Kindle 3.5

[volwrath]

To each their own but the K3 size is very roughly the same as the PRS505, so Amazon definitely has gotten the size down to an accpetable amount in my eyes

[Mitch G]

Personally I find having that keyboard space provides a place to hold the device. Even if they got rid of the keyboard ( I hope they don't) I would still want that space for holding.

Mitch

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by HarryT

For things like searching and note-taking, though, a touch-screen with a "soft" (ie on-screen) keyboard works equally well. I have a number of devices which use this method, and it works at least as well as the Kindle's tiny physical keys do.

I'm not a huge fan of touchscreens on e-ink devices at this point, though the newer ones do appear to have less impact on screen clarity (that doesn't solve the fingerprint problem, of course). Perhaps because I have relatively small hands and have been used to typing on tiny keyboards for years, I don't have any real problem with the Kindle keyboard.

[Prash]

Originally Posted by Slava

Ok, here is an idea.

Amazon makes simplified version of Kindle under $99 - smaller, no physical keyboard (but on screen virtual keyboard still present), Wi-Fi only.

Then makes a deal McDonalds. One goes to McDonalds, then buys a book using their free Wi-Fi, and gets Jr Cheeseburger or something. They can call it "Food for knowledge" or "Reading is eating"

I prefer this idea a LOT. Most of us do not write lengthy notes but short annotations, for which an onscreen keyboard(I am referring to a touchscreen which is present behind the actual display, so as to retain the clarity) should be sufficient. It maynot be as convenient to use as a real keyboard, but with a little practice it should be good enough.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Prash

I prefer this idea a LOT. Most of us do not write lengthy notes but short annotations, for which an onscreen keyboard(I am referring to a touchscreen which is present behind the actual display, so as to retain the clarity) should be sufficient. It maynot be as convenient to use as a real keyboard, but with a little practice it should be good enough.

It is. The capacitive touch screens used on the iPhone and iPad have no impact at all upon image quality, and they work very well indeed.

[Prash]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It is. The capacitive touch screens used on the iPhone and iPad have no impact at all upon image quality, and they work very well indeed.

Awesome! If only Amazon had a glance at this thread, and offered a Kindle variant or atleast made an announcement. (They just need to snip off the keyboard and get a touch screen in there, easy for me to say :P)

[TheKindleWorm]

Originally Posted by Prash

Awesome! If only Amazon had a glance at this thread, and offered a Kindle variant or atleast made an announcement. (They just need to snip off the keyboard and get a touch screen in there, easy for me to say :P)

Amazon won't put a touch screen in until they are certain it won't compromise on readability - I'm sure I read an article from Bezos which said as much.

Also why would I want to read off a screen covered with smudgy fingerprints? I don't love that idea at all. That's a problem with the iPhone and I'm forever cleaning it. But the iPhone is at least backlit so you can up the brightness which hides some of the smudges.

[flandroid]

I also have some fairly serious grievances against the K3:

• no flames painted on the back
• doesn't make trumpety noises and announce 'Behold! the King of Reading has arrived!' when I enter a room
• doesn't work underwater
• when I balance it on my head, it slides off pretty easily, despite the supposedly grippy 'soft touch' back
• not dishwasher safe
• no turbo (although really, this is the same as my first one)
• thinks it's so much smarter than me
• display doesn't fold in two -- 'e-paper' indeed!
• can't fly; not for very long, at least

[notatoad]

the kindle is a loss-leader against ebook sales. wireless and the keyboard allow users to navigate the online store and buy ebooks. those two features aren't going anywhere because they are the profitable features.

[Slava]

You only need wireless, menu button, joystick and virtual keyboard to navigate and buy books … I think