Speculation thread: How will Amazon react to new Nook and Kobo? - Page 7

bhartman36 · 05-28-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asawi

I think Amazon are smart enough to realize that people want choice. The keyboard will disappear, but ther will be othr buttons.
My guess: Page trurning buttons as is now.
A row of quick menu buttons below the screen. Maybe "Go to", "search", "font/size" and of course "home"...

I like the way you're thinking about this. I'm not sure I like the idea of the keyboard disappearing, because I have a lot less success with touchscreen typing than on a keyboard, but I think it's inevitable here. The Kindle keyboard isn't really a good alternative. They could make the keys larger, but that would go against the idea of keeping the device small and portable.

chas0039 · 05-28-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhartman36

I like the way you're thinking about this. I'm not sure I like the idea of the keyboard disappearing, because I have a lot less success with touchscreen typing than on a keyboard, but I think it's inevitable here. The Kindle keyboard isn't really a good alternative. They could make the keys larger, but that would go against the idea of keeping the device small and portable.

I found the same to be true for me as well. The touchscreen keyboard was just plain annoying. The Kindle keyboard is too small, as you say, but I find that my typing mistakes are much fewer, part in thanks to the positive click.

I'll be sorry to see keyboards go, but my guess is that they would add cost once you have the touch screen. Now, if they ever developed a color, eInk, works in the sunlight, 30 day battery life I just might have to re-consider.

OtterBooks · 05-28-2011, 07:33 PM

I can see them incorporating the keyboard into touchscreen for the significant form factor alteration, but keeping all other navigation possible through physical buttons. That way people who don't like touching their screen and just use it for straightforward reading would be able to get away with very rarely using the touchscreen. I only have used the keyboard for registering and naming three collection folders. Literally 4 times. Actually 5 including that one time I tried the browser.

nimblem · 05-28-2011, 07:40 PM

I would like the ability to use a large SD card as well. As far as a color screen goes...it would be nice however the battery would drain too quickly for me. I did promise my seven year old a kindle or other e-reader once he mastered reading. It would be nice to be able to have a color screen for him on the same account. Kindle could make the keys larger without increasing the over all size of the kindle since there is a fair amount space between each key. As far as accepting different formats I don't really care since I use Caliber for library books anyhow...

P.S Don't judge me, I am no the only DRM stripper out there.

wyndslash · 05-28-2011, 11:52 PM

i'm quite happy with my k3 now

when it comes to reading, i always take battery life into consideration first, plus i like amazon's book selection and CS

it'd be a bummer if they release a new kindle this year as i just bought my k3, but that's how technology is

i just don't want battery life being shortened by adding too many unnecessary features

PharaohsVizier · 05-29-2011, 01:38 AM

Why don't you guys like touch screens? Personally I don't use the keyboard enough to justify the extra bulk it creates and I think a touch screen keyboard is more than sufficient as an alternative. As long as they keep the page turn buttons, I think touch screen is the way to go. It'd definitely make it quicker to search up words if I can just tap on it rather than clicking the up button half a dozen times.

HarryT · 05-29-2011, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PharaohsVizier

Why don't you guys like touch screens? Personally I don't use the keyboard enough to justify the extra bulk it creates and I think a touch screen keyboard is more than sufficient as an alternative. As long as they keep the page turn buttons, I think touch screen is the way to go. It'd definitely make it quicker to search up words if I can just tap on it rather than clicking the up button half a dozen times.

Touch screens make it harder, not easier, to do things like accurately highlight text and look words up in a dictionary. On my touch-screen Sony PRS-350 I'm constantly getting the wrong word selected when I tap the screen - it's just nowhere near as accurate as the Kindle's selection cursor.

Plus the fact that I can't stand reading from a screen that has fingerprints all over it.

OtterBooks · 05-29-2011, 03:58 AM

I suspect they won't release a new generation Kindle without a successor to Pearl of some sort. I guess they could keep the display and just trim down the form factor, upgrade the CPU etc, but I don't think they'll settle for that.

chas0039 · 05-29-2011, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Touch screens make it harder, not easier, to do things like accurately highlight text and look words up in a dictionary. On my touch-screen Sony PRS-350 I'm constantly getting the wrong word selected when I tap the screen - it's just nowhere near as accurate as the Kindle's selection cursor.

Plus the fact that I can't stand reading from a screen that has fingerprints all over it.

Exactly!

Stingo · 05-29-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I suspect they won't release a new generation Kindle without a successor to Pearl of some sort. I guess they could keep the display and just trim down the form factor, upgrade the CPU etc, but I don't think they'll settle for that.

When they upgraded the DX to the graphite all that Amazon did was upgrade the screen and change the bezel color. No other improvements. Don't underestimate Amazon's willingness to settle.

alansplace · 05-29-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

.......getting the wrong word selected when I tap the screen - it's just nowhere near as accurate as the Kindle's selection cursor.

Plus the fact that I can't stand reading from a screen that has fingerprints all over it.

..yep..

chas0039 · 05-29-2011, 01:57 PM

As I said over at the Nook forum, I am beginning to think that the stripped down Nook is more in response to bad financial circumstances at B&N as opposed to any serious marketing plan to threaten Amazon. The list of features they took off is long (no more 3G, no MP3, no landscape mode, no user replaceable battery, no web browser, no text sizing), and they missed the $99 price point. I think they are working on looking good to a corporate buyer.

Will wait and see.

HarryT · 05-29-2011, 02:47 PM

No text sizing? You mean you can't change the text size at all? That's an amazing thing to remove - the ability to resize the text is important to many people.

AnemicOak · 05-29-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No text sizing? You mean you can't change the text size at all? That's an amazing thing to remove - the ability to resize the text is important to many people.

Not sure what chas means. The touch has seven font sizes...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/f...pecs/fontsize/

HarryT · 05-29-2011, 03:08 PM

Thanks - good to hear that!

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05-28-2011, 07:33 PM	#93
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	I can see them incorporating the keyboard into touchscreen for the significant form factor alteration, but keeping all other navigation possible through physical buttons. That way people who don't like touching their screen and just use it for straightforward reading would be able to get away with very rarely using the touchscreen. I only have used the keyboard for registering and naming three collection folders. Literally 4 times. Actually 5 including that one time I tried the browser.

05-28-2011, 07:40 PM	#94
nimblem Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 7102 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Pocket Pro, Kindle Dx	I would like the ability to use a large SD card as well. As far as a color screen goes...it would be nice however the battery would drain too quickly for me. I did promise my seven year old a kindle or other e-reader once he mastered reading. It would be nice to be able to have a color screen for him on the same account. Kindle could make the keys larger without increasing the over all size of the kindle since there is a fair amount space between each key. As far as accepting different formats I don't really care since I use Caliber for library books anyhow... P.S Don't judge me, I am no the only DRM stripper out there.

05-28-2011, 11:52 PM	#95
wyndslash Wizard Posts: 2,951 Karma: 3000001 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle Fire	i'm quite happy with my k3 now when it comes to reading, i always take battery life into consideration first, plus i like amazon's book selection and CS it'd be a bummer if they release a new kindle this year as i just bought my k3, but that's how technology is i just don't want battery life being shortened by adding too many unnecessary features

05-29-2011, 01:38 AM	#96
PharaohsVizier Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 510274 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DXG, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch	Why don't you guys like touch screens? Personally I don't use the keyboard enough to justify the extra bulk it creates and I think a touch screen keyboard is more than sufficient as an alternative. As long as they keep the page turn buttons, I think touch screen is the way to go. It'd definitely make it quicker to search up words if I can just tap on it rather than clicking the up button half a dozen times.

05-29-2011, 03:58 AM	#98
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	I suspect they won't release a new generation Kindle without a successor to Pearl of some sort. I guess they could keep the display and just trim down the form factor, upgrade the CPU etc, but I don't think they'll settle for that.

05-29-2011, 01:57 PM	#102
chas0039 Sceptic Posts: 573 Karma: 73436 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Lake Device: rooted Nooks, retired. JetBook Lite, Kindle 3, 4, Kobo Nia, Libra H2O.	As I said over at the Nook forum, I am beginning to think that the stripped down Nook is more in response to bad financial circumstances at B&N as opposed to any serious marketing plan to threaten Amazon. The list of features they took off is long (no more 3G, no MP3, no landscape mode, no user replaceable battery, no web browser, no text sizing), and they missed the $99 price point. I think they are working on looking good to a corporate buyer. Will wait and see.

05-29-2011, 02:47 PM	#103
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No text sizing? You mean you can't change the text size at all? That's an amazing thing to remove - the ability to resize the text is important to many people.

05-29-2011, 03:08 PM	#105
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thanks - good to hear that!

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