Kindle Scribe

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by LDB

Interesting, I'm sitting here with mine and in standard view I have 8 and large 7 in list view. In grid view I have 12.2-12.25 in both settings.

There is some variation in height of the thumbnails, seems tied to aspect ratio of the thumbnail. Square ones are shorter, narrow ones taller. Series thumbnails don't seem to be taller.

Paging through I'm seeing 8 consistently in Standard and the partial always shows at least a title. Never 7. But I have too many books to check exhaustively.

I suppress display of audiobooks. If those are mixed in, there are more items on average. With Audible filter on, 11 + 1 (list) 16 (grid).

I agree, Grid view is unaffected by Display setting. Home is probably where the effect is largest as there more interstitial text. But I hardly go there.

And speaking of Home, I have yet to see the change they announced many months ago: the Genre selector bubbles. If you go to the Display Size setting page they show an image of how it's supposed to look. But I've never seen it!

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by rem736

i count 8, plus a peek of a 9th entry.

Originally Posted by LDB

7 in list and 12 in grid view with it set for large view. Add 1 if you use small view.

Originally Posted by tomsem

Hmm. This is my count:

Standard
List: 8 full plus 1 partial with title showing. Effectively 9.
Grid: 12 full, 4 partial, sometimes identifiable

Large
List: 8 full, 1 sliver with no title showing. Effectively 8.
Grid: Same as Standard

Originally Posted by tomsem

There is some variation in height of the thumbnails, seems tied to aspect ratio of the thumbnail. Square ones are shorter, narrow ones taller. Series thumbnails don't seem to be taller.

OK, guys, this is interesting.

Screenshots (not photographs) please.

TIA

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

OK, guys, this is interesting.

Screenshots (not photographs) please.

TIA

Converted to lowest quality JPEG to get size down.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Very likely a vanishingly small market. I suspect the many people would say that such a device would too big to travel well and too heavy to hold for an extended period.

Well, I love using my Scribe. I have an Oasis 2, a Paperwhite SE and have had almost every major Kindle. In all of that time I have never missed taking notes while reading a book. And on my Apple iPads I never used the capability of writing notes. I am not a student and even when I was I did not take notes and I have never journaled, etc.

The very first thing I learned how to do was to totally turn off the stylus tools for note taking. Even removed the little access-circle from the screen.

The Scribe IMHO is the best Kindle ever for reading. Is there a market for only reading on a Scribe? I would bet it isn't limited to me alone. I'd also bet if they sold one without writing ability (different name probably) for $80 less or so it would be a runaway seller.

Hmmmmm, maybe the way to go would be to take a Scribe, make the screen read only (with text selection as always) add a couple buttons and, well, call it the Oasis 3?

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by Neil

Well, I love using my Scribe. I have an Oasis 2, a Paperwhite SE and have had almost every major Kindle. In all of that time I have never missed taking notes while reading a book. And on my Apple iPads I never used the capability of writing notes. I am not a student and even when I was I did not take notes and I have never journaled, etc.

The very first thing I learned how to do was to totally turn off the stylus tools for note taking. Even removed the little access-circle from the screen.

The Scribe IMHO is the best Kindle ever for reading. Is there a market for only reading on a Scribe? I would bet it isn't limited to me alone. I'd also bet if they sold one without writing ability (different name probably) for $80 less or so it would be a runaway seller.

Hmmmmm, maybe the way to go would be to take a Scribe, make the screen read only (with text selection as always) add a couple buttons and, well, call it the Oasis 3?

It is a wonderful reading device to be sure (after you figure out how to hide the Writing toolbar).

I love my iPad, but even with friction enhancing tips for Pencil, it doesn't feel nearly as comfortable to write on. I'm starting to jot down and diagram some ideas. I came for the reading, but I think Notebook is going to get me to write some as well.

But Scribe is not just another Kindle.

Why have they completely overhauled Personal Documents service after years of neglect? Why are they converting PDF to Print Replica instead of enhancing integration of PDF? Why the official ePub import that finally gives personal documents full reading features like Page Flip, orphaning Kindle formats which never matched up? Why the sudden focus on Word interoperability, import and markup PDF? Why the Notebook and Pen?

It's almost like they were designing this for students so they can carry around all of the written materials they need in terms of textbooks, supplemental reading in the form of PDF or Word or ePub, and be able to mark all of those up and share. And instead of trying to take notes by mad typing on their laptop, distracted by the low battery indicator and notifications from social media, they can close the lid, pull out their Scribe, focus on capturing key points that can be succinctly jotted down, including drawings and diagrams for the other half of the brain. And the screen is the perfect size for textbooks that use Print Replica, as many do.

So to me it appears to be purpose built for students at all levels.

I think we can expect a lot of improvements before fall, ability to read Kindle Store Print replica books on Scribe, and Print Replica personal documents (converted from PDF) with the apps by then as well, with sync of reading position and annotations.

[LDB]

Originally Posted by Neil

Well, I love using my Scribe. I have an Oasis 2, a Paperwhite SE and have had almost every major Kindle. In all of that time I have never missed taking notes while reading a book. And on my Apple iPads I never used the capability of writing notes. I am not a student and even when I was I did not take notes and I have never journaled, etc.

The very first thing I learned how to do was to totally turn off the stylus tools for note taking. Even removed the little access-circle from the screen.

The Scribe IMHO is the best Kindle ever for reading. Is there a market for only reading on a Scribe? I would bet it isn't limited to me alone. I'd also bet if they sold one without writing ability (different name probably) for $80 less or so it would be a runaway seller.

Hmmmmm, maybe the way to go would be to take a Scribe, make the screen read only (with text selection as always) add a couple buttons and, well, call it the Oasis 3?

I played with the note thing for maybe a minute just to see what it was. I bought this to read with. I want to read, not turn pages. Yeah, I know, but I only have to do barely over half as much page turning now. And if STUPID Amazon had included the buttons like on the Oasis it would be even better suited for reading. And yes, I'd definitely have bought a less expensive read only device, especially if it had page turning buttons as it should. I don't really pay full attention to all the technical talk regarding systems and programming and anything else writing/noting related, just what applies to reading, cases, etc. and for that, other than the MAJOR FAILURE of excluding buttons, it is a winner.

Oh, and don't forget how good the Fintie cases are.

[Strether]

Originally Posted by LDB

Oh, and don't forget how good the Fintie cases are.

It is a nice case, though a little heavier than I'd like. The Amazon case is lighter, but awkward to use.

I bought another case from eBay which sounded promising, though it didn't state what the weight was. Half the price of the Fintie and I figured there was a chance the lower price might indicate something not as substantial as the Fintie and consequently lighter.

Turned out to be another Fintie case, exactly the same as the one I bought from Amazon at twice the price.

So now I have two. If someone would want to PM me their name and address, I'd be glad to mail it to them. US only, please. Better than just throwing it away.

Jim

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by LDB

I played with the note thing for maybe a minute just to see what it was. I bought this to read with. I want to read, not turn pages. Yeah, I know, but I only have to do barely over half as much page turning now. And if STUPID Amazon had included the buttons like on the Oasis it would be even better suited for reading. And yes, I'd definitely have bought a less expensive read only device, especially if it had page turning buttons as it should. I don't really pay full attention to all the technical talk regarding systems and programming and anything else writing/noting related, just what applies to reading, cases, etc. and for that, other than the MAJOR FAILURE of excluding buttons, it is a winner.

Oh, and don't forget how good the Fintie cases are.

Buttons would have ruined it for me, at least if they were like Oasis'.

I got an Oasis (renewed) a few months ago, and just could not get comfortable using it.

Sure, one does not have to use the buttons, but then it's awkward to work around them to use tap or swipe because there's nowhere to keep the thumb without accidentally pressing them. And thumb has to be glued to a single location on the grip side, even if a better balance point is just a bit lower. It's almost impossible to operate the buttons if the screen is pointing down (e.g. when reclining). Switching hands involves a tenuous juggle instead of a smooth transfer.

So I was more than happy to trade it in for Scribe.

I haven't started shopping for cases. I haven't gotten one for any of my Kindles since my Voyage. I might need something just to park the Pen more securely. But I'm concerned about adding weight and bulk, and the hassle of returning if I am not lucky enough to pick one that I'll like.

[LDB]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Buttons would have ruined it for me, at least if they were like Oasis'.

I got an Oasis (renewed) a few months ago, and just could not get comfortable using it.

Sure, one does not have to use the buttons, but then it's awkward to work around them to use tap or swipe because there's nowhere to keep the thumb without accidentally pressing them. And thumb has to be glued to a single location on the grip side, even if a better balance point is just a bit lower. It's almost impossible to operate the buttons if the screen is pointing down (e.g. when reclining). Switching hands involves a tenuous juggle instead of a smooth transfer.

So I was more than happy to trade it in for Scribe.

I haven't started shopping for cases. I haven't gotten one for any of my Kindles since my Voyage. I might need something just to park the Pen more securely. But I'm concerned about adding weight and bulk, and the hassle of returning if I am not lucky enough to pick one that I'll like.

If they did it correctly there would be an option in settings to turn the buttons off. If not, both sides should be the width of the wide side. It is far too easy to turn pages when holding it just with the left hand because you have to temporarily use your right for something else and that causes pinching a bit more with the left turning pages like a tradewind.

I'm using the Amazon case so far. The Fintie Oasis easel flip case is a better design. With it you get 3 solid easel positions and can micro-adjust between them in most cases. The Amazon case offers one easel position only. But it is adequate so for now I'll go with it. I can keep the Fintie as an option for the jolly fat guy since he never knows what to get.

[Strether]

Originally Posted by Strether

So now I have two. If someone would want to PM me their name and address, I'd be glad to mail it to them. US only, please. Better than just throwing it away.

Jim

Someone has responded to this offer.

Jim

[jhowell]

I saw an interesting post on Reddit, Kindle scribe sync limitations, from someone who owns two Scribes about problems encountered when trying to sync annotations and notebooks between those devices.

[LDB]

Interesting. Why have two? Unless one is a backup in case the real one goes on the fritz?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by LDB

Interesting. Why have two? Unless one is a backup in case the real one goes on the fritz?

Or to loan. That's one reason I have multiple ereaders. We have beta readers and one has no ereader.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by LDB

Interesting. Why have two? Unless one is a backup in case the real one goes on the fritz?

Part of the reason was to find out what would happen if something ever goes wrong with their first Scribe and they had to get a new one. Would all of their work done on the original device transfer over the the new one? The answer appears to be, not completely.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I saw an interesting post on Reddit, Kindle scribe sync limitations, from someone who owns two Scribes about problems encountered when trying to sync annotations and notebooks between those devices.

They are expecting PDF that were sent in prior to 11/11/2022 to sync annotations. That's never been a feature, and never will be. PDF Annotations never left the device they were created on.

Imported-to-Print Replica annotation probably works as expected: I can remove the document and it comes back with my scribbles and bookmarks.

Amazon has stated they're working on 'improvements to notebook organizing'. That could be a euphemism for 'we are fixing something that isn't working right with folders'.

There used to be a Coming Soon bullet on the Scribe product page description, which is where I think I saw this just a couple of days ago. But it is gone now.

However they have added this note:

We want you to know
You can write directly on the page in PDF documents imported through Send to Kindle. Kindle Scribe does not currently support writing directly on the page in PDF documents loaded via USB-C or previously sent to your library before 11/11/2022.

Kindle Scribe Folio Cover attaches magnetically to your Kindle Scribe through four small magnetic connections on the back of your device to snap it in place.

They are still saying 'Review and mark up PDF files', which isn't true.

And at least I can view every notebook I've created on Scribe with the Kindle app. So it isn't completely broken.

I do wish you could nest Folders. But like Collections, you cannot.