It really is a shame that my e-reader doesn't have an SD slot

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

Unlike the epub reader manufacturers, Amazon probably has a good idea of what percentage of Kindle owners are using sideloaded material based on the number of users who are "sideloading via Whispersync". If Amazon decides the average user never sideloads anything, and that it causes more support issues than it's worth, they might discontinue the service. B&N dropped the SD slot and the ability to download books to the PC, and I'm sure they decided that they could do both without a great impact to the bottom line. The SD slot makes it more likely that the customer will buy some books from alternate retailers, and what retailer wants to encourage that? Maybe if you're the only retailer with that feature, it's worth it.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why not? They've taken away other features like an SD card slot, audio, TTS, computer controllable collections. But to be honest, I doubt side loading will ever go away. If it did, Kindles would tank.

Well, Amazon removed the audio since audiobooks more than ebooks came from Amazon and it was a feature that wasn't being used.

SD slot because it was more support issues than it was worth.

Computer controllable collections after idiots got ahold of the tools to manipulate them and managed to screw up their collections horribly, then complained to Amazon about their third-party tools. Amazon decided the quickest solution was to remove an exploit that allowed idiots to screw with the controls. Since they never supported it to begin with.


Sideloading ebooks, on the other hand, is the kind of thing you have to do. Leaving aside the issue of how the heck do you know who is sideloading -- most sideloaded books are NOT sent through Amazon's servers, and a surprising number are probably downloaded from MYK and USB-loaded, think people with wired and not wireless internet... and there is no way to distinguish between the two without extensive logging of account activity.

...

And I can just hear the complaints being sent to the Justice Department the instant it becomes utterly impossible to use DRM-free content on a Kindle.

Nah, Amazon is more than happy using mutually incompatible DRM schemes (thanks, BWM publishers) together with the AZW3 format to make the barrier just high enough to discourage the most casual doers, and allowing the people who really care enough to make it happen, do so. They are the type who would otherwise jump ship altogether.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Go with Funk and Wagnalls. It's always fun to say; "Go check the Funk 'n' Wagnalls."

Yeah, but that belongs in a mayonnaise jar on the porch, not in the lounge.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Well, Amazon removed the audio since audiobooks more than ebooks came from Amazon and it was a feature that wasn't being used.

How do you know the audio wasn't used? Now that Amazon has Whispersync for eBooks and audiobooks. I do think audio would be used. But in order to do so, an SD Card slot has to be added back in.

SD slot because it was more support issues than it was worth.

Sony has always had a memory card slot and it was never a support nightmare. So I doubt that was why Amazon dumped the card slot. I think they dumped the card slot so they could then dump the audio because there wasn't enough storage for music and audiobooks without the SD card slot.

Computer controllable collections after idiots got ahold of the tools to manipulate them and managed to screw up their collections horribly, then complained to Amazon about their third-party tools. Amazon decided the quickest solution was to remove an exploit that allowed idiots to screw with the controls. Since they never supported it to begin with.

Amazon could maybe have fixed that. Sony had it and it was never a problem. Kobo has it and it's not a problem. Amazon doesn't have it, B&N doesn't have it and yes, it's a problem.

Sideloading ebooks, on the other hand, is the kind of thing you have to do. Leaving aside the issue of how the heck do you know who is sideloading -- most sideloaded books are NOT sent through Amazon's servers, and a surprising number are probably downloaded from MYK and USB-loaded, think people with wired and not wireless internet... and there is no way to distinguish between the two without extensive logging of account activity.

Take away side loading and you hand Reading over to Kobo. I cannot see Amazon dumping side loading. That would be the end of the Kindle.

[Shades]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have some questions for everyone partaking in this thread.

If Amazon was to offer options to have smaller margins and a smaller line height, would you use them or would you stick with the same options you use now? Do you even want such options?

I am a fringe/niche kind of user, but in this thread I have been arguing/debating in favor of SD because I know that a majority of people wouldn't mind having that little bit of future proofing, even if that never need it.

I wouldn't get a Kindle myself even if they offered the tweaks you speak of. I want a more open ereader, where I can have TTS, audio books, side loading of books and reading apps, OPDS catalog support and probably more.

I know that I'm not an average ereader customer and I know most people aren't like me. I'm into tech and love the ability to mess around with my devices.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by twowheels

Why? When they have wireless charging they can also have wireless USB:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_USB

And why use a different system, as we already have wifi (or bluetooth though I don't think there are many ereaders who have that installed...)

[Waylander]

I'd quite like an SD slot, as I have around 800 books on my PW1, along with JBPatch and Collections Manager. Roughly how many more books can I get on there beofre it's full do you think?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Waylander

I'd quite like an SD slot, as I have around 800 books on my PW1, along with JBPatch and Collections Manager. Roughly how many more books can I get on there beofre it's full do you think?

I have about 800 books on my 2GB PW2 and it's about 70% full. For typical novels, you should be able to fit on maybe 1000-1100, something like that?

Good idea to leave a couple of hundred MB free for indexing.

[Waylander]

Ah, ok. Thanks Harry.

[JSWolf]

I recently found out that Amazon has YET AGAIN removed a very useful feature from the new Kindle Touch Basic. There are no connectors for a light cover. And as of now, nobody makes a cover for it that has a light. So if reading in low light or reading in bed at night is important, do not buy this model Kindle as you'll not be able to have an external light for it.

What was Amazon's reasoning for removing the ability to have a light cover? I have a feeling a lot of people who buy it won't know this until they go to try to find a light cover and cannot.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What was Amazon's reasoning for removing the ability to have a light cover?

It's pretty flipping obvious, Jon: they want people to buy frontlit devices, like the PW. They have not "removed the ability to have a light cover"; they've simply removed the ability to have one that's powered by the device itself. You must surely remember all the problems that the external power connectors of the K3 caused? Spontaneous reboots, etc? The fact that they've removed such a troublesome thing is hardly a surprise.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So if reading in low light or reading in bed at night is important, do not buy this model Kindle as you'll not be able to have an external light for it.

Or DO buy it and dig out your clip-on book light. Or flip the switch on your bedside reading lamp. Or put on your elastic-banded head lamp. Or are you saying the basic Kindle somehow disables all external sources of light nearby? 'Cause that's over-stepping their bounds, right there. Big time. Damn you Amazon! Stop disabling my lights to trick me into buying your more expensive kindle model!

Basic is basic, dude. No one's being hornswoggled.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's pretty flipping obvious, Jon: they want people to buy frontlit devices, like the PW. They have not "removed the ability to have a light cover"; they've simply removed the ability to have one that's powered by the device itself. You must surely remember all the problems that the external power connectors of the K3 caused? Spontaneous reboots, etc? The fact that they've removed such a troublesome thing is hardly a surprise.

But Amazon has since fixed the light cover issues they had on the K3. I know for a fact that Amazon's light cover for the Kindle Basic (non-touch) works well. So if Amazon was going to remove the light cover connectors for failing to work, then why put them in newer models?

The thing is, nobody makes a cover for the new Kindle Touch Basic that has a light. One of the better Reader lights from m-edge is no longer being made. I know you can get them from eBay and such, but a lot of people will look for a complete solution and not a piece from here and a piece form there.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

but a lot of people will look for a complete solution and not a piece from here and a piece form there.

If they even know (or remember) that a "complete solution" was ever possible in the first place. People are just as capable of reading product descriptions as you are, Jon. They'll figure out what they need/want.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

If they even know (or remember) that a "complete solution" was ever possible in the first place. People are just as capable of reading product descriptions as you are, Jon. They'll figure out what need/want.

But, there's no description anyplace in the Kindle's listing to say that it doesn't support and Amazon light cover.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But, there's no description anyplace in the Kindle's listing to say that it doesn't support and Amazon light cover.

There's no description anyplace saying it doesn't support a snack-tray attachment either.