kindle not for lefties

[willoyd]

Just found this thread:

I'm another lefty (massively so - scoring maximum on the various tests), and have no problem with the K3. In fact, I find I really like it for his handleability. And yes, my mouse is on the left hand side (I use a rollerball mouse though).

On the handwriting: I was well taught, and am lucky enough to have a good three point grip and can happily write cursive (my writing slants to the right). I do calligraphy (using right handed pens) as a hobby. However, I am a primary teacher (year 5, 9-10 year olds), and in the past 7-8 years have not seen a single left hander arrive in my class who either (a) holds the pen properly or (b) writes remotely neatly. To my mind the really big issue is that children are being encouraged by parents to write well before they are physically ready, and by the time they come to be taught at school, the grip is hard set and it's nigh on impossible to sort it out without major remedial treatment. And as for getting them to tilt the page.....nightmare.

As far as I can see, hooking tends to creep in once children start using ink pens, and without tilting the page, forcing the writer to lift their arms out of the way of banging into their body.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by cvkemp

I am left handed and it works create for me. But I can use either hand for everything except writing and eating.

That's the camp I'm in. There are a lot of dexterity-related things I can't do with my right hand, but operating the 5-way button is doable.

[ApK]

I'm a lefty, too, but perhaps not as far to the left of the spectrum as some. I play guitar righty, and use the mouse righty. I'm very happy that the K3 has previous and next page buttons on both sides, unlike the k2 which only had one previous button.

I don't think the comment about being used to right handed stuff was any kind of an insult or trying to tell any lefty to use them It was a simple observation of fact. Most stuff is optimized for right handed use because most people are right handed, and one would think most people would be used to that by now.

[OtterBooks]

As a lefty I have no problem using the Kindle, since I can read with my left eye as well as my right eye and the screen is centered. Wait, you were referring to the little directional pad used for selecting a book to display? The one I could easily use with my toe? haha what.

[SeaBookGuy]

Please excuse me for having asked, Otter, but I've never actually held a Kindle myself, so thought perhaps it might be a concern for my father.

[OtterBooks]

Heya Seabook, I hadn't even read your posts. Just goofin around with the notion in general. Particularly the idea that a typical left handed person would look at it and go, "Damn, an occasionally used button four inches to the right. Refund time." I'm actually a righty so I really don't qualify for commentary. I promise no more snarkitude.

[FF2]

Seabookguy

I have read that they are available at Best Buy and Target. But this Seattle-lefty (handed and politically (g)) has no problems using the k3. I do Mouse right handed and frankly, I hate my partner's left handed mouse - but she's another lefty even in mousing.

I guess I could let you see my k3 if you promise not to try using its "touch-screen!"

The Parkinson's could make using the 5-way thingie a problem. It is rather small and might take fine motor control.

[SeaBookGuy]

Ordering it from Amazon, I save the 10% tax as it's being shipped out-of-state (for free). Does the Kindle resume where you left off, or do you have to use the 5-way button to get back to your book? My mother would be ordering books for him; I think they'd do the store browsing online at the computer.

With the Sony, the thumbnail of your last-opened book appears in the top 1/3 of the screen, so you touch it and are back where you left off.

[FF2]

The k3 reopens where you left off in the book.

To select a new book does require use of the 5-way thingie. It is the "mouse" or joystick. So to move down the list, you use the lower side of the "square" and then press the middle of it to select/open the book.

While reading the side buttons (both sides) are used. Forward is a longer button and back shorter. The only reason to use the 5-way while reading would be to use the Dictionary. You use the 5-way to move the cursor to the beginning of a word and the definition automatically shows in a box.

A thought - hopefully, the Power on/off slider will not be a problem. It is located along the botton edge (power, volume, headphone and mic (no one knows what the mic is for!), not on the face of the k3. There is/was a hack to increase the timeout (sleep) function but it was withdrawn. But as long as the book is actively being read it won't go to sleep. It will after x number of minutes of inactivity. slide the switch to power back to your place in the book.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Ordering it from Amazon, I save the 10% tax as it's being shipped out-of-state (for free). Does the Kindle resume where you left off, or do you have to use the 5-way button to get back to your book? My mother would be ordering books for him; I think they'd do the store browsing online at the computer.

If he just "puts it to sleep" (using the slide switch at the bottom) when he wakes it up (same way) it will return to the last page read. If left alone for 5 minutes or so, it will put itself to sleep automatically.

If he hits "home" it will return to page 1 of of his list of books, but when he navigates to his book from there, it will open to the last page read.

[SeaBookGuy]

Thanks, folks! His health is such that I think he could figure out how to get back to the book if he had to, although I think his activity will be mainly limited to page turning a current book, one-at-a-time.

[SeaBookGuy]

Bumped to add that it arrived this evening, just in advance of a snowstorm!

While it is charging, my father is reading the instructions as he's fascinated with the new gadget.

My mom's friend had recommended the book Albion's Seed, a 972 page paperback that costs $23! The Kindle book is $9.99 -- I told my mom to download the sample as her first experiment in 3G.

Thanks again to everyone for their input -- I don't think my dad will be daunted by the 5-way button at all!

[gregb7677]

I am a lefty and use mine just fine. I actually alternate hands for the mouse at times so maybe I am just weird lol.

[madmarcus]

Originally Posted by willoyd

To my mind the really big issue is that children are being encouraged by parents to write well before they are physically ready, and by the time they come to be taught at school, the grip is hard set and it's nigh on impossible to sort it out without major remedial treatment. And as for getting them to tilt the page.....nightmare.

Another lefty who just saw this thread.

I never got why people wanted me to tilt the page. Of course I've also never seen a need for a weird hook in my hand when writing and don't remember ever having issues with smearing with either pencil or pen. My handwriting is only so so but I'm sure that this occurs due to thinking faster then I can write neatly (I see the same thing with my sons who are right handed).

Back to the topic; I think the K3 is really well set up for lefties. I can hold it in my right hand, move my thumb down to hit the 5-way, and turn pages with whichever hand I feel like. Leaves my left hand free although my Kindle is too new for me to want to eat while holding it. I mouse using my right hand but I've always thought that was the best way as it also allowed my left hand to be free to write notes if needed.