Should I buy a Kindle 2?

Crash500 · 02-22-2009, 03:26 PM

Hi...I've been following this site for a while but this is my first post.

I currently have the Sony PRS-505 Reader but the Kindle 2 has intrigued me. I really like the idea of the text to voice capability as there are times I like to read a book but also times I like to listen to them. For example sometimes I like to listen to something when going to sleep or if I'm busy working on a project and I can play it through my stereo.

I also like the idea of being able to read newspapers & magazines on the Kindle as well. I did try using Calibre to download to my 505 but I'm thinking format wise the downloads to the Kindle are probably better. If anybody has used both I wouldn't mind getting a comparison.

So do you think those 2 reasons are good enough for me to sell my 505 and spend the extra money on a Kindle 2 or am I better off sticking with the 505?

Thanks for any and all opinions!

daffy4u · 02-22-2009, 03:32 PM

If you haven't yet, take a look at the videos on the Kindle 2 buy page at Amazon. The Read to Me voice is very mechanical and *I* don't think it's very pleasant to listen to. It would take me right out of the story (and I'm a big audiobook listener).

I recently tried my first newspaper recipe with Calibre and have to admit, it is very close to the style of the L.A. Times subscription I had.

I would suggest you do the 30 day trial of the Kindle. If you like it, then sell the 505. If not, return it and get you money back. Who knows, you may want both.

desertgrandma · 02-22-2009, 03:51 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, crash500.

The duck gives good advice.

Ervserver · 02-22-2009, 04:15 PM

The Kindle II text to speech is too spooky for me to listen to right before bed, in fact it may make me wet the bed

Crash500 · 02-22-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

If you haven't yet, take a look at the videos on the Kindle 2 buy page at Amazon. The Read to Me voice is very mechanical and *I* don't think it's very pleasant to listen to. It would take me right out of the story (and I'm a big audiobook listener).

You might be right about trying it out for myself. I did watch the videos on amazon but it's really hard to tell from it. I think I would be ok with it but it just doesn't play long enough to be sure.

AnemicOak · 02-22-2009, 04:22 PM

If K2's TTS is anything like using the TTS in MS Reader it's not very pleasant IMO. I'll stick to professionally produced audiobooks personally.

sigma8 · 02-22-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crash500

You might be right about trying it out for myself. I did watch the videos on amazon but it's really hard to tell from it. I think I would be ok with it but it just doesn't play long enough to be sure.

I would expect that the short clip Amazon put in its self-advertisement is probably the read-to-me feature at its best. I wouldn't expect it to be anything like an audiobook. Audiobook readers put a degree of performance into their readings that text-to-speech algorithms aren't going to match. I've tried to use my laptop to do this in the past, and it wasn't acceptable at all.

What kind of computer do you have? I'm pretty sure current versions of both macs and windows each have text-to-speech feature. Maybe someone else can chime in with how to do it on windows.

If you're on a mac, highlight some text (try this post!) and then click the name of your browser in the menubar (probably either Firefox or Safari, in bold), choose "Services", and then "Speech" and then, "Start Speaking text".

There may be ways to customize the voice a bit, on the Mac, it's under "System Preferences" -> "Speech" -> "Text to Speech".

You can try using that with some lengthier passages. It's possible that Amazon has really innovated in this area, but my guess is that it's similar to what's offered on desktop/laptop computers, which I think you'll find are not easy to listen to for anything longer than a sentence or two.

FWIW, on a Mac, I felt like the "Alex" voice was by far the best, but it's still nothing I'd want to listen to for very long.

Crash500 · 02-23-2009, 05:34 PM

Thanks for all the responses. I think I'll wait to see what the opinions are from the people who receive the first batch.

02-22-2009, 03:26 PM	#1
Crash500 Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Device: Kindle Voyager, Kindle DX, Kobo Aura	Should I buy a Kindle 2? Hi...I've been following this site for a while but this is my first post. I currently have the Sony PRS-505 Reader but the Kindle 2 has intrigued me. I really like the idea of the text to voice capability as there are times I like to read a book but also times I like to listen to them. For example sometimes I like to listen to something when going to sleep or if I'm busy working on a project and I can play it through my stereo. I also like the idea of being able to read newspapers & magazines on the Kindle as well. I did try using Calibre to download to my 505 but I'm thinking format wise the downloads to the Kindle are probably better. If anybody has used both I wouldn't mind getting a comparison. So do you think those 2 reasons are good enough for me to sell my 505 and spend the extra money on a Kindle 2 or am I better off sticking with the 505? Thanks for any and all opinions!

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02-22-2009, 03:32 PM	#2
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	If you haven't yet, take a look at the videos on the Kindle 2 buy page at Amazon. The Read to Me voice is very mechanical and I don't think it's very pleasant to listen to. It would take me right out of the story (and I'm a big audiobook listener). I recently tried my first newspaper recipe with Calibre and have to admit, it is very close to the style of the L.A. Times subscription I had. I would suggest you do the 30 day trial of the Kindle. If you like it, then sell the 505. If not, return it and get you money back. Who knows, you may want both.

02-22-2009, 03:51 PM	#3
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, crash500. The duck gives good advice.

02-22-2009, 04:15 PM	#4
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	The Kindle II text to speech is too spooky for me to listen to right before bed, in fact it may make me wet the bed

02-22-2009, 04:22 PM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	If K2's TTS is anything like using the TTS in MS Reader it's not very pleasant IMO. I'll stick to professionally produced audiobooks personally.

02-23-2009, 05:34 PM	#8
Crash500 Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Device: Kindle Voyager, Kindle DX, Kobo Aura	Thanks for all the responses. I think I'll wait to see what the opinions are from the people who receive the first batch.

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