Two Weeks Now of Kindle Touch and I've Learned Something

[abookreader]

Originally Posted by Lordblacknail

what about leaving fingerprints all over the screen that you are reading from? When I hold my Kindle3, my fingers rest on the page turn buttons. On a KT, do I have to stop reading and poke the screen to get the page to turn? I have an Ipod, and I can't imagine trying to read on it. Call me old fashioned, but I will stick with the keyboard.

No actually, fingerprints really weren't an issue an issue for me. Actually you hardly ever have to fully press down with a finger on the screen. It just takes a little bump or a tap, not really enough to leave a smear. As I said, my biggest issue was inadvertent page turns from when I'd hit the screen somewhere with my hands accidentally. It doesn't sound like a big deal but when you're reading and it keeps happening and keeps interrupting the flow of the book - it becomes an irritation.

I considered the K4 but it wouldn't hold all my books so I just decided to go back to the device that I know I really like.

[DiapDealer]

What about the Kindle 4 NT? It has the buttons, has the benefit of being smaller than the KK, has a better build quality (KK flexed and felt less solid) - and is cheaper!

Except that I don't consider being "smaller than the KK" a benefit. The KK already feels too small in my big mitts. It's like a hobbit eReader. I can't imagine how uncomfortable one of the even smaller K4's would be for me. I didn't have to "practice" reading when I got my K2 and I'm certainly not willing to practice on a new one. I just want to read a dang book... not achieve never-before-seen levels of manual dexterity and intuitiveness.

Unfortunately for me, the "Future of eReaders" seems to be moving in a direction that will result in me going back to physical books.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by abookreader

I really, really love that Kindle Keyboard.

I tried it out. My objections pretty much what I thought they would be. I just don't much like reading with touch screen devices. I accidentally turn pages. I accidentally skip to the next chapter. I want a page turn button to rest my finger on. I try to adjust the font and I end up highlighting words and looking them up in the dictionary instead. Mostly, I'm hopeless.

It just hit me today that I should just get another of the keyboard device that I loved, while I can still buy one, rather than continue to make myself like this one. Because I'm pretty sure that in the next couple of years, touchscreens will probably be all that is available. Plus, I already own a Kindle Keyboard lighted cover that is just sitting here empty and unloved. New Kindle Keyboard will be here tomorrow.

And I'll be able to put the pictures of my kids back on with the screensaver hacks and I'll be able to use the Calibre Collection Plug-in again.

I have the fire, and I can read on it, but the touch interface is not winning here. Yes, it's much better for magazines (I expected that, with the slightly larger screen and the colour), but there is no way to hold it in your left hand, and flip pages without using your right hand. What a nuisance. Glad I have my KK 3G.

[Barty]

I found out the k3 is easier for me to hold. I don't have a normal hand and sort of grip the kindle by the edge. (curl your hand into a fist and try to hold something between the top half of your thumb and your hand) The K3 has a tapered edge that fits me quite naturally. I don't so much hold it as to just tuck it into the space b/t my thumb and hand. The KT has a thicker edge and I have to actually grip it. The k3 also has a long bottom part b/c of the keyboard, which provides a place for me to rest my thumb, which I put just above the d-pad. With the KT, I have to hold it lower, basically at the corner, so even though it's lighter, it's actually heavier for me to hold b/c I'm farther away from center of mass. I also have to either raise my arm higher or bend my neck lower. It's like one inch but it's one inch that makes all the difference.

I have a hard time using the touch screen. Turning page is no problem, it's all the other things. It doesn't register when I try to hit something near the edge, like the back button. I guess my "finger" is too big. But I've used touchscreen on an iPhone fine (typing is a bit tricky), even though it's way smaller.

The KT does look much nicer. I wouldn't say the k3 is ugly but the styling is best described as indifferent. The k3 feels a little cheap and plasticy. It squeaks when i squeeze it. My first k3 had a screen that came unglued from the bevel. The KT feels more solid and well built.

I think the k3 software is better thought out in terms of its hardware capabilities and limitations. the KT has a lot of room for improvement. They also break some touch UI conventions for the worse, I think. Like you have to click on the little x button to close the option screen, instead of just tapping somewhere else.

Anyway, it turns out the k3 was accidentally designed for me. I have no problem skipping the KT since it doesn't have a better screen, but the next one may pose a dilemma ;(

[jacksonunit]

When it comes to actually reading books, the KT is the best Kindle experience to date, but then I never liked the page-turn or the 5-way buttons. I would actually lose the power button and use a long press on the home button instead.

While reading, use my left thumb to swipe forward, up, and down, and tap the strip for previous. When I'm doing anything else, I use my right index finger. Since it's a 90/10 proposition between reading and anything else, I much prefer the KT to the K3-k1.

As with all Kindles so far, there are a few quirky little issues, but for my money, KT is the best Kindle in the line.

[max99]

touch interfaces on current eink screens is nothing more than a gimmick. the screens don't respond fast enough to justify it. touch screen on an ipad makes sense because you have instant feedback and can glide back and forth over pages.

accepting this, the only other reason for touch is to remove the keyboard for space saving. but can anyone honestly say the k3 is too big? maybe if they gave you a larger screen along with the touch it would make some sense but the screen is the exact same 6 inch pearl.

i won't be moving from my KDX until amazon move to the next generation screens. the keyboard on the dx is small and inoffensive and as someone earlier said its presence actually gives you a longer drop to hold the device nearer the centre of gravity. forcing you to grip narrow side bars increases the weight significantly.

i hold by what i said earlier that this new iteration of kindles represent a backwards step. and the way amazon is refusing to update older devices from a software perspective is a disgrace. they should look to the way apple update the ipod for a baseline of what customers expect.

[volwrath]

Originally Posted by max99

touch interfaces on current eink screens is nothing more than a gimmick. the screens don't respond fast enough to justify it. touch screen on an ipad makes sense because you have instant feedback and can glide back and forth over pages.

accepting this, the only other reason for touch is to remove the keyboard for space saving. but can anyone honestly say the k3 is too big? maybe if they gave you a larger screen along with the touch it would make some sense but the screen is the exact same 6 inch pearl.

i won't be moving from my KDX until amazon move to the next generation screens. the keyboard on the dx is small and inoffensive and as someone earlier said its presence actually gives you a longer drop to hold the device nearer the centre of gravity. forcing you to grip narrow side bars increases the weight significantly.

i hold by what i said earlier that this new iteration of kindles represent a backwards step. and the way amazon is refusing to update older devices from a software perspective is a disgrace. they should look to the way apple update the ipod for a baseline of what customers expect.

I disagree. The touch screen is plenty fast, and gives the ereader a more compact and svelte look. It also feels better in the hand. The touch keyboard is more responsive than the KK and it even has number keys. No more of that alt-q crap. As far as the comment about apple upgrading the ipods, i could agree with you if amazon marked up their kindles 200% like apple does, AND the main purpose of a kindle is to read .mobi and older kindles do that fine.

[Zeebra]

Originally Posted by abookreader

I really, really love that Kindle Keyboard.

I tried it out. My objections pretty much what I thought they would be. I just don't much like reading with touch screen devices. I accidentally turn pages. I accidentally skip to the next chapter. I want a page turn button to rest my finger on. I try to adjust the font and I end up highlighting words and looking them up in the dictionary instead. Mostly, I'm hopeless.

It just hit me today that I should just get another of the keyboard device that I loved, while I can still buy one, rather than continue to make myself like this one. Because I'm pretty sure that in the next couple of years, touchscreens will probably be all that is available. Plus, I already own a Kindle Keyboard lighted cover that is just sitting here empty and unloved. New Kindle Keyboard will be here tomorrow.

And I'll be able to put the pictures of my kids back on with the screensaver hacks and I'll be able to use the Calibre Collection Plug-in again.

I'm sure in the future the touch screen will improve. I stayed away from touch screen because it's the first iteration that Amazon is doing with the touch screen so there are bound to be some issues. I also think in the future they'll give an option to have the touch screen WITH buttons for page turning, I think many users have complained about the lack of buttons, they'll probably go back to them on any future touch device.

[Pomtroll]

We each have our own preferences & both are right. I prefer a touch screen so the Kindle Touch works for me.

[tlc]

Just upgraded from K2 to K3, avoiding the Touch for the oft quoted reasons. I'm a little worried about being left behind as the software advances. But I'm happy with my choice today. To each their own.

[nynaevelan]

It is taking me a little while to get used to holding my Touch with my right hand and being able to easily turn the pages with my thumb, but for the most part I love my Touch. I have to "train" myself not to touch the screen when I put it down so that my pages get turned without me realizing but the only things I do not like about it are not necessarily kindle related. And I know once I receive my new flip cover I will have an easier time with the right hand holding but so far it is exceeding my expectations and I too am one of those who hate touch devices. Although, I will say if I had not had prior experience with the touch screen from using my Galaxy Tab for reading I too probably would have hated it.

Nyn

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by nynaevelan

It is taking me a little while to get used to holding my Touch with my right hand and being able to easily turn the pages with my thumb, but for the most part I love my Touch. I have to "train" myself not to touch the screen when I put it down so that my pages get turned without me realizing but the only things I do not like about it are not necessarily kindle related. And I know once I receive my new flip cover I will have an easier time with the right hand holding but so far it is exceeding my expectations and I too am one of those who hate touch devices. Although, I will say if I had not had prior experience with the touch screen from using my Galaxy Tab for reading I too probably would have hated it.

Nyn

How do you make the keyboard appear?

[shinew]

Originally Posted by alansplace

How do you make the keyboard appear?

it'll appear automatically when you need to input something to a field.

[tomsem]

I would withhold judgement about Kindle Touch until putting in some hours with it, especially if you've never used a touch interface before. I was a little unimpressed at first (being very much enthralled with my Fire), and even seriously considered returning it for a refund, but once I was able to spend more time with it, I decisively prefer it to my KK and am even feeling a little bad about passing along my KK to my wife to upgrade her from our K2, knowing how much better I like KT.

So I think it is pretty good as it is. Navigation of the interface is significantly better, typing is easier, and I am glad to be finally rid of the 5way and the less versatile keyboard (with the tedious sym table, inability to enter diacritics, etc.). PDF support is significantly better as well (TTS, hyperlink support, PDF bookmark navigation, fit-to-width mode with auto panning navigation).

My complaints right now concern lack of orientation options, more prevalent 'ghosting' than my K3 has, some regression in text selection, and lack of K4's internationalization features. I look to Amazon to address these in an update.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by max99

touch interfaces on current eink screens is nothing more than a gimmick. the screens don't respond fast enough to justify it.

I have to disagree with you big time. I have a 650 and using the touch is very easy to use and very responsive. Just a very slight flick and the screen changes pages. I've not tried the K4T. But unless Amazon botched it, I would have to say it's user error.