tried taking spanish, but I think german is easier.

 

German is very rule oriented and orderly as I recall.

 

It is. I just like it more because my family comes from germany and I spoke some before I took some classes at high school.

 

I've always found reading and writing a language easier for me than speaking it. Even my native language.

 

I agree with you there.

 

I speak english duh
Urdu, and I'm working on Arabic (my location helps )

It would be cool to learn a far-eastern language like Japanese, or chinese
Their writing looks amazing(ly difficult )