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Aw. I can't believe he didn't explicitly mention the e-ink used by the Kindle. It really, really makes a difference. There are a million annoying, awkward thing

Aw. I can't believe he didn't explicitly mention the e-ink used by the Kindle. It really, really makes a difference. There are a million annoying, awkward things about the Kindle. But they're all worth it just due to how dang readable it is. I can use an LCD all day long (and do). But for reading documents/books of some length, linearly, for long periods of time, e-ink is really nice. (I'm sure i'll eventually have an iPad, or something like it, i just don't compare it to a Kindle.)

patio11 17y ago
Chiming in to agree. I forget I'm not reading paper. Literally. I physically flip the machine all the time to get to the next page. 50 books in 3 months and I've never once gotten eyestrain. I'm generally not a hardware fanboy, but the Kindle is to me as guns are to the NRA: if you want to separate me from it you had better be prepared to pry it from my cold, dead hands.
- thesethings 17y ago
  That's so cool to hear. I haven't even had mine that long, and I'm already an admirer. Sound like I'll dig it even more as time passes. (Note to those on the fence. I'll give you some background info about myself: I'm NOT a big book reader. Pre-Kindle, less than 5 a year. NOT a big gadget person. Software and virtual servers w/too many providers? Yes. But gadgets no (i hate "stuff." Have no printer, a bad, simple cell phone, no dvr, cable box...). I just really like studying and reading, and the Kindle helps a lot with that. I'm not saying, "get a Kindle!!" I'm just saying if you're trying to map your needs + interests to people who have one, those are some things about me...)
  - Blasa 17y ago
    I'm pretty much the same hate stuff kinda mindset. So I'm curious did you get the DX or the original. DX seems more useful for pdfs/studying but less pocketable.
    - thesethings 17y ago
      I got the regular size Kindle 2.0. It does suck for unmodified PDF's, but i have yet to try: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1089068 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1089068 That said, I "bought in" intellectually accepting that I shouldn't expect to straight up enjoy all my PDF's on this thing. I decided e-readers would be something that would be worth it (for me) to take a hit with the early adopter tax.
ZeroGravitas 17y ago
There's also the Pixel Qi screen, originally developed for OLPC and looking to be launched in actual products this year. It has a mode that switches off the backlight and becomes a high-res monochrome screen perfect for reading and use in sunlight. It can even emulate the e-ink capability of turning off the power and the screen stays on with static content to some extent, though this requires more engineering to support than just plugging it in the place of a standard LCD. I find the B&W mode charmingly retro (particularly when showing 1080p video) and would very much like to buy a linux&arm based tablet or netbook using it. Recent demo videos: http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/mary-lou-jepsen-shows-pixel-qi-at-ces-2010/ http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/mary-lou-jepsen-shows-pixel... http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/charbax-tests-pixel-qi-at-ces-2010/ http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/charbax-tests-pixel-qi-at-c... http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/notion-ink-pixel-qi-tablet-with-nvidia-tegra2-processor/ http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/notion-ink-pixel-qi-tablet-...
- thesethings 17y ago
  Thanks for sharing this. I didn't know about this project.

patio11 17y ago

Chiming in to agree. I forget I'm not reading paper. Literally. I physically flip the machine all the time to get to the next page. 50 books in 3 months and I've never once gotten eyestrain. I'm generally not a hardware fanboy, but the Kindle is to me as guns are to the NRA: if you want to separate me from it you had better be prepared to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

thesethings 17y ago
That's so cool to hear. I haven't even had mine that long, and I'm already an admirer. Sound like I'll dig it even more as time passes. (Note to those on the fence. I'll give you some background info about myself: I'm NOT a big book reader. Pre-Kindle, less than 5 a year. NOT a big gadget person. Software and virtual servers w/too many providers? Yes. But gadgets no (i hate "stuff." Have no printer, a bad, simple cell phone, no dvr, cable box...). I just really like studying and reading, and the Kindle helps a lot with that. I'm not saying, "get a Kindle!!" I'm just saying if you're trying to map your needs + interests to people who have one, those are some things about me...)
- Blasa 17y ago
  I'm pretty much the same hate stuff kinda mindset. So I'm curious did you get the DX or the original. DX seems more useful for pdfs/studying but less pocketable.
  - thesethings 17y ago
    I got the regular size Kindle 2.0. It does suck for unmodified PDF's, but i have yet to try: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1089068 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1089068 That said, I "bought in" intellectually accepting that I shouldn't expect to straight up enjoy all my PDF's on this thing. I decided e-readers would be something that would be worth it (for me) to take a hit with the early adopter tax.

ZeroGravitas 17y ago

There's also the Pixel Qi screen, originally developed for OLPC and looking to be launched in actual products this year. It has a mode that switches off the backlight and becomes a high-res monochrome screen perfect for reading and use in sunlight. It can even emulate the e-ink capability of turning off the power and the screen stays on with static content to some extent, though this requires more engineering to support than just plugging it in the place of a standard LCD. I find the B&W mode charmingly retro (particularly when showing 1080p video) and would very much like to buy a linux&arm based tablet or netbook using it. Recent demo videos: http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/mary-lou-jepsen-shows-pixel-qi-at-ces-2010/ http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/mary-lou-jepsen-shows-pixel... http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/charbax-tests-pixel-qi-at-ces-2010/ http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/charbax-tests-pixel-qi-at-c... http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/notion-ink-pixel-qi-tablet-with-nvidia-tegra2-processor/ http://armdevices.net/2010/01/08/notion-ink-pixel-qi-tablet-...

thesethings 17y ago
Thanks for sharing this. I didn't know about this project.