A doc and PDF to mobi converter would take care of this, though I haven't googled for one yet or looked at what the mobi format allows in its content (images?)
A doc and PDF to mobi converter would take care of this, though I haven't googled for one yet or looked at what the mobi format allows in its content (images?)
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
If they sell text books on it for college students, I can guarantee that this thing will take off like none other.
- Feb 14, 2004
- 50,711
- 6,748
- 136
Especially if they can sell it at a discount...when I went to school locally I returned my books at the end of the year for cash back, which was a major plus as many semesters I spent $300 - $400+ on books. When I had a busy dayI would have 4 huge textbooks in my backpack, which was a real pain to carry around with all of my notebooks and other stuff. Having a single little device would be awesome!
Throckmorton
Lifer
- Aug 23, 2007
- 16,829
- 3
- 0
It's a proprietary format right? If you buy a paper book you own it forever. If you buy some DRMed proprietary crap, you own it until the device dies or becomes obsolete.
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
No PDF without using a converter or paying Amazon to convert to Kindle native format
Odd, the Newsweek article stated, "And if you or a friend sends a word document or PDF file to your private Kindle e-mail address, it appears in your Kindle library, just as a book does." Maybe they backed out of it.
- Feb 14, 2004
- 50,711
- 6,748
- 136
I've been browsing their selection this evening and they have a surprising number of books that I'm interested in. I've found a lot of the older sci-fi/fantasy stuff I like for under $6. Right now it kind of feels like Rhapsody...good selection but sometimes you run into something they don't have that you want...that's a little annoying. Fortunately there's not a monthly subscription fee, it's just buy-and-read, so it's not quite the same. Amazon said their goal is to digitize their entire collection (something in the millions) and right now they're at 90,000, so I think there's definitely a future here.
I would also like to see some kind of trade-in service. I have bookshelves upon bookshelves of novels, reference books, technical books, and so on in my library. I would love to be able to send those off and get an e-version in return. I'm also hoping that a third-party vendor comes out with a case that has a light attached...at first I was like, E-ink doesn't need a backlight because it's E-ink, but why not take advantage of technology? Ideally I'd like to see an integrated backlight with an ambient light sensor...my MacBook Pro laptop can adjust the keyboard lighting according to the lighting in the room, why not my E-Book Reader?
Edit: Looks like the screen adjusts to the light in the room. Pretty sure you'll still need a light in a dark room though.
I would also like to see some kind of trade-in service. I have bookshelves upon bookshelves of novels, reference books, technical books, and so on in my library. I would love to be able to send those off and get an e-version in return. I'm also hoping that a third-party vendor comes out with a case that has a light attached...at first I was like, E-ink doesn't need a backlight because it's E-ink, but why not take advantage of technology? Ideally I'd like to see an integrated backlight with an ambient light sensor...my MacBook Pro laptop can adjust the keyboard lighting according to the lighting in the room, why not my E-Book Reader?
Edit: Looks like the screen adjusts to the light in the room. Pretty sure you'll still need a light in a dark room though.
- Feb 14, 2004
- 50,711
- 6,748
- 136
Regarding the 10-cent emails - you don't have to use them! Just get a memory card and transfer via USB. MOBI has a free converter app that will handle PDF files. Problem solved!
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/D...ductDetailsCreator.asp
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/D...ductDetailsCreator.asp
Jeff7
Lifer
- Jan 4, 2001
- 41,596
- 19
- 81
"Cons: No color screen?" So what, most novels don't have color print anyway.
Looks like an interesting idea though. I think that they overcomplicated it though. It could have been made just as a book substitute, that's it. That alone would have considerable utility, and would likely be a fair amount cheaper.
The next iteration will have to be much larger, like the size of a newspaper - for newspaper reading without all the paper use. And hopefully the implementation of that would not have popup or animated ads. If it does, the devices should be returned to their creators, after they've been filled with chloroform.
Looks like an interesting idea though. I think that they overcomplicated it though. It could have been made just as a book substitute, that's it. That alone would have considerable utility, and would likely be a fair amount cheaper.
The next iteration will have to be much larger, like the size of a newspaper - for newspaper reading without all the paper use. And hopefully the implementation of that would not have popup or animated ads. If it does, the devices should be returned to their creators, after they've been filled with chloroform.
- Feb 14, 2004
- 50,711
- 6,748
- 136
That's why blogs have a monthly fee of a dollar or two - no ads. I agree; they should offer a larger size in the future, something magazine/textbook-sized. I also think they should offer a trade-in service - I want to send my existing books in and get an e-book in return, let Amazon sell the used copy! Also I don't know if they are overcomplicating it so much as not advertising it correctly. They need to market it like an iPod - "All your books, anytime you want". I don't think people are getting the message that (1) they can store their ENTIRE LIBRARY in one little device, (2) they can get NEW BOOKS anytime, anywhere, and (3) they can SEARCH their entire collection plus use a dictionary and Wikipedia anywhere.
The biggest problem I see in the reviews on Amazon, other than the price, are that people don't understand the concept of E-Ink. It's meant to replace books, not replace computer screens. E-Ink is designed to be like paper - no eyestrain from staring into an LCD or CRT flashlight all day. People continually say, "Oh I can just buy an Asus EEEE laptop for $299 and save myself $100" don't get it. The heart of the E-reader concept is E-Ink. The second selling point is book storage, as well as instant book access and book searching. Personally I get eyestrain if I try to read a long PDF on my LCD monitor - the screen is one of the most appealing features of an e-book reader for me!
- Feb 14, 2004
- 50,711
- 6,748
- 136
From Amazon:
If you are not in a wireless area or would like to avoid the $.10 fee, you can send attachments to "name"@free.kindle.com to be converted and e-mailed back to your computer at the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.com account. You can then transfer the document to your Kindle using your USB connection.
If you are not in a wireless area or would like to avoid the $.10 fee, you can send attachments to "name"@free.kindle.com to be converted and e-mailed back to your computer at the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.com account. You can then transfer the document to your Kindle using your USB connection.
Throckmorton
Lifer
- Aug 23, 2007
- 16,829
- 3
- 0
- Feb 14, 2004
- 50,711
- 6,748
- 136
Yes and no. I like books. I like how low-tech they are. I like being able to highlight passages, write in the margins, and just loaf around reading them. But I also like the concept of e-books: instant access to your collection. Never misplace a book a get. Get any book you want within 60 seconds. Carry your entire library in the palm of your hand. Search within your books. Bookmark pages and take notes and be able to find them again, anytime you want. The E-Reader isn't where I want it to be, but I don't think it's going to be where I want for a long, long time; the Kindle seems like a good interim device.
I was interested in the Sony E-Reader but I'm really intrigued by Amazon's E-Reader. Amazon has the book power behind them to make this happen. Obviously it's a first-gen device - it's ugly and it has some weird features like no native PDF reading. I don't know exactly how they are going to sustain the free Sprint EVDO network, but it seems neat. I don't know who would willingly pay to read blogs, especially since there's a web browser built-in. But for buying and reading books, it looks awesome. I think people are looking for more features that it's supposed to do, and I think Amazon kind of missed the boat on marketing it. They need to say "Kindle: An electronic library in the palm of your hand - any book, any where, any time". It's a BOOK replacement, first and foremost, and they need to make it clear that it is exactly what it is. Yes, it does newspapers, magazines, blogs, audiobooks, mp3s, and web browsing, but it's a BOOK replacement. Uh anyway, end rant
ViRGE
Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
- Oct 9, 1999
- 31,516
- 167
- 106
It, the book reader, a device designed to let the user read books, analogous to text printed on paper, which involves using only your eyes, has audio hardware?!
I thought this was a book reader, I must have wandered in to the crummy-PDA section of the internet.
Anyone else think this product is just not for them? I personally hate reading text write off a screen as opposed to a book. It's not a matter of strain or anything, I just like having a physical book. Sure you can fit lots of book into one system, but I don't see this taking off like expected.
i love e-books/magazines, the price is a bit steep. i would like a better looking design or a larger screen would be nice. yeah the battery life is a downside but i guess they had to keep the weight to a minimum. if the price goes down a little or they make a version 2 of it. i might buy it.
I don't know if I would ever get one of these. I read paperbacks and one of the things I like most about paperbacks is that, other than making sure they don't get absolutely soaked with water, I don't have to worry about damaging them.
i got to check out the kindle today, its really nice
the screen is really cool, and the scrolling and menu system is very intuitive
i'm confused on some of the cons everyone is bitching about
10 bucks for an ebook is still cheaper than the regular edition (at least for new books)
complaining about the screen not being backlit or color seems ridiculous as well. its an electronic form of reading (books, magazines, newspapers)
its not made to surf the net or email people or leave comments on your buddies myspace page
turn the wifi off and the battery lasts a helluva lot longer from what the book says
the screen is really cool, and the scrolling and menu system is very intuitive
i'm confused on some of the cons everyone is bitching about
10 bucks for an ebook is still cheaper than the regular edition (at least for new books)
complaining about the screen not being backlit or color seems ridiculous as well. its an electronic form of reading (books, magazines, newspapers)
its not made to surf the net or email people or leave comments on your buddies myspace page
turn the wifi off and the battery lasts a helluva lot longer from what the book says
- Feb 14, 2004
- 50,711
- 6,748
- 136
Well that's good to hear! Hope mine shows up tomorrow, I'm psyched! I think they should have at least included a reading light, if not a backlight - it would be convenient when reading in bed. I'm sure some third-party vendor will come out with a book cover with a light built in though.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 21K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter