Kindle II the most popular e-reader in SA

DJ... said:
So what is so special about this e-ink screen that makes it stand worlds apart from LCDs? I've never seen one and assumed the displays on ebook readers were similar to LCDs, hence why I thought them to be a bit gimmicky...
Click to expand...

Well, the text is easy on your eyes, and when you switch the lights off at night... then you cant see a thing...... e-ink does not emit any additiona light, so its much easier on your eyes....
 
DJ... said:
So what is so special about this e-ink screen that makes it stand worlds apart from LCDs? I've never seen one and assumed the displays on ebook readers were similar to LCDs, hence why I thought them to be a bit gimmicky...
Click to expand...

E-Ink is just that electronic ink it uses actual ink particlies and does not have a back light so it is just as if you are reading a page from a book !
 
psichron said:
Amazon.com doesn't ship electronics to South Africa, so the people talking about ordering directly from Amazon: Did Amazon change their policy or do you live in another country?

It looks like the new Kindle's being sold over Christmas is capable of supporting PDF natively and even allows you to rotate the screen: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...y-gets-native-pdf-support-screen-rotation.ars

That makes me strongly consider buying one. I do think everyone else that bought the kindle before it supported PDF are idiots though. Did you know Amazon deleted all instances of 1984 off everybody's kindles remotely because of some license disagreement? You don't own the ebooks you buy from Amazon...
Click to expand...


The kindle II only has one model the new firmware allows you to read native PDF and schange screen rotation.
 
The downside of the Kindle is the lock-in with Amazon. You won't be able to transfer your library to another device should you decide to switch. It also doesn't support ePub which is becoming the standard. PDF support is only really useful for large devices since most PDF's are formatted for A4 sizes so it forces zooming/panning on smaller screens.
 
Crusader said:
The downside of the Kindle is the lock-in with Amazon.
Click to expand...

In 100% on the downside part yet.... Amazon is constantly implementing new innovations. Yes their store needs to be updated faster, but i trust they will get there.....

Crusader said:
You won't be able to transfer your library to another device should you decide to switch.
Click to expand...

Use Calibre to or mobireader to convert almost any format to a mobi format and then upload that. It did it, it works just fine...

Crusader said:
It also doesn't support ePub which is becoming the standard
Click to expand...
convert....to....mobi.....
Crusader said:
PDF support is only really useful for large devices since most PDF's are formatted for A4 sizes so it forces zooming/panning on smaller screens.
Click to expand...
Its a feature called "reflow". Its been around for years. Its how i manage to read pdfs on my smartfone and on my ipaq ( without the need to scroll all over the place)......
 
Last edited:
Calibre is great, but what I meant was being able to transfer books bought at Amazon to another device (especially their Topaz format). Of course the Kindle supports non-DRM mobi files and ePub through conversion.

PDF reflow is only ideal for novels. For more technical books the reflow will mess up the layout hence the need for a larger screen. Does the Kindle support reflow? I thought that was only on devices using the Adobe DE SDK.
 
Crusader said:
Does the Kindle support reflow? I thought that was only on devices using the Adobe DE SDK.
Click to expand...

No dea actually, i havent had the need to add a pdf just yet. Just doing novels at this stage...

I just had another nice one. I emailed a .prc file ( a mobi in disguise ) to my kindle and it arrived about 60 seconds later ( via the built-in 3G )
 
Bit of an understatement on Calibre, its faking fantastic peace of app!!!!!

Like with any DRM bull, you will have to use something to remove DRM and than convert move to from Kindle.

Reflow works well on prs-505 (on text, tabular type and large images get lost on smaller screens....) , haven't seen how re-flow looks on K2 yet.. but should be supported ...... will chk..

Crusader said:
Calibre is great, but what I meant was being able to transfer books bought at Amazon to another device (especially their Topaz format). Of course the Kindle supports non-DRM mobi files and ePub through conversion.

PDF reflow is only ideal for novels. For more technical books the reflow will mess up the layout hence the need for a larger screen. Does the Kindle support reflow? I thought that was only on devices using the Adobe DE SDK.
Click to expand...
 
Chk ur credit card tell me what did Amazon charged ya for the service .. .lolies..

Obelix said:
No dea actually, i havent had the need to add a pdf just yet. Just doing novels at this stage...

I just had another nice one. I emailed a .prc file ( a mobi in disguise ) to my kindle and it arrived about 60 seconds later ( via the built-in 3G )
Click to expand...
 
herbertk said:
E-Ink is just that electronic ink it uses actual ink particlies and does not have a back light so it is just as if you are reading a page from a book !
Click to expand...

No flicker - it's like looking at a much higher contrast version of an LCD watch without the constraints of those LCD channels.
 
herbertk said:
Yeah take it from me I read all the Hitchikers guides on my PDA with mobipocket.... but it in NO way compares to reading on the kindle !

I wont read on a PDA / LCD again thats for sure, as to the Kindle being for suckers well if you clasify someome paying for stuff and supporting the authors then yes Im a sucker...
Click to expand...

If you want to support them buy the book.
 
Will wait for a similar device that does not have all the Nazi DRM lock-in crap that this one has. :D
 
SpoOkie said:
If you want to support them buy the book.
Click to expand...

But I am less the printing costs ! I still pay the royalties and support the authors but don't pay for printing and binding for a book that will gather dust after a week.
 
Garyvdh said:
Will wait for a similar device that does not have all the Nazi DRM lock-in crap that this one has. :D
Click to expand...

Why not DRM ? So you can copy your buddies books ? I do afree that I would be able to lend a book to a friend if it was a book but I can live with that.

Authors and publishers will not buy into E-Books if they know it will not gather revenue ? So for more publishers to use E-Book formats I fully support DRM. If this was a printed book you would have only one copy how is DRM any different ?
 
herbertk said:
Why not DRM ? So you can copy your buddies books ? I do afree that I would be able to lend a book to a friend if it was a book but I can live with that.

Authors and publishers will not buy into E-Books if they know it will not gather revenue ? So for more publishers to use E-Book formats I fully support DRM. If this was a printed book you would have only one copy how is DRM any different ?
Click to expand...

Sure, why not. Friends should be able to share with friends what they legally own.

But that is not the primary reason. DRM is simply invasive and restrictive software. It prevents you from doing things even with the one copy that you HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT.

And when you are prevented from using what you have bought and you complain, they treat you like a whiny pirate snotty nosed kid. No thanks.

DRM helps nothing to protect sales or prevent copying... the copying goes on unabated. In fact DRM is no threat whatsoever to the pirates, they will ALWAYS find a way around it. DRM is only an irritation and inconvenience to legitimate users.
 
herbertk said:
Why not DRM ? So you can copy your buddies books ? I do afree that I would be able to lend a book to a friend if it was a book but I can live with that.

Authors and publishers will not buy into E-Books if they know it will not gather revenue ? So for more publishers to use E-Book formats I fully support DRM. If this was a printed book you would have only one copy how is DRM any different ?
Click to expand...

Books are awesome! I personally hate E-books. I've got my own study at home. And just like to sit there and read. It's a slice of heaven. With e-books all you have is a folder on your pc :sick:
 
herbertk said:
Why not DRM ? So you can copy your buddies books ? I do afree that I would be able to lend a book to a friend if it was a book but I can live with that.

Authors and publishers will not buy into E-Books if they know it will not gather revenue ? So for more publishers to use E-Book formats I fully support DRM. If this was a printed book you would have only one copy how is DRM any different ?
Click to expand...
ummm any of the ebooks you buy throug the kindle store can be on any of 5 devices, be that your pc, phone, anothe rkindle... you choose

edit

and.... with the barnes & noble now running a "lending" option on their ebook readers, i can only assume amazon will follow suit.....
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X