Paperwhite Second Gen: First Impressions

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I call bullshit. A reader should work work without any connection to the internet. If I disable the reader's network, it should (IMHO) automatically disable all functionality that needs online access, instead of starting you to nag to connect.

If there's one thing that makes me abandon software, then it's nagging and trying to try and force things upon me.

I have a KPW1, and it already nags quite enough when inadvertently hitting a button that starts a function that needs web access, such as Wikipedia. If the KPW2 nags even more while using the device, that might prompt me to look into other readers in the future.

Developers don't have the obligation to support third party apps. If you don't find Kindle suitable for your needs, you can easily buy a different reader.

Imagine how much they will have to program or take into consideration, so things won't break. Plus of course, they sell Kindles expecting people to buy from Amazon, not from other stores. And that's true for Apple , B&N, and almost any other major company. Those who don't do it, usually have a poor online ebook store and poor customer service.

I think is kind of naive, buying an Amazon Kindle, expecting it will work flawlessly with side loaded content that is not from Amazon. Yes, it may work, but that's not what it was intended for.

But there are other good ereaders out there that are more ebook store independent ? If I can use that term. Like Sony or Kobo. Those are good alternatives, in my opinion, for people who side load books.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Eek. It's downloading 86 books, everything I've bought over the last few months, since I never turn on wifi.

Sigh... A reader shouldn't download anything except when instructed to do so. What if you don't want ALL your ebooks on your device?

Hopefully it won't update the software while it's at it.

If you say that because you're afraid that something's gonna break, then that summarizes why I never tried a Kobo.

Whenever it's done, I'll see what the dictionary looks like. There are three pages of dictionaries to choose from, I just checked one to download.

When browsing the forums, it seems to be that the Kindle dictionaries are vastly superior to anything else on the market.

Basically, I want a reader with the Kindle's stability, the customizations of a Kobo, and without ANY online functions if it can be helped. I don't even need or want Wifi. I wonder if such a thing (still) exists.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Basically, I want a reader with the Kindle's stability, the customizations of a Kobo, and without ANY online functions if it can be helped. I don't even need or want Wifi. I wonder if such a thing (still) exists.

Good luck with that.

And that's why I picked the Kindle PW. Not perfect, but good compromise, backed up by an awesome customer service and a very complete online ebook store.

Also, please remember, most mobileread users know how to side load content, but majority of customers out there want easy setup. Wifi is key for that, to deliver content or firmware, without the need or cables or third party programs.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by jocampo

I think is kind of naive, buying an Amazon Kindle, expecting it will work flawlessly with side loaded content that is not from Amazon. Yes, it may work, but that's not what it was intended for.

It does work. If I sideload an AZW3 book, it works just fine. It *should* work fine, as there are sources that sell AZW3/Mobi outside of Amazon. That's all I need from my reader: display a book, display it well and without problems, while providing options to customize that display (show page numbers, change fonts, and so on).

Yes, I can understand Wifi, and a built-in store for a Kindle or a Kobo or a Nook. It's logical for them to have them. If I had a book store and a reading device, it would also have a store. All of the other online crap such as facebook, twitter and so on is just frippery in my eyes.

If I disable a function, such as twitter, facebook, reviews, the store, collections, or maybe even the entire network, I don't want to be nagged by the reader to please enable this or that. It should just shut up and display the book, and that goes for every reader.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Basically, I want a reader with the Kindle's stability, the customizations of a Kobo, and without ANY online functions if it can be helped. I don't even need or want Wifi. I wonder if such a thing (still) exists.

Yes, you can buy a PRINT book and there will be no distractions. Lots of folks still read them.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Sigh... A reader shouldn't download anything except when instructed to do so. What if you don't want ALL your ebooks on your device?

Well....if they did actually download to the device, I don't see them. I'll have to look more later. But the dictionary never downloaded...the thing froze up...so I did a paperclip reset and turned the wifi off. So, no dictionary, b/c I am not going through that again.

ETA - found 25 or so at the very end of the book list. Deleted them all. While doing so, I noticed that tapping "details" on one of those books, showed a list of recommended content under the book cover and title area! OMG! On my side loaded books, that space shows the book's description (whatever is in the "comments" section in Calibre). THIS is why I never connect the Kobo to wifi.

another ETA - was able to side load a dictionary, so now my Kobo Glo has dictionary support!

Originally Posted by Katsunami

If you say that because you're afraid that something's gonna break, then that summarizes why I never tried a Kobo.

Not break, no, but they took away a feature I like so I want to keep the firmware I like.

Originally Posted by Katsunami

When browsing the forums, it seems to be that the Kindle dictionaries are vastly superior to anything else on the market.

Basically, I want a reader with the Kindle's stability, the customizations of a Kobo, and without ANY online functions if it can be helped. I don't even need or want Wifi. I wonder if such a thing (still) exists.

Let me know when you learn of one. I'd get one!

[eschwartz]

@sirmaru seems to be forgetting that leaving aside people who ever connect their Kindle to the computer at all, for any reason whatsoever, Cloud Collections STILL doesn't work if it keeps bugging you for a Wi-Fi connection.

No one has ever bought a Kindle, ever, with the assumption that it will be connected to Wi-Fi absolutely 100% of the time. Unfortunately, you would have to do just that to get a truly seamless user experience even as a sirmarustomer. (new word that means someone who buys like 10 books and assumes he is typical of all readers. He is probably also a rabid fanboy of SOMETHING, most likely Amazon.)

And somehow, Amazon managed to make a Kindle Basic, Touch, AND PW1 which work just fine with sideloaded content, so why break it now?

They don't have to support any third-party apps whatsoever, just freaking make sure that non-amazon books don't BREAK THE @!#&%ING READER!!!!


At this point, why do they bother to allow sideloading at all?

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

They don't have to support any third-party apps whatsoever, just freaking make sure that non-amazon books don't BREAK THE @!#&%ING READER!!!!


At this point, why do they bother to allow sideloading at all?

I would send feedback about it. This is the best way to get it changed. It was probably overlooked or a bug. Amazon is great at fixing stuff if you let them know through the proper channels.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Sigh... A reader shouldn't download anything except when instructed to do so. What if you don't want ALL your ebooks on your device?

You go to your Kobo library on the web and take the books you don't want out of your cloud. It's not that complicated.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

@sirmaru seems to be forgetting that leaving aside people who ever connect their Kindle to the computer at all, for any reason whatsoever, Cloud Collections STILL doesn't work if it keeps bugging you for a Wi-Fi connection.

No one has ever bought a Kindle, ever, with the assumption that it will be connected to Wi-Fi absolutely 100% of the time. Unfortunately, you would have to do just that to get a truly seamless user experience even as a sirmarustomer (new word that means someone who buys 10 books and assumes he is typical of all readers).

And somehow, Amazon managed to make a Kindle Basic, Touch, AND PW1 which work just fine with sideloaded content, so why break it now?

They don't have to support any third-party apps whatsoever, just freaking make sure that non-amazon books don't BREAK THE @!#&%ING READER!!!!


At this point, why do they bother to allow sideloading at all?

I only have my Kindles connected to WiFi when actually reading on them. I've never noticed them bugging for WiFi but I have WiFi on when using them. I turn WiFi off when not using them.

Why is it so terrible to keep WiFi on when using the device? I don't get it.

When I am away from home and am not using WiFi at all, I have never noticed any messages to connect to WiFi. Perhaps, you have a setting wrong.

On the other hand, when not using WiFi, I keep Airplane mode on. Maybe you should use Airplane mode.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

All of the other online crap such as facebook, twitter and so on is just frippery in my eyes.

On that, I totally agree.

But. I think that more people prefer all those social media distractions than a pure and simple ereader experience. And it may explain why tablets are now probably as popular, or more, than regular eink devices.

I don't even justify that GoodReader thing, to be honest. I can do that via Tablet or PC, no need to have it on my eink device. I think that more and better implemented fonts would be a better software addition, in my opinion.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

And somehow, Amazon managed to make a Kindle Basic, Touch, AND PW1 which work just fine with sideloaded content, so why break it now?

They don't have to support any third-party apps whatsoever, just freaking make sure that non-amazon books don't BREAK THE @!#&%ING READER!!!!

At this point, why do they bother to allow sideloading at all?

Well said! That is how I felt, they broke my PW2. So glad they took it back for a full refund.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Let me know when you learn of one. I'd get one!

There are none.

As soon as I select readers without WIFI on any (Dutch) price comparison website, all readers disappear, except for some weird budget branded devices. Most of them have specs comparable to the basic Kindle, except that they don't have Wifi, but do have a MicroSD card slot.

All readers that have a touchscreen and front-light (both of which I deem to be basic requirements nowadays) also have Wifi. It often only serves to accomodate firmware downloads and/or a web browser. Most of the time, there is also extra stuff, from note taking up to and including facebook/twitter and such.

What's worse, a lot of readers have big, obnoxious, obvious branding at the TOP bezel. The KPW and Kobo (nowadays) mercifully have it at the bottom one where it doesn't distract so much.

[Belle2Be]

Wait I sideload my books and it hasn't broken it, am I missing something?

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Belle2Be

Wait I sideload my books and it hasn't broken it, am I missing something?

Yes, of course you are. You're missing a huge chance to rant on this forum. Please contact Amazon and request them to properly break your Kindle