Got mine on Wednesday and am loving it so far. I do wish the page buttons had been set a little higher since the one handed balance is a little off (top-heavy) if i position it so the i can flip pages one handed. That leads to a bit of cramping if you hold it to long that way.
Since i've never had another reader before I cannot compare though I did visit borders to check out the sony reader.
I am a new user but my Daughter and Son in Law both have the Kindel 1. She told me that hers came with a case so I expected mine have one also. As it turned out I spent an additional $36.xx for an Amazon case (with shipping). That is my most obvious complaint. One other thing, I downloaded several partial books to test-drive them before I actually purchased them. Now I have both the books and the partials in memory. They don't tell you how to get rid of the partial.
Got mine and like it very much. I also got the leather case and the Mighty Bright reading light. With the light clipped on the top, it angles the screen just right.
I am pleased with it, but they need to get the price down if they expect it to take off.
I tried out a coworkers kindle 2 a little while ago. Decent and about what I expected, but not something I would find that much use for myself, especially at that price. I liked the keyboard considering its size, but the joystick would take me a while to get used to.
The text to voice was accurate and not unpleasant to listen to, but I listen to a lot of audiobooks and the voice is not one I would want to listen to for long periods if there was another option. Really good for people with vision problems and better than the other text to voice software I have listened to before like JAWS.
I have mine and I'm really enjoying it. I was a Kindle 1 owner, and I didn't know how much it changed my reading habits until my toddler threw it down the stairs. This resulted in an epic time-out for both him and my eBook habits.
Page turns are just a tiny bit faster, but now are fast enough to drop beneath the "irritation level" and become unnoticeable while reading. Although some people think the EVDO modem is a waste, I find that to be the killer feature, since it allows me to get my magazine articles and new books without tethering to my laptop while on the road.
I have also found that my dead-tree reading habits have changed because of the Kindle. I am much more likely to read several books from different genres in parallel now than I was before, causing a book traffic jam on my bedstand during the mentioned "Kindle Toddler Drought of 2008".
I do agree about the lack of an integrated light being irritating, although there are numerous cheap 3rd party lights that work just fine. Overall, the Kindle is invaluable to anybody who travels frequently and doesn't want to pack along 20 pounds of paper.
Amazon doesn't consult me about their product names, and I have no interest in promoting their choice, but dictionary definitions of "kindle" suggest the word is a lot more constructive than destructive: "to bring forth," "to bring into being," "to sir up or arouse," "to become illuminated," "to catch fire," "to flare up." While "to catch fire" and "to flare up" can be both constructive and destructive, depending I guess on the outcome of the fire, those concepts are not always negative. When a great idea "catches fire," most people cheer. JMHO
When I finish reading a "dead tree" book, I can pass it along to a friend or family member -- often in exchange for the book he/she has just finished. Does anyone know whether this is feasible if we all purchase kindles? That is, can I transfer the electronic book to a different device, so long as there is still just one copy of it? Or, is it actually going to be much more expensive for several friends and family members to share kindle books as opposed to old-fashioned books?
I want to add my name to the list of people complaining that a protective cover doesn't come with it. Anything costing this much money needs a screen protector as part of the basic equipment, so Amazon is in effect just hiding an additional element of the cost in making you order separately. (I believe that if you pay very close attention when ordering, you can figure out that it comes without a protective cover, but this is not obvious. It's like selling a computer without a power cord - you don't expect it not to be included.)
Unlike the Kindle 1 (at least what people have told me about the Kindle 1), the Kindle 2 does read PDFs, which is great for academics - now you can take all that downloaded stuff from SSRN you've always been meaning to read on the plane with you. I don't yet know how it handles tables in PDFs; my suspicion is that it probably doesn't do them well, but something is better than nothing.
I've never used a Kindle but have dreamed of it. I say that because the answer to this question may be obvious, and may have been "yes" even before the release of the Kindle2. Does anyone know whether casebook publishers offer downloadable files of casebooks that can be read on a Kindle? If so, I will buy one right now. If not, I'll keep dreaming.
I'd been waiting for v.2 to come out, and happy I did. I like the cell phone downloading, which includes free email and web browsing (for now), even if they are a bit primitive and slow. The size of the screen is a good compromise between portability and ease of reading (SmartPhone screens are too small, in my experience).
The Kindle2 does have the limitations others mention, but they're not show-stoppers for me. It doesn't look like it would survive a drop on a hard floor, the lack of folder-like organization of material is annoying, and the lack of a multi-tasking underpinning means that jumping around among documents is difficult (think iPod &iPhone).
It helps greatly if you have a basic understanding of file systems on your PC or Mac, since you can fix or otherwise investigate some of the potential problems in the Kindle2 by hooking it up to your computer. Example: The only way to clean up or erase the "My Notes and Marks" file that accompanies each document is through a PC/Mac.
Bottom line: eBooks aren't quite "appliances" yet, but the Kindle2 is a very good step forward. Worth it for me, but I can understand and appreciate the concerns of those who want to wait a little longer.
Quite happy with mine as well. I still like the screen on the non-touchscreen Sony model better, but the cell connection and Amazon integration are hard to walk away from. The selection of books is better, and I haven't had any trouble emailing work documents to my Kindle to read them during my commute.
Bruce70, you can delete items by highlighting them on the main menu and pushing left on the joystick.
I just took delivery of the Kindle 2 today (Saturday).
Everyone's reaction is of course personal, but here's mine.
I first subscribed to the 14-day trial subscription for The Wall Street Journal and find it generally inferior to the print version. While the display is really crisp, I find it harder to locate what I want to read. A newspaper is not a book in that you do a lot of scanning, and long-term subscribers like myself have an unconscious feel for where things are. Perhaps I'll get used to reading newspapers on the Kindle, but I can see myself going back to the print version when I qualify for the cheap subscription.
The page advance buttons seem a little stiff and you can't advance by pressing the button parallel to the plane of the Kindle display, and my wrist has gotten sore. This is a really critical button and I think it should have a higher quality button that will activate at any angle. In time I'll probably get used to it, but if my wrist continues to get sore, I'll return the Kindle. Again this could be purely and individual reaction.
The navigation stick seems pretty easy to use and I have no trouble getting places. The layout is logical.
Unfortunately for me, most of the books I buy from Amazon seem to be of a type that aren't available in a Kindle version yet. Nevertheless I have thousands of pdf files that I would like to store and read on the Kindle. This is a major attraction for me. I will have to see how this works out.
In conclusion, my reaction is mixed. The display is excellent and I suspect that in time e-paper will largely replace the pulp. Eventually Kindle type devices will replace textbooks for students. It's a natural. Students won't have to lug around all those heavy books and the material can be updated easily. It should make textbooks cheaper for college students (a major expense for some), and save the public school systems a bundle of money.
Nevertheless I have thousands of pdf files that I would like to store and read on the Kindle. This is a major attraction for me. I will have to see how this works out.
Last I heard, the Kindle does not officially support .pdf files. Has this been changed?
"Last I heard, the Kindle does not officially support .pdf files. Has this been changed?"
According to the manual you can download pdf files from your desktop to the Kindle. The formatting might not come out all right, but we will see. Right now my unit is charging and I haven't tried it yet.
Once you connect your Kindle to your desktop it will appear as a mounted device and you can copy files into the Kindle, but files must be readable by Kindle.
The whole thing has to improve a lot first. As it stands I don't think Kindle provides a completely satisfactory substitute for paper-based books, newspapers and documents, but it's a good start. The display needs to get bigger with better contrast. The buttons need to be of higher quality.
I would put in voice recognition features so the reader could just say "turn" to get a new page. I also use use a touch screen like the iPhone. In this way you could eliminate the keyboard and expand the screen size.
I am also a recent owner of a Kindle 2. Although initially leery of an electronic device, I quickly converted.
Someone asked about sharing books. Spouse and I both got one and ran into a few minor issues with this, as it seems Amazon really hasn't thought much about 2 people in the same household having them.
We resorted to a 3rd Amazon account that we share and only use for the Kindle purchases. Amazon allows multiple Kindles to access the same books, so long as they are linked to the same Amazon account. Periodicals are more problematic, as they are licensed to individual devices. For instance, it would take 2 paid subscriptions to the NY Times. I suspect this will be something that Amazon will have to deal with in the future.
3.5.2009 6:39pm
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I wish there were a backlight, though. I still need a lamp or booklight to read at night. That might be hard with the technology they're using.
I recommend getting a carrying case. Seems a bit fragile to be on its own.
Comparison photos here.
The screen is noticeably better, page "turns" are faster and the USB connector is much improved. No more separate connector for charging.
Since i've never had another reader before I cannot compare though I did visit borders to check out the sony reader.
I am pleased with it, but they need to get the price down if they expect it to take off.
The functions were clunky and the menus were slow to respond. It's not a comfortable thickness to hold. And I've noticed more than a little ghosting.
On the other hand, it's a great idea, and I hope ebook readers take off soon. I'm just not ready to make the switch yet.
The text to voice was accurate and not unpleasant to listen to, but I listen to a lot of audiobooks and the voice is not one I would want to listen to for long periods if there was another option. Really good for people with vision problems and better than the other text to voice software I have listened to before like JAWS.
As I understand it, there's no way to have a backlight, any more than with a paper book; the display is opaque.
This is my understanding too, and also that the lack of a backlight is part of why eyestrain is so reduced over reading off of a computer screen.
Page turns are just a tiny bit faster, but now are fast enough to drop beneath the "irritation level" and become unnoticeable while reading. Although some people think the EVDO modem is a waste, I find that to be the killer feature, since it allows me to get my magazine articles and new books without tethering to my laptop while on the road.
I have also found that my dead-tree reading habits have changed because of the Kindle. I am much more likely to read several books from different genres in parallel now than I was before, causing a book traffic jam on my bedstand during the mentioned "Kindle Toddler Drought of 2008".
I do agree about the lack of an integrated light being irritating, although there are numerous cheap 3rd party lights that work just fine. Overall, the Kindle is invaluable to anybody who travels frequently and doesn't want to pack along 20 pounds of paper.
PS Does Kindle have a search capability?
Unlike the Kindle 1 (at least what people have told me about the Kindle 1), the Kindle 2 does read PDFs, which is great for academics - now you can take all that downloaded stuff from SSRN you've always been meaning to read on the plane with you. I don't yet know how it handles tables in PDFs; my suspicion is that it probably doesn't do them well, but something is better than nothing.
The Kindle2 does have the limitations others mention, but they're not show-stoppers for me. It doesn't look like it would survive a drop on a hard floor, the lack of folder-like organization of material is annoying, and the lack of a multi-tasking underpinning means that jumping around among documents is difficult (think iPod &iPhone).
It helps greatly if you have a basic understanding of file systems on your PC or Mac, since you can fix or otherwise investigate some of the potential problems in the Kindle2 by hooking it up to your computer. Example: The only way to clean up or erase the "My Notes and Marks" file that accompanies each document is through a PC/Mac.
Bottom line: eBooks aren't quite "appliances" yet, but the Kindle2 is a very good step forward. Worth it for me, but I can understand and appreciate the concerns of those who want to wait a little longer.
Bruce70, you can delete items by highlighting them on the main menu and pushing left on the joystick.
Everyone's reaction is of course personal, but here's mine.
I first subscribed to the 14-day trial subscription for The Wall Street Journal and find it generally inferior to the print version. While the display is really crisp, I find it harder to locate what I want to read. A newspaper is not a book in that you do a lot of scanning, and long-term subscribers like myself have an unconscious feel for where things are. Perhaps I'll get used to reading newspapers on the Kindle, but I can see myself going back to the print version when I qualify for the cheap subscription.
The page advance buttons seem a little stiff and you can't advance by pressing the button parallel to the plane of the Kindle display, and my wrist has gotten sore. This is a really critical button and I think it should have a higher quality button that will activate at any angle. In time I'll probably get used to it, but if my wrist continues to get sore, I'll return the Kindle. Again this could be purely and individual reaction.
The navigation stick seems pretty easy to use and I have no trouble getting places. The layout is logical.
Unfortunately for me, most of the books I buy from Amazon seem to be of a type that aren't available in a Kindle version yet. Nevertheless I have thousands of pdf files that I would like to store and read on the Kindle. This is a major attraction for me. I will have to see how this works out.
In conclusion, my reaction is mixed. The display is excellent and I suspect that in time e-paper will largely replace the pulp. Eventually Kindle type devices will replace textbooks for students. It's a natural. Students won't have to lug around all those heavy books and the material can be updated easily. It should make textbooks cheaper for college students (a major expense for some), and save the public school systems a bundle of money.
Last I heard, the Kindle does not officially support .pdf files. Has this been changed?
According to the manual you can download pdf files from your desktop to the Kindle. The formatting might not come out all right, but we will see. Right now my unit is charging and I haven't tried it yet.
I might be better off with a net book.
Perhaps I'll get the next model, which I've heard will take a page from Microsoft and be marketed as the "Kindle 451".
-Wm
You must do a file conversion from pdf format to a Kindle compatible format. There are several ways to do this.
1. Use Amazon which requires a fee.
2. Use the "free" method.
Both of the above are awkward. You can
4. Use the full blown Adobe Acrobat application to make the conversion.
5. Use PDF2LRF as explained here.
Once you connect your Kindle to your desktop it will appear as a mounted device and you can copy files into the Kindle, but files must be readable by Kindle.
Won't the graphics have to improve a lot first?
The whole thing has to improve a lot first. As it stands I don't think Kindle provides a completely satisfactory substitute for paper-based books, newspapers and documents, but it's a good start. The display needs to get bigger with better contrast. The buttons need to be of higher quality.
I would put in voice recognition features so the reader could just say "turn" to get a new page. I also use use a touch screen like the iPhone. In this way you could eliminate the keyboard and expand the screen size.
Because in the future books will be used to start campfires?
Someone asked about sharing books. Spouse and I both got one and ran into a few minor issues with this, as it seems Amazon really hasn't thought much about 2 people in the same household having them.
We resorted to a 3rd Amazon account that we share and only use for the Kindle purchases. Amazon allows multiple Kindles to access the same books, so long as they are linked to the same Amazon account. Periodicals are more problematic, as they are licensed to individual devices. For instance, it would take 2 paid subscriptions to the NY Times. I suspect this will be something that Amazon will have to deal with in the future.
If you have a comment about spelling, typos, or format errors, please e-mail the poster directly rather than posting a comment.
Comment Policy: We reserve the right to edit or delete comments, and in extreme cases to ban commenters, at our discretion. Comments must be relevant and civil (and, especially, free of name-calling). We think of comment threads like dinner parties at our homes. If you make the party unpleasant for us or for others, we'd rather you went elsewhere. We're happy to see a wide range of viewpoints, but we want all of them to be expressed as politely as possible.
We realize that such a comment policy can never be evenly enforced, because we can't possibly monitor every comment equally well. Hundreds of comments are posted every day here, and we don't read them all. Those we read, we read with different degrees of attention, and in different moods. We try to be fair, but we make no promises.
And remember, it's a big Internet. If you think we were mistaken in removing your post (or, in extreme cases, in removing you) -- or if you prefer a more free-for-all approach -- there are surely plenty of ways you can still get your views out.