Register Guidelines E-Books Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   MobileRead Forums > E-Book Readers > Amazon Kindle

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 08-16-2011, 12:08 PM   #1
sparrowlight
Zealot
sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.
 
sparrowlight's Avatar
 
Posts: 100
Karma: 6058
Join Date: Aug 2009
Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Touch as backup
New Kindles = no physical keyboard??

Hello all! Like many of you, I'm excited to see the new Kindle models in October (or whenever they are revealed). I've been using my K2 for two years and it's served me well. Though I debated upgrading to a K3, I can't justify it when the K2 still works perfectly.

Here's my concern. What are the odds that neither of the new Kindles will include a physical keyboard? I know there has been chatter of a touchscreen Kindle as well as a Kindle/Amazon Tablet. I have played with the new Nook Touch and confirmed my suspicions that I do not want a touchscreen ereader! Even with a smaller form factor and ease of use...I far prefer the K2's (and K3's) physical keyboard.

Now I'm debating whether the new Kindles will do away with the physical keyboard, in which case I wonder whether I ought to go ahead and buy a new K3 right now (or one of the refurbished models). Will the K3 form factor / hardware still be available, if only for a short time, once the K4 is announced? Just wanted to hear some thoughts.
sparrowlight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 12:11 PM   #2
HarryT
eBook Enthusiast
HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
HarryT's Avatar
 
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
My only thought is "nobody will know if or until Amazon announce it". If you want a K3, get a K3; you can do an awful lot of reading between now and whenever it is that hypothetical new Kindle models eventually ship.
HarryT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 12:12 PM   #3
Asawi
Gadgetoholic
Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Asawi ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Asawi's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,462
Karma: 2731820
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Sweden
Device: Kobo Libra2, Tolino Vision 6
I would be very surprised if K4 isn't a touch screen with no physical keyboard.
I would NOT be surprised if the K3 would still be around for while sold as the "special offers" versions.
Just totally unfounded guesswork though!
Asawi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 12:14 PM   #4
jswinden
Nameless Being
 
I wouldn't lose any sleep over speculating what the K4s will have or won't have. If and when Amazon officially announces them, it will probably be a few weeks afterwards before they can be ordered. I would think K3s would still be around for purchase for a while after the K4s come out. Certainly there will be a lot of people selling their used K3s to upgrade. So you shouldn't have to worry about being able to get a K3 for quite a while.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 01:36 PM   #5
sparrowlight
Zealot
sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.sparrowlight got an A in P-Chem.
 
sparrowlight's Avatar
 
Posts: 100
Karma: 6058
Join Date: Aug 2009
Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Touch as backup
Thanks for the insights, y'all -- definitely reassuring. I am definitely NOT interested in the KSO models, so if they announce a K4 without a physical keyboard, I will probably spring for a K3 while I can.
sparrowlight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 01:47 PM   #6
jimh12345
Connoisseur
jimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it is
 
Posts: 71
Karma: 2012
Join Date: May 2011
Device: kindle
I predict touchscreen all the way. The market seems to have decided that's what it wants to buy - and use to impress friends. Maybe 10% or less (I am one) like the physical keypad and realize its advantages. Everyone else is gaa-gaa over touchscreens right now.
jimh12345 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 02:17 PM   #7
jswinden
Nameless Being
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimh12345 View Post
I predict touchscreen all the way. The market seems to have decided that's what it wants to buy - and use to impress friends. Maybe 10% or less (I am one) like the physical keypad and realize its advantages. Everyone else is gaa-gaa over touchscreens right now.
I'm not sure that is a correct statement. There are most likely way more ereaders out there with keyboards than with touchscreens. Although few companies have released numbers of devices they have sold, we can infer some things from sales of ebooks. Many of the major publishing houses claim as much as 2/3 of their ebook sales are through Amazon and/or are in mobi format. That tends to suggest a LOT more Kindles than non-Kindle ereaders.

I think the touchscreens catch the attention of non-ereader types who keep technology blogs and thus report on new stuff, and not very accurately at that. Ever Tom, Dick, and Harry has a technology blog these days, and unfortunately few of these bloggers are professional or reliable. Even the so-called professional sites publish questionable reviews and material. I suspect reality is much different than what is painted for us in most of these blogs. I personally look at most technology blogs and sites in the same dim light that I do news tabloids--that is, they are not reliable and are usually biased.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 03:31 PM   #8
emoorman
Obsessive Reader
emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.emoorman ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
emoorman's Avatar
 
Posts: 74
Karma: 515292
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Shalimar, FL (in the panhandle)
Device: Kindle PW, Nokia 1520
Cat

Jack,

That cat looks peeved to me. If he weighed 50 lbs more, you'd have to watch your back.

I agree with you on the bloggers. Some of them sound like they haven't even handled or tried out the item.

I read on a phone and the screen gets dirty from the oil on my face whether it's my old phone with a keyboard or a touch screen. My newer phone is slightly worse due to my turning pages when I read. Either one is easier than the multiple press of the really old phones.

Ed KD4QBM
emoorman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 04:01 PM   #9
RainingLemur
Spork Connoisseur
RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.RainingLemur ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
RainingLemur's Avatar
 
Posts: 2,355
Karma: 16780603
Join Date: Mar 2011
Device: Nook Color
I imagine that Amazon will do a touchscreen Kindle. I just hope that they at least keep a newer model with keyboard and such.
RainingLemur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 04:46 PM   #10
Lalilulelo
Enthusiast
Lalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the roughLalilulelo is a jewel in the rough
 
Lalilulelo's Avatar
 
Posts: 41
Karma: 7298
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Algeria
Device: Sony PRS-T1
I think the new Kindle(s) are going to feature a very nice 7-inch screen with HD resolution. That will be so awesome! Especially since the additions would be made at the expense of a bulky, disproportioned-next-to-human-fingertips physical keyboard. I'm so excited proper, compact e-readers are replacing oversized calculators. Yay for touch screens.
As for the skeptics, I'm sure they'll ultimately come to good reason, same as when going from print to electronic.

EDIT: Before I forget, go for K3!

Last edited by Lalilulelo; 08-16-2011 at 04:50 PM.
Lalilulelo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 04:47 PM   #11
alansplace
Grand Sorcerer
alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.alansplace ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
alansplace's Avatar
 
Posts: 5,883
Karma: 464403178
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: 33.9388° N, 117.2716° W
Device: Kindles K-2, K-KB, PW 1 & 2, Voyage, Fire 2, 5 & HD 8, Surface 3, iPad
Quote:
Originally Posted by RainingLemur View Post
I imagine that Amazon will do a touchscreen Kindle. I just hope that they at least keep a newer model with keyboard and such.
yes!!

like the ipod classic.

if i had to replace my ipod, i'd certainly choose the classic , not the touch.
alansplace is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 06:17 PM   #12
jimh12345
Connoisseur
jimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it isjimh12345 knows what time it is
 
Posts: 71
Karma: 2012
Join Date: May 2011
Device: kindle
Quote:
Originally Posted by jswinden View Post
Ever Tom, Dick, and Harry has a technology blog these days, and unfortunately few of these bloggers are professional or reliable. Even the so-called professional sites publish questionable reviews and material. I suspect reality is much different than what is painted for us in most of these blogs. I personally look at most technology blogs and sites in the same dim light that I do news tabloids--that is, they are not reliable and are usually biased.
Jack, I just finished 30 years in the computer/software business, and you're spot on with those observations. Even before the internet, we had research firms like "Gartner Group" selling their wsidom on what was going to be big next year. And in my experience they had very little success in predicting the future even a year out.

The 'reviews' that I see on today's technology blogs are usually shallow, superficial repackagings of marketing bullet points and feature lists. So I hold their predictions in similarly low regard.

If I am not mistaken, almost everyone (myself included) predicted the kindle would be a flop. Who would want a pricey gizmo just for books?

Last edited by jimh12345; 08-16-2011 at 06:45 PM.
jimh12345 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 07:12 PM   #13
PharaohsVizier
Connoisseur
PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PharaohsVizier ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 92
Karma: 510274
Join Date: Jul 2010
Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DXG, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimh12345 View Post
I predict touchscreen all the way. The market seems to have decided that's what it wants to buy - and use to impress friends. Maybe 10% or less (I am one) like the physical keypad and realize its advantages. Everyone else is gaa-gaa over touchscreens right now.
Well I want a touch screen and believe it or not, I want it for its functional advantages. I mean the trimmed down size is the major major advantage of the touch screen, it makes it THAT much more portable. It'll definitely help out with navigation a bit, though it robs us of a good 4 or 5 directional pad. So long as Amazon keeps a few buttons here and there, I have no reason to go against what the market is going for.

Just curious, what exactly do you type on the keyboard? How often do you use it? Because for me, I do a few searches here and there and a few notes here and there. Sure an onscreen keyboard will be really frustrating, but I don't use it enough to settle for a lower model just to keep the keyboard.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jswinden View Post
I think the touchscreens catch the attention of non-ereader types who keep technology blogs and thus report on new stuff, and not very accurately at that. Ever Tom, Dick, and Harry has a technology blog these days, and unfortunately few of these bloggers are professional or reliable. Even the so-called professional sites publish questionable reviews and material. I suspect reality is much different than what is painted for us in most of these blogs. I personally look at most technology blogs and sites in the same dim light that I do news tabloids--that is, they are not reliable and are usually biased.
I don't think it's because they aren't professional, I think it's just the nature of technology. It includes so much and it keeps changing. For a "good" review of the Kindle, the reviewer probably needs to test a good half dozen eReaders, but which site has the resources to do that? They can't afford to have an eReader specialist on their staff because the next day they will be a thing of the past and who knows, maybe a device that zaps books into your brains will be the next big thing.
PharaohsVizier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 07:33 PM   #14
Badandy
Connoisseur
Badandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blueBadandy can differentiate black from dark navy blue
 
Badandy's Avatar
 
Posts: 71
Karma: 13366
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Terminus
Device: Kindle 3, iPhone
Quote:
Originally Posted by sparrowlight View Post
Thanks for the insights, y'all -- definitely reassuring. I am definitely NOT interested in the KSO models, so if they announce a K4 without a physical keyboard, I will probably spring for a K3 while I can.
I'm regretting every day that I didn't get the KSO model. 20% off any laptop on Amazon? $5 for a $10 Amazon card? All for the low price of seeing an occasional advertisement before I turn it on and start reading?
Badandy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 07:49 PM   #15
carld
Wizard
carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.carld ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 2,698
Karma: 4748723
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
I've tried out touchscreens on the Sony and the nook, and was pretty lukewarm about them. I guess as long at the next Kindle keeps the page turn buttons on the side I could live with a touchscreen.
carld is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[K3] Physical keyboard localization Sir Alex Kindle Developer's Corner 112 05-19-2018 11:23 PM
Physical eBooks Ben Thornton News 42 04-10-2014 11:46 AM
Keyboard entry when no keyboard is displaying geneven1 enTourage eDGe 5 06-14-2011 06:07 AM
Your vote - keyboard or no keyboard on Kindle mrzerga Amazon Kindle 56 03-10-2011 07:22 PM
From physical to digital maynard Workshop 13 04-12-2009 03:24 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:44 PM.


MobileRead.com is a privately owned, operated and funded community.