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commish posted:Yeah, Amazon customer service is definitely tops, but it's pretty disconcerting that so many Kindles seem to break. I find it interesting that people base their choice of reader on how easy it is to get a replacement when their reader breaks, as if they are already resigned to the fact that it will indeed break. Hopefully the next round of Kindles will be a bit more sturdy, as I will probably pick one up in the fall. Yeah, my first Kindle mysteriously died while it was sitting on a table overnight. I read until I went to bed, picked it up in the morning, and it died forever the first time I turned the page. I'm kind of worried about something similar happening again after it's out of warranty, since it's been almost a year now. It is a year warranty, right? As far as damage goes, though, if you've got it in the official case (which is strong as hell, honestly) you'd have to be like the dude from Of Mice and Men to manage to break the thing, I think most of the people breaking them probably don't have the official case.
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Aug 24, 2011 02:51
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Is there some easier way to put books into collections with the Kindle PC program besides one at a time? It wouldn't bother me so much if the app didn't keep randomly crashing, erasing 90+% of the books I just added to various collections.
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Aug 24, 2011 02:58
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commish posted:Yeah, Amazon customer service is definitely tops, but it's pretty disconcerting that so many Kindles seem to break. I find it interesting that people base their choice of reader on how easy it is to get a replacement when their reader breaks, as if they are already resigned to the fact that it will indeed break. Hopefully the next round of Kindles will be a bit more sturdy, as I will probably pick one up in the fall. I'm not abusive at all to mine, but my kindle has never had problems. That being said, for $139 WiFi only I don't think "durable" is the first thing i would think of with a Kindle.
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Aug 24, 2011 04:29
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You guys talking about your Kindles dying for strange reasons make me worried for mine.  I'd be sad if mine ever broke, I'd like to see it last forever and ever!
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Aug 24, 2011 08:05
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Is there any word on Amazon UK customers being able to purchase Kindle books for other Kindle users from the likes of their Wish List? I know the Yanks have had this ability for at least a few months now. But dammit, I'm not a Yank.
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Aug 24, 2011 11:42
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SlightButSteady posted:Yeah, I first typed "than your average electronic device". A tablet is probably closer in terms of fragility, but the Kindle 3 is actually more vulnerable to damage IMO. A case is a must. I think the thing to compare to is that it's more vulnerable to damage than a regular old book, really. I.E. don't stick it in your back pocket like a paperback, don't just toss it in with a bunch of books, and so on. It's not about people treating it like other electronics, it's about people treating it like a slim paperback.
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Aug 24, 2011 17:55
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Are there any big eReaders that are either out now or coming soon that can handle different text layouts? Like let's say you had a main text on the page surrounded by commentaries on the sides and bottom. Or a main text with footnotes on the bottom.
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Aug 24, 2011 18:17
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So is it safe to use compressed air on a Kindle? Like the cans you use to clean out your keyboard and such? Mine has some bits of fuzz and whatnot around the edges of the screen, but I'm wondering if it's safe to use on that fragile rear end thing.
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Aug 24, 2011 19:00
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Jeez, it's not that fragile.
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Aug 24, 2011 19:08
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Looks like Amazon is doing a deal of the day now for Kindle. Today's deal is The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo for $1.39 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ASIN=B002NC733U spixxor posted:So is it safe to use compressed air on a Kindle? Like the cans you use to clean out your keyboard and such? When I had mine, I would very gently use a toothpick to get the crud out of the corner and use a microfiber cloth to clean the screen. That seemed to be enough. Call Me Charlie fucked around with this message at 19:27 on Aug 24, 2011 |
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Aug 24, 2011 19:22
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Duckman2008 posted:I'm not abusive at all to mine, but my kindle has never had problems. That being said, for $139 WiFi only I don't think "durable" is the first thing i would think of with a Kindle. $140 is a significant enough amount that I would expect a bit more. If it was $49.99, okay, maybe. But I wouldn't accept my Nintendo DS or my cell phone having these kinds of issues, and they were similarly priced. Still, use a case and ppl will be fine.
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Aug 24, 2011 19:25
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commish posted:$140 is a significant enough amount that I would expect a bit more. If it was $49.99, okay, maybe. But I wouldn't accept my Nintendo DS or my cell phone having these kinds of issues, and they were similarly priced. Still, use a case and ppl will be fine. I'm quite sure if you drop heavy things on a DS or cell phone by accident you'd get cracked screens and such there too!Perhaps less the DS since eboth screens are "inside" when its shut.
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Aug 24, 2011 20:57
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trandorian posted:I'm quite sure if you drop heavy things on a DS or cell phone by accident you'd get cracked screens and such there too!Perhaps less the DS since eboth screens are "inside" when its shut. As I said, I really haven't treated mine very nicely and I've dropped it a few times on concrete among other "misuses". I think what did it in was I had it sitting on the sofa next to me and the dog managed to dent the screen with one of her claws. We're talking a 50 pound boxer, and she jumped up trying to get my attention (not allowed, but she's still a puppy). I'm still not sure that I'll buy a case for my next one, though I will be a little more careful. I really like the size and form factor when it's out of a case.
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Aug 24, 2011 22:27
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A Fistful of Owls posted:I love my Nook Color (especially because I got it at a 20% discount through my job) but I do envy the Amazon customer service. B&N's is wrapped up in a lot of layers of dumb bullshit and the fact that most stores aren't allowed to do returns even for people that bought extended warranties really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If you do get an in store replacement after the first 14 days, it's either a refurb (only available at certain stores!) or the manager is most definitely breaking the rules. I see what you're saying though, the return process has gotten more convoluted. And unfortunately, the level of customer service and knowledge from store to store can vary. I don't know if you were speaking from personal experience or what, but it sounds like you may have just gotten a less involved approach, some people may just try to shove you off onto phone support, but most should be able to take care of the majority of the replacement process for you if you bring it in. The store has an internal Nook support number they can use for stuff like that.
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Aug 25, 2011 00:32
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Doghouse posted:Are there any big eReaders that are either out now or coming soon that can handle different text layouts? Like let's say you had a main text on the page surrounded by commentaries on the sides and bottom. Or a main text with footnotes on the bottom. I don't think this is really possible, as one of the underlying features of ereaders is the ability to change font size on the fly, and still have it reflow properly. I think it might also be more of a format issue than anything - as far as I know, none of the standard formats used for ebooks (minus PDF) have the ability to do non-standard text display like that. The way they currently handle it is by having footnotes and whatnot at the end of the file, with in-text links to each individual note. The only way I can think of handling this would be to implement some sort of framing feature into a format, whereby you can have a main text frame that can be resized and reflows appropriately, and then in another section (such as underneath the main frame), you can have footnotes. The format and whatever device displaying it would have to be able to adjust framing on the fly, so that if a page has no footnotes, there won't be a bunch of empty space on the bottom, and if there is a large footnote, it will be able to reduce the main frame to make room for it. I doubt anything like this will be developed, though. There aren't really enough books with such things to justify it. Although, something I can see Amazon doing is sort of utilising their current dictionary function for footnotes, so that when selected, the footnote pops up at the bottom of the screen, and if it's too large it can be navigated to with one button.
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Aug 25, 2011 05:12
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Asclepius posted:I don't think this is really possible... Possible is not the word you are looking for. It is certainly possible. Asclepius posted:The only way I can think of handling this would be to implement some sort of framing feature into a format, whereby you can have a main text frame that can be resized and reflows appropriately, and then in another section (such as underneath the main frame), you can have footnotes. The format and whatever device displaying it would have to be able to adjust framing on the fly, so that if a page has no footnotes, there won't be a bunch of empty space on the bottom, and if there is a large footnote, it will be able to reduce the main frame to make room for it. Not sure why having more limited font sizes would be a huge problem. I never had a problem where I opened a book and said "drat I hate this font" or "drat I wish this was bigger." Also I'm not sure what the problem would be with having certain sections of the screen dedicated to the main text, in which you could adjust text at will, and other sections of the screen dedicated to the other parts - notes, commentaries, etc. Asclepius posted:I doubt anything like this will be developed, though. There aren't really enough books with such things to justify it. Yeah this could be true, I'm not really in touch with the trends in current culture to know. But what about textbooks with different sections, sidebars, etc? I could see a market for eReaders dedicated to textbooks, with bigger screens and so on.
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Aug 25, 2011 22:10
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Doghouse posted:Possible is not the word you are looking for. It is certainly possible. Yeah, I meant moreso currently, as I think the framing idea is a perfectly workable solution, and there are probably others for creative minds to come up with. Doghouse posted:Not sure why having more limited font sizes would be a huge problem. I never had a problem where I opened a book and said "drat I hate this font" or "drat I wish this was bigger." In all the paper books I've read, I don't think I ever had that problem, either. However, one of the things I really like about ebooks is the potential for consistency. You get a font you like, one that is easy on the eyes, and you get to use it for basically every single book. For me it makes the experience much more enjoyable. It's really jarring when you end up getting a lovely Topaz formatted book, for instance. Of course, none of that would be compromised by the framing idea, and I'm sure maintaining that sort of customisation would be a priority for any other solution, as well. To be honest, I really would like to see better implementation of this sort of thing. It wouldn't be necessary in most fiction, but I like the idea of annotated novels that give further insight to the writing process or the world and such. And I completely agree that someone needs to figure out how the hell to do e-textbooks properly.
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Aug 26, 2011 12:58
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the real problem is that the publishers do whatever they want and there isnt any kind of real standard for ebook formatting
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Aug 27, 2011 21:44
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denizen posted:the real problem is that the publishers do whatever they want and there isnt any kind of real standard for ebook formatting Mostly they don't care and they want you to buy a hard copy anyway.
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Aug 28, 2011 01:59
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Details on the new Sony PRS-T1 have been published on a dutch website. In short: capacitive touch screen, microSD up to 32gb, customisable fonts, image of book cover in stand-by, WiFi, supports Wikipedia and Google search. The cover now is plastic reducing the weight to 168gr. Price is 165 euro.
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Aug 28, 2011 16:33
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I'm looking at buying my first Ereader, and at the moment I've got the Kindle and the Kobo in mind. The Kobo Wireless is £80 compared to £115 for the Kindle, and money is tight so that £35 does make a difference. I don't need it to do anything too fancy, and I don't care about 3G, so is the Kobo a decent buy? For just plain old reading e-books, is there that much of a difference between the two? I hear that Amazon has really good customer service, but as I currently live in Thailand (I will be having it delivered to a relative back in the UK who is coming to visit soon) I probably wouldn't be able to easily take advantage of that if anything were to break. So, the Kobo? Decent or not?
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Aug 29, 2011 05:55
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Bardeh posted:I'm looking at buying my first Ereader, and at the moment I've got the Kindle and the Kobo in mind. The Kobo Wireless is £80 compared to £115 for the Kindle, and money is tight so that £35 does make a difference. I know you seem pretty set on the Kobo...but you can buy a wi-fi Kindle and have it direct shipped to Thailand from Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DZ1Y8Q?country=TH Although quote:Your international shipment is subject to customs duties, import taxes and other fees levied by the destination country. We will show you these fees upon checkout. but if the shipping/fees are under $46.56, it would be the same thing has getting a UK one. Call Me Charlie fucked around with this message at 06:37 on Aug 29, 2011 |
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Aug 29, 2011 06:34
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I have looked at shipping one from Amazon to Thailand, but I'm not sure how much I trust the Thai postal service. Some friends have had stuff sent no problem, others have ended up waiting weeks for packages, at least one just never came. In terms of just reading an e-book on each device, what does the Kindle do better than the Kobo? Both have eink displays and good battery life, and on video reviews they don't look appreciably different. However, almost everyone in this thread either owns a Nook or a Kindle - is there a reason the Kobo isn't as popular?
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Aug 29, 2011 08:38
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Kobo never had a big marketing push. Amazon and BN put a lot of support behind their ereaders.
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Aug 29, 2011 08:42
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Bardeh posted:I have looked at shipping one from Amazon to Thailand, but I'm not sure how much I trust the Thai postal service. Some friends have had stuff sent no problem, others have ended up waiting weeks for packages, at least one just never came. Amazon will honor a warranty in Thailand, I doubt Kobo will. The Kindle has a better screen and better build quality and better book selection. You're talking about it being much cheaper than the Kindle so you'd have to be describing the older Kobo and not the touch. The control for the Kobo is also supposed to be more annoying to deal with for what it's worth.
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Aug 29, 2011 08:57
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Bardeh posted:I have looked at shipping one from Amazon to Thailand, but I'm not sure how much I trust the Thai postal service. Some friends have had stuff sent no problem, others have ended up waiting weeks for packages, at least one just never came. If you are looking at the original Kobo don't get it. Seriously, controls alone are infuriating, and the screen and battery life are noticeably meh. I would get the kindle.
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Aug 29, 2011 12:32
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Bardeh posted:I'm looking at buying my first Ereader, and at the moment I've got the Kindle and the Kobo in mind. The Kobo Wireless is £80 compared to £115 for the Kindle, and money is tight so that £35 does make a difference. I got my Kindle shipped to Japan when I bought it, and when I needed it replaced, they told me that because of that they would ship the replacement here for free. I assume if your Kindle is shipped to the UK then you will need to pay shipping if it needs to be replaced, but otherwise it shouldn't be a problem.
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Aug 29, 2011 13:09
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Thanks for the advice guys, I'll go for the kindle. I've been starved of good books for ages now, I can't wait!
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Aug 29, 2011 18:22
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B&N put some more sample books on my Nook over the weekend. First time since I'd bought it a month and a half ago. I know I can login to their site to delete it from there, and that removed them. But is there a way so that it doesn't happen again in the future? I can't find a place to do that.
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Aug 29, 2011 23:35
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Worth a cross post. Amazon's Kindle deal of the day is Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron $1.49 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ASIN=B003JBFCFA
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Aug 30, 2011 16:47
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Thanks for the heads up! I just finished Sophie's Choice recently (which was fantastic), and after reading up a bit more on Styron this sounds like something I'd definitely be interested in.
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Aug 30, 2011 23:11
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Just wanted to say that if you get a refurb Kindle or possibly even a new one, your Kindle will be delivered with the 3.2.1 firmware, which is the new firmware that's on the special offers Kindle and technically doesn't have a jailbreak. However, there is a workaround. It does work, but if you have the Kindle without special offers, you need the firmware update from here. Basically, the update he provides at that link is only for the special offer Kindle and will always fail when applied to the non-special offer one. Since the jailbreak is based on timing and will fail if your timing is off, it took me forever to figure that out. I ended up just trying the old firmware with the new trick ... and was stunned that it actually worked. The first time no less, but I was using the perl script on that page to upload the file as fast as possible.
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Aug 31, 2011 07:14
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I just added a bunch of books to my Kindle, and the fact that they're all tagged "new" is bothering me. Any way to get those to go away without individually opening each book?
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Aug 31, 2011 16:46
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The new tag goes away after a period of time. 24 hours? Something like that.
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Aug 31, 2011 18:22
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Dick Smith Electronics, the biggest electronic outlet in Australia has just started selling Kindles at their stores. Check out the loving mark-up: http://dicksmith.com.au/product/A3455/kindle-3g-wi-fi-6-quot-e-reader $219 for the 3g, that's about $235 US. Who the hell is going to buy this? It's an Amazon product. The first thing you see when you go to Amazon is the Kindles for sale. It's not like Australians can't buy from Amazon. I bought my Kindle there and it got to me in 4 days.
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Sep 1, 2011 14:22
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Monkeyseesaw posted:The new tag goes away after a period of time. 24 hours? Something like that. So they did!
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Sep 1, 2011 14:49
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Save some money in the Kindle Store: 100 Kindle Books for $3.99 or less - Maybe not the greatest selection, but some of the selections look interesting. 18 books by Kurt Vonnegut for $3.99 each - Ahh, that's better. Is it just me, or does Amazon do a piss-poor job of advertising their ebook sales on the Kindle Store main page? ChetReckless fucked around with this message at 15:28 on Sep 1, 2011 |
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Sep 1, 2011 15:25
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His stuff seems to be somewhat reduced on the UK store currently too. I've never read any Kurt Vonnegut, what would be a good starter book?
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Sep 1, 2011 15:30
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chippy posted:His stuff seems to be somewhat reduced on the UK store currently too. I've never read any Kurt Vonnegut, what would be a good starter book? Slaughterhouse-Five is his best work, I'd say. Vonnegut is fantastic though, and you really can't go wrong. Here are the grades he gave his own stuff: Player Piano: B The Sirens of Titan: A Mother Night: A Cat's Cradle: A-plus God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater: A Slaughterhouse-Five: A-plus Welcome to the Monkey House: B-minus Happy Birthday, Wanda June: D Breakfast of Champions: C Slapstick: D Jailbird: A Palm Sunday: C
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Sep 1, 2011 15:42
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chippy posted:His stuff seems to be somewhat reduced on the UK store currently too. I've never read any Kurt Vonnegut, what would be a good starter book? I see you've already discovered the Vonnegut thread -- it's only 5 pages, so its a quick read, and there is a lot of good advice there. It seems that many folks recommend against starting with Slaughterhouse-Five, due to poor Billy Pilgrim becoming unstuck in time and the narrative jumping all over the place. I personally never found it terribly difficult to keep up with, and S-F is my favourite of Vonnegut's books. Cat's Cradle is another good choice to start with. As maduin said, it's tough to go wrong, especially at just a few bucks per.
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Sep 1, 2011 15:55
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