Comments on: Kindle With Care http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/ Colour commentary on the world of books Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:12:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Same Old Game | books@torontoist http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-786 Same Old Game | books@torontoist Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:17:33 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-786 [...] Kindle With Care Share and [...] [...] Kindle With Care Share and [...]

]]> By: Marc Lostracco http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-778 Marc Lostracco Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:24:10 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-778 Addendum to the article: I just got a refund of CAD$18.80 for export fees on the order, so the Kindle ended up costing CAD$312 in total, shipped. Addendum to the article: I just got a refund of CAD$18.80 for export fees on the order, so the Kindle ended up costing CAD$312 in total, shipped.

]]> By: Billitteri Word http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Billitteri Word Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:06:30 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-345 I almost bought the original version but I kept thinking a new version would be out around the first of the year. As soon as I saw the Kindle 2 was available I ordered it. I think $359 is a lot but after using the Kindle for a few weeks it's worth the money. I was surprised at a lot of the classics that are available for either free or a couple of bucks. I finished Treasure Island which I hadn't read since I was a boy and am currently reading Voyage to the Center of the Earth with 3 or 4 more books all loaded up and ready to go. In fact I'm reading several at the same time. This is a great product for anyone that loves to read, I haven't tried any news papers or magazines yet. As for the unit it's really nice, a little heavier than I thought so I end up reading with the Kindle on a pillow when in bed and on the table when I read at the table. It gets a little heavy after 30 minutes or so if you are holding it. I really like all of the controls and features, I've gone back to read the users manual several times. I've also used the dictionary quite a bit, really works slick. I tried the audio feature and decided it was too robotic for me. It just isn't human but it certainly works very well if you want to use it. I guess I was looking for the fond memory of my grandmother reading the Wind in the Willows to me many years ago. In summary all I can say is get one. If you really like to read you're going to love it. I almost bought the original version but I kept thinking a new version would be out around the first of the year. As soon as I saw the Kindle 2 was available I ordered it. I think $359 is a lot but after using the Kindle for a few weeks it’s worth the money. I was surprised at a lot of the classics that are available for either free or a couple of bucks. I finished Treasure Island which I hadn’t read since I was a boy and am currently reading Voyage to the Center of the Earth with 3 or 4 more books all loaded up and ready to go. In fact I’m reading several at the same time. This is a great product for anyone that loves to read, I haven’t tried any news papers or magazines yet.
As for the unit it’s really nice, a little heavier than I thought so I end up reading with the Kindle on a pillow when in bed and on the table when I read at the table. It gets a little heavy after 30 minutes or so if you are holding it. I really like all of the controls and features, I’ve gone back to read the users manual several times. I’ve also used the dictionary quite a bit, really works slick. I tried the audio feature and decided it was too robotic for me. It just isn’t human but it certainly works very well if you want to use it. I guess I was looking for the fond memory of my grandmother reading the Wind in the Willows to me many years ago.
In summary all I can say is get one. If you really like to read you’re going to love it.

]]> By: Marc Lostracco http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Marc Lostracco Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:38:48 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-145 Thanks, Andrys. I made a concerted effort to photograph the screen accurately for that reason. Most of the actual snaps I've seen online don't look that great, and all the promo shots from Amazon are faked and finessed, but I think it's probably the screen that is the most misunderstood part. I found that it really is far more like reading on paper than a computer screen, and when they finally get the contrast high enough that it's no longer a light grey background, there isn't going to be much to complain about. The thing with the e-paper screen is that you really need to see it with your own eyes to comprehend it. I think the photos in this article are pretty accurate, though. Colour e-ink is only in the prototype stage right now, but it looks dull and washed-out—however, I can imagine once they get that down pat, comics and graphic novels could be a really interesting thing to digest on an e-reader. The Kindle firmware update that arrived today really does improve PDF rendering as well. Thanks, Andrys. I made a concerted effort to photograph the screen accurately for that reason. Most of the actual snaps I’ve seen online don’t look that great, and all the promo shots from Amazon are faked and finessed, but I think it’s probably the screen that is the most misunderstood part. I found that it really is far more like reading on paper than a computer screen, and when they finally get the contrast high enough that it’s no longer a light grey background, there isn’t going to be much to complain about. The thing with the e-paper screen is that you really need to see it with your own eyes to comprehend it. I think the photos in this article are pretty accurate, though.

Colour e-ink is only in the prototype stage right now, but it looks dull and washed-out—however, I can imagine once they get that down pat, comics and graphic novels could be a really interesting thing to digest on an e-reader. The Kindle firmware update that arrived today really does improve PDF rendering as well.

]]> By: Andrys http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Andrys Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:55:18 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-142 Just wanted to add that your photos are terrific. It's not easy to photograph well the text on the screen so that it reflects pretty much what we see. Even then it's never going to be as clear as it actually is. In this case, some of the pictures are larger than life but they still convey the look of the Kindle while reading. (I've read that some still think the Kindle is backlit like an LCD screen.) Just wanted to add that your photos are terrific. It’s not easy to photograph well the text on the screen so that it reflects pretty much what we see. Even then it’s never going to be as clear as it actually is. In this case, some of the pictures are larger than life but they still convey the look of the Kindle while reading. (I’ve read that some still think the Kindle is backlit like an LCD screen.)

]]> By: Edward A Blake http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Edward A Blake Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:38:29 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-117 I know loads of students a bit annoyed that it’s still hard to find many sites or publishers that offer (proper) textbooks to use on an eRedaer...come on, its 2009, why are we still using those heavy things that go out of date by the time they go to and cost over a hundred bucks? The company I work for, www.bookboon.com and publish a huge range of textbooks and every single textbook is made available to download free of charge in a compatible pdf e-book format with no registration. It’s a totally 100% free textbook solution perfect for new Kindle owners looking for good and free academic content! I know loads of students a bit annoyed that it’s still hard to find many sites or publishers that offer (proper) textbooks to use on an eRedaer…come on, its 2009, why are we still using those heavy things that go out of date by the time they go to and cost over a hundred bucks?

The company I work for, http://www.bookboon.com and publish a huge range of textbooks and every single textbook is made available to download free of charge in a compatible pdf e-book format with no registration.

It’s a totally 100% free textbook solution perfect for new Kindle owners looking for good and free academic content!

]]> By: Mark http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Mark Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:07:46 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-115 Nice tech, certainly. But the DRM is indeed a deal-breaker for me. I won't have "my" content (content I've paid for, content that should be freely available through a variety of means that are consistent with the law, content I've produced, etc.) mediated by an arbitrary company that can either fall off the face of the earth, or unilaterally withdraw its <a href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html" rel="nofollow">permission to read</a>. It's easy to get caught up in the "ooh, shiny" aspects which are, admittedly, shiny indeed. More challenging to understand the politics and effects of having Bezos & Co. mediating availability of knowledge for the rest of us. Nice tech, certainly. But the DRM is indeed a deal-breaker for me. I won’t have “my” content (content I’ve paid for, content that should be freely available through a variety of means that are consistent with the law, content I’ve produced, etc.) mediated by an arbitrary company that can either fall off the face of the earth, or unilaterally withdraw its permission to read.

It’s easy to get caught up in the “ooh, shiny” aspects which are, admittedly, shiny indeed. More challenging to understand the politics and effects of having Bezos & Co. mediating availability of knowledge for the rest of us.

]]> By: Alex http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Alex Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:11:43 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-114 Fantastic and thorough review! Thanks very much :) Fantastic and thorough review! Thanks very much :)

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-113 uberVU - social comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:59:42 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-113 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by canoedossier: Kindle review raves, but notes profound lack of Can-Con: http://ow.ly/EYcp... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by canoedossier: Kindle review raves, but notes profound lack of Can-Con: http://ow.ly/EYcp...

]]> By: Christopher Hylarides http://theexcerpt.com/2009/11/kindle-with-care/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Christopher Hylarides Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:38:25 +0000 http://books.torontoist.com/?p=859#comment-112 I hear the hopeful grunts of students everywhere as soon as they can carry all their textbooks on one of these. I hear the hopeful grunts of students everywhere as soon as they can carry all their textbooks on one of these.

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