Top 10 Kindle Irritations

L.J. Sellers · 11-03-2010, 10:37 AM

I saw this article this morning and it listed the top 10 "design flaws" of Kindle 3. I thought I would share it and see what everyone thinks. The top three flaws were:
1. Only one user
2. No applications
3. Dictionary for single words only

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente...ritations.html

I kind of agreed with the complaint about not displaying book covers.
L.J.
The Sex Club, now only $.99

Sweetpea · 11-03-2010, 10:46 AM

Most of the complaints I agree with. Some are more major than others, but none are deadly for the device.

ProfCrash · 11-03-2010, 11:02 AM

I think they are more nitpicks then complaints. I get the big things, like better foreighn language scripts, lack of EPub, that type of things. These are all relativly minor issues that are easily worked around or are down right silly.

1. Only One User

With the amount of money spent on gourmet coffee, video games, cell phones, and sneakers I think that $139 is not too much to spend on an e-reader. If you have multiple readers in the family, buy multiple readers. If it is too expensive, you can read on multiple devices. Like the computer you own, the lap top you own, your cell phone, your net book. And if all of that is too uncomfortable, you don't want to read on an LCD screen, it is easy enough to set a note in a book that reads "Dawn topped reading here" and use that as a bookmark.

Where Are the Apps?

I bought an e-reader not a tablet PC or netbook or cell phone. Apps are coming, I am sure, but that is not why I bought my Kindle.

Dictionary for Single Words Only

Maybe this is a personal thing, I have never tried to look up phrases so I never knew that this was a problem.

4. Kindle Hates Covers

No it doesn't, you can see the cover when you open a book. I could careless about browsing by cover. It appears that this is important to others so I guess it is something that Amazon should enable but for me it falls into the catagory of something I would never use.

5. This Is Progress?

Allowing more configuration would be nice. The progress bars don't bother me but I guess it would be nice to be able to make them go away

6. Only Two Fonts?

Again, this is a personal preference thing. My DXG allows one font and I am fine with that.

7. The Free 3G that Isn't Free

There are two easy ways to load stuff on for free. Really? Seriously? This one is a joke right?

8. Global Font Choices

It takes you how long to hit the button and change the font? Again, really?

9. Take Me Home

Really? The button that says home isn't good enough? Because it is on the bottom row?

10. I’ve Lost My Page!

If this happens to you frequently enough, I would suggest book marking the page you finish on everytime.

Sweetpea · 11-03-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

9. Take Me Home

Really? The button that says home isn't good enough? Because it is on the bottom row?

I've searched for that button more than once. It's just too small for a somewhat important button. I completely agree with the author of the piece on this one.

Oh, and I've also moved to a next or previous page by accident as well. Those buttons are a bit too sensitive for me...

ppw · 11-03-2010, 11:59 AM

For me the biggest irritation is buggy software. Crashes were constant during the first few weeks. Another big one is no ePub support.

J. Strnad · 11-03-2010, 12:57 PM

Funny how "lack of epub support" didn't make the list.

ProfCrash · 11-03-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

Funny how "lack of epub support" didn't make the list.

Exactly. It is a list of small things that bug a few people but not everyone. Very little on that list is going to stop people from buying the K3 or cause people to return their K3.

I can see where some of them would be minor annoyances for folks but nothing there is a deal breaker.

jgaiser · 11-03-2010, 01:30 PM

Most of the complaints are just plain silly. They could be speaking of any of the top 2 or 3 ereaders available.

tubemonkey · 11-03-2010, 01:38 PM

There isn't one thing on that list that I even care about.

Where's ePub?

ProfCrash · 11-03-2010, 01:39 PM

In fairness, the author did call them "Irritations" and not major problems or things that had to be fixed. (shrugs)

tubemonkey · 11-03-2010, 01:42 PM

What I find really interesting is that apps for computers, tablets, and phones are for more feature rich than the dedicated ereaders themselves.

Seanette · 11-03-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

What I find really interesting is that apps for computers, tablets, and phones are for more feature rich than the dedicated ereaders themselves.

My admittedly inexpert guess would be that the dedicated ereaders are meant for less technically adept people than apps to be put on multi-purpose devices.

JeremyR · 11-03-2010, 06:16 PM

I agree with #10, every time I pick it up and it's not asleep I change pages. I don't see a way around it though. And I don't usually use bookmarks with regular books, so I'm used to remembering where I stopped reading.

But I would go with
1) Lack of epub support (I'd even take non DRM support)
2) Zombie Emily Dickinson. I thought people were joking about this before I got my kindle. But they were right...

rhadin · 11-03-2010, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

10. I’ve Lost My Page!

If this happens to you frequently enough, I would suggest book marking the page you finish on everytime.

Although I own Sonys rather than the Kindle, I think this is good advice. I've never lost a page on my Sony in the 3 years I have been using it, but I have always made it a practice to bookmark my page just in case.

Solicitous · 11-03-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

Funny how "lack of epub support" didn't make the list.

I'm still rather curious why people feel the device should support epub? What is so good about this format? I have found having both a ADE-based reader and a Kindle that the mobi looks far better than an epub on the ADE reader. Just my impression anyway.

Back on the article, point 1 I think is ridiculous, I don't want to share my reader with the wife. Chances are when one of us sits down and reads the other tends to follow (usually because the kids are in bed and time to relax). Bit hard to 'share' an ereader in that respect, plus given the cheap price nowdays of a Kindle it is silly to have two people who like to read in a house but only one Kindle.

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11-03-2010, 10:37 AM	#1
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	Top 10 Kindle Irritations I saw this article this morning and it listed the top 10 "design flaws" of Kindle 3. I thought I would share it and see what everyone thinks. The top three flaws were: 1. Only one user 2. No applications 3. Dictionary for single words only http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente...ritations.html I kind of agreed with the complaint about not displaying book covers. L.J. The Sex Club, now only $.99

11-03-2010, 10:46 AM	#2
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Most of the complaints I agree with. Some are more major than others, but none are deadly for the device.

11-03-2010, 11:02 AM	#3
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 think they are more nitpicks then complaints. I get the big things, like better foreighn language scripts, lack of EPub, that type of things. These are all relativly minor issues that are easily worked around or are down right silly. 1. Only One User With the amount of money spent on gourmet coffee, video games, cell phones, and sneakers I think that $139 is not too much to spend on an e-reader. If you have multiple readers in the family, buy multiple readers. If it is too expensive, you can read on multiple devices. Like the computer you own, the lap top you own, your cell phone, your net book. And if all of that is too uncomfortable, you don't want to read on an LCD screen, it is easy enough to set a note in a book that reads "Dawn topped reading here" and use that as a bookmark. Where Are the Apps? I bought an e-reader not a tablet PC or netbook or cell phone. Apps are coming, I am sure, but that is not why I bought my Kindle. Dictionary for Single Words Only Maybe this is a personal thing, I have never tried to look up phrases so I never knew that this was a problem. 4. Kindle Hates Covers No it doesn't, you can see the cover when you open a book. I could careless about browsing by cover. It appears that this is important to others so I guess it is something that Amazon should enable but for me it falls into the catagory of something I would never use. 5. This Is Progress? Allowing more configuration would be nice. The progress bars don't bother me but I guess it would be nice to be able to make them go away 6. Only Two Fonts? Again, this is a personal preference thing. My DXG allows one font and I am fine with that. 7. The Free 3G that Isn't Free There are two easy ways to load stuff on for free. Really? Seriously? This one is a joke right? 8. Global Font Choices It takes you how long to hit the button and change the font? Again, really? 9. Take Me Home Really? The button that says home isn't good enough? Because it is on the bottom row? 10. I’ve Lost My Page! If this happens to you frequently enough, I would suggest book marking the page you finish on everytime.

11-03-2010, 11:59 AM	#5
ppw Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 499180 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle DXG, iPad 3	For me the biggest irritation is buggy software. Crashes were constant during the first few weeks. Another big one is no ePub support.

11-03-2010, 12:57 PM	#6
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	Funny how "lack of epub support" didn't make the list.

11-03-2010, 01:30 PM	#8
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Most of the complaints are just plain silly. They could be speaking of any of the top 2 or 3 ereaders available.

11-03-2010, 01:38 PM	#9
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	There isn't one thing on that list that I even care about. Where's ePub?

11-03-2010, 01:39 PM	#10
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	In fairness, the author did call them "Irritations" and not major problems or things that had to be fixed. (shrugs)

11-03-2010, 01:42 PM	#11
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	What I find really interesting is that apps for computers, tablets, and phones are for more feature rich than the dedicated ereaders themselves.

11-03-2010, 06:16 PM	#13
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	I agree with #10, every time I pick it up and it's not asleep I change pages. I don't see a way around it though. And I don't usually use bookmarks with regular books, so I'm used to remembering where I stopped reading. But I would go with 1) Lack of epub support (I'd even take non DRM support) 2) Zombie Emily Dickinson. I thought people were joking about this before I got my kindle. But they were right...

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