So you have a Kindle. Pros/Cons

emclinux · 09-27-2010, 08:42 PM

List what you believe is the Pros and Cons with the Kindle. For me its...

Pros

The screen - I love the screen
Ease of use and the Amazon store
Weight
The amazing amount of books that you can have with 3GB
Wifi is nice
username@kindle.com
Battery life - Really amazing

Cons (I will go into detail about these so you can see my reasoning)

Supported formats - I know that we are really in the beginning of ebooks and there readers and every manufacture is drawing a line in the sand as the format that is used and will be the standard but I would really like to see more supported formats like lit and epub being the big names here
Web Browser - I wish this was a bit better and I know its an ebook reader but I believe that this will be better with the updates so its not a big deal
The SDK - Really amazon you can release it. There is a reason that Apple and Android has so many apps its because they released the kit
Screensavers - They are neat for about 5 minutes but I would like to see a way to change them without hacking

whitearrow · 09-27-2010, 08:53 PM

.lit is a dead format.

It would be nice if the Kindle supported .epub, but even if it did, it still wouldn't be .epub with DRM. Since you can convert any non-DRM'd .epub very easily, it doesn't really make much of a practical difference.

cvkemp · 09-27-2010, 10:07 PM

As for as the web browser my comment is this is a ebook reader not a tablet or computer or ipad. And as for as the screensaver there are hacks for that but as for me when I am not reading and I put it to sleep I close the cover and could care less about what the screen looks like. And the SDK again this is an ebook reader not a computer or a tablet or an ipad.
And by the way it is a damn good ebook reader.

ChaseKR · 09-27-2010, 10:14 PM

I would appreciate support for lending books and accessing library books via OverDrive.

tomsem · 09-28-2010, 02:27 AM

Pros:
- the price
- the improved screen
- the new typefaces
- wifi
- the browser (compared to k2)
- new PDF features (annotation/highlighting, contrast adjustment, password access)
Cons:
- PDF is still not good enough (need link support, actual PDF annotations rather than using sidecar file, reflow option, fit-to-page chops things off sometimes). Sony is much better, has a mode to make 2 column PDFs easier to navigate, etc. Copy them.
- Let the browser open links that want a 'new window' (ask permission if need be). Allow PDF download with web browser, at least over wifi. Consider adding audio codecs so you can listen to some web audio (live radio, embedded mp3 etc.), at least over wifi.
- document navigation is not good enough. Bookmarks are useless without a quick way to navigate to them (a feature missing since K1). They need to use the NCX TOC, the 'HTML' TOC is awful for quickly jumping to a chapter/section. Hyperlinks should be easier to navigate to. Need a Forward function (for recovery from hitting Back too many times, jumping more easily between documents, etc.). They don't need to wait for a touch screen to improve this stuff.
- allow nested collections to make the 'folders' people happier
- provide a way to add custom fonts
- provide a way to add custom screensavers
- stop using 'experimental' to describe features that are used to sell Kindles and make them official (TTS, web browser, image viewer, PDF), spend some time to fix some of the bugs.
- fix audible wifi download so you can get format 4 instead of Enhanced. There isn't THAT much darn space to waste, and I doubt I can tell the difference on Kindle's cheesy audio circuitry. Fix the playback quality to eliminate annoying dropouts. Improve audiobook navigation so you can jump to previous/next chapters when paused and hit previous/next repeatedly without it jumping back to play/pause right away each time.
- add ePub conversion to the @kindle conversion service. For extra credit, add native support to Kindle (even without any DRM support).
- make a deal with OverDrive to support a large selection of mobi-format books for library borrowing.
- bring mobi up to parity (at least) with ePub in terms of CSS support (setting right margins, drop caps, hanging indents, image placement, better table support etc.).

speakingtohe · 09-28-2010, 04:34 AM

Pros
Nice display.
Nice size.
Cons
Little weeny keypad with no numbers
Terrible voices on text-to-speach. Terrible inflection? 2 or more lines of successive quotes are spoken with no break and very poor pronounciation and ephasis is oddly chosen. Kind of like the bus stop announcing system on transit.

Still it is nice enough for the moment.

Jacina · 09-28-2010, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseKR

I would appreciate support for lending books and accessing library books via OverDrive.

Lend books:

Register their kindle with your account.
Send them the book.
Deregister them.

Done :P

JeremyR · 09-28-2010, 05:34 AM

The thing with native ePub support (even without DRM) is that it would be a great boon for those of us that mostly read non-DRMed/non-Amazon stuff.

While I suspect the number of stores that sell non-DRM books is shrinking, in the past week I've bought books from Baen and Fictionwise. In all three cases, the mobi/PRC files were atrociously formatted.

So I had to download the epub and convert to mobi and then put on my Kindle to see what they look like. Then load them in Sigil, tweak and convert. Repeat several times before I got it right.

Solicitous · 09-28-2010, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitearrow

It would be nice if the Kindle supported .epub, but even if it did, it still wouldn't be .epub with DRM. Since you can convert any non-DRM'd .epub very easily, it doesn't really make much of a practical difference.

+1 I totally agree with that. Lack of support for non-DRM epub is a moot point, plenty of really good conversion tools exist for converting to mobi (and allowing for slight tweaks to suit you).

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

The thing with native ePub support (even without DRM) is that it would be a great boon for those of us that mostly read non-DRMed/non-Amazon stuff.

While I suspect the number of stores that sell non-DRM books is shrinking, in the past week I've bought books from Baen and Fictionwise. In all three cases, the mobi/PRC files were atrociously formatted.

So I had to download the epub and convert to mobi and then put on my Kindle to see what they look like. Then load them in Sigil, tweak and convert. Repeat several times before I got it right.

Wouldn't just downloading the non-DRM mobi and reconvert through Calibre be a better option? I have had to do it with my Baen books, and I found going from mobi/prc to mobi was better than epub to mobi. Consequently I download both epub and mobi/prc and reformat both for each of my ereader.

Mitsuya Cider · 09-28-2010, 06:59 AM

Pros:
- It's light and attractive
- The case, when you buy it, makes it safer and more comfortable
- Reading on it feels natural
- Easy to transfer your own books/documents onto it
- Samples

Cons:
- No custom fonts/screensavers without jailbreaking it
- DRM in purchased books
- Convoluted navigation menus
- Only one level of collections
- Cannot rename books on the device
- No tag system
- Not nearly enough user setting options

All of the above cons can be fixed by amazon if and when they choose to update

patrickt · 09-28-2010, 07:46 AM

I didn't imagine the thread was about Kindles versus hardback books. I assumed what was wanted was pros and cons of Kindle versus other ebook readers.

That said, I don't have any cons. All ebook readers have the same issues with formats, DRM, and books with photos and illustrations.

I want my ebook reader for, gasp, reading books and not for browsing the internet, doing email, playing games, watching movies, listening to music, or running inumerable apps. I also have valid reasons for not wanted an ebook reader that does all those things, mostly related to battery use. No, if I wanted all those things I'd get a toy from Apple.

wongdong · 09-28-2010, 08:09 AM

thats Easy:

Pros - Hardware
Cons - Software

will850 · 09-28-2010, 08:20 AM

Hi

My pros:
the screen, reading outside is now possible
battery life
Sending news per email via kindle.com
Can be always with me

Cons:
Collection management should be possible via pc or maybe webinterface

will

09-27-2010, 08:42 PM	#1
emclinux Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3	So you have a Kindle. Pros/Cons List what you believe is the Pros and Cons with the Kindle. For me its... Pros The screen - I love the screen Ease of use and the Amazon store Weight The amazing amount of books that you can have with 3GB Wifi is nice username@kindle.com Battery life - Really amazing Cons (I will go into detail about these so you can see my reasoning) Supported formats - I know that we are really in the beginning of ebooks and there readers and every manufacture is drawing a line in the sand as the format that is used and will be the standard but I would really like to see more supported formats like lit and epub being the big names here Web Browser - I wish this was a bit better and I know its an ebook reader but I believe that this will be better with the updates so its not a big deal The SDK - Really amazon you can release it. There is a reason that Apple and Android has so many apps its because they released the kit Screensavers - They are neat for about 5 minutes but I would like to see a way to change them without hacking

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09-27-2010, 08:53 PM	#2
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	.lit is a dead format. It would be nice if the Kindle supported .epub, but even if it did, it still wouldn't be .epub with DRM. Since you can convert any non-DRM'd .epub very easily, it doesn't really make much of a practical difference.

09-27-2010, 10:07 PM	#3
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,412 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 5,iPhone 13, IPad, MacBook Air	As for as the web browser my comment is this is a ebook reader not a tablet or computer or ipad. And as for as the screensaver there are hacks for that but as for me when I am not reading and I put it to sleep I close the cover and could care less about what the screen looks like. And the SDK again this is an ebook reader not a computer or a tablet or an ipad. And by the way it is a damn good ebook reader.

09-27-2010, 10:14 PM	#4
ChaseKR Connoisseur Posts: 85 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 Touch, iPad 1 3G	I would appreciate support for lending books and accessing library books via OverDrive.

09-28-2010, 02:27 AM	#5
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,468 Karma: 25996225 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	Pros: - the price - the improved screen - the new typefaces - wifi - the browser (compared to k2) - new PDF features (annotation/highlighting, contrast adjustment, password access) Cons: - PDF is still not good enough (need link support, actual PDF annotations rather than using sidecar file, reflow option, fit-to-page chops things off sometimes). Sony is much better, has a mode to make 2 column PDFs easier to navigate, etc. Copy them. - Let the browser open links that want a 'new window' (ask permission if need be). Allow PDF download with web browser, at least over wifi. Consider adding audio codecs so you can listen to some web audio (live radio, embedded mp3 etc.), at least over wifi. - document navigation is not good enough. Bookmarks are useless without a quick way to navigate to them (a feature missing since K1). They need to use the NCX TOC, the 'HTML' TOC is awful for quickly jumping to a chapter/section. Hyperlinks should be easier to navigate to. Need a Forward function (for recovery from hitting Back too many times, jumping more easily between documents, etc.). They don't need to wait for a touch screen to improve this stuff. - allow nested collections to make the 'folders' people happier - provide a way to add custom fonts - provide a way to add custom screensavers - stop using 'experimental' to describe features that are used to sell Kindles and make them official (TTS, web browser, image viewer, PDF), spend some time to fix some of the bugs. - fix audible wifi download so you can get format 4 instead of Enhanced. There isn't THAT much darn space to waste, and I doubt I can tell the difference on Kindle's cheesy audio circuitry. Fix the playback quality to eliminate annoying dropouts. Improve audiobook navigation so you can jump to previous/next chapters when paused and hit previous/next repeatedly without it jumping back to play/pause right away each time. - add ePub conversion to the @kindle conversion service. For extra credit, add native support to Kindle (even without any DRM support). - make a deal with OverDrive to support a large selection of mobi-format books for library borrowing. - bring mobi up to parity (at least) with ePub in terms of CSS support (setting right margins, drop caps, hanging indents, image placement, better table support etc.).

09-28-2010, 04:34 AM	#6
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	Pros Nice display. Nice size. Cons Little weeny keypad with no numbers Terrible voices on text-to-speach. Terrible inflection? 2 or more lines of successive quotes are spoken with no break and very poor pronounciation and ephasis is oddly chosen. Kind of like the bus stop announcing system on transit. Still it is nice enough for the moment.

09-28-2010, 05:34 AM	#8
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	The thing with native ePub support (even without DRM) is that it would be a great boon for those of us that mostly read non-DRMed/non-Amazon stuff. While I suspect the number of stores that sell non-DRM books is shrinking, in the past week I've bought books from Baen and Fictionwise. In all three cases, the mobi/PRC files were atrociously formatted. So I had to download the epub and convert to mobi and then put on my Kindle to see what they look like. Then load them in Sigil, tweak and convert. Repeat several times before I got it right.

09-28-2010, 06:59 AM	#10
Mitsuya Cider Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle PW, IPad Mini	Pros: - It's light and attractive - The case, when you buy it, makes it safer and more comfortable - Reading on it feels natural - Easy to transfer your own books/documents onto it - Samples Cons: - No custom fonts/screensavers without jailbreaking it - DRM in purchased books - Convoluted navigation menus - Only one level of collections - Cannot rename books on the device - No tag system - Not nearly enough user setting options All of the above cons can be fixed by amazon if and when they choose to update

09-28-2010, 07:46 AM	#11
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	I didn't imagine the thread was about Kindles versus hardback books. I assumed what was wanted was pros and cons of Kindle versus other ebook readers. That said, I don't have any cons. All ebook readers have the same issues with formats, DRM, and books with photos and illustrations. I want my ebook reader for, gasp, reading books and not for browsing the internet, doing email, playing games, watching movies, listening to music, or running inumerable apps. I also have valid reasons for not wanted an ebook reader that does all those things, mostly related to battery use. No, if I wanted all those things I'd get a toy from Apple.

09-28-2010, 08:09 AM	#12
wongdong Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 90 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Austria Device: Pocketbook 360, Pocketbook 903	thats Easy: Pros - Hardware Cons - Software

09-28-2010, 08:20 AM	#13
will850 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Austria Device: Kindle 3	Hi My pros: the screen, reading outside is now possible battery life Sending news per email via kindle.com Can be always with me Cons: Collection management should be possible via pc or maybe webinterface will

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