WirelessDoc

Kindle 2 not a keeper

I'm returning the Kindle 2 after less than a week of use. I was very impressed with the creative packaging, but when I finally opened the box, and started it up, I wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be.

The screen is so blah. Dirty beige whites, against not quite black blacks, don't provide much in the way of contrast. Sure it's portable, but if you want to read in bed, you have to make sure you have a lamp nearby.

I've had a much better reading books on a Treo, since the bright screen helps tremendously in any circumstance. The Kindle would win if I were reading in bright sunlight, but that's the only positive I can think of.

You don't scroll the pages of each book, you have to refresh, during which the screen inverts to black screen for a moment, and a little too slowly. Navigation is also slow, and you find the cursor taking too long to catch up to your input, which leads to overshooting a link that you intended to highlight.

With the imminent release of the new iPod Touch, I think I'd prefer to use the Kindle software on that device. I wonder what ebook software will be available for Sprint's new HTC Hero.

Shown in the picture is a sample version of CMDT 2009 I downloaded. It's a real disappointment compared to a hard copy. Tables are not rendered well, and the slow navigation was too much to bear.

Kindle DX: the ivory tower gets a silo

The Kindle DX is now listed on Amazon.com for $489. It's using Amazon's WhisperNet based on Sprint's EVDO for wireless connectivity.

I checked out both the NYTimes ("Mr. Bezos is summarizing the features of the Kindle DX.") and Engadget for their live blogging of this release announcement.

While the coverage by the NYTimes seemed as gray as this Kindle's screen, the Engadget blogger noticed a slow refresh rate as well as search function.

"It's a great life had at sea, when you're not in the Navy," goes the Harrisong. While the idea of using this device as a way of managing textbook material, the commitment you make to Amazon is forever. Sure it makes perfect sense to have a device that eliminate carry around pounds of dried pulp, but the books are not really yours, as in possessing them, but rather you are promised them by Amazon as far as it can.

I remember trying to redownload Branagh's Hamlet which I purchased from them, only to be told that their contract had expired with the company that held the rights. I was offered another. Maybe Mel Gibson's version? (I see now that it's relisted.) Others report how Amazon can prevent further purchases for your Kindle if you return too many items.

"But you're getting free wireless without a monthly service contract!" What would impress me more would be a plan that would allow students to rent textbooks at a reasonable rate with the option to "buy," and allow the instructors to push PDFs of other readings to the device. I don't know if that's part of the plan.

Wireless devices will only be truly innovative if they can escape the high walls of the silos built with contracts, TOS, and lifelong commitments. Someone's has to open source this, and really make some news.

UPDATE: Here's a useful review comparing the Kindle 2 to the Kindle iPhone app by Nicole Lee. For me reading text on a iPhone or iPod Touch is not a problem. I'd be willing to go with this solution (and enjoy the color screen) if I could actually download, and store the books I bought.

"Nerdgasm": This Week in Tech (12/3/2007) podcast with Cory Doctorow

I very much enjoyed this MP3 discussion among Cory Doctorow, John C. Dvorak and Steve Stecklow with moderator Leo Laporte on the OLPC phenomenon and its competition with other manufacturers including the notorious fight with Intel.

There was general agreement that once you get to see the XO in person, you're hooked.

Cory's idea was to fund a program that would distribute these laptops to children locally to create virality here in the US as a way of promoting interest in this project.

 

Towards the end of this discussion, Leo mentioned his sponsor Audible.com which leads to a lively debate on the problem with DRM they use on their audiobooks. Cory describes how he un-DRM'ed his vast collection of audiobooks.