MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Twelve or so questions about the Kindle 2

Danariel · 05-26-2009, 02:08 PM

Fourteen or so questions about the Kindle 2
Question(s) 1. How exactly do you get blogs unto the Kindle 2? Is there only a narrow selection of blogs - and does it cost money to subscribe to them? Can you subscribe to your own favorite blogs on the Kindle 2, and if so, does the Kindle 2 auto-add new blog posts like an internet browser? If the blogs must be converted, how do they look afterward? (I've heard something about calibre helping in this area, but I don't totally understand. Explain if you can.)

The easiest way I've found is to use Google Reader. It allows you to subscribe to all your favorite blogs, and has them on one convenient web page. It gives some of them to you in digest form, and if you decide to read further, you can click on the link to individual articles, but some it lists in whole. As you read each entry, it's taken out of the "new" stuff, and won't show up the next time you go into Reader. The link to Google's Mobile stuff is here.

Question(s) 2. How is the battery life? Some people said it lasts for up to two weeks when the wireless function is off, but I’ve heard other people claim that even with the wireless function off, it lasts about four days. Are there any problems with the battery? I’ve heard some people complain that their batteries stopped working after about a month of use. Do many people have this problem?

Mine has been excellent. I only turn on my wireless when I need to look something up on the 'net or something, and I've been able to read (at least 3-4 hours a day) easily for a week at a time.

Question(s) 3. How do you replace the battery if it stops working?

Send it back to Amazon. If it's within the 1 year warranty period, it's free. They may well just send you a new (or refurb) Kindle 2 like they do for screen issues, and let you send it back after you get the new one. Call CS to make sure.

Question(s) 4. Does the 2gigs of space make up for the lack of expandability?

If I planned on putting MP3s or Audio Books on it, probably not. However, I currently have 192 items on mine, with 1,279 MB free. I can see having ALL my favorite books with me at all times, indexed and easily searchable, with LOADS of room for new stuff. If I EVER run out of space, I have everything backed up on my computer, and I can just delete as I want.

Question(s) 5. What happens when you run out of space on the Kindle 2? Can you delete books or move them off the Kindle to make room for more space?

See above.

Question(s) 6. How much space do Bibles typically take up?

I have one on mine, but can't remember the exact size off hand. However, it's probably around 5 MB, and is probably the largest all text book you'll have on an ereader. Picture heavy books will be larger, I'm sure.

Question(s) 7. How is the keyboard? Is it intuitive? Do you find it easy to take notes? How does it compare with a touch screen?

The keyboard is quite comfortable, and I make MANY fewer mistakes with it than on my iPod Touch. I also don't leave fingerprints on my screen. Taking notes is as easy, if not easier, as texting with a full QWERTY keyboard phone.

Question(s) 8. How does exporting notes work?

You hook the Kendle up via USB, and copy over your My Clippings.txt file.

Question(s) 9. How does the Kindle 2 generally handle books with images? What about PDF books or DOC files with images after conversion?

All the books I have come with covers, and they look great in grayscale. Some of my Honor Harrington books came with maps and ship diagrams, and you can zoom in on them, and use the 5 way controller to move about.

Question(s) 10. How does the Kindle 2 compare with the Sony PRS-505 or Sony PRS-700? Which would you recommend and why?

I don't have the Sonys, but after doing my research, I decided on the Kindle. I haven't bought a GREAT deal of books from Amazon (probably 10, though I have gotten a few more free from the Amazon website) but have gotten quite a few from other sources. Baen Free Library, and the Baen ebook store for those already in the Mobi format, but LOTS of other places for books that I can convert myself using Calibre. Calibre also makes for a GREAT library organizer, and allows me to alter Meta Data to suit my preferences. My series labels look like this:

Valdemar 01 - The Black Gryphon, Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon
Valdemar 02 - The White Gryphon, Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon

with the added ability of Author Sort by last name.

Question(s) 11. If you use your ereader to read a lot of DOC, HTML, and PDF files (short articles, blog posts, books, etc.), do you find this to be a hassle with the Kindle 2?

Nope, I convert them myself in batches. If I have quite a few that are in formats other than Mobi, I just set the meta data as I want it, then select all of them, and convert them in big job lots.

Question(s) 12. If the Kindle 2 goes down in price once the DX comes out, do you think amazon will give recent Kindle buyers a refund? (I ask because if I was going to buy the Kindle 2, I was going to do it soon.)

I doubt it, and I think this may be a mistake on their part.

Question(s) 13. How does the search function work? I've heard that it doesn't actually search for full words or something like that, but I'm not totally sure.

You can search for a word or a phrase. The options for the search are Find (in this book) My Items (search all my books on the Kindle) Store (search the Amazon Store) Google (self explanatory) Wikipedia (also self explanatory) and Dictionary (the on board dictionary.) If you search your own items, it will tel you what books it appears in and how many times it appears in each. When you click on the title of the book it's in, it takes you to a screen with the locations as clickable links to the places in the book.

Question(s) 14. Can you highlight text and take notes with post-converted PDF and DOC files? Or are those features limited to only certain formats?

As I do my own conversion (it's just so much easier to do it myself with Calibre than to send it to Amazon and wait for them to do it for me) there is absolutely no difference between the text of a converted doc vs. an original .azw, .mobi, or .prc.

Question(s) 15 Does viewing the Kindle 2 in sunlight screw up the screen?

Some folks have issues, but Amazon has been very good about replacing the device until you get a good one. It's NOT supposed to do this.

Question(s) 16 Why does it seem like more peoples' Kindles have broken than Sonys? Is it just because more people buy Kindles than Sonys?

Yep, you answered your own question. Although, since it didn't happen, as much if at all, on the Kindle 1s, I think Amazon may have gotten a huge batch of bad screens from the manufacturer.

Question(s) 17. Is the extended warranty truly worth it?

Only if you're going to keep the device. If you're planning on buying both a Sony and a Kindle, decide which you plan to keep. You have 30 days from receipt of the Kindle to buy the warranty. I personally didn't get one, but then I'm usually very careful with my electronics.

Question(s) 18. Is there anything else important (good or bad) I should know before buying the Kindle 2?

You're on the right track, doing your research. This is a wonderful source for information on all the popular ebook readers out there. I assume you've created a similar post in the Sony forums, so you just have to decide which features are most important to you.

The automatic dictionary is, to me, one of the HUGEST wonderful things about my Kindle. I have a large vocabulary, but quite a bit of it originated from reading a word in context as opposed to ever truly reading the dictionary entry. Now, if I run across a word that I'm even the slightest bit unsure of, all I have to do is place the cursor beside it, and the definition shows down at the bottom of the page I'm on. No need to "look it up," or even to navigate off the page I'm on, unless I want to see the whole entry.

I'm considering buying the Kindle 2, but I want to know more about it first. Most of the reviews I've read didn't go into much detail. (If I can think of more relevant questions that I haven't been able to find an answer to, I'll add them in a reply.)

I hope I've answered your questions, without parroting too much of what others have said. I love my Kindle, and I'd just LOVE to get one for my Mom, but I know she wouldn't accept it due to the cost. However, when you factor in the always available cellular connection, which Sprint usually charges $40-60 a MONTH for, a one time charge in the price of the Kindle is minuscule.

05-26-2009, 02:08 PM	#41
Danariel Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 64 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kindle 2	Fourteen or so questions about the Kindle 2 Question(s) 1. How exactly do you get blogs unto the Kindle 2? Is there only a narrow selection of blogs - and does it cost money to subscribe to them? Can you subscribe to your own favorite blogs on the Kindle 2, and if so, does the Kindle 2 auto-add new blog posts like an internet browser? If the blogs must be converted, how do they look afterward? (I've heard something about calibre helping in this area, but I don't totally understand. Explain if you can.) The easiest way I've found is to use Google Reader. It allows you to subscribe to all your favorite blogs, and has them on one convenient web page. It gives some of them to you in digest form, and if you decide to read further, you can click on the link to individual articles, but some it lists in whole. As you read each entry, it's taken out of the "new" stuff, and won't show up the next time you go into Reader. The link to Google's Mobile stuff is here. Question(s) 2. How is the battery life? Some people said it lasts for up to two weeks when the wireless function is off, but I’ve heard other people claim that even with the wireless function off, it lasts about four days. Are there any problems with the battery? I’ve heard some people complain that their batteries stopped working after about a month of use. Do many people have this problem? Mine has been excellent. I only turn on my wireless when I need to look something up on the 'net or something, and I've been able to read (at least 3-4 hours a day) easily for a week at a time. Question(s) 3. How do you replace the battery if it stops working? Send it back to Amazon. If it's within the 1 year warranty period, it's free. They may well just send you a new (or refurb) Kindle 2 like they do for screen issues, and let you send it back after you get the new one. Call CS to make sure. Question(s) 4. Does the 2gigs of space make up for the lack of expandability? If I planned on putting MP3s or Audio Books on it, probably not. However, I currently have 192 items on mine, with 1,279 MB free. I can see having ALL my favorite books with me at all times, indexed and easily searchable, with LOADS of room for new stuff. If I EVER run out of space, I have everything backed up on my computer, and I can just delete as I want. Question(s) 5. What happens when you run out of space on the Kindle 2? Can you delete books or move them off the Kindle to make room for more space? See above. Question(s) 6. How much space do Bibles typically take up? I have one on mine, but can't remember the exact size off hand. However, it's probably around 5 MB, and is probably the largest all text book you'll have on an ereader. Picture heavy books will be larger, I'm sure. Question(s) 7. How is the keyboard? Is it intuitive? Do you find it easy to take notes? How does it compare with a touch screen? The keyboard is quite comfortable, and I make MANY fewer mistakes with it than on my iPod Touch. I also don't leave fingerprints on my screen. Taking notes is as easy, if not easier, as texting with a full QWERTY keyboard phone. Question(s) 8. How does exporting notes work? You hook the Kendle up via USB, and copy over your My Clippings.txt file. Question(s) 9. How does the Kindle 2 generally handle books with images? What about PDF books or DOC files with images after conversion? All the books I have come with covers, and they look great in grayscale. Some of my Honor Harrington books came with maps and ship diagrams, and you can zoom in on them, and use the 5 way controller to move about. Question(s) 10. How does the Kindle 2 compare with the Sony PRS-505 or Sony PRS-700? Which would you recommend and why? I don't have the Sonys, but after doing my research, I decided on the Kindle. I haven't bought a GREAT deal of books from Amazon (probably 10, though I have gotten a few more free from the Amazon website) but have gotten quite a few from other sources. Baen Free Library, and the Baen ebook store for those already in the Mobi format, but LOTS of other places for books that I can convert myself using Calibre. Calibre also makes for a GREAT library organizer, and allows me to alter Meta Data to suit my preferences. My series labels look like this: Valdemar 01 - The Black Gryphon, Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon Valdemar 02 - The White Gryphon, Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon with the added ability of Author Sort by last name. Question(s) 11. If you use your ereader to read a lot of DOC, HTML, and PDF files (short articles, blog posts, books, etc.), do you find this to be a hassle with the Kindle 2? Nope, I convert them myself in batches. If I have quite a few that are in formats other than Mobi, I just set the meta data as I want it, then select all of them, and convert them in big job lots. Question(s) 12. If the Kindle 2 goes down in price once the DX comes out, do you think amazon will give recent Kindle buyers a refund? (I ask because if I was going to buy the Kindle 2, I was going to do it soon.) I doubt it, and I think this may be a mistake on their part. Question(s) 13. How does the search function work? I've heard that it doesn't actually search for full words or something like that, but I'm not totally sure. You can search for a word or a phrase. The options for the search are Find (in this book) My Items (search all my books on the Kindle) Store (search the Amazon Store) Google (self explanatory) Wikipedia (also self explanatory) and Dictionary (the on board dictionary.) If you search your own items, it will tel you what books it appears in and how many times it appears in each. When you click on the title of the book it's in, it takes you to a screen with the locations as clickable links to the places in the book. Question(s) 14. Can you highlight text and take notes with post-converted PDF and DOC files? Or are those features limited to only certain formats? As I do my own conversion (it's just so much easier to do it myself with Calibre than to send it to Amazon and wait for them to do it for me) there is absolutely no difference between the text of a converted doc vs. an original .azw, .mobi, or .prc. Question(s) 15 Does viewing the Kindle 2 in sunlight screw up the screen? Some folks have issues, but Amazon has been very good about replacing the device until you get a good one. It's NOT supposed to do this. Question(s) 16 Why does it seem like more peoples' Kindles have broken than Sonys? Is it just because more people buy Kindles than Sonys? Yep, you answered your own question. Although, since it didn't happen, as much if at all, on the Kindle 1s, I think Amazon may have gotten a huge batch of bad screens from the manufacturer. Question(s) 17. Is the extended warranty truly worth it? Only if you're going to keep the device. If you're planning on buying both a Sony and a Kindle, decide which you plan to keep. You have 30 days from receipt of the Kindle to buy the warranty. I personally didn't get one, but then I'm usually very careful with my electronics. Question(s) 18. Is there anything else important (good or bad) I should know before buying the Kindle 2? You're on the right track, doing your research. This is a wonderful source for information on all the popular ebook readers out there. I assume you've created a similar post in the Sony forums, so you just have to decide which features are most important to you. The automatic dictionary is, to me, one of the HUGEST wonderful things about my Kindle. I have a large vocabulary, but quite a bit of it originated from reading a word in context as opposed to ever truly reading the dictionary entry. Now, if I run across a word that I'm even the slightest bit unsure of, all I have to do is place the cursor beside it, and the definition shows down at the bottom of the page I'm on. No need to "look it up," or even to navigate off the page I'm on, unless I want to see the whole entry. I'm considering buying the Kindle 2, but I want to know more about it first. Most of the reviews I've read didn't go into much detail. (If I can think of more relevant questions that I haven't been able to find an answer to, I'll add them in a reply.) I hope I've answered your questions, without parroting too much of what others have said. I love my Kindle, and I'd just LOVE to get one for my Mom, but I know she wouldn't accept it due to the cost. However, when you factor in the always available cellular connection, which Sprint usually charges $40-60 a MONTH for, a one time charge in the price of the Kindle is minuscule.