Why no SD cards?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Rizla

What about Why no Custom Fonts and Crap Margins? Now that is a mystery.

custom fonts

crap margins -- I don't know, but most people seem not to notice, so I guess that is why Amazon doesn't care
There was a jbpatch for this, but no one updated it for recent firmwares IIRC.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

See above, under the vast majority of people in the world disagree with you, hence why the Kindle only sells even more than it did before.

have you really read MR? There are a good number of Kindle users here that WANT properly configurable margins and user installable fonts.

See above under it was removed because most people didn't want it, there will always be people who don't like something for some reason or another but that is hardly a vindication of the complaint.

Do you have some sort of proof that most people did not want TTS or even audiobooks? I think it was so Amazon could save money on the hardware. Why else remove useful features like audio and SD card slot?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

custom fonts

That's irrelevant. Having to hack does not count.

crap margins -- I don't know, but most people seem not to notice, so I guess that is why Amazon doesn't care
There was a jbpatch for this, but no one updated it for recent firmwares IIRC.

The margins are fairly wide. I do think they get noticed more then you think. And if you do show them a properly formatted eBook on a device that handles ePub, they then notice if they didn't notice before.


I'm sorry (well, not really), but your saying that people are sheep (in your own words) is wrong. Yes, the Kindle sells, but that does not mean that enough people would not like margin control, font control, audio (maybe TTS), memory card slot, computer editable collections and other features not available or once available.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

have you really read MR? There are a good number of Kindle users here that WANT properly configurable margins and user installable fonts.

The vast majority of people in the world are not MR members.

MR members are almost by definition those who care far more about these types of issues than the average person.

The Kindle is MORE than selling well enough to indicate that audio, fonts, and margins are not enough of an issue for Amazon to notice or care, regardless of the fact that yes, some people do get bothered.

Do you have some sort of proof that most people did not want TTS or even audiobooks? I think it was so Amazon could save money on the hardware. Why else remove useful features like audio and SD card slot?

Again, the Kindle is selling quite well, and the removal of audio has not dented their sales in any measurable fashion.

Amazon is not going to save money by removing useful features that sell people on the Kindle environment. They will remove features which their records show were not used. I am sure Amazon looked at the logs of people downloading audiobooks for their E-ink Kindles and determined that the feature cost more to include than it made them in sales... which is all that matters.

I am not and have never said that nobody uses/used the audio.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That's irrelevant. Having to hack does not count.

Why not? The minority who care tend to be the people who like getting extra mileage out of their devices, and are willing to make it work. They will google how to do it, and install the one-click update.bin which requires no technical knowledge to use. (And they do do that...) They will not be frightened off by the thought of hacking.

The margins are fairly wide. I do think they get noticed more then you think. And if you do show them a properly formatted eBook on a device that handles ePub, they then notice if they didn't notice before.

And currently they are blissfully unaware... according to you. So, what is your point?

I'm sorry (well, not really), but your saying that people are sheep (in your own words) is wrong. Yes, the Kindle sells, but that does not mean that enough people would not like margin control, font control, audio (maybe TTS), memory card slot, computer editable collections and other features not available or once available.

Oh? Please point out where I said that???

Except here, now that you said it. People are sheep.

I have *proved* it by saying the Kindle sells. I am sure you will say that is not good enough proof, so how about looking at it this way:

I sez: People are sheep because they buy Kindles. -- Some proof
You sez: No they aren't because you're wrong, that doesn't mean people won't notice. -- No proof.

[JSWolf]

Yes, the Kindle sells even though people want more features. Even the people on MR complaining about not having these features still by a Kindle. Just because someone buys a Kindle doesn't mean they would not like all the features I've previously listed.

So please, stop with the "we don't need any real features because it sells" garbage.

All you've proved is that you think Kindle owners are sheep.

Please don't bother to reply as all you are going to do is parrot your Kindle sells so let's keep out the useful features argument.

[Crowl]

While I personally don't need them, the features mentioned that could be readily done via software do seem to be a fairly strange omission on Amazon's part, they would take very little effort to add and at the same time be some useful bullet points on a new devices list of features.

As far as things like TTS and SD cards, depending on what meta data they track they have a much clearer picture on the former's use on older models along with customer feedback since audio was removed and will know that it is probably only a tiny minority that ever used it more than the once to try it out and thus it was safe to remove it as a feature since almost nobody would miss it.

SD cards are a slightly different matter in that they add to the overall cost, increase return rates (an extra point of failure on the device), increase support calls and testing time with the wide variety of sizes and makes of card and all to make the device more suitable to people who have less interest in purchasing ebooks from amazon, so while it is a feature some might prefer you can understand why they'd opt to make their hardware a bit cheaper by leaving one out.

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

If the device storage develops a memory fault, I expect the firmware will stop working. The card will not help you at all...

Why? Almost (I say almost because I don't want to say ALL because it may be that one model in million might be different) all devices have separate memories spaces (which may or not be separate chips) for firmware and content. Your expectations are unrealistic and show that you have no idea of their internal architecture. Surely, and error might occur also in the FW resident zone. Tough luck.

Originally Posted by eschwartz

unless you mean by moving the card to a new device. And it is just as easy to simply reload a new device from calibre. No irreplaceable loss, although you could conceivably lose a few minutes of your life staring at a circular icon because you have nothing else to do while waiting for the one-time-transfer to happen.

You apparently miss my point, probably because you missed the previous one.
It is not my intention to change a device that I like, just because I'll look like a looser because I don't have iPhone 6. Changing devices and transferring the eBooks (in this case, it may be music or movies) to another device is not an issue. But having to replace a beloved device because it developed Alzheimer and the user memory is corrupted is something I don't like. If an SD card develops errors, well, down in the trash and put another one. I have a solution to rescue a device.

[mr_nihilism]

Just my guess but I suspect people do want more customization from their Kindle, but for many the Kindle pretty much represents the only game in town. I don't think the Kindle would be what it is with it's limited customization if there was another company threatening their lunch money.

Amazon offers what it does because it can.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mr_nihilism

Just my guess but I suspect people do want more customization from their Kindle, but for many the Kindle pretty much represents the only game in town. I don't think the Kindle would be what it is with it's limited customization if there was another company threatening their lunch money.

Amazon offers what it does because it can.

Very well stated!

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Ghitulescu

Why? Almost (I say almost because I don't want to say ALL because it may be that one model in million might be different) all devices have separate memories spaces (which may or not be separate chips) for firmware and content. Your expectations are unrealistic and show that you have no idea of their internal architecture. Surely, and error might occur also in the FW resident zone. Tough luck.

So let's say your Kindle does develop an error on the userstore partition (not chip) -- you cannot simply reformat it???

You apparently miss my point, probably because you missed the previous one.
It is not my intention to change a device that I like, just because I'll look like a looser because I don't have iPhone 6. Changing devices and transferring the eBooks (in this case, it may be music or movies) to another device is not an issue. But having to replace a beloved device because it developed Alzheimer and the user memory is corrupted is something I don't like. If an SD card develops errors, well, down in the trash and put another one. I have a solution to rescue a device.

No, I assumed you were not talking about a problem fixed by reformatting.

As far as I am aware, all E-ink devices use one physical memory device, which is usually partitioned. Any error that cannot be repaired by reformatting will thus destroy the firmware as well.

So, in a paragraph appended purely to cover all the bases, I approached the theoretical-but-unlikely possibility that you actually did make sense, but were one of those people who switch devices a lot. (For reasons going as exotic as wanting to always be able to test new devices in-store. )

[JSWolf]

When Amazon first brought out the Kindle, there were other Readers out there and Amazon had to try to do something to be different or at least not worse. Amazon came out with 3G, the Keyboard, speakers for sound without needing a headphone so you could listen to audiobooks or MP3. It also had an SD card slot.

Now that there isn't such competition in the US other than Kobo, & B&N. Amazon doesn't feel the need to stand out all that much (IMHO).

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by mr_nihilism

Just my guess but I suspect people do want more customization from their Kindle, but for many the Kindle pretty much represents the only game in town. I don't think the Kindle would be what it is with it's limited customization if there was another company threatening their lunch money.

Amazon offers what it does because it can.

No, B&N and Kobo and Sony compete(d). (B&N and Sony don't really count though. )

Kobo doesn't try in the US. But Kindles are not only popular in the US. And plenty of people even here in the bastion of ereader-geekery and customizability demands, don't care, we can extrapolate that the general public will care less.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Yes, the Kindle sells even though people want more features. Even the people on MR complaining about not having these features still by a Kindle. Just because someone buys a Kindle doesn't mean they would not like all the features I've previously listed.

So please, stop with the "we don't need any real features because it sells" garbage.

All you've proved is that you think Kindle owners are sheep.

Please don't bother to reply as all you are going to do is parrot your Kindle sells so let's keep out the useful features argument.

I have never tried to say features aren't good, perhaps you need some classes in reading comprehension?
(Based on your general MR track record, maybe...)

I have said that Amazon has no good reason to produce them, since they are not in the special-people-who-want-special-features market, and if you want one of those special features, so be it and don't get a Kindle!

And I have also said that the majority of customers fall squarely in the Kindle-is-all-I-need group.

And I have also said that some of that majority (e.g. me) fall within that group after reasoned deliberation and forethought. I actively do not want some of those features, and the rest I could care less about.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Crowl

While I personally don't need them, the features mentioned that could be readily done via software do seem to be a fairly strange omission on Amazon's part, they would take very little effort to add and at the same time be some useful bullet points on a new devices list of features.

This is actually an interesting point. Personally, I don't see it as an issue in the Kindle, more an issue with their dev team. Strange omission, but not an unselling-point.

As far as things like TTS and SD cards, depending on what meta data they track they have a much clearer picture on the former's use on older models along with customer feedback since audio was removed and will know that it is probably only a tiny minority that ever used it more than the once to try it out and thus it was safe to remove it as a feature since almost nobody would miss it.

SD cards are a slightly different matter in that they add to the overall cost, increase return rates (an extra point of failure on the device), increase support calls and testing time with the wide variety of sizes and makes of card and all to make the device more suitable to people who have less interest in purchasing ebooks from amazon, so while it is a feature some might prefer you can understand why they'd opt to make their hardware a bit cheaper by leaving one out.

Precisely, but I'd like to point out that physical audio hardware even if merely a headphone jack does add to the overall cost .

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When Amazon first brought out the Kindle, there were other Readers out there and Amazon had to try to do something to be different or at least not worse. Amazon came out with 3G, the Keyboard, speakers for sound without needing a headphone so you could listen to audiobooks or MP3. It also had an SD card slot.

Now that there isn't such competition in the US other than Kobo, & B&N. Amazon doesn't feel the need to stand out all that much (IMHO).

And the SD slot was scrapped as a failed experiment on so many levels...

And the audio was scrapped as a failure at being a selling point...

And the 3G is something people value, and therefore Amazon has sold them ever since, despite your belief that: Amazon has no competition therefore why would they.
Thank you for coming to my defense.