News and Updates
Thursday June 11th 2009 - 12:30 PM
Hello Everyone,
I`ve gotten a lot of requests for my thoughts and impressions about my new Kindle 2. So, I`ve taken a couple of minutes and posted some thoughts below. I apologize for the format, but I just kind of brainstormed my impressions. Also, my daughter has a Sony PRS-505, so I`ve read on one of those as well.
Reading on the Device = very enjoyable - buttons on both sides of the device so you can hold it one handed with either hand (unlike Sony readers, which is a pain) - not sure why, but the screen seems much easier to read on than with the Sony devices.
NOTE: Kindle DX doesn`t have the buttons on both sides. This was the main thing that steered me away from it, bonehead move by Amazon.
Keyboard = not great, but comparable to most cell phones with qwerty keyboard
UPDATE:
Text-To-Speech = works surprisingly well, not as good as an actual audiobook that`s professional acted, but a pretty good alternative. Also, the kindle has built in speakers, so you can sit the Kindle down and listen while doing other tasks (I listen while I`m shaving, etc)
Kindle Store = Incredibly easy to use - downloads are very fast even without 3G speeds - downloading a sample is very cool
Taking Notes/Highlighting = very easy to do and useful - couldn`t figure out how to export notes, easily - I was wanting to use this for notes and revisions, but I`m not sure if the functionality that I need is there - very good for research and highlighting though
Formats = Annoying thing about Kindle is the formats that it supports, PRS-505 supports PDF and RTF. You have to convert these with Kindle, but the conversion is very simple, since you don`t need any software. You just e-mail the file to Amazon, and they send it to your device (fee) or your e-mail account (free). They send the file back to you almost instantaneously. The problem is that the formatting can be screwy, especially with PDFs (listed as experimental by Amazon). PRS-505 definitely wins on formats, but their software on your computer is really crappy.
Interface = The interface is actually probably better on the PRS-505, but both do what you need. PRS-505 also shows images, but I`ll probably never use that anyway.
PAGE NUMBERS = What the hell, Amazon? Where are my page numbers? On the Kindle, progress through the book is marked by percentage and some weird location number that I don`t fully understand. I wish their was an option to show page numbers instead.
Book Prices = From what I`ve seen, Amazon wins hands down. Books through the Sony store are probably 1.5 to 2 times the price as the Kindle store. Again, this is with the books that I tried to buy, not an overall, verifiable stat.
VERDICT = I love the Kindle and recommend it over the PRS-505. Buying books on the fly is a big plus for me and a factor in my decision, but overall I just had a much more enjoyable experience with the Kindle.
I`ll update this post with any additional thoughts after I`ve had more time with the device, so be sure to check back later.
I`ve gotten a lot of requests for my thoughts and impressions about my new Kindle 2. So, I`ve taken a couple of minutes and posted some thoughts below. I apologize for the format, but I just kind of brainstormed my impressions. Also, my daughter has a Sony PRS-505, so I`ve read on one of those as well.
Reading on the Device = very enjoyable - buttons on both sides of the device so you can hold it one handed with either hand (unlike Sony readers, which is a pain) - not sure why, but the screen seems much easier to read on than with the Sony devices.
NOTE: Kindle DX doesn`t have the buttons on both sides. This was the main thing that steered me away from it, bonehead move by Amazon.
Keyboard = not great, but comparable to most cell phones with qwerty keyboard
UPDATE:
Text-To-Speech = works surprisingly well, not as good as an actual audiobook that`s professional acted, but a pretty good alternative. Also, the kindle has built in speakers, so you can sit the Kindle down and listen while doing other tasks (I listen while I`m shaving, etc)
Kindle Store = Incredibly easy to use - downloads are very fast even without 3G speeds - downloading a sample is very cool
Taking Notes/Highlighting = very easy to do and useful - couldn`t figure out how to export notes, easily - I was wanting to use this for notes and revisions, but I`m not sure if the functionality that I need is there - very good for research and highlighting though
Formats = Annoying thing about Kindle is the formats that it supports, PRS-505 supports PDF and RTF. You have to convert these with Kindle, but the conversion is very simple, since you don`t need any software. You just e-mail the file to Amazon, and they send it to your device (fee) or your e-mail account (free). They send the file back to you almost instantaneously. The problem is that the formatting can be screwy, especially with PDFs (listed as experimental by Amazon). PRS-505 definitely wins on formats, but their software on your computer is really crappy.
Interface = The interface is actually probably better on the PRS-505, but both do what you need. PRS-505 also shows images, but I`ll probably never use that anyway.
PAGE NUMBERS = What the hell, Amazon? Where are my page numbers? On the Kindle, progress through the book is marked by percentage and some weird location number that I don`t fully understand. I wish their was an option to show page numbers instead.
Book Prices = From what I`ve seen, Amazon wins hands down. Books through the Sony store are probably 1.5 to 2 times the price as the Kindle store. Again, this is with the books that I tried to buy, not an overall, verifiable stat.
VERDICT = I love the Kindle and recommend it over the PRS-505. Buying books on the fly is a big plus for me and a factor in my decision, but overall I just had a much more enjoyable experience with the Kindle.
I`ll update this post with any additional thoughts after I`ve had more time with the device, so be sure to check back later.