Kindle 2: Where are you? (cnet) - Page 3

phenomshel · 01-25-2009, 03:18 PM

Reading this thread has helped me in my decision making tremendously. It seems a sure thing that though there WILL eventually be a Kindle 2, it isn't going to be anytime soon. That, plus the fact of my ever growing collection of non-DRM books in all types of formats, makes me think I'll go for the ESlick (assuming it is actually released and the reviews are decent once it is), and then in two or three years when the dust has settled around the Kindle and/or a newer version, I'll get one then to take advantage of Amazon's prices and selection. Goodness knows, I'm not going to run out of reading material available at other stores by then! As I see it, this should give me the best of both worlds.

delphidb96 · 01-26-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Reading this thread has helped me in my decision making tremendously. It seems a sure thing that though there WILL eventually be a Kindle 2, it isn't going to be anytime soon. That, plus the fact of my ever growing collection of non-DRM books in all types of formats, makes me think I'll go for the ESlick (assuming it is actually released and the reviews are decent once it is), and then in two or three years when the dust has settled around the Kindle and/or a newer version, I'll get one then to take advantage of Amazon's prices and selection. Goodness knows, I'm not going to run out of reading material available at other stores by then! As I see it, this should give me the best of both worlds.

Given the quality of both the standard BeBook firmware and that of OpenInkpot firmware for the Jinke V3 family (including the EZ-Reader and the BeBook), I cannot see why anyone would limit themselves to a Foxit ESlick. And PDF is the LEAST appropriate ebook format. Sure, Foxit may well have eReader and other ebook support soon, but may I point out that 'soon' is such a slippery term? Just look at the time delays in the Bookeen Cybook firmware updates - but at least (with a minimum of external software support to strip DRM from eReader and Mobi ebooks) the Cybook support for Mobi allows for a vast supply of ebooks.

Derek

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-26-2009, 01:21 PM

I honestly don't believe I've seen any reliable evidence that Amazon even HAS a Kindle 2, in fact, in the works, or even on the drawing board. Everything I've seen and heard has been third-party speculation. Until I see Bezos holding one in his hand, I'm not going to assume it even exists, much less guess on when it will come out.

phenomshel · 01-26-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Given the quality of both the standard BeBook firmware and that of OpenInkpot firmware for the Jinke V3 family (including the EZ-Reader and the BeBook), I cannot see why anyone would limit themselves to a Foxit ESlick. And PDF is the LEAST appropriate ebook format. Sure, Foxit may well have eReader and other ebook support soon, but may I point out that 'soon' is such a slippery term? Just look at the time delays in the Bookeen Cybook firmware updates - but at least (with a minimum of external software support to strip DRM from eReader and Mobi ebooks) the Cybook support for Mobi allows for a vast supply of ebooks.

Derek

Thanks, I'm headed for that link now. I'm open to more suggestions, it's just that the sheer ease of conversion on the Foxit ESlick is very tempting.

Shel

phenomshel · 01-26-2009, 04:25 PM

WOW!! I'm impressed. So, with a BeBook, I could pretty much forget conversions altogether, it looks like, since it really does read natively almost everything known to man. To me that's worth a LOT.

I still, once a few years have passed and Amazon decides whether or not they're going to release a newer version of Kindle, will probably still get one, for the sheer convenience and availability of ebooks in Kindle format. I also hope that by then something will be decided on the whole DRM farce, though I'm not holding my breath. But the BeBook is highly impressive and I didn't even know it existed. I *thought* I'd done thorough research, but I guess not! Thanks so much for the tip. Anyone else got something irresistible for me to look at?

Shel

delphidb96 · 01-26-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Thanks, I'm headed for that link now. I'm open to more suggestions, it's just that the sheer ease of conversion on the Foxit ESlick is very tempting.

Shel

I'm sorry, but 'sheer ease' and PDF simply do NOT 'roll off my tongue'... For one thing, with PDF, you'd better be DARNED SURE the font family and font size is exactly what you want for your ebook because you're *STUCK* with it unless you re-compile to PDF with a new font family/size!

On the other hand, on both the BeBook and Cybook, changing family and size 'on the fly' is quite simple *within* the ebook. Granted, the Cybook has a better range of sizes available and I've seen as many as 12 fonts on a single Cybook, ready for use, but even having five or six font families with 4-10 sizes per family available will make your reading MUCH more enjoyable as lighting levels change.

I'm not trying to be a pain about PDF, but it is and will continue to be the LEAST ebook-friendly format out there.

However, one could, I suppose, download a copy of one of the older builds of the Cybook firmware and install it over the ESlick firmware - then 'update' to Build 796 - thereby creating an 'instant' Cybook out of the ESlick...

Derek

delphidb96 · 01-26-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

WOW!! I'm impressed. So, with a BeBook, I could pretty much forget conversions altogether, it looks like, since it really does read natively almost everything known to man. To me that's worth a LOT.

I still, once a few years have passed and Amazon decides whether or not they're going to release a newer version of Kindle, will probably still get one, for the sheer convenience and availability of ebooks in Kindle format. I also hope that by then something will be decided on the whole DRM farce, though I'm not holding my breath. But the BeBook is highly impressive and I didn't even know it existed. I *thought* I'd done thorough research, but I guess not! Thanks so much for the tip. Anyone else got something irresistible for me to look at?

Shel

Did you happen to use the BeBook link in my signature line? Or did you go direct, through Google? (I'm curious because I'm an 'associate' of BeBook and I like to keep track of these things.)

Derek

P.S. I *still* plan on getting a Kindle at some point in time - unless the PaperLogic ebook reader becomes available at a decent price this next January.

Alisa · 01-26-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I honestly don't believe I've seen any reliable evidence that Amazon even HAS a Kindle 2, in fact, in the works, or even on the drawing board. Everything I've seen and heard has been third-party speculation. Until I see Bezos holding one in his hand, I'm not going to assume it even exists, much less guess on when it will come out.

I don't see much of a point in it at this juncture. If I were the one making the hardware decisions for them, I'd be looking into the upcoming screen technology like flexible screens. What's actually available for manufacturing right now isn't a big enough improvement over what they have.

phenomshel · 01-26-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Did you happen to use the BeBook link in my signature line? Or did you go direct, through Google? (I'm curious because I'm an 'associate' of BeBook and I like to keep track of these things.)

Derek

P.S. I *still* plan on getting a Kindle at some point in time - unless the PaperLogic ebook reader becomes available at a decent price this next January.

Um.. the first time I used your link and the second time I googled it. I'm still on the site, still reading.

Shel

echoleaf · 01-26-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

However, one could, I suppose, download a copy of one of the older builds of the Cybook firmware and install it over the ESlick firmware - then 'update' to Build 796 - thereby creating an 'instant' Cybook out of the ESlick...

So using the firmware for a Bebook or Cybook will be no problem with the eSlick? It would make it worth the savings then, wouldn't it? (Assuming it's still cheaper when it's finally released)

phenomshel · 01-26-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoleaf

So using the firmware for a Bebook or Cybook will be no problem with the eSlick? It would make it worth the savings then, wouldn't it? (Assuming it's still cheaper when it's finally released)

Which sounds WAY too much like work. The small price difference is worth it to me if I don't have to do all that converting. I think I'm in love over here! Something that can natively read all the multitudes of formats I already have without making me do a ton of conversions is just what I was looking for. It also frees me up considerably when making new purchases. Thanks again for the link and the tip!!

Shel

echoleaf · 01-26-2009, 05:11 PM

$40-50 isn't THAT small (eSlick pre-order vs Bebook temporary price). You probably have to update the firmware at some point anyway.

phenomshel · 01-26-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoleaf

$40-50 isn't THAT small (eSlick pre-order vs Bebook temporary price). You probably have to update the firmware at some point anyway.

There is that. But again, *to me* not having to convert the majority or even the minority of what I already have is worth that much of a price difference. I don't know what the normal price of a BeBook is (Derek, are you reading?) and so I suppose it would depend on how "temporary" this price reduction on the BeBook is. I can't order anything for a minimum of two weeks, anyway, since I'm waiting on a tax refund to come in before I can order. But the BeBook is looking like a very attractive alternative to me, since part of what I was looking for was a device that reads almost all formats natively so I'm not restricted to only one format. The ESlick was attractive both for the fact that you *can* convert almost anything to pdf with their software (sorry Derek, but you can, even if it's not the ideal solution), and the price. Since I wasn't aware of the BeBook at the time, you can see why the ESlick was looking like the most viable option.
You can probably gather from my use of the past tense that is no longer looking like the most viable option... lol.

echoleaf · 01-26-2009, 05:21 PM

Actually, I'm of the same mind as you. The eSlick seems limited, but if I wanted something like a Cybook or Bebook, then theoretically and eSlick with updated firmware should do the trick. But I dunno whether it would be worth the effort or not. I'm waiting to buy one too, but I'm leaning towards the unavailable Kindle.

delphidb96 · 01-26-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoleaf

So using the firmware for a Bebook or Cybook will be no problem with the eSlick? It would make it worth the savings then, wouldn't it? (Assuming it's still cheaper when it's finally released)

ACK!!! NO! NO! NO! One *CANNOT* use BeBook (or any Jinke V3-based hardware) firmware on *ANY* Netronix-based (Netronix EB-100/600, Cybook, FoxIt ESlick, etc.) hardware!!! One can only use Netronix/Bookeen/Orsio/STAReBOOK/FoxIt firmware on Netronix devices! (Caveat: No one, to my knowledge, has attempted to run FoxIt firmware on any of the other Netronix-hardware devices.)

Derek

View Poll Results: The Kindle 2 will arrive ...
this month	1	1.59%
in Feburary	11	17.46%
in March	3	4.76%
in April	4	6.35%
in May	3	4.76%
in June	5	7.94%
this year	22	34.92%
next year	8	12.70%
ever?	6	9.52%
Voters: 63. You may not vote on this poll

01-26-2009, 04:25 PM	#35
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	BeBook WOW!! I'm impressed. So, with a BeBook, I could pretty much forget conversions altogether, it looks like, since it really does read natively almost everything known to man. To me that's worth a LOT. I still, once a few years have passed and Amazon decides whether or not they're going to release a newer version of Kindle, will probably still get one, for the sheer convenience and availability of ebooks in Kindle format. I also hope that by then something will be decided on the whole DRM farce, though I'm not holding my breath. But the BeBook is highly impressive and I didn't even know it existed. I thought I'd done thorough research, but I guess not! Thanks so much for the tip. Anyone else got something irresistible for me to look at? Shel

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01-25-2009, 03:18 PM	#31
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	Reading this thread has helped me in my decision making tremendously. It seems a sure thing that though there WILL eventually be a Kindle 2, it isn't going to be anytime soon. That, plus the fact of my ever growing collection of non-DRM books in all types of formats, makes me think I'll go for the ESlick (assuming it is actually released and the reviews are decent once it is), and then in two or three years when the dust has settled around the Kindle and/or a newer version, I'll get one then to take advantage of Amazon's prices and selection. Goodness knows, I'm not going to run out of reading material available at other stores by then! As I see it, this should give me the best of both worlds.

01-26-2009, 01:21 PM	#33
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I honestly don't believe I've seen any reliable evidence that Amazon even HAS a Kindle 2, in fact, in the works, or even on the drawing board. Everything I've seen and heard has been third-party speculation. Until I see Bezos holding one in his hand, I'm not going to assume it even exists, much less guess on when it will come out.

01-26-2009, 05:11 PM	#42
echoleaf Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 236 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Bebook, Cybook or eSlick?	$40-50 isn't THAT small (eSlick pre-order vs Bebook temporary price). You probably have to update the firmware at some point anyway.

01-26-2009, 05:21 PM	#44
echoleaf Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 236 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Bebook, Cybook or eSlick?	Actually, I'm of the same mind as you. The eSlick seems limited, but if I wanted something like a Cybook or Bebook, then theoretically and eSlick with updated firmware should do the trick. But I dunno whether it would be worth the effort or not. I'm waiting to buy one too, but I'm leaning towards the unavailable Kindle.