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brecklundin · 03-01-2009, 08:33 PM

While I do not at all like reading on my Kindle (K1 - which seems to have been adopted as shorthand for the 1st generation Kindle), I actually like the features. It is very far from perfect and far too expensive for what it is, but it's all a matter of what one is willing to settle for in a device. Were it up to me I would have returned it a week after receiving it...

My better half loves reading on it. Me? Not so much. I however have problems with all current eink displays. We have a K1 which I also have problems with the handling of the device. That is because I have rather cumbersome hand issues which the Kindle aggravates, then again so does the Sony I tried for a few days.

Were I in the market now and it was not imperative I buy a device this microsecond, I would wait a good 4-months for a few of the newer devices to hit the market. That gives time to see how things shake out industry wise this year. So far it seems that there will be a nice increase in the devices we have to select from...normally I say to just buy a tech device now if it fits your needs, but right now ebook reading devices are still evolving quite quickly. This makes waiting sometimes a better choice plus it gives you more time to research and learn what features are most important to you.

Also, try and find some place to actually use an eink device. Not everyone finds them nice to read on...mind that is the exception so far, though many of those might simply be because they associate quality with cost and not likely they are going to be critical of a device to just read books on which they spent $400. I know Boarders and I think Best Buy(?) and Cost Co carry Sony devices...the 505 and the Kindle seem pretty close display wise. In fact as far as I am aware, currently, all of the devices use the same display from the same company.

One place that eink is outstanding is outside in the sun. Best thing I have come across today for reading outside...inside, it's a coin toss...and for me eink does not work well. But again this is for one person...be wary of anyone who uses broad strokes to declare their favorite device a one-size-fits-all perfect solution. Many people still love prefer reading on their far cheaper PDA style devices over eink.

Big advantage to the Kindle for a lot of content can currently only be had via Amazon's Kindle Store. I have bought a number of reference books for our Kindle and other and the contrast issue, I find them useful when not at home where the rest of my library resides.

Do a lot of research and the Wiki section here is excellent...and really, no matter which device you buy, I doubt you will be unhappy. Nice thing with the Kindle is if you buy it, don't like it, you have 30-days to decide and send it back.

Still, I would wait at least a week and see if any interesting devices are announced with firm release dates at this coming week's CeBIT...

03-01-2009, 08:33 PM	#11
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	While I do not at all like reading on my Kindle (K1 - which seems to have been adopted as shorthand for the 1st generation Kindle), I actually like the features. It is very far from perfect and far too expensive for what it is, but it's all a matter of what one is willing to settle for in a device. Were it up to me I would have returned it a week after receiving it... My better half loves reading on it. Me? Not so much. I however have problems with all current eink displays. We have a K1 which I also have problems with the handling of the device. That is because I have rather cumbersome hand issues which the Kindle aggravates, then again so does the Sony I tried for a few days. Were I in the market now and it was not imperative I buy a device this microsecond, I would wait a good 4-months for a few of the newer devices to hit the market. That gives time to see how things shake out industry wise this year. So far it seems that there will be a nice increase in the devices we have to select from...normally I say to just buy a tech device now if it fits your needs, but right now ebook reading devices are still evolving quite quickly. This makes waiting sometimes a better choice plus it gives you more time to research and learn what features are most important to you. Also, try and find some place to actually use an eink device. Not everyone finds them nice to read on...mind that is the exception so far, though many of those might simply be because they associate quality with cost and not likely they are going to be critical of a device to just read books on which they spent $400. I know Boarders and I think Best Buy(?) and Cost Co carry Sony devices...the 505 and the Kindle seem pretty close display wise. In fact as far as I am aware, currently, all of the devices use the same display from the same company. One place that eink is outstanding is outside in the sun. Best thing I have come across today for reading outside...inside, it's a coin toss...and for me eink does not work well. But again this is for one person...be wary of anyone who uses broad strokes to declare their favorite device a one-size-fits-all perfect solution. Many people still love prefer reading on their far cheaper PDA style devices over eink. Big advantage to the Kindle for a lot of content can currently only be had via Amazon's Kindle Store. I have bought a number of reference books for our Kindle and other and the contrast issue, I find them useful when not at home where the rest of my library resides. Do a lot of research and the Wiki section here is excellent...and really, no matter which device you buy, I doubt you will be unhappy. Nice thing with the Kindle is if you buy it, don't like it, you have 30-days to decide and send it back. Still, I would wait at least a week and see if any interesting devices are announced with firm release dates at this coming week's CeBIT...