Today I was just reminded of one of the big differences between Kindles and real books.
I was in the middle of a very interesting read when my Kindle Fire just froze up. Nothing I did to wake it up seemed to work.
I eventually figured out how to do a hard reboot. (Hold the on switch down for 20 seconds.)
After a few anxious moments the device was running. Although I had to spend about ten minutes flipping pages to get back to my place in the book.
Real books don't freeze up. Kindles, being computers, sometimes do.
Don't get me wrong. I love my Kindle, and I actually prefer reading books on it.
But sometimes the things you love can irritate you.
Don't let my little rant put you off of Kindles. They are a joy to use. I actually have and use two. But make sure you know what to do when your Kindle gives you trouble.
Showing posts with label Kindle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kindle. Show all posts
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Mike Reads The 2012 Reviews by Me!
I just published a collection of my book reviews from last year on Kindle.
You can find it at http://tinyurl.com/a86hyer
Check it out! Only $ 0.99. Cheap!
You can find it at http://tinyurl.com/a86hyer
Check it out! Only $ 0.99. Cheap!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Kindle Review
I recently received a Kindle Touch 3G for Christmas. I've just finished reading my first Kindle book: A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin. So I'd like to report on my experiences with the Kindle so far.
The model I have has special offers. This is basically advertising on the screen saver. It is very easy to ignore. This model is about $20 cheaper than the model without offers. I think its worth it.
Positives
I like the way the Kindle feels in your hand. I can easily hold and manipulate it with one hand. It's a little heavier than a paperback book, but is has a nice heft. A nice feature is the nonslip finish on the back.
I really like the display. The background is a bright white which makes a nice contrast with the dark black characters. The font style, size, and spacing can be adjusted to suit the reader. This makes the the Kindle very easy on the eyes.
The Kindle touch has a touch screen. Touching the screen in the correct area turns the page or calls up a menu.
The Kindle has an interactive dictionary. Highlight a word and you get a dictionary definition. You can also highlight interesting passages. As you read, the Kindle will show you how many other people have highlighted different passages in the book.
I think the interface with the Kindle store is great. Buy a book online, have it delivered to your Kindle, and be reading in about a minute.
Negatives
The touch screen is not as intuitive as the Apple iPod touch screen. The Kindle screen has specific areas for turning forward, or backward, or calling up a menu. An accidental brush or touch can yield unexpected results.
Using the Kindle, it is difficult to jump around a book. A Dance with Dragons had maps in the front and appendices in the back. It would have been easier to access these materials using a traditional book.
The big negative is that the Kindle is basically a computer. And it can be subject to the same types problems computers have. After I happily used the Kindle for two weeks, it began to slow down. Then it simply froze. I had to Google the problem and learn how to do a forced reboot.
Conclusion
For the most part, the Kindle is easy to use. It is easy on the eyes. And it is just plain fun to use. I know that I am more motivated to read when I use it. I won't do all my reading on the Kindle, but it will in the mix, especially for newer titles.
Verdict
Thumbs up!
Kindle Touch 3G with Special Features - This is model that I have.
If you would like to read more of my blog posts check out my ebook.
The model I have has special offers. This is basically advertising on the screen saver. It is very easy to ignore. This model is about $20 cheaper than the model without offers. I think its worth it.
Positives
I like the way the Kindle feels in your hand. I can easily hold and manipulate it with one hand. It's a little heavier than a paperback book, but is has a nice heft. A nice feature is the nonslip finish on the back.
I really like the display. The background is a bright white which makes a nice contrast with the dark black characters. The font style, size, and spacing can be adjusted to suit the reader. This makes the the Kindle very easy on the eyes.
The Kindle touch has a touch screen. Touching the screen in the correct area turns the page or calls up a menu.
The Kindle has an interactive dictionary. Highlight a word and you get a dictionary definition. You can also highlight interesting passages. As you read, the Kindle will show you how many other people have highlighted different passages in the book.
I think the interface with the Kindle store is great. Buy a book online, have it delivered to your Kindle, and be reading in about a minute.
Negatives
The touch screen is not as intuitive as the Apple iPod touch screen. The Kindle screen has specific areas for turning forward, or backward, or calling up a menu. An accidental brush or touch can yield unexpected results.
Using the Kindle, it is difficult to jump around a book. A Dance with Dragons had maps in the front and appendices in the back. It would have been easier to access these materials using a traditional book.
The big negative is that the Kindle is basically a computer. And it can be subject to the same types problems computers have. After I happily used the Kindle for two weeks, it began to slow down. Then it simply froze. I had to Google the problem and learn how to do a forced reboot.
Conclusion
For the most part, the Kindle is easy to use. It is easy on the eyes. And it is just plain fun to use. I know that I am more motivated to read when I use it. I won't do all my reading on the Kindle, but it will in the mix, especially for newer titles.
Verdict
Thumbs up!
Kindle Touch 3G with Special Features - This is model that I have.
If you would like to read more of my blog posts check out my ebook.
Friday, December 30, 2011
A Dance With Dragons on Kindle
I am taking the plunge and reading a novel on a Kindle.
When I finish, I'll post a comment comparing the Kindle experience with books.
When I finish, I'll post a comment comparing the Kindle experience with books.
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