New Kindles = no physical keyboard??

[sparrowlight]

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.

[HarryT]

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.

[Asawi]

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!

[jswinden]

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.

[sparrowlight]

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.

[jimh12345]

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.

[jswinden]

Originally Posted by jimh12345

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.

[emoorman]

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

[RainingLemur]

I imagine that Amazon will do a touchscreen Kindle. I just hope that they at least keep a newer model with keyboard and such.

[Lalilulelo]

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!

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

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.

[jimh12345]

Originally Posted by jswinden

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?

[PharaohsVizier]

Originally Posted by jimh12345

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.

Originally Posted by jswinden

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.

[Badandy]

Originally Posted by sparrowlight

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?

[carld]

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.