Kindle 3
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- herzo0
I take it lots of you either don't read or can't. Amongst people who are actually avid readers the Kindle is a great device and not comparable to the iPad. As designers I would expect most to understand how important purpose and function is. Some of you must lay out novels in illustrator too? The iPad is not the end all and be all of portable devices.
- But is it good for PDFs? My fear is it's not really suitable. Strangely, iPad might be better due to screen size.raf
- detritus0
Ah, herzo - took the words right out of my mouth.
I find it tragic seeing just how unimaginative some of the designers on this board can be sometimes - whether they are or not, they come across like blinkered fools distracted by shiny baubles.
I defy anyone who actually enjoys reading more than a Twitter's worth of content to not be somewhat curious about reading-specific digital devices.
- blogger0
Is surfing faster on V3?
- ernexbcn0
but it doesn't support color
- randommail0
The paperback book was one of the all-time best objects of product design. They're practical, intuitive, utilitarian, and democratic. Sustainable since it is can be used for generations. And the hand-me-down and the shareable nature of books promotes further reading by other people.
Fuck Kindles and Nooks. And for different reasons, but to a lesser extent, the iPad too. Did we really need more plastic and chemical junk? Great, in addition to new iPods and cell-phones every 2 years, we now are going to have to do the same with the ebooks.
- ********0
I really don't get the Kindle, it's like an old calculator but with letters. Get an Ipad, or a real book.
- You don't need to charge it - it's nice for reading .. It's small and portable - and you can get a lot of books on the device.********
- .. and it's only £109********
- lukus knows his kindle!
i think its niceHombre_Lobo
- You don't need to charge it - it's nice for reading .. It's small and portable - and you can get a lot of books on the device.
- raf0
This thread will be remembered for the most occurrences of the adjective "avid" in history.
- detritus0
An interesting article on Slashdot today, in a similar vein - a writer's search for the most basic, utilitarian 'word processor' he can find.
http://features.slashdot.org/sto…
I know I follow this philosophy, after someone linked 'Darkroom' here (NT?) a while back. We're becoming far too distracted by our toys and so whilst having everything multitask and intercommunicate is pretty cool, it only serves to reduce our ability to categorise modes of thought, activity and productivity into discrete, focused domains.
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I get the whole "oh, but they could never replace books!" thing, but as someone who's moved at least 14 times in the last decade and a half I'm in the demographic that would welcome replacing the volume of all future book purchases with a postage stamp-sized memory card and a single book volume.
Also - the BIG thing I want from eReaders is to be able to read a 'heavy book', lying on my side in bed, without having to shift awkwardly around every x minutes, trying to balance x hundred pages in one hand 'til my thumb tires, then switching sides.
- randommail0
I tried using both a Kindle and Nook.
I have to say the overall user experience and quality of build suck. And I know that is my opinion since I'm used to using an iPad. In terms of industrial design, an iPad is just solid. And the UI is slick and intuitive. I might be more inclined to read simply because it's fun to interact with the iPad.
The Kindle and Nook both had glitches. Buttons you'd have to press hard. Screens not refreshing quickly and smoothly (not quickly enough to someone who is used to Apple). And creaky plastic parts (which I'm sorry to say was probably the biggest turn-off).
- ok, not press THAT hard. I'm just used to a light tap on a glass screen.randommail
- ********0
i'll buy it if it drops in price. like $50-$60.... just to keep somewhere in the house to display black and white novels.
but most things that i read would be better with a color screen and photos. i played with the kindle and navigating it's functions is annoying. rather surf via a touchscreen. i think the iPad is the way to to. But the iPad is still expensive. Waiting for it to drop to normal pricing vs new gadget on the block from Apple price.
- raf0
The interesting thing about eBooks is that they actually might end the era of books being legal donationware (and start the era of illegal donationware).
Only people who really want to pay for paper books do so (most people do), the rest get them from their library. This will change with ebooks. Still a lot won't pay, but it won't be legal anymore.
- I agree.
So this means the end of the literary publishing world. Just like the music industry.randommail
- I agree.
- blogger0
The advantage of a Kindle is that it's less straining on the eyes, and you can order a book in less than 5 minutes. For me, it's been collecting dust because I found most of the books I buy are design related, and I need to see it in color.
- raf0
Another thing: isn't kindle 3G the ultimate international web/email client? I.e. you go anywhere and have free access to black'n'white internet? There's not a lot of talk about that feature...
- FREE?
Really free?randommail - Correct me if I'm wrong, but its price includes international 3G internet forever.raf
- FREE?
- canuck0
The thing about the kindle is that it's meant for just reading, there are no other fancy destractions on it. I'm not even sure you can compare it to the ipad, it's a totally different device that costs about 5 times as much. Compared to some of the other reading devices such as the nook (called kobo here) I think it has some advantages, such as wifi, but they're probably pretty similar from what i've read/seen.
Amazon has done a good thing bringing the price down to 140 for the base model; that's pretty damn cheap. I think if it hit the $100 price point it would really gain some momentum.
I have a kindle on the way, & I looking forward to using it.
- luckyorphan0
For avid readers of text-based books (not those with a great deal of imagery), the Kindle is a nice product. My folks swear by it, as they are avid travelers and often take their Kindle with them—which contains over fifty books at a time.
But if you need more than a device that will allow you to carry tons of books without the tons of books, and occasionally read some online stuff, the Kindle's not for you.
- monkeyshine0
There's also the Kindle app for iPad. I have the Kindle app for iPhone and it's great because if I'm out and about with some time on my hands, my books are synced and I can pick up where I left off on the device. That rocks!
- raf0
The web browser. Considering it comes with free worldwide internet, it looks like a nice bonus...
- raf0
Sorry, here's part 2
- randommail0
After the iPad was announced, the Kindle advertising went distinctly female and mom.
The TV spots don't show any men.- but but... I'm sure they are mom/ "serious readers"Miguex
- prophet0
me want color!
*beats chest