5 way Navigate - why not scroll ball?

pengrus · 02-27-2009, 02:13 AM

I used to be a Blackberry user, and blackberry has a scroll ball for navigation. You can turn that ball to all direction effortlessly.

Why Kindle chose the square 5 way navigate instead of scroll ball? To get to any word for a definition, it means you have to navigate vertical for a few times, then horizontally a few times, it is so inconvenient.

This is so far the biggest drawback for Kindle 2.

Did I miss anything? Any tips you want to share for using the 5-way?

Thanks!

stevenmoy · 02-27-2009, 02:19 AM

Image how you use your blackberry trackball and waiting for that eInk screen to update to show where you are. =D

pengrus · 02-27-2009, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenmoy

Image how you use your blackberry trackball and waiting for that eInk screen to update to show where you are. =D

Could you please elaborate? I do not understand how it works. So eInk determines that we cannot use scrollball?

stevenmoy · 02-27-2009, 02:44 AM

eInk is not a traditional TFT display, so its refresh rate does not come close to your first generation LCD. http://eink.com/technology/index.html

In fact, epaper technology first started for non-interactive use. As the technology improves, more user interaction can be done with the display technology. Trackball will lead to very fast input rate, user will expect a very fast response from the screen. epaper is pitched as low-power display device rather than fast interactive display.

pengrus · 02-27-2009, 02:48 AM

Thank you for the explanation. Now it makes sense to me.

krisk · 02-27-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenmoy

eInk is not a traditional TFT display, so its refresh rate does not come close to your first generation LCD. http://eink.com/technology/index.html

In fact, epaper technology first started for non-interactive use. As the technology improves, more user interaction can be done with the display technology. Trackball will lead to very fast input rate, user will expect a very fast response from the screen. epaper is pitched as low-power display device rather than fast interactive display.

Ah-ha! looks like many small reasons for waiting on the 2 are adding up!

kilofox · 02-27-2009, 12:53 PM

As a blackberry user I can tell you that the trackball gets "sticky" from time to time. I have had to disassemble my Curve a couple of times to clean the ball. Still love the 'Berry though, I just wish the trackball would work 100% of the time, even 98% doesnt cut it. IMO

02-27-2009, 02:13 AM	#1
pengrus Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: kindle	5 way Navigate - why not scroll ball? I used to be a Blackberry user, and blackberry has a scroll ball for navigation. You can turn that ball to all direction effortlessly. Why Kindle chose the square 5 way navigate instead of scroll ball? To get to any word for a definition, it means you have to navigate vertical for a few times, then horizontally a few times, it is so inconvenient. This is so far the biggest drawback for Kindle 2. Did I miss anything? Any tips you want to share for using the 5-way? Thanks!

02-27-2009, 02:44 AM	#4
stevenmoy Zealot Posts: 133 Karma: 348 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Kindle 2	eInk is not a traditional TFT display, so its refresh rate does not come close to your first generation LCD. http://eink.com/technology/index.html In fact, epaper technology first started for non-interactive use. As the technology improves, more user interaction can be done with the display technology. Trackball will lead to very fast input rate, user will expect a very fast response from the screen. epaper is pitched as low-power display device rather than fast interactive display. Last edited by stevenmoy; 02-27-2009 at 02:49 AM.

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02-27-2009, 02:19 AM	#2
stevenmoy Zealot Posts: 133 Karma: 348 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Kindle 2	Image how you use your blackberry trackball and waiting for that eInk screen to update to show where you are. =D

02-27-2009, 02:48 AM	#5
pengrus Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: kindle	Thank you for the explanation. Now it makes sense to me.

02-27-2009, 12:53 PM	#7
kilofox Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 217 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Kindle 2	As a blackberry user I can tell you that the trackball gets "sticky" from time to time. I have had to disassemble my Curve a couple of times to clean the ball. Still love the 'Berry though, I just wish the trackball would work 100% of the time, even 98% doesnt cut it. IMO

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