New Kindle Touch [Proposals and Thoughts] - Page 3

OakIris · 12-20-2010, 12:46 PM

Though I am intrigued by the iPad and am planning to go to my local Apple store to check it out, I currently don't have any devices that utilize a touch screen, so I don't have a firm opinion about touch screens in general. (Though I do find the ones at grocery stores' self-checkout stations rather annoying - sometimes you almost have to pound on the screen in order for it to register your command.

Of course, presumably a touch screen on a phone or tablet is much more sensitive - possibly too sensitive from some of the comments I have read.)

I personally don't see the need of a touch screen on my eReader; like DiapDealer, if they come out with a touch screen version, I hope they keep the physical buttons as well. I like to read one handed with the thumb of the hand holding the Kindle operating the page turn buttons. Having to use two hands, one to hold the Kindle, the other to "swipe" the screen for page turns seems to defeat the purpose of the design, IMHO, though a touch screen might be useful for other functions of the reader. And for those of us who only have the use of one hand....

I am also not enamored by the thought of having fingerprints all over the screen; as others have mentioned, I, too, like to keep my Kindle's screen - and the screens of my computers and other electronic devices - as clean as possible. Smudgy screens aren't good for my already poor eyesight, either!

Holly

ProfCrash · 12-20-2010, 02:06 PM

I would be very unhappy with a touchscreen on my Kindle. If they make one they need to have the old navigation system for those of us who don't like touchscreens.

tomsem · 12-20-2010, 05:40 PM

For every one that dislikes touch screens, I am guessing there are probably at least five who prefer them, or don't care one way or the other.

Of course, some touch screens are better than others, and some touch software is better than others. Nobody prefers 'bad'.

But by the same token, some keyboards are better than others, and Kindle's keyboard is one of the most limited ones I've ever used (ok: worse is text entry on a numeric keypad). On the whole, I don't think I would miss it, especially if doing so allowed for a larger screen or smaller form factor, and locale-specific keyboard layouts with a virtual keyboard that let me enter accented characters, if not entirely different scripts.

As far as touch screen with e-ink, I don't see very many people unhappy with their devices on the Sony forums here. I haven't tried out their latest models myself, but by all accounts they work quite well. Of course, both Kindle and Sony customers are self-selecting populations, and cognitive dissonance being what it is in terms of human nature, we always make the "right choice."

I am much more concerned that there be a reasonably efficient way to navigate and enter text and annotations than I am about the specific method (physical vs. virtual). I can type about as fast (or slow, depending on reference point) on my Kindle's keyboard as I can on my iPod Touch's virtual keyboard, and my skills on each continue to improve. But as human interfaces, both could be significantly better than they are right now (not only in terms of general function but in addressing special requirements). So I hope the human interface engineers are not complacent about this.

So, yes, Amazon has to think about all this and be sensitive to everyone's varied requirements and preferences if they want to remain successful. I would guess that means the continued availability of a Kindle with a physical keyboard, but it does not preclude existence of a Kindle without one in the future.

whitearrow · 12-20-2010, 05:52 PM

I like the touchscreen on my EVO just fine. But I don't spend most of my time on my phone reading. I have no desire for a touchscreen Kindle.

Bic · 12-20-2010, 06:03 PM

I would also like to see a 7" screen. I find the 6" just a bit small, and when I measured the paper books on my shelf they were all in the 7 to 8" range. Touch screen would be nice too, but mostly to make it easier to look up a word. Turning pages on touch screens to me is not a main feature I want.

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12-20-2010, 12:46 PM	#31
OakIris Addict Posts: 310 Karma: 18487 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle 3 WiFi; Kindle Paperwhite	Though I am intrigued by the iPad and am planning to go to my local Apple store to check it out, I currently don't have any devices that utilize a touch screen, so I don't have a firm opinion about touch screens in general. (Though I do find the ones at grocery stores' self-checkout stations rather annoying - sometimes you almost have to pound on the screen in order for it to register your command. Of course, presumably a touch screen on a phone or tablet is much more sensitive - possibly too sensitive from some of the comments I have read.) I personally don't see the need of a touch screen on my eReader; like DiapDealer, if they come out with a touch screen version, I hope they keep the physical buttons as well. I like to read one handed with the thumb of the hand holding the Kindle operating the page turn buttons. Having to use two hands, one to hold the Kindle, the other to "swipe" the screen for page turns seems to defeat the purpose of the design, IMHO, though a touch screen might be useful for other functions of the reader. And for those of us who only have the use of one hand.... I am also not enamored by the thought of having fingerprints all over the screen; as others have mentioned, I, too, like to keep my Kindle's screen - and the screens of my computers and other electronic devices - as clean as possible. Smudgy screens aren't good for my already poor eyesight, either! Holly

12-20-2010, 02:06 PM	#32
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I would be very unhappy with a touchscreen on my Kindle. If they make one they need to have the old navigation system for those of us who don't like touchscreens.

12-20-2010, 05:40 PM	#33
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,905 Karma: 27013865 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	For every one that dislikes touch screens, I am guessing there are probably at least five who prefer them, or don't care one way or the other. Of course, some touch screens are better than others, and some touch software is better than others. Nobody prefers 'bad'. But by the same token, some keyboards are better than others, and Kindle's keyboard is one of the most limited ones I've ever used (ok: worse is text entry on a numeric keypad). On the whole, I don't think I would miss it, especially if doing so allowed for a larger screen or smaller form factor, and locale-specific keyboard layouts with a virtual keyboard that let me enter accented characters, if not entirely different scripts. As far as touch screen with e-ink, I don't see very many people unhappy with their devices on the Sony forums here. I haven't tried out their latest models myself, but by all accounts they work quite well. Of course, both Kindle and Sony customers are self-selecting populations, and cognitive dissonance being what it is in terms of human nature, we always make the "right choice." I am much more concerned that there be a reasonably efficient way to navigate and enter text and annotations than I am about the specific method (physical vs. virtual). I can type about as fast (or slow, depending on reference point) on my Kindle's keyboard as I can on my iPod Touch's virtual keyboard, and my skills on each continue to improve. But as human interfaces, both could be significantly better than they are right now (not only in terms of general function but in addressing special requirements). So I hope the human interface engineers are not complacent about this. So, yes, Amazon has to think about all this and be sensitive to everyone's varied requirements and preferences if they want to remain successful. I would guess that means the continued availability of a Kindle with a physical keyboard, but it does not preclude existence of a Kindle without one in the future.

12-20-2010, 05:52 PM	#34
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	I like the touchscreen on my EVO just fine. But I don't spend most of my time on my phone reading. I have no desire for a touchscreen Kindle.

12-20-2010, 06:03 PM	#35
Bic Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 2340 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle or Sony	I would also like to see a 7" screen. I find the 6" just a bit small, and when I measured the paper books on my shelf they were all in the 7 to 8" range. Touch screen would be nice too, but mostly to make it easier to look up a word. Turning pages on touch screens to me is not a main feature I want.

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