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

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by shinew

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

But the most use I give the keyboard is to type a single letter to go to the page of the home list (book list) where the authors whose name begins with that letter start. But I cannot do that on the touch because there's no keyboard to type that letter. I seem to need a keyboard first. Is there a trick to this function or is it missing from the touch. Alternately I type a page number corresponding to the page of the list and can go to that page. But I cannot figure out how to do these maneuvers on the touch.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by alansplace

But the most use I give the keyboard is to type a single letter to go to the page of the home list (book list) where the authors whose name begins with that letter start. But I cannot do that on the touch because there's no keyboard to type that letter. I seem to need a keyboard first. Is there a trick to this function or is it missing from the touch. Alternately I type a page number corresponding to the page of the list and can go to that page. But I cannot figure out how to do these maneuvers on the touch.

You need to tap on "Page 1 of #" on the homescreen. You'll be able to enter the page of the booklist or the first letters of the title. The keyboard appears.

[DMB]

I shall stay with my K3 as long as possible. I'm happy with it and see no need to change.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by SCION

You need to tap on "Page 1 of #" on the homescreen. You'll be able to enter the page of the booklist or the first letters of the title. The keyboard appears.

I never saw "Page 1 of #" when I was trying the demo Kindle in Target. Just this appeared sometimes, but without a keyboard to enter anything. It's where I found the 'back' key to get out of the demo software. But after that I was stymied!

[dkb]

I'm very happy with the Kindle Touch. I don't miss the buttons at all. I can hold the Kindle in either hand and easily turn pages with my thumb. I'm also very happy with the new smaller size and lighter weight. As others have said, the menus need work. The screen savers are better than the depressed authors, but I still want my own.

I never understood why Amazon wouldn't facilitate personal screen savers until they came out with the ads. I would have saved money and just got the ads, but I figure that someone will develop a hack so I can have my screen savers back.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by dkb

I'm very happy with the Kindle Touch. I don't miss the buttons at all. I can hold the Kindle in either hand and easily turn pages with my thumb. I'm also very happy with the new smaller size and lighter weight. As others have said, the menus need work. The screen savers are better than the depressed authors, but I still want my own.

I never understood why Amazon wouldn't facilitate personal screen savers until they came out with the ads. I would have saved money and just got the ads, but I figure that someone will develop a hack so I can have my screen savers back.

I'd be happy with book covers as screen savers. But, you can't even get those on the homescreen.

[shinew]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I never saw "Page 1 of #" when I was trying the demo Kindle in Target. Just this appeared sometimes, but without a keyboard to enter anything.

It's there. Basically just a different of way of navigating your library & books for the obvious differences between a keyboard model & a touch screen interface. For the most part I find the touch screen more intuitive to use & superior.

If you're interested in the Touch, I would suggest you just buy it first, because the only way to know if -you- like it or not is to use it yourself for a week or two, no amount of internet forum research is going to replace that. if you don't like it then, you can always return it for a full refund.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by shinew

...

If you're interested in the Touch, I would suggest you just buy it first, because the only way to know if -you- like it or not is to use it yourself for a week or two, no amount of internet forum research is going to replace that. if you don't like it then, you can always return it for a full refund.

I agree. You have to spend time with a device under real reading conditions. In store preview simply isn't enough. I always watch several YouTube videos prior to going for a personal hands-on. That way I don't need help from the salespersons, and I can comfortably maneuver around the menus. I'm simply checking out form factor and screen readability at that stage.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by shinew

It's there. Basically just a different of way of navigating your library & books for the obvious differences between a keyboard model & a touch screen interface. For the most part I find the touch screen more intuitive to use & superior.

If you're interested in the Touch, I would suggest you just buy it first, because the only way to know if -you- like it or not is to use it yourself for a week or two, no amount of internet forum research is going to replace that. if you don't like it then, you can always return it for a full refund.

Originally Posted by SCION

I agree. You have to spend time with a device under real reading conditions. In store preview simply isn't enough. I always watch several YouTube videos prior to going for a personal hands-on. That way I don't need help from the salespersons, and I can comfortably maneuver around the menus. I'm simply checking out form factor and screen readability at that stage.

1st off, for your responses. However I'm not in the least bit interested in acquiring another reader, my Kindle Keyboard suits me just fine.

What I am interested in is keeping abreast of the new technologies. Hence trying out the new market entries to see how they work for a user. Nobody seems willing or able to show me a screen and tell me what do do to accomplish what I described earlier in this thread. Most folks seem to just want to tell why the like it or why they don't, kinda' like a debate. I see no purpose in this, but that's just me.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by alansplace

...Nobody seems willing or able to show me a screen and tell me what do do to accomplish what I described earlier in this thread...

Did you ask for that? When folks need help they specifically ask. It seemed like you were just making a statement about what you saw or didn't see. But, if you're genuinely not interested in the Touch, what would be the point of someone taking the time to upload a picture?

[SCION]

Originally Posted by SCION

Did you ask for that? When folks need help they specifically ask. It seemed like you were just making a statement about what you saw or didn't see. But, if you're genuinely not interested in the Touch, what would be the point of someone taking the time to upload a picture?

Here are screenshots in case someone is interested in the Touch.

[shinew]

Originally Posted by alansplace

However I'm not in the least bit interested in acquiring another reader, my Kindle Keyboard suits me just fine.

you seem to be strangely interested in the detailed operation of the Touch for someone who's "not in the least bit interested in acquiring another reader..."

Originally Posted by SCION

Did you ask for that? When folks need help they specifically ask. It seemed like you were just making a statement about what you saw or didn't see. But, if you're genuinely not interested in the Touch, what would be the point of someone taking the time to upload a picture?

how could we be so slow and unhelpful when he has repeatedly asked for it! oh wait...

[rico567]

In all the Kindle reviews I've read, one divide between the positive & negative postings comes jumping out: those who have had the previous non-Touch Kindles have a difficult time with the transition. Those who are new to the whole e-reader genre, like me, love the Touch and find it simple and instinctive.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by SCION

Here are screenshots in case someone is interested in the Touch.

Note that KT lets you type more than one letter for Title/Author search, while K3 only allows 1 letter. So you can get a more precise jump. Moreover, to use the keyboard quick search on K3 you have to be in Author or Title sort already. With KT, it will switch to Title sort automatically and then display the page with the result (unless you are in Author sort).

It's a small refinement but it has already changed the way I use Kindle (once I discovered it). I never used Title or Author sort before this, and mostly just stayed in Collection or Most Recent sort, I never used the quick search very much (except for jump to page #).

And of course all of this applies to Archived Items, so things are very easy to locate in there, as I discovered while transferring my stuff from K3 to my KT.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by rico567

In all the Kindle reviews I've read, one divide between the positive & negative postings comes jumping out: those who have had the previous non-Touch Kindles have a difficult time with the transition. Those who are new to the whole e-reader genre, like me, love the Touch and find it simple and instinctive.

Long time Kindle fan Paul Thurrott's review (Supersite for Windows) was especially harsh concerning Touch. He called it 'deeply flawed' and 'a fail'. But while he has some good points I think his overall assessment was hasty and imbalanced. For example he doesn't seem to understand the concept of IR touchscreens.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/...e-touch-141348