How does the Kindle handle the great outdoors?

ShanMcG · 05-31-2011, 10:55 PM

So with the summer firmly on our doorsteps I'm thinking about what I have planned in the next few months.....camping! I've read about other people having problems with the screen when its been handled roughly so I know I need to be gentle with it even in its case. I'm specifically wondering if the Kindle display is more sensitive to temperature changes, humidity, moisture...you know, what its like in a tent when you wake up in the morning. Would it be a better idea to leave my kindle at home and bare with ibooks on my iphone for a weekend?

thx

littlestar · 05-31-2011, 11:00 PM

Kindle 3 LCD adopts the E-ink pearl technology, easy-to-read electronic paper display with high contrast and sunlight readability,so you can enjoy reading in the sun.

CWatkinsNash · 06-01-2011, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShanMcG

I'm specifically wondering if the Kindle display is more sensitive to temperature changes, humidity, moisture...you know, what its like in a tent when you wake up in the morning. Would it be a better idea to leave my kindle at home and bare with ibooks on my iphone for a weekend?

thx

No more so than any other electronic device, really. The response can slow down if it gets cold, and you'll want to protect it from quick drastic temp changes. I would recommend a plastic ziploc bag with some silica packets for the possible moisture issues. I haven't been camping in years, but I do remember waking some mornings feeling like it rained inside the tent.

Kenneth_irl · 06-01-2011, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

No more so than any other electronic device, really. The response can slow down if it gets cold, and you'll want to protect it from quick drastic temp changes. I would recommend a plastic ziploc bag with some silica packets for the possible moisture issues. I haven't been camping in years, but I do remember waking some mornings feeling like it rained inside the tent.

What do you been by ''The response can slow down if it gets cold''?

Because hardware doesn't slow down just because it gets cold, if that was what you were implying. Minus degrees are another story, though.

Anyways, you might experience screen glare in some situations depending one a couple of factors.

I don't see how a little moisture is going to harm it.

Also, don't leave it to bake in the sun. It can get really hot quite quickly.

crich70 · 06-01-2011, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlestar

Kindle 3 LCD adopts the E-ink pearl technology, easy-to-read electronic paper display with high contrast and sunlight readability,so you can enjoy reading in the sun.

Kindle doesn't have an LCD screen littlestar. The LCD screen is what netbooks use and if you've ever tried taking a netbook out in direct sunlight you know that the screen is almost unreadable. E-ink is totally different.

Tome Keeper · 06-01-2011, 04:59 AM

Condensation inside any electrical device can harm it, as a regular camper, I've known several mobile phones to fail due to condensation. Generally if you then dry them out slowly they are fine to use again.

I've often noticed that other electronics (not tried the Kindle) have started up/shut down slower in the cold and hold much less charge in cold weather - we're talking 4 - 6 degrees C not minus temperatures.

As I said, I have not tried the Kindle camping, but I would assume that both the effect of condensation and cold could cause some issues occasionally. I take my android phone with me when I go camping and use that and the odd p-book to read.

tubemonkey · 06-01-2011, 06:08 AM

I don't take eGadgets (except GPS) camping. I'm there to enjoy the great outdoors.

DMB · 06-01-2011, 06:40 AM

Reading can be a great standby when the weather turns out terrible. Mr DMB and I took our honeymoon in northwest Scotland, with a Landrover and tent. It was late July, so not cold. But one evening as we were pitching our tent it started to rain heavily. It didn't stop for the next four days. We were off the road on wild land in Sutherland. I know there are other things to do on honeymoon (

) but we were still glad we had brought books.

Tome Keeper · 06-01-2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

Reading can be a great standby when the weather turns out terrible. Mr DMB and I took our honeymoon in northwest Scotland, with a Landrover and tent. It was late July, so not cold. But one evening as we were pitching our tent it started to rain heavily. It didn't stop for the next four days. We were off the road on wild land in Sutherland. I know there are other things to do on honeymoon (

) but we were still glad we had brought books.

Same here (well apart from the honeymoon part). We do most of our camping in the winter, and whilst we're very hardy there are times when you just have to admit defeat and hole up in the tent with a good book.

ApK · 06-01-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenneth_irl

What do you been by ''The response can slow down if it gets cold''?

Because hardware doesn't slow down just because it gets cold, if that was what you were implying. Minus degrees are another story, though.

eInk is electrochemical. It contains a moving fluid that can absolutely respond differently with temperature. I don't know off hand what temps result in noticeable changes in eink speed though.

Put your Kindle in a waterproof case, which will protect the screen as well, find a decently protective place in your pack to carry it, and enjoy!

ApK

tubemonkey · 06-01-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

Reading can be a great standby when the weather turns out terrible. Mr DMB and I took our honeymoon in northwest Scotland, with a Landrover and tent. It was late July, so not cold. But one evening as we were pitching our tent it started to rain heavily. It didn't stop for the next four days. We were off the road on wild land in Sutherland. I know there are other things to do on honeymoon (

) but we were still glad we had brought books.

You shoulda

RainingLemur · 06-01-2011, 10:47 AM

When I've taken mine out of the city, and we plan on "roughing" it (you know, with portable grills, comfy tents and sleeping bags, filtered water, etc.), I toss mine in a ziplock and keep it stowed safely. Never have had any issues. Peaceful reading in the wee-morning hours.

maianhvk · 06-01-2011, 11:05 AM

you should leave it at home, really. what if you accidentally step on it, sleep on it, sit on it, or drop something on it? and those are just about the over-sensitive screen. not mention the humidity, the dust, the sudden rain, the bugs... you're camping so all kinds of ridiculous things can happen.

ApK · 06-01-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maianhvk

you should leave it at home, really. what if you accidentally step on it, sleep on it, sit on it, or drop something on it? and those are just about the over-sensitive screen. not mention the humidity, the dust, the sudden rain, the bugs... you're camping so all kinds of ridiculous things can happen.

Bah! It's a reader, not a baby. It could get stepped on anywhere. Apply reasonable protection and enjoy it. That's what the multi-week battery life and sun-readable display are for.

ApK

maianhvk · 06-01-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

Bah! It's a reader, not a baby. It could get stepped on anywhere. Apply reasonable protection and enjoy it. That's what the multi-week battery life and sun-readable display are for.

ApK

yep, bringing it out to read in the park would be great, but camping with it would not, unless you don't mind calling Amazon CS.

05-31-2011, 10:55 PM	#1
ShanMcG Member Posts: 18 Karma: 110 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Toronto, ON Device: Kindle 3 & Nook Color	How does the Kindle handle the great outdoors? So with the summer firmly on our doorsteps I'm thinking about what I have planned in the next few months.....camping! I've read about other people having problems with the screen when its been handled roughly so I know I need to be gentle with it even in its case. I'm specifically wondering if the Kindle display is more sensitive to temperature changes, humidity, moisture...you know, what its like in a tent when you wake up in the morning. Would it be a better idea to leave my kindle at home and bare with ibooks on my iphone for a weekend? thx

06-01-2011, 06:40 AM	#8
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	Reading can be a great standby when the weather turns out terrible. Mr DMB and I took our honeymoon in northwest Scotland, with a Landrover and tent. It was late July, so not cold. But one evening as we were pitching our tent it started to rain heavily. It didn't stop for the next four days. We were off the road on wild land in Sutherland. I know there are other things to do on honeymoon () but we were still glad we had brought books.

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05-31-2011, 11:00 PM	#2
littlestar Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 926 Join Date: May 2011 Device: kindle dx	Kindle 3 LCD adopts the E-ink pearl technology, easy-to-read electronic paper display with high contrast and sunlight readability,so you can enjoy reading in the sun.

06-01-2011, 04:59 AM	#6
Tome Keeper Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1001201 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3 Keyboard, Surface Tablet, Android Smartphone, Laptop, Netbook	Condensation inside any electrical device can harm it, as a regular camper, I've known several mobile phones to fail due to condensation. Generally if you then dry them out slowly they are fine to use again. I've often noticed that other electronics (not tried the Kindle) have started up/shut down slower in the cold and hold much less charge in cold weather - we're talking 4 - 6 degrees C not minus temperatures. As I said, I have not tried the Kindle camping, but I would assume that both the effect of condensation and cold could cause some issues occasionally. I take my android phone with me when I go camping and use that and the odd p-book to read.

06-01-2011, 06:08 AM	#7
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,762 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I don't take eGadgets (except GPS) camping. I'm there to enjoy the great outdoors.

06-01-2011, 10:47 AM	#12
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	When I've taken mine out of the city, and we plan on "roughing" it (you know, with portable grills, comfy tents and sleeping bags, filtered water, etc.), I toss mine in a ziplock and keep it stowed safely. Never have had any issues. Peaceful reading in the wee-morning hours.

06-01-2011, 11:05 AM	#13
maianhvk whimsical Posts: 2,779 Karma: 88193939 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: in darkness Device: current: PPW 4. brick: K3 & Voyage.	you should leave it at home, really. what if you accidentally step on it, sleep on it, sit on it, or drop something on it? and those are just about the over-sensitive screen. not mention the humidity, the dust, the sudden rain, the bugs... you're camping so all kinds of ridiculous things can happen.