How would you change the Kindle 3?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

Fix the MobiPocket bug with page numbers and then incorporate it into the Kindle. Make page numbers an option for those who object to location numbers.

Don't forget to ask for a fix for the jump back in a book, land in the middle of a style and get no style on screen at all bug.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

Love the keyboard but hate the rocker. Either go back to the joystick or improve the rocker. When my arthritis is really bad, like right now, I can barely use the rocker. It's not enough to switch to another reader because 99% of the time I'm reading not navigating.

If your arthritis is acting up, the 650 would be great for you. The new IR touch is so easy to use. A simple swipe is all that's needed if you don't want to push the button to change pages. It's the easiest way to change pages (currently) for those who have difficulty with buttons.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by monkeyluis

I'm just wondering. Some say get rid of the facebook/Twitter option. Well if your not using it, does it affect the performance of the unit? I don't believe so.

Anyway, i'd like more format options & library compatibility.

The issue is not that social networking is there. The issue is that Amazon wasted their time added that useless nonsense instead of working on features users actually want.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Barty

They should shrink the keyboard to the size of the blackberry's, and enlarge the screen to 7", keeping the device size as is.

whiter background, and bump resolution to 1024x768

That's it, that's all

That would be an 8" screen instead of a 7" screen. But an 8" screen would be nice.

[curstpriest]

Originally Posted by ski_power

BTW, the Kindle 3 does have JTAG pins if you're interested.

... you only need jtags if they don't let you upload hacked firmwares. In the case of kindle they let you do this already, so there's no reason to fiddle with it. As for what I was suggesting, I see no reason for having an accessory being hard/confusing for old people

If you just want to read, order the kindle.
If you want to use the web/search/look up a ton of crap, get the keyboard module.

Pretty sure 70% of people would get the module, just as they would get a case anyways. Don't see how having a simple option is a bad thing.

I mean, in old laptops you could remove the CD drive/bay and insert an extra battery for longer life. Lots of people did it. Nobody cried about it turning it into a transformer. It's just an option. You don't lose any features.

[crash86]

I would like to see page numbers as well. Also numeric keys or a small numeric keyboard would be nice.

As far as PDF issues I use Calibre and convert them to mobi format and it works great, no having to zoom in or scrolling all over the place. I don't see that as a big deal for the few moments it takes to covert them and believe me I have alot of PDF's and this has worked like a charm for me. With my Sony 600 I had a really hard time with PDF's. Some wouldn't enlarge the print at all when using zoom or larger font sizes. I had major problems with compatibility between my Sony 600, the Digital Editions and the Sony e-reader software on my Mac along with it not playing nice with Calibre. That's what made me chuck the whole thing and get a Kindle.

Overall except for a few minor things like the lack of a number keypad and page number I am very happy with it.

[curstpriest]

Originally Posted by crash86

I would like to see page numbers as well. Also numeric keys or a small numeric keyboard would be nice.

Alt key is sticky, you don't have to press it every time to enter string of numbers

[Barty]

Originally Posted by JSWolf;

The issue is not that social networking is there. The issue is that Amazon wasted their time added that useless nonsense instead of working on features users actually want.

Usually when people say they never use a feature, SOMEBODY will jump in and say hey I use it and love it. But not it seems in this case.

But hey, they made it buzzword compliant, so I'm sure marketing appreciated it.

[ski_power]

Originally Posted by curstpriest

I mean, in old laptops you could remove the CD drive/bay and insert an extra battery for longer life. Lots of people did it. Nobody cried about it turning it into a transformer. It's just an option. You don't lose any features.

Darn, I miss my old Toshiba tecra 220CS. I'd rather super battery life than a stupid disc drive. I've used it all of 3 times in a year, and once was to burn myself the image of Windows 7 when I got my laptop last august :-( (MSDN AA).

It might be a decent idea now that I think about it, but methinks having external keyboards and all _might_ compromise the sturdiness of the device.

For those of you who don't want a keyboard and want ePub, just don't get the Kindle. Get a nook or the 650 or something like that. I'm not being cocky but Amazon has made it clear that they won't support ePub which would very well threaten their business.
I'd rather have the Amazon library behind me while I convert ePubs to mobi (I know this sounds terribly fanboyish). This is because mobi runs like a charm on my underpowered mobile phone while large epubs cause my phone to crash. (Freda vs Mobipocket reader).Therefore I have yet another reason to stick to mobi.

By the way, what quality in the Kindle attracts people who want both touchscreen and ePUB? I'm just curious to know.

[NVash]

- Color. Im sure somewhere somehow theyll figure out how to make them in color.
- Comics / Manga. I dont know why in the World many black and white comics havent found their way to it yet. The iPad has many comic apps now, they even teamed up with Marvel. Kindle better step it up. A perfect example is the 'Diary Of A Wimpy Kid' series. Perfect for the Kindle because its mostly text with some doodles. Is it there? Nope.
- ZIP/RAR/CBZ/CBR. With the comics they have to at least slide this option in. They have to. But that I dont see happening.
- PDF. They still havent gotten it right?
- EPUB, LIT, other formats. I dont understand why they need to be converted and it cant just read them all. Ive purchased books in other formats before and I dont want to just chuck them just because the Kindle cant read them. For many things such as the iTouch there are apps. Think the iPad has iBook, but I know the iTouch has Stanza. That thing can read just about any book you throw at it except for PDF. Now someone may say hey thats great but the iTouch screen is very small. Too true, but the iTouch can read those old books that man or lady may have bought ages ago. The Kindle cant. Why upgrade?
- Lend books without a time limit. Its been awhile but I heard some book reader has a lending feature but it only lasts a month. Thats madness. Why even bother with this kind of thing when you can just go to the library?
- More books. Alright this is getting on my nerves. Im tired of finding old books that I used to love and want to purchase, about to get them and thinking Ill do it on the Kindle but seeing they arent there. Sure theres the option to tell the publisher to get it but do they even listen?
- Cheaper prices. $10-15? Really? Id rather get it from the library a few months after it comes out. Ive seen a few books come out on the Kindle real cheap, mainly by unknown authors. They come out for a few dollars apiece. Those I buy immediately. If its cheap Ill buy it but the regular price is entirely too much.
- Unbreakable screen. Is it even possible?
- Better covers. Ive looked at the covers for the Kindle. Very few really call out to me. Its more like 'I want a Kindle and need a cover, this is okay' as opposed to 'MAN LOOK AT THAT COVER!' They need to make some that really call out to a potential customer. Get some more people involved in making them. Get some kiosks in malls with covers for it. Make it like the iTouch and iPhone where one can pick up a cover just about anywhere and theres a huge variety to choose from.
- More memory. Some people have huge collections. Some people want their whole collection on one device. Doesnt seem to be too much to ask.

Thats about all I can think of off the top of my head.

[mbrown3]

I would like things like touchscreen, color (as long as it remains e-ink), etc, but since the thread is specifically asking about what I would change about the Kindle 3 (not future models), I'll limit my comments to that:

• Move page turn buttons higher (preferably) or lower, as the current location is RIGHT where I tend to place my fingers when picking up the device.
• Add page turn buttons along the top edge (actually could do away with side buttons altogether if they would do this). I tend to hold the device along the top (like I do with a paperback), so page-turn buttons along the top would be much preferred.
• Have "hinge" attachment slots on BOTH sides...this would allow attaching the Kindle to the LEFT-hand side of a cover (which would be better for right-handed folks, to allow note-taking and such. Over 90% of the world's population is right-handed, so this is a glaring oversight.
• Print numbers on relevant keys. This is a huge and inexcusable oversight.
• Rocker still could be better. Too thin and too easy to hit the wrong direction or other buttons.
• Allow epub or other formats. I don't really care about having epub support, I just don't like the excessive restrictions that Amazon places on formats for the Kindle.
• Better categorization. Current system is terrible. Should have a much easier way to categorize (both in terms of actual categorization and in adding/removing items from categories...should be able to manage this with PC-side software too). Should be able to have password-protected "collections" (folders), etc. Just a terrible implementation currently.
• Better pdf handling. Zoom options are ridiculously restricted at the moment. Conversion with Calibre is spotty, at best, adding in random line breaks and weird formatting. Just no reason the Kindle shouldn't be able to better handle pdf files natively. Especially, should be able to "zoom" without having to scroll (i.e., change the actual font size). I know this defeats some of the purpose of the pdf format (consistency of printing) but this is an ereader. There is a way to resize text in pdf documents, and the original text got in there in the first place. The Kindle should be able to extract and re-size text without having to zoom with scroll-ing.

My other concerns have more to do with the Kindle service rather than the device itself...like, the need for a lending ability, and MUCH cheaper ebook prices (won't go into the reasoning here, as it's been discussed ad nauseum, but digital versions should be SIGNIFICANTLY less expensive than printed versions, not just a couple of $ less). They also need to come up with a re-sale capability, a gifting option, and a printed book trade-in/discount option.

[Dark123]

ePub support

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by eBookNewbie123

ePub support

Not gonna happen

[DMB]

Originally Posted by el_brio

Folders only become important if you have a lot of books. I don't really see the point of keeping the whole library of congress on my Kindle. I have maybe 10 books tops at a time. Everything else stays on my hard-drive. I never understood why people want to have 1000 books at a time on their device.

I can only suppose that you don't have to travel a lot. I've only had my ebook reader (Kindle 3) for a few weeks, but I have also got Kindle for PC on 3 computers already. For me, the Kindle itself is the central, unchanging thing. The others are a convenience.

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by el_brio

Folders only become important if you have a lot of books. I don't really see the point of keeping the whole library of congress on my Kindle. I have maybe 10 books tops at a time. Everything else stays on my hard-drive. I never understood why people want to have 1000 books at a time on their device.

I got to have lots of books around, for I like browsing and a wide choice of books, at home as well as on my Kindle. The Kindle makes it possible, with its 3GB storage, to have that all in one thingy, which is even smaller than most books.

But please, Amazon: give the international users the same options in books and browsing as the US-customers, so we don't ' have' to change adresses back and forth in order to buy the books we want.