Accessories Skins questions

[KlondikeGeoff]

I never had the slightest interest in a skin for my K1 until I read a thread with a link to an interesting article about changing fonts. It pointed out how much darker type would look on a Kindle with black surroundings rather than the white.

It also pointed to the DecalGirl site (http://www.decalgirl.com/browse.cfm/4,19150.htm) that has a bunch of these.

Most seem to incorporate some sort of design, which to me would be very distracting. I did find one black skin that seems to be without any design. It is cheap enough, but I have some questions if anybody has experience with these or other skins:

1. Is this in separate pieces that are pasted on each button, the front, back etc? I don't see any other way to apply them. And they be stuck on without getting wrinkles or bubbles?

2. Can the skin be removed easily and without leaving any sticky residue?

3. Any idea whether these are flat black or shiny?

4. Any input, suggestions, advice or other pertinent info from anybody who has used these things?

Thanks for any info.

[poohbear_nc]

I have DecaGirl solid black skins for all of my Kindles. Surrounding the screen with solid black fools your eyes and increases the contrast, making the letters look darker.
The K1 skin is indeed in pieces - and the most awkward to apply. The pieces are thin and go on fairly easily without bubbles or wrinkles. They also remove easily without residue. The solid black skin is (to me) slightly glossy, but I found that with repeated handling, it dulls down to more of a flat finish. I have very sensitive eyes, but was never bothered by glare.
I keep my K's in Amazon or M-Edge covers, so I never bothered to apply the pieces onto the back of the K. I don't know how well the pieces of the K1 skin would stand up to constant handling if you don't keep your K in a cover.

[KlondikeGeoff]

Thanks, pooh. I always keep my Kindle in the original Amazon cover, so that is no problem, and makes sense not to bother with the back skin.

Sounds good, think I'll go ahead and try it. Probably let my wife apply the stuff, she is much better at that sort of thing, and does not swear and cuss as much as I do.

[KlondikeGeoff]

P.S.
I went back and looked at it again. How the heck does the part of the skin go over the keyboard? Have little holes for each key?

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by KlondikeGeoff

P.S.
I went back and looked at it again. How the heck does the part of the skin go over the keyboard? Have little holes for each key?

Yup - you're exactly right - little holes! They must cut these skins by laser - b/c they really do fit.

Also, I too have NO patience with working with little bits of things - but I got mine applied with minimal profanity. The adhesive allows you to lift & re-apply very easily. And the skins are a little "stretchy" - which can help in the positioning.

Good luck!

[KlondikeGeoff]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Yup - you're exactly right - little holes! They must cut these skins by laser - b/c they really do fit.

Also, I too have NO patience with working with little bits of things - but I got mine applied with minimal profanity. The adhesive allows you to lift & re-apply very easily. And the skins are a little "stretchy" - which can help in the positioning.

Good luck!

Thanks, the D1 skin came today, and sure enough, i did get it on no profanity a'tall.

The skin was not too difficult to apply, but the section that fit over the keys, unfortunately would not peel off without taking the key cutout pieces with it. The right half was OK, but even though I pressed down hard on the backing, when I peeled it up, all the key cutouts came with it. I had to laboriously push them back out with needle-nose tweezers, which was a bit of a chore.

Anyhow, it looks very nice now.

I also took advantage of their free black .jpg file that you can put in with the hack to replace the dead authors pics (I'm a bit tired of them after a year). When it goes to sleep, the black screen looks nice with the black skin.

For the price, a good deal.

[poohbear_nc]

"I also took advantage of their free black .jpg file that you can put in with the hack to replace the dead authors pics (I'm a bit tired of them after a year). When it goes to sleep, the black screen looks nice with the black skin."

Great! I'm glad you got the skin on without losing yours! Yes - the key cutouts can stick - but a little muttering helped me there.

The solid black really changes the appearance of the Kindle, as well as help the contrast & readability!

For the price, a good deal.

[KlondikeGeoff]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

The solid black really changes the appearance of the Kindle, as well as help the contrast & readability!

BTW, it is really interesting how the black does change things.

I put the black screen thingie on before the skin. It looked really dark black. After applying the skin, it now looks more of a dark gray.

Have you noticed that, or is is just me?

I agree, however, that the type now looks blacker.

All an optical "delusion?"

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by KlondikeGeoff

BTW, it is really interesting how the black does change things.

I put the black screen thingie on before the skin. It looked really dark black. After applying the skin, it now looks more of a dark gray.

Have you noticed that, or is is just me?

I agree, however, that the type now looks blacker.

All an optical "delusion?"

Yes - it is an optical delusion - but a highly effective one - it has really helped reduce eye strain for me. For a real shocker, after reading with your black skin for a while, look at a "naked" ereader if you can find one - it's amazing!

There's a couple of threads scattered in the Kindle forum about this - some have links to Wiki pages on optical illusions.

[mhaas2]

I have the burl wood effect in my Kindle from Decal Girl. It has been on it for over a year and the wear is very light. I have only seen wear at the top and bottom corners where it slips into the pockets in the cover. I love the look and was thinking I may get a new one. I also use the matching screen saver.

[Kat89447]

I have never put a skin on any device until I got my k2. I bought one that looks like a medium wood grain and it's amazing looking. Yes it does help with contrast etc, but the main reason I did it was to disguise my Kindle a little bit. Because of it's stark white look it stands out quite a bit and because I take it everywhere, including when I travel, I didn't want to advertise it for thieves. I also have it in a case at all times, my travel one zips closed. This may sound a little paranoid, but this is my favorite possesion and before my skin arrived I had many people notice it and ask what the Kindle was, once I put the skin on very few people noticed what I had in my hands even on an airplane. It also looks cool in an old leather bound type look.

[Trilby]

I have a question about the Skins and using a Sleeve as opposed to a book type case. Will the Kindle 2 slide into a sleeve with the skin on?