Can someone please explain the Kindle to me?

[pokerfan]

http://gizmodo.com/5242462/kindle-dx-hands-on

I don't get it. :shrug:

Why not a handheld or a netbook or a tablet computer? Something that does more than just one thing. Even a smartphone does more than just one thing. I'm sure it's wonderful but it only does one thing!

[GermanDem]

1. It actually does a lot of things, not just one.

You can read not only books on it, you can read all major US newspapers on it, blogs, magazines like the New Yorker, etc. The really cool thing about it is the fact that is a wireless device, it uses the cellphone networks (not wifi), that means you don't need a hot spot, and you don't need to hook it up to a computer. You can browse the amazon store wirelessly, and download books, papers, blogs, magazines within just a few seconds. If you subcribe to a paper, or a blog, it is automatically downloaded to the Kindle whenever you turn it on. Really cool! And it has basic web access, so I can check my yahoo mail account from it, browse wikipedia, etc. I haven't played a lot with some of the other features, but it even seems to have a GPS, so you can get e.g. directions from where you are to another place via google maps.

[pokerfan]

8. Can it play audio?

I know the display is monochrome and slow so movies are out.

[HopeHoops]

2. It solves the MAJOR problem why laptops won't replace books or newspapers...

... it is hard to use a laptop while you're taking a dump. I think all of the ads for Kindle should feature people sitting on a toilet and grunting.

[pokerfan]

3. But I used to use my Palm on the toilet

Wait. That came out wrong.

[HopeHoops]

5. WHOA did it!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[pokerfan]

7. I used to play backgammon on the crapper

Now I'm waiting for the Pre. That's going to change my life.

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. You so owe me a keyboard.

[KitchenWitch]

4. I actually saw one in person today

It is much lighter in weight than even the thinnest tablet PC.

[pokerfan]

6. Right

But why not take that wonderful hardware and make it into more of a general purpose platform? Battery life? Slow display? I haven't played with one so I'm honestly asking.

I hate having several gadgets when one can suffice. I've always been the same way with applications: I don't need a dedicated application to organize my CD collection when I can use a spreadsheet program.

[KitchenWitch]

9. I do not know.

You do make some very valid points though.

Me, I like paper books. A lot. And I have difficulty reading mountains of text on a screen.

[Ewellian]

15. One of the advantages of reading on the

Kindle rather than a different hand held device is the e-ink display. It's not a back lit screen...very easy on the eyes.

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. Face it. We need a little microchip brain implant. Or maybe that ear thingy from Dr. Who.

[DarkTirade]

10. Why does anyone need a camera or an mp3 player?

Not everyone needs one device that can do everything. Sometimes a device that just does one or two things is what you need.

Its lighter and smaller than a tablet PC. It doesn't use power while its idling, so battery life is not a problem most of the time. For people who just want to be able to carry a few dozen books with them at any given time, its pretty handy.

That being said, if I had the money to waste I think I'd rather go for the Sony version, since it can handle more formats. Unless they've improved the Kindle since the last time I checked. :P

[Duer 157099]

13. You know, books also only do one thing

(each)

No, I would never want nor use the Kindle, but when they come up with a device that's exactly like a book, with white pages and all, but have nanoink on the pages that can be altered, so that all you need is one book and the content just changes according to which book you want to read... that device I would consider buying, if only to cram my whole library into one easy peasy book that can go everywhere with me.

We're not far from that of course.

[blogslut]

14. E-Paper

The selling point of e-readers is the incorporation of an E-Ink/E-Paper interface. Think of E-Ink as similar to an Etch-A-Sketch or those face puzzles, where you move the iron shavings around with a magnet. E-ink-E-paper works like that. From teh Wikipedia:

"The principal components of electronic ink are millions of tiny microcapsules, about the diameter of a human hair. In one incarnation, each microcapsule contains positively charged white particles and negatively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid. When a negative electric field is applied, the white particles move to the top of the microcapsule to become visible to the reader. This makes the surface appear white at that location. At the same time, an opposite electric field pulls the black particles to the bottom of the microcapsules where they are hidden. By reversing this process, the black particles appear at the top of the capsule, which now makes the surface appear dark at that location."<2>

To form an E Ink electronic display, the ink is printed onto a sheet of plastic film that is laminated to a layer of circuitry. The circuitry forms a pattern of pixels that can then be controlled by a display driver. These microcapsules are suspended in a liquid "carrier medium" allowing them to be printed using existing screen printing processes onto virtually any surface, including glass, plastic, fabric and even paper...

The advantage to E-Ink/E-Paper is that the user can easily view the screen in any light, even direct sunlight. The lack of backlight (as one would encounter with a TFT or LCD screen) makes the viewing experience less straining on the eyes.

There are a number of E-readers on the market, some soon to be released. The http://www.foxitsoftware.com/ebook">Foxit E-Slick costs $259 and can play MP3s.

Colored E-Paper/E-Ink is also on the horizon.