I used to be a Blackberry user, and blackberry has a scroll ball for navigation. You can turn that ball to all direction effortlessly.

Why Kindle chose the square 5 way navigate instead of scroll ball? To get to any word for a definition, it means you have to navigate vertical for a few times, then horizontally a few times, it is so inconvenient.

This is so far the biggest drawback for Kindle 2.

Did I miss anything? Any tips you want to share for using the 5-way?

Thanks!

Image how you use your blackberry trackball and waiting for that eInk screen to update to show where you are. =D

Image how you use your blackberry trackball and waiting for that eInk screen to update to show where you are. =D

Could you please elaborate? I do not understand how it works. So eInk determines that we cannot use scrollball?

eInk is not a traditional TFT display, so its refresh rate does not come close to your first generation LCD. http://eink.com/technology/index.html

In fact, epaper technology first started for non-interactive use. As the technology improves, more user interaction can be done with the display technology. Trackball will lead to very fast input rate, user will expect a very fast response from the screen. epaper is pitched as low-power display device rather than fast interactive display.

Thank you for the explanation. Now it makes sense to me.

eInk is not a traditional TFT display, so its refresh rate does not come close to your first generation LCD. http://eink.com/technology/index.html

In fact, epaper technology first started for non-interactive use. As the technology improves, more user interaction can be done with the display technology. Trackball will lead to very fast input rate, user will expect a very fast response from the screen. epaper is pitched as low-power display device rather than fast interactive display.

Ah-ha! looks like many small reasons for waiting on the 2 are adding up!

As a blackberry user I can tell you that the trackball gets "sticky" from time to time. I have had to disassemble my Curve a couple of times to clean the ball. Still love the 'Berry though, I just wish the trackball would work 100% of the time, even 98% doesnt cut it. IMO