NYT: Kindle books for everyone (not just Kindles)! - Page 3

bwaldron · 02-06-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

At (ahem!) almost-50, I qualify as one of the older gens, but I have no problem reading on LCD screens. The point is, everybody's different, so making blanket statements like that is pointless and counter-productive.

I'm ever-so-slightly over 50, and have no problem reading from LCD screens. These days, I do most of my pleasure reading on e-ink. Before I had my dedicated readers, however, I happily read hundreds of books on PDA screens and could easily do so again. In fact, I still prefer to read via LCD in bed rather than deal with special book lights on my Kindle or Cybook.

Adam B. · 02-09-2009, 12:26 PM

I was hoping for more news on this today... I suspect they're going to allow mobipocket readers to read kindle books. At least I hope so.

It angers me that the same book costs $12 less in kindle format than it does in mobipocket. Hopefully this will solve that.

Sweetpea · 02-10-2009, 03:05 AM

I never understood why they'd make a kindle format in the first place. Especially as the Kindle is only available in the States, you block a lot of potential buyers. I read primarily English books, and have bought my share from Amazon.com. But I am not allowed anymore, because I don't want to buy pbooks but ebooks...

nelsonescorcio · 02-10-2009, 05:36 AM

"I have no problem reading on my backlight PDA. But, I must admit, I turned the colours around. So, instead of a dark letter against a light background, I use a light letter against a dark background. It works great and can read for hours in a dark room."

Yes, you can. The thing is, should you?
The e-ink seems to me far, FAR more confortable, and it does protected your eyes (at least in the long term). I spend all day in front of an LCD screen (yes, I also work with a dark background and white text - it stresses less my eyes). In the end of the day my eyes fell, still, very, very stressed.
But I can go back home and read in my Cybook with no problem at all!

Just my experience, naturally... :-)

Sweetpea · 02-10-2009, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelsonescorcio

What about your eyes, man, your eyes? Don't they star hurting after a few time?!

I find backlight screens simply awfull to read in a dark room (bedroom). I really can't stand them too long - and I already couldn't before I read in e-ink screens (like I do now).

Yes, a backlight screens are very convenient, but the price seems utterly too high...

(PS: I use my new Verilux at night for a few days now, and many people here were right - it is the best light for night reading, far superior then the Mighty Bright. Have you already tryed it, bwaldron?)

I have no problem reading on my backlight PDA. But, I must admit, I turned the colours around. So, instead of a dark letter against a light background, I use a light letter against a dark background. It works great and can read for hours in a dark room.

Argel · 02-10-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I have no problem reading on my backlight PDA. But, I must admit, I turned the colours around. So, instead of a dark letter against a light background, I use a light letter against a dark background. It works great and can read for hours in a dark room.

I tried the gold on blue background recommended by organisations for people with visual impairment and found it much more restful in the dark.

nelsonescorcio · 02-10-2009, 05:55 AM

"I have no problem reading on my backlight PDA. But, I must admit, I turned the colours around. So, instead of a dark letter against a light background, I use a light letter against a dark background. It works great and can read for hours in a dark room."

Yes, you can. The thing is, should you?
The e-ink seems to me far, FAR more confortable, and it does protected your eyes (at least in the long term). I spend all day in front of an LCD screen (yes, I also work with a dark background and white text - it stresses less my eyes). In the end of the day my eyes fell, still, very, very stressed.
But I can go back home and read in my Cybook with no problem at all!

Just my experience, naturally... :-)

Sweetpea · 02-10-2009, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelsonescorcio

"I have no problem reading on my backlight PDA. But, I must admit, I turned the colours around. So, instead of a dark letter against a light background, I use a light letter against a dark background. It works great and can read for hours in a dark room."

Yes, you can. The thing is, should you?
The e-ink seems to me far, FAR more confortable, and it does protected your eyes (at least in the long term). I spend all day in front of an LCD screen (yes, I also work with a dark background and white text - it stresses less my eyes). In the end of the day my eyes fell, still, very, very stressed.
But I can go back home and read in my Cybook with no problem at all!

Just my experience, naturally... :-)

I think it depends on the quality of the LCD screen. Mine has absolutely no glare at all. My work phone (a HTC something) has a glossy screen, which I find horrible to read from. But, as I don't have an e-ink device yet, I can't compare it to my LCD device

tompe · 02-10-2009, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I never understood why they'd make a kindle format in the first place. Especially as the Kindle is only available in the States, you block a lot of potential buyers. I read primarily English books, and have bought my share from Amazon.com. But I am not allowed anymore, because I don't want to buy pbooks but ebooks...

That is easy to understand. I think they did it so they would have full control over the format and be able to improve it. Since they can push an update of the reader they can change the format. With MobiPocket that would have been impossible from a support stand point.

Sweetpea · 02-10-2009, 07:00 AM

Considering MobiPocket is owned by Amazon... Why two formats who are virtually the same?

And it still doesn't explain why I shouldn't be able to buy Kindle books, just because I don't have a Kindle. Yes, I'm miffed because there are plenty of books on Amazon, in Kindle format, that aren't available anywhere else...

Krystian Galaj · 02-10-2009, 07:18 AM

I'm 31. I have read for years on PDA backlit screen - but after an hour of too of looking at it my head starts to hurt. So I bought a Cybook.

I have a friend who can't read from LCD screens for the same reason, but, strangely enough, he can read for hours off CRT screen.

People are different, and I don't expect either CRT, LCD or eInk to go out of usage entirely.

nelsonescorcio · 02-10-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Considering MobiPocket is owned by Amazon... Why two formats who are virtually the same?

And it still doesn't explain why I shouldn't be able to buy Kindle books, just because I don't have a Kindle. Yes, I'm miffed because there are plenty of books on Amazon, in Kindle format, that aren't available anywhere else...

Yes, this has always been an option very poorly (or not at all) explained.

And I really don't find it easy to understand: Amazon spent a lot of money on Mobipocket, and then decided to create a new format? WHY? They COULD control and do whatever they wanted to the mobi format. They could change it, use it, kill it.
But they just opted to let it live, quietly.
Why?

I am afraid they will eventually, rather sonner than later, kill the mobi by not offering real support anymore... In fact, I sometimes suspect it is already happening now - why doesn't Mobipocket Creator still supports Windows Vista? Why don't they upgrade it for such a long time now?

Maybe they just bought Mobipocket to eliminate it.

Oh well, maybe I am just seeing things...

Alisa · 02-10-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Considering MobiPocket is owned by Amazon... Why two formats who are virtually the same?

And it still doesn't explain why I shouldn't be able to buy Kindle books, just because I don't have a Kindle. Yes, I'm miffed because there are plenty of books on Amazon, in Kindle format, that aren't available anywhere else...

I'd always thought it was because Mobipocket has an agreement with the vendors that license the format not to undercut them on price. If you buy books at mobipocket.com you will pay the highest price for them. It seems like Amazon could be in violation of this agreement if they sold their books as .mobi and offered reasonable discounts.

Ervserver · 02-10-2009, 01:43 PM

Kindle phone

02-10-2009, 05:36 AM	#34
nelsonescorcio Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 102 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Portugal Device: Cybook Gen 3	"I have no problem reading on my backlight PDA. But, I must admit, I turned the colours around. So, instead of a dark letter against a light background, I use a light letter against a dark background. It works great and can read for hours in a dark room." Yes, you can. The thing is, should you? The e-ink seems to me far, FAR more confortable, and it does protected your eyes (at least in the long term). I spend all day in front of an LCD screen (yes, I also work with a dark background and white text - it stresses less my eyes). In the end of the day my eyes fell, still, very, very stressed. But I can go back home and read in my Cybook with no problem at all! Just my experience, naturally... :-) Last edited by nelsonescorcio; 02-10-2009 at 05:57 AM.

02-10-2009, 05:55 AM	#37
nelsonescorcio Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 102 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Portugal Device: Cybook Gen 3	"I have no problem reading on my backlight PDA. But, I must admit, I turned the colours around. So, instead of a dark letter against a light background, I use a light letter against a dark background. It works great and can read for hours in a dark room." Yes, you can. The thing is, should you? The e-ink seems to me far, FAR more confortable, and it does protected your eyes (at least in the long term). I spend all day in front of an LCD screen (yes, I also work with a dark background and white text - it stresses less my eyes). In the end of the day my eyes fell, still, very, very stressed. But I can go back home and read in my Cybook with no problem at all! Just my experience, naturally... :-) Last edited by nelsonescorcio; 02-10-2009 at 06:03 AM.

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02-09-2009, 12:26 PM	#32
Adam B. Addicted to Porting Posts: 1,697 Karma: 7194 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Device: iRex iLiad, Nokia 770, Samsung i760	I was hoping for more news on this today... I suspect they're going to allow mobipocket readers to read kindle books. At least I hope so. It angers me that the same book costs $12 less in kindle format than it does in mobipocket. Hopefully this will solve that.

02-10-2009, 03:05 AM	#33
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I never understood why they'd make a kindle format in the first place. Especially as the Kindle is only available in the States, you block a lot of potential buyers. I read primarily English books, and have bought my share from Amazon.com. But I am not allowed anymore, because I don't want to buy pbooks but ebooks...

02-10-2009, 07:00 AM	#40
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Considering MobiPocket is owned by Amazon... Why two formats who are virtually the same? And it still doesn't explain why I shouldn't be able to buy Kindle books, just because I don't have a Kindle. Yes, I'm miffed because there are plenty of books on Amazon, in Kindle format, that aren't available anywhere else...

02-10-2009, 07:18 AM	#41
Krystian Galaj Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 11012 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Warsaw, Poland Device: Bookeen Cybook	I'm 31. I have read for years on PDA backlit screen - but after an hour of too of looking at it my head starts to hurt. So I bought a Cybook. I have a friend who can't read from LCD screens for the same reason, but, strangely enough, he can read for hours off CRT screen. People are different, and I don't expect either CRT, LCD or eInk to go out of usage entirely.

02-10-2009, 01:43 PM	#44
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Kindle phone