How would you change Amazon's Kindle?

Alexander Turcic · 02-03-2008, 01:19 PM

Those of you who own the Kindle -- would you actually want to change it?

Quote:

How's about a color screen, for starters? Maybe a little more responsiveness? A little less '80, a little more '08 in the design?

Engadget

Strether · 02-03-2008, 02:11 PM

I wish they had done something like keep the right-hand next page lever the same size as the left one, and used the upper part of the right-hand lever to put the off/on switch and the wireless off/on switch. They could easily hide the two switches under a matching plastic cover. This would provide easy access to those two switches without the need to have access to the back, and would allow a more firmly anchored cover.

I've never had the reader fall from the cover, but you always have the feeling that it could happen.

Jim

TallMomof2 · 02-03-2008, 02:14 PM

Color screen would be nice but....

Better content manager is number one for me. List books by purchase date. Enable folders to group books. This is already done in the MobiPocket reader so it should be easy to implement on the Kindle.

Desktop reader for .AZW books. Now that I have dead Kindle and am waiting on a new one I can't read any of my .AZW content.

I like the design but smaller page turn bars/buttons wouldn't upset me.

wallcraft · 02-03-2008, 02:29 PM

The hardware is "good enough", although I agree completely about the cover, the right hand page levers, and the on/off switches.

What is needed is improved software:

Multiple fonts
Smaller (or adjustable) line spacing
Folders
DRMed MobiPocket support
Search a single e-book

I would wait for a larger screen before upgrading the hardware. On a device with an 8" or 9" screen, I would add a PDF reader with the ability to add notes and search etcetera (even though it would not "reflow" the file for display).

markbot · 02-03-2008, 02:40 PM

my number 1 suggestion is to make the screen wider....by 1.5 to 2 inches. and while they r add it...a bit longer.

i feel that u read slower on the kindle because it ia narrower.....makes my eyes fatigued going back and forth so much

KlondikeGeoff · 02-03-2008, 02:52 PM

1. Better designed cover to keep device in.

2. Wireless & on/off switch on the front.

3. Of course, smaller paging buttons. Much smaller.

4. Larger and darker letters on the keyboard

5. Let reader pick larger type for all menus, dictionary definitions, etc instead of just for the text in books.

6. I'd like separate clippings documents: one for actual text you want to save, and another for bookmarks, etc.

Gideon · 02-03-2008, 10:58 PM

Pretty much what everyone else has said... except I like the size of the buttons.

The UI is a big problem... the lack of any sort of way to create playlists, etc makes it difficult (for books.)

The keypad would be much better if it was rubber, I find typing on the plastic keys a bit uncomfortable.

But otherwise... very, very happy. Once I got used to the next page buttons I liked them much more Sony's.

rationalbiker · 02-03-2008, 11:02 PM

Personally, I read faster and for a longer period of time on the Kindle than I do with books. The screen is fine for me.

However, I agree with Tallmom that there needs to be better content management; book folders and/or categories, etc.

pitcher23 · 02-03-2008, 11:22 PM

I would like the option to choose left or right side page turns. That way I can hold the Kindle anywhere without fear of accidentally turning a page.

A case that acts like a book cover or looks like a case. What I mean is, the current one is really a protective case that looks like a cover, but in no way can be used as one. They should take a lesson from Sony on this one. They could have had the same hard shell, but allowed it to attach to the kindle securely.

snookums · 02-04-2008, 12:36 AM

The placement of the back button.

True file management, i.e. folders. If I sort by author, I would like the home screen to only show one listing for the author like they do for newspapers.

The ability to load custom fonts.

The ability to edit txt files. Not anything ridiculous. I just want to be able to correct one of my typos on a line without taking the file back to the computer.

kacir · 02-04-2008, 02:07 AM

If I was in position to make a single change I would suggest:

Start selling this thing internationally.

HarryT · 02-04-2008, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

If I was in position to make a single change I would suggest:

Start selling this thing internationally.

That would indeed be the blindingly obvious change to make; I'm astonished that it's not top of everybody's list

. They'd need to change the EVDO to EDGE, of course, for the international market, but that should involve no more than the simple replacement of a single module. What's more work, I suspect, is negotiating the deals with the various world-wide telecoms operators.

TadW · 02-04-2008, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

If I was in position to make a single change I would suggest:

Start selling this thing internationally.

Plus, make it at least $200 cheaper.

rationalbiker · 02-04-2008, 04:41 AM

I think there may be good reasoning behind NOT having gone international yet. Given that others have commented on the risk Amazon took even entering the hardware market with an e-reader, if Amazon recognized this risk from the beginning, then a limited release would make sense.

I would say it would be "blindlingly obvious" once they were more confident that the effort would meet with a reasonable degree of success. I suspect that Jeff Bezos likes to make money, at least I hope he does, so when he's reasonably sure that it will be profitable to go international and they work out all the details, we will probably see an international version.

Does anyone think the Kindle is a success yet or that it may be too premature to make that determination? Yes, they seem to have sold lots of units in the first few months, but I think it takes a little longer to determine the staying power of the device and their ebook market.

JustinLong · 02-04-2008, 04:49 AM

I use the Kindle overseas. Its wonderful because now I can buy and download books without having to ship them overseas. I have a 2GB SD card that is getting closed to being fully loaded.

1. Folders for organizing books into topics.
2. Somehow my Kindle has begun sorting the most recent books in reverse order. No idea how to fix this.
3. Need to be able to download samples of books as well as full purchased copies. Right now you can't download samples if you want them.
4. Need to be able to buy a specific book for a friend's Kindle. How else am I going to send specific Christmas presents to friends who have Kindles?
5. I would like international wireless support but if I could d/l samples & full books then I would be happy.

02-03-2008, 02:29 PM	#4
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	The hardware is "good enough", although I agree completely about the cover, the right hand page levers, and the on/off switches. What is needed is improved software: Multiple fonts Smaller (or adjustable) line spacing Folders DRMed MobiPocket support Search a single e-book I would wait for a larger screen before upgrading the hardware. On a device with an 8" or 9" screen, I would add a PDF reader with the ability to add notes and search etcetera (even though it would not "reflow" the file for display).

02-04-2008, 04:49 AM	#15
JustinLong Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Kindle	Some basic changes I use the Kindle overseas. Its wonderful because now I can buy and download books without having to ship them overseas. I have a 2GB SD card that is getting closed to being fully loaded. 1. Folders for organizing books into topics. 2. Somehow my Kindle has begun sorting the most recent books in reverse order. No idea how to fix this. 3. Need to be able to download samples of books as well as full purchased copies. Right now you can't download samples if you want them. 4. Need to be able to buy a specific book for a friend's Kindle. How else am I going to send specific Christmas presents to friends who have Kindles? 5. I would like international wireless support but if I could d/l samples & full books then I would be happy.

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02-03-2008, 02:11 PM	#2
Strether Guru Posts: 744 Karma: 2825929 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fresno Device: Kindle 1; iPad Air; iPhone 7; Kobo Libra; Kindle Oasis 3	I wish they had done something like keep the right-hand next page lever the same size as the left one, and used the upper part of the right-hand lever to put the off/on switch and the wireless off/on switch. They could easily hide the two switches under a matching plastic cover. This would provide easy access to those two switches without the need to have access to the back, and would allow a more firmly anchored cover. I've never had the reader fall from the cover, but you always have the feeling that it could happen. Jim

02-03-2008, 02:14 PM	#3
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	Color screen would be nice but.... Better content manager is number one for me. List books by purchase date. Enable folders to group books. This is already done in the MobiPocket reader so it should be easy to implement on the Kindle. Desktop reader for .AZW books. Now that I have dead Kindle and am waiting on a new one I can't read any of my .AZW content. I like the design but smaller page turn bars/buttons wouldn't upset me.

02-03-2008, 02:40 PM	#5
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	my number 1 suggestion is to make the screen wider....by 1.5 to 2 inches. and while they r add it...a bit longer. i feel that u read slower on the kindle because it ia narrower.....makes my eyes fatigued going back and forth so much

02-03-2008, 02:52 PM	#6
KlondikeGeoff Wombat Aficionado Posts: 481 Karma: 733 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arizona Device: Fire, Kindle1, Sony PRS-500 Reader, Rocket 1100 eBook	1. Better designed cover to keep device in. 2. Wireless & on/off switch on the front. 3. Of course, smaller paging buttons. Much smaller. 4. Larger and darker letters on the keyboard 5. Let reader pick larger type for all menus, dictionary definitions, etc instead of just for the text in books. 6. I'd like separate clippings documents: one for actual text you want to save, and another for bookmarks, etc.

02-03-2008, 10:58 PM	#7
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Pretty much what everyone else has said... except I like the size of the buttons. The UI is a big problem... the lack of any sort of way to create playlists, etc makes it difficult (for books.) The keypad would be much better if it was rubber, I find typing on the plastic keys a bit uncomfortable. But otherwise... very, very happy. Once I got used to the next page buttons I liked them much more Sony's.

02-03-2008, 11:02 PM	#8
rationalbiker Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 361 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Va. Beach, VA Device: Kindle	Personally, I read faster and for a longer period of time on the Kindle than I do with books. The screen is fine for me. However, I agree with Tallmom that there needs to be better content management; book folders and/or categories, etc.

02-03-2008, 11:22 PM	#9
pitcher23 Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York USA	I would like the option to choose left or right side page turns. That way I can hold the Kindle anywhere without fear of accidentally turning a page. A case that acts like a book cover or looks like a case. What I mean is, the current one is really a protective case that looks like a cover, but in no way can be used as one. They should take a lesson from Sony on this one. They could have had the same hard shell, but allowed it to attach to the kindle securely.

02-04-2008, 12:36 AM	#10
snookums Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 100 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Kindle	The placement of the back button. True file management, i.e. folders. If I sort by author, I would like the home screen to only show one listing for the author like they do for newspapers. The ability to load custom fonts. The ability to edit txt files. Not anything ridiculous. I just want to be able to correct one of my typos on a line without taking the file back to the computer.

02-04-2008, 02:07 AM	#11
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,450 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	If I was in position to make a single change I would suggest: Start selling this thing internationally.

02-04-2008, 04:41 AM	#14
rationalbiker Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 361 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Va. Beach, VA Device: Kindle	I think there may be good reasoning behind NOT having gone international yet. Given that others have commented on the risk Amazon took even entering the hardware market with an e-reader, if Amazon recognized this risk from the beginning, then a limited release would make sense. I would say it would be "blindlingly obvious" once they were more confident that the effort would meet with a reasonable degree of success. I suspect that Jeff Bezos likes to make money, at least I hope he does, so when he's reasonably sure that it will be profitable to go international and they work out all the details, we will probably see an international version. Does anyone think the Kindle is a success yet or that it may be too premature to make that determination? Yes, they seem to have sold lots of units in the first few months, but I think it takes a little longer to determine the staying power of the device and their ebook market.

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