New model Kindle 4 just arrived at my home!

[Nyssa]

I like the full justification on the K4. It looks neater/cleaner. The screen does also look sharper but I'm wondering if that is because the frame is lighter. If the K4 was the same color as the K3, would the screen look as bright/sharp.

[howyoudoin]

IMO, the text on the K4 looks bolder, which might be causing it to look sharper?

[treadlightly]

Originally Posted by Zeebra

Yeah sorry, the kindle 3 i re-set cause i'm selling it to a friend so it has default settings. The kindle 4 I used the Calibre-plugin hack to make the margins more narrow. Also the spacing is tighter on the 4. I guess I should have set the text settings the same to show an even comparison.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by boren

Yes, I know about Collections. They're like the Nook Shelves - too limiting to efficiently handle a large library, too time consuming to configure when one already has all books and magazines stored in a folder structure on the PC. It's much easier to just copy these folders to the reader and use it as-is there.

I must wonder why Amazon and B&N are preventing users from this very common and powerful organization method. It's not like users don't know how to handle folders outside their reader, and for sure the operating systems used by these devices can handle them.

Over the years I've owned several Sony readers as well as a NookColor and a Kobo Touch, and of course a few Kindles and one Alurtek Libre. To my knowledge none of these readers used the folder concept you are describing. I agree it seems strange that they don't, but finding a reader that does among the major players is going to be tough, if not impossible.

[Noughty]

I wanted to know how it feels in the hand? Doesn't thumb get on the screen? the margins of the device is smaller and all. And do you think the page turning buttons are more comfortable to use on the side than in the front like on kindle 3 (keyboard)? I think I read somewhere that landscape mode might be uncomfortable for changing pages. And do you need to hack it for changing which button is next and which back?
I'm just trying to figure out how comfortable for reading it is

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by Noughty

I wanted to know how it feels in the hand? Doesn't thumb get on the screen? the margins of the device is smaller and all. And do you think the page turning buttons are more comfortable to use on the side than in the front like on kindle 3 (keyboard)? I think I read somewhere that landscape mode might be uncomfortable for changing pages. And do you need to hack it for changing which button is next and which back?
I'm just trying to figure out how comfortable for reading it is

You just read my mind.

And the landscape thing is a must for me! I know that with Amazon we can return any time, but I wonder if it's better to wait and see it, feel it in person, like in Best Buy or Target.

[howyoudoin]

Just a heads up for K3 owners who have been pondering a purchase of the new kindles based on improved screen contrast.

Here are a couple of pictures from the amazon website (the customer images on the product page) that seem to suggest the opposite:

[ucfgrad93]

Wow, the Kindle Keyboard looks much better than the new Kindle in those pictures.

[jocampo]

Yeah,

I saw those same pictures yesterday. And if you look carefully, you'll find the light coming from the right side; you can confirm that based on the ebook's shadow (amateur photographer here, lol ). So not so sure these are good images to judge that.

Anyway, looks sleek and thinner, that's for sure.

[texasnightowl]

Yeah, wow...the K3 definitely looks better there to me. Luck of the draw?

I need to just stop looking at these pics...The K3 is going to be better than my K1 so that will just be good enough for me.

[Nyssa]

Interesting. The K3 does looks sharper in that picture.

Originally Posted by Noughty

I wanted to know how it feels in the hand? Doesn't thumb get on the screen? the margins of the device is smaller and all. And do you think the page turning buttons are more comfortable to use on the side than in the front like on kindle 3 (keyboard)? I think I read somewhere that landscape mode might be uncomfortable for changing pages. And do you need to hack it for changing which button is next and which back?
I'm just trying to figure out how comfortable for reading it is

The K4 is definitely tiny and that does present a problem holding it with large hands, as in keeping fat thumbs out of the way. I think a case will add just enough bulk to correct that, but even without one it is still usable one-handed. Just to clarify, the Page buttons are still mounted on the front of the bezel and you still press down on them--not inwards toward the screen. They are much smaller buttons in width, but that actually works out better for me as it prevents accidental page turns. As far as landscape reading, the K4 Page buttons are centered between top and bottom on the sides, just like the K3 buttons. If anything I find reading in landscape easier as the reach for the K3 buttons is longer than on the K4. I don't know of any non-hack way to re-assign button functions on either the K3 or K4, but it would be great if we could use the 5-way controller to page when in landscape.

A word about hacks. On the K3 SO models some of the hacks didn't work, so I suspect the same will be true for the K4 SO models.

[timelysarcasm]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Yeah,

I saw those same pictures yesterday. And if you look carefully, you'll find the light coming from the right side; you can confirm that based on the ebook's shadow (amateur photographer here, lol ). So not so sure these are good images to judge that.

Anyway, looks sleek and thinner, that's for sure.

Yeah, you can definitely see the light source is over the K4 and not so much on the K3, evidenced by the shadows on the rug. I think when it comes down to it, the screens are nearly identical.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by timelysarcasm

Yeah, you can definitely see the light source is over the K4 and not so much on the K3, evidenced by the shadows on the rug. I think when it comes down to it, the screens are nearly identical.

Right. And more light or overexposed, will give the false sensation of being more white or with less contrast.

However, I trust what Jack has said so far and contrast is not something I would be worried about. I know, at worst, will be the same, which is not bad on Kindle 3. I'm more concern about how it feels or would feel on my hands and the lack of physical keyboard.

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

Wow, the Kindle Keyboard looks much better than the new Kindle in those pictures.

There is really only one way to determine which has a better screen for you--see it in person. I've tried photographing at least half a dozen eInk screens over the last couple of years and the photos never tell the whole story and often don't tell it accurately. I've read several articles from others stating they have the same poor results in photographing eInk screens. It makes sense because of the reflectivity of the screens and the ever changing lighting.

I always suggest to people to judge the screens in their own comfort zone, that is, where you normally read. Comparing screens in a retail store will probably yield different results due to the type and brightness of the lights than if you compare them in your recliner next to the fireplace!

And of course everyone's eyes are different. What works best for me might not work for others. All I can say is that under my set of reading conditions the over all screen contrast is better on the K4. If I tilt the readers a certain way, then the K3 is better, tilt it another way and the K4 comes out on top. But over all, I find the K4 screen better for my eyes and my lighting.