5 ms·

This person seems extremely picky. I have pretty much every generation of kindle and they just keep getting incrementally better. Resolution, backlight, multipl

This person seems extremely picky. I have pretty much every generation of kindle and they just keep getting incrementally better. Resolution, backlight, multiple dictionaries, x-ray, etc.

bduerst 12y ago
Yeah, it reads like no matter what would be done, this person would find something wrong with the product experience. I use a paperwhite and read to fall asleep. The white-tinted light isn't as much of an issue as people or f.lux make it out to be. If the paperwite were tinted, this person would probably be complaining that it makes them fall asleep rather than stay alert while reading.
- karmajunkie 12y ago
  Its not just the wavelength of light that affects the sleep question. Backlit devices like the iPad are far more likely to affect your sleep than a device like the kindle, which has both lower levels of light and the light is reflected rather than shone directly into your eyes.
  - exodust 11y ago
    Exactly. I can't see why the author is complaining about white light. I have a Kindle Paperwhite and in no way can the background be called "white"! When you adjust the backlight down, it's a nice warm off-white. Maybe I have a different model, but I can't see any "white light problem".
- epochwolf 12y ago
  I'm willing to give the author a pass on the white-light issue since it is a legitimate problem for some people. But I don't expect amazon to ever address that problem. There's always a group of people that can't use a given product because they have one issue or another. For example, the Kindle Voyage isn't accessible for a blind person.
epochwolf 12y ago
I came here to say this. I absolutely love the device and have never been bothered by fully justified text. (My major complaint along that path is books can still override the font settings. Grrr. ) I also wonder if the author knows there is haptic feedback on the buttons and that the activation pressure can be adjusted. With minimum pressure and maximum feedback there is no strain on my fingers even after 8 hours of continuous reading. I do have strain issues with my fingers so I should have had a problem with it if that was the case.
megablast 12y ago
> This person seems extremely picky. I don't understand this? Why not disagree with the valid points he made, rather than just calling him picky? When you use a device a lot, as you would an ereader, I can imagine these problems becoming magnified.
- jlarocco 12y ago
  The article is basically just some guy's rant against Amazon. He found some very minor nitpicks, has blown them way out of proportion, and is using them as evidence that Amazon hates readers. Or something. Factor in all the insults, and it's not really worth trying to start a discussion, IMO.
  - BinaryIdiot 12y ago
    As a semi-new owner of a Kindle Voyage I find all of his points right on the money. Criticisms of the user experience shouldn't be written off as nit-picky but instead should start a conversation regarding improving the user experience.
    - jlarocco 11y ago
      I've owned Kindles for years, and never noticed any of these things. Nobody I know has noticed them either. My anecdote is just as valid as yours. I'm not saying user experience critiques aren't valid, I'm saying the article is so filled with hypberbole and anti-Amazon insults that there's no point debating his complaints. Like others have said, this guy is going to hate on everything Amazon is doing, because he's making it perfectly clear hates Amazon. It's a no win argument.
      - BinaryIdiot 11y ago
        That seems unfair; just because he presented the criticisms in a manner which you disagree with doesn't negate the criticisms themselves. Also keep in mind that just because you don't notice something doesn't make it any more or less valid. The typography issues were pointed out and as a former print designer they are very valid albeit a bit subtle (in my opinion anyway).
jwatte 12y ago
Maybe it's personal, but I, too, hate the full justification. US newspapers used to do a lot of that, too, whereas European one didn't. It is shown that full justification is detrimental to actual reading. That being said, I don't understand why he involve the Echo. First, it's a totally depend product, and second, it's the most used internet radio and music payer I've owned.
ericd 12y ago
I hated the switch to touch from physical buttons, but maybe it's gotten better (more responsive) since the first version.
nodata 12y ago
Removing physical buttons to turn the pages was a giant leap backwards. It's stopped me from buying the Voyage.
- werid 12y ago
  It's paperwhite that has no physical buttons. Voyage has them again, but apparently they don't act quite like the old buttons.
  - nodata 12y ago
    The Voyage has buttons that you can't push. It uses a strange touch sensitive mechanism that works badly enough that you can't rely on it.
tallanvor 12y ago
I don't have a Voyage yet (will probably upgrade the next time I'm in the US), but I mostly agree that each device has been a small but good upgrade. I do dislike that they removed the physical buttons, and the first version where they did that was a bit of a pain, but you get used to it. The Paperwhite screen is just fine for me, and the justification problems the poster refers to have only been annoying to me a few times - the free public domain books are often not converted decently, and side-loaded books aren't always formatted nicely. Other than that, no problems here.
epsylon 12y ago
Completely agreed. The worse argument is the one about the backlight not being red... If you care about that kind of thing you already have a bedside luminotherapy lamp. Which means you will use it to read (which is way more comfortable). The backlight's primary function is to counter the effect of the sun in daytime park / balcony / beach / etc... reading. You need a lot of luminosity, and certainly not weak ass red lighting.
- regularfry 12y ago
  Er, what? You only need the backlight in the dark. In the light, you have the light. That's what makes e-ink good.
  - rev_bird 11y ago
    That's exactly what I do too, but it goes against the instructions that pop up on my Paperwhite -- it says turn up the light when the ambient light is brighter.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
dilap 12y ago
Picky or not, they are valid complaints, and a lot of people (me included!) share them. It's frustrating because the kindle does a lot of things right, but it could be so much better with just a little thoughtful attention.

This person seems extremely picky. I have pretty much every generation of kindle and they just keep getting incrementally better. Resolution, backlight, multiple dictionaries, x-ray, etc.

bduerst 12y ago

Yeah, it reads like no matter what would be done, this person would find something wrong with the product experience. I use a paperwhite and read to fall asleep. The white-tinted light isn't as much of an issue as people or f.lux make it out to be. If the paperwite were tinted, this person would probably be complaining that it makes them fall asleep rather than stay alert while reading.

karmajunkie 12y ago
Its not just the wavelength of light that affects the sleep question. Backlit devices like the iPad are far more likely to affect your sleep than a device like the kindle, which has both lower levels of light and the light is reflected rather than shone directly into your eyes.
- exodust 11y ago
  Exactly. I can't see why the author is complaining about white light. I have a Kindle Paperwhite and in no way can the background be called "white"! When you adjust the backlight down, it's a nice warm off-white. Maybe I have a different model, but I can't see any "white light problem".
epochwolf 12y ago
I'm willing to give the author a pass on the white-light issue since it is a legitimate problem for some people. But I don't expect amazon to ever address that problem. There's always a group of people that can't use a given product because they have one issue or another. For example, the Kindle Voyage isn't accessible for a blind person.

epochwolf 12y ago

I came here to say this. I absolutely love the device and have never been bothered by fully justified text. (My major complaint along that path is books can still override the font settings. Grrr. ) I also wonder if the author knows there is haptic feedback on the buttons and that the activation pressure can be adjusted. With minimum pressure and maximum feedback there is no strain on my fingers even after 8 hours of continuous reading. I do have strain issues with my fingers so I should have had a problem with it if that was the case.

megablast 12y ago

> This person seems extremely picky. I don't understand this? Why not disagree with the valid points he made, rather than just calling him picky? When you use a device a lot, as you would an ereader, I can imagine these problems becoming magnified.

jlarocco 12y ago
The article is basically just some guy's rant against Amazon. He found some very minor nitpicks, has blown them way out of proportion, and is using them as evidence that Amazon hates readers. Or something. Factor in all the insults, and it's not really worth trying to start a discussion, IMO.
- BinaryIdiot 12y ago
  As a semi-new owner of a Kindle Voyage I find all of his points right on the money. Criticisms of the user experience shouldn't be written off as nit-picky but instead should start a conversation regarding improving the user experience.
  - jlarocco 11y ago
    I've owned Kindles for years, and never noticed any of these things. Nobody I know has noticed them either. My anecdote is just as valid as yours. I'm not saying user experience critiques aren't valid, I'm saying the article is so filled with hypberbole and anti-Amazon insults that there's no point debating his complaints. Like others have said, this guy is going to hate on everything Amazon is doing, because he's making it perfectly clear hates Amazon. It's a no win argument.
    - BinaryIdiot 11y ago
      That seems unfair; just because he presented the criticisms in a manner which you disagree with doesn't negate the criticisms themselves. Also keep in mind that just because you don't notice something doesn't make it any more or less valid. The typography issues were pointed out and as a former print designer they are very valid albeit a bit subtle (in my opinion anyway).

jwatte 12y ago

Maybe it's personal, but I, too, hate the full justification. US newspapers used to do a lot of that, too, whereas European one didn't. It is shown that full justification is detrimental to actual reading. That being said, I don't understand why he involve the Echo. First, it's a totally depend product, and second, it's the most used internet radio and music payer I've owned.

ericd 12y ago

I hated the switch to touch from physical buttons, but maybe it's gotten better (more responsive) since the first version.

nodata 12y ago

Removing physical buttons to turn the pages was a giant leap backwards. It's stopped me from buying the Voyage.

werid 12y ago
It's paperwhite that has no physical buttons. Voyage has them again, but apparently they don't act quite like the old buttons.
- nodata 12y ago
  The Voyage has buttons that you can't push. It uses a strange touch sensitive mechanism that works badly enough that you can't rely on it.

tallanvor 12y ago

I don't have a Voyage yet (will probably upgrade the next time I'm in the US), but I mostly agree that each device has been a small but good upgrade. I do dislike that they removed the physical buttons, and the first version where they did that was a bit of a pain, but you get used to it. The Paperwhite screen is just fine for me, and the justification problems the poster refers to have only been annoying to me a few times - the free public domain books are often not converted decently, and side-loaded books aren't always formatted nicely. Other than that, no problems here.

epsylon 12y ago

Completely agreed. The worse argument is the one about the backlight not being red... If you care about that kind of thing you already have a bedside luminotherapy lamp. Which means you will use it to read (which is way more comfortable). The backlight's primary function is to counter the effect of the sun in daytime park / balcony / beach / etc... reading. You need a lot of luminosity, and certainly not weak ass red lighting.

regularfry 12y ago
Er, what? You only need the backlight in the dark. In the light, you have the light. That's what makes e-ink good.
- rev_bird 11y ago
  That's exactly what I do too, but it goes against the instructions that pop up on my Paperwhite -- it says turn up the light when the ambient light is brighter.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

dilap 12y ago

Picky or not, they are valid complaints, and a lot of people (me included!) share them. It's frustrating because the kindle does a lot of things right, but it could be so much better with just a little thoughtful attention.