Amazon Kindle first hands-on
By Ryan Block 
posted November 19th 2007 10:43AM
posted November 19th 2007 10:43AM
The keyboard is clicky and tactile, but with keys shallow enough that they won't get too in the way when you're reading. We're a little worried that the absolutely massive page forward / back buttons might get inadvertently triggered here and there, though.
Go build one then. If it was easy, someone would have done it. Want to get an idea of how much thought, design, and technical know-how goes into designing a device? Check out the Office 2.0 blog where Ismael Ghalimi has been posting a lengthy discussion on just that topic in preparation for next year's event. He's designing a completely open source device in a very public forum. Follow along with his posts - you'll see how much thinking and design it takes to build a device.
It's easy to sit back and snipe.
Oh, I have actually used a Kindle. It's a well-done first generation effort with a lot of really smart thinking behind it. Yes it's a little clunky. But everything works as advertised and it's extremely comfortable to use and read from. Ordered mine today - arrives tomorrow.
Can someone tell me if I can store my Network admin guides on this thing in PDF format on the media card?
Yes, you can store PDFs on this thing. When you buy a Kindle you get an email address associated with it. Send a supported attachment (of which PDF is one) to that email address and it will be automatically converted to Kindle format and sent to your device.
I think it looks awesome. Love the design as is.
I'll get one once the price is cut in half tho.
I'm literally in awe of how ugly that thing is. It's like the decided to hire a designer only when it came to the packaging. And it's super awkward how those keys are slanted but the letters on them are not.
can you annotate books with the keyboard?
I do my ebook reading on my tablet PC, but if this is cheap and light enough I'll probably move all my e-textbooks and e-books to this one. Battery life is definitely a concern. Can't wait to hear more from reviewers.
will this thing play nice with rss readers like google reader? if everything you buy is stored online, how can you add ebooks that you already own?
Yes. It will cost you either $1 or $2 per blog (or rss feed?) per month you subscribe to.
sick.
You can _not_ browse the web with this thing, only the Amazon store. So, no, google rss reader is not supported. To get documents to the device you can either have it sent directly to it via an Amazon purchase or you can email the device with an attachment in one of the supported formats and it will be downloaded to it.
Have you actually used one yet? The online User Manual states that it has a "Basic Browser" in the Experimental section, which allows you to follow links from blogs and enter your own URLs. It also pretty much spells out that you can indeed use this to browse the web. However, the experience won't be so great as it'll be greyscale text and images, no java or flash. I suppose it'd be just fine for hitting your favorite tech blog or webmail service, as long as they don't use java or flash.
So, again, can you confirm that you actually CAN'T browse the web on this thing?
What can you do with the keyboard? take notes? send email?
Sign into your amazon account. Enter in search terms. Prolly play pong too.
This is an important question, for me... does the kindle support a reverse video mode? is it possible to read white text on a black background???
If so, some photos of wehat the display looks like in that mode would be greatly appreciated.
--Jeff
It doesn't really make sense to do reverse video. This is e-ink, it looks like a printed page not a computer screen. You have to see it for yourself I guess. Reverse video would be like reading a book where the pages were printed black and the text was left white. ugh.
-Eric
Eric,
I appreciate your comment, but the Sony e-book reader, also using similar technology does indeed offer a reverse video mode.
I get what you are saying about reflective versus radiative surfaces, but there is still an advantage for people with some vision problems to read white text against a black background.
--Jeff
I don't believe this will revolutionize the way we read like the iPod did for music!
i think this is a great alternative to Newsletter, and maybe to plain text books, but anything with images is ruled out!
This is also a very ugly device!
You know what is the biggest irony about all the comments about these eInk ebook readers? The folks who negatively comment about eInk with no backlight also say that they read a lot of books (and I infer that they are well read too, aka know-it-alls).
Wow, is it me or is this whole device, pointless? It's the ugliest device released in a long time!
This should be provided as a feature on iPhones, Blackberry's etc...who wants another device to carry around?!
Amazon (and Sony) have got it wrong, we don't want a separate device..
PS - what's the story with the keypad, what the hell is that for?!
Is it me or does this thing look straight out of an early 1984 apple computer commercial where knowledge is power yes but your a mindless zombie correct?
Maybe they should just team up with Apple and develop a Kindle that people would actually enjoy taking out into the world.
The device that they have created is for the nerds who don't already enjoy going out of their dark neon lit rooms in their mothers basement.
Its very antiquated with everything annotated from the experience, user interface and even the lack of color and distinguishable branding and this is only the initial launch.
I know, trust me I do. The hardware and software systems are really a technological milestone. Gutenberg himself would fall to his knees in the sight of some casual traveler at the airport reading a blog about 12 year old girls sex habits.
But forgive me if I ask this endearing question. Is this not suppose to create an emotional attachment to books just as the Ipod created with audio philes and their respective vinyl cleaning rituals early Sunday mornings.
Is it not suppose to be a desired brand, and is this not one of the biggest shopping times in our americanized culture. A near Christmas launch provides me with a definite clause in time for a joyous kindle buying season under Bezos tree.
Exactly. This is a consumer product, and a pricey one at that.
Its functional but its not desired & there lies the quotient.
It's your choice to change the world. It's the choice of all people to find knowledge without power.
Sorry guys, but i actually like the design, i think an antiquated design suits an antiquated medium like a book, even if it comes in a new packaging,
look at it this way, this design does not distract you, if you read a book
So, if you were to buy on RIGHT NOW...Sony PRS505 or Kindle?