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RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/19/2010 1:44:16 AM   
Adam Parker


Posts: 1848
Joined: 4/2/2002
From: Melbourne Australia
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: RyanCrierie

1. How is the PDF load time?... I've heard from a friend in the US Army (lots of Army manuals are in PDF) that Kindle PDF loading speed and pageturn speed varies by the type of PDF loaded...

2. How is it with a cover? the cover doubles the weight of my K3; but it makes it feel much more STURDY.


Hi Ryan:

1. The biggest PDF I have is the Panther Bulge manual. It dowloaded in a minute and opens within say 4 seconds. Paging around is quick so far but it has no active table of contents on the Kindle. Using the Kindle's "Go To" function via joystick is quick. You can specify the page to jump to that way. In the future I'm sure we'll be able to just jump to a table of contents. The annoying thing about the Kindle is you have to press ALT+a key to type a numeral. I think they're working on this too as you just can't type holding the thing in one hand!

2. Yet to buy a cover. I read mixed reports about the unit snapping in its "hinge". But I would like one. The rear of the unit being a a type of polished metal isn't the best to hold - and it is cold! Books are meant to be warm

Otherwise, reading on the thing is turning out to be very natural and I've been a sceptic for so long. I expect the Kindle will be something people will need to re-buy every couple of years to update the model or replace wear and tear. The price of the DX has already dropped $100. The K3 6" is a very easy price comparatively. As the iPad drops in response, there's going to be nice bidding war for our business I feel. Kindle's could inevitably be a quasi-free offer one day in the future.

For me, if my DX stays "smooth" for the next few months and doesn't start to get buggy, I'll buy a K3 6" too. Better suited for "casual" reading, novels/non-fiction etc. And I perceive, more suited to the "throne reading room" But I do like the size of the DX screen.

(in reply to RyanCrierie)
Post #: 31
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/19/2010 3:44:08 AM   
RyanCrierie


Posts: 1461
Joined: 10/14/2005
Status: offline 		To give you an idea of how THIN the K3 is, some photos.

The lighted case for the K3 is really quite nice.



There's a strap that wraps around it to keep the front cover from opening inadverdently and allowing the Kindle itself to be opened to damage.

PS: EASTER EGG!!! Trading cards from Amtrak Police on their K-9 Units from TRAIN DAY at Union Station at left.

Better close up of the strap:



You can see how absurdly thin the kindle is -- if a Micro USB port is that tight of a fit. 

Anyway; notice how the strap protects the power switch; and does not interfere with the clear functioning of the micro USB port. This means you can strap up your kindle for protection and still charge it at night.

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Post #: 32
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/19/2010 3:47:16 AM   
RyanCrierie


Posts: 1461
Joined: 10/14/2005
Status: offline 		Forgot my only bitch with the Kindle 3 so far, other than the seeming flimsiness of the LED light.

Instead of using a 5-pin Mini USB port, they use a Micro USB port.

This means that you can't charge it off a bunch of standard chargers for your cell phone or the USB cable that came with say, your USB External Hard drive, etc.

While this is a niggling point, as you can just buy a Micro USB cable at Radio Shack; I just wish they hadn't felt the burning need to make the new K3 as thin as possible; so that they could at least use the 5-pin Mini USB port that's becoming the standard for powering devices.

There is another gripe about the K3; in that Amazon relocated the power switch the bottom of the unit. This means that for people who don't have a case, which provides standoff distance; if they prop the K3 on their chest to read, there is a chance they will inadverdently send the device into 'sleep' mode.

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Post #: 33
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/21/2010 4:31:57 AM   
darken92

 

Posts: 92
Joined: 5/11/2007
Status: offline 		Thanks to the advise above I was able to load PDF files directly onto my Kindle.  I have to say I am warming to the Kindle, it was a gift, it is light, easy to carry, perfect for the morning and evening train ride.

My issues are the general lack of military books (currently reading Swords around the Throne) and that the PDF files (WITP AE Rules) are impossible to read at that size.  Using a Kindle has made me interested in the next generation which are not available in Australia or an IPAD.  These are of course bigger, heavier and more expensive.  The IPAD has the advantage of being in colour and you can watch movies.

I would love if Matrix would look at making the rules in Kindle format..........or is their a program out there that will do that for us?  Convert PDF files into something that can be sized for better reading?

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Post #: 34
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/21/2010 5:07:30 AM   
Adam Parker


Posts: 1848
Joined: 4/2/2002
From: Melbourne Australia
Status: offline 		Darken - what Kimdle are you using? I just received the "Latest Generation" DX, here in Melbourne.

I agree with you about Amazon Kindle books in Australia. I just wrote to the ACCC (that's the fair trade commission for those out of town) regarding a book that's $14.99 USD in the US Kindle Shop but $30.07 USD in the Australian Kindle shop. That's highway robbery! There's no rationale for it and there's no logic for dumbing down the population by restricting its access to books that can be bought in their physical form.

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Post #: 35
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/22/2010 4:21:27 AM   
darken92

 

Posts: 92
Joined: 5/11/2007
Status: offline 		Can't tell you the name (was a gift), it is a 6" wi fi version, what ever name that has.

I was looking at the Kindle store, clicked on one of the new DX to see what sort of postage they charged and it said something about it could not ship to my region.  I noticed this morning, using my wifes account, it said it could ship.  So it looks like it can.

I started looking at the new Kindle, then the IPad, then wondering if I should just go straight to a new Laptop.

IPad being in colour makes a difference.  If you can't get software that convets PDF files I am wondering if the Ipad is the way to go.  Watch movies and cruise the internet at the same time, just cant play games.

I have not noticed much on the price of books.  i was not even aware there is a USA and Australia store for kindle books.  Just goes to show.  I have noticed that anthing not very old, the book itself is as cheap at UK Book Depositry especialy as shipping is free. They also seem to have a larger selection.  The kindle store seems stacked with teenage vampire books.

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Post #: 36
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/22/2010 4:54:42 AM   
jomni


Posts: 2827
Joined: 11/19/2007
Status: offline 		That's my problem with Amazon.  They don't even sell ebooks to Singapore because of "licensing reasons".  Actually if you look at Apple iBooks Signapore Store, there is no content except for those free ones digitized by the Project Gutenberg!  Totally useless.  Not to mention the dreaded DRM!  eBooks have them as well and you can't just load any eBook to any reader.  The reader has to be able to recognize the format DRM.  As far as I am concerned the eBook industry is still US-centric despite the obvious advantages of going global because of the digital download format. And they are scared of piracy.

Anyway, I do buy eBooks from an online store that doesn't recognize national borders and offers cheap prices (Kobo Books). It has a descent libary of military books. Then I load them to my iPhone / iPad Stanza app in epub format (but I have to strip out the DRM).  Is it legal?  Hey, I bought the book right?  Issue is just like those no-CD cracks. Anyway, that's a separate discussion.

Enough with the rants. The iPad is just right for PDF reading. As PDF file dos not reflow the words, the size of the iPad makes you comfortably read the page as it is meant to be (printed). If you read PDF in the PC or laptop, you have to scroll down the page as screens are wide screen format. In the iPad this is not necessary. You see the whole page in front of you.

What about those android tablets? Maybe they're cheaper than the iPad.

< Message edited by jomni -- 9/22/2010 5:06:43 AM >

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Post #: 37
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/22/2010 8:23:09 AM   
sterckxe


Posts: 4605
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From: Flanders
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jomni
What about those android tablets? Maybe they're cheaper than the iPad.


Some tablet names and links I compiled of iPad alternatives I'm looking into :

MSI Tegra tablet pc
http://laptopcom.blogspot.com/2010/01/apple-ipad-vs-hp-slate-vs-msi-tablet-pc.html

MSI WindPad 100
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/msi-windpad-is-a-10-inch-intel-powered-windows-7-tablet/
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/msi-windpad-100-photos-and-details-released/17203

Hanvon B10 Tablet
http://www.intomobile.com/2010/08/10/hanvon-windows-7-tablet-goes-head-to-head-with-the-apple-ipad/
http://liliputing.com/2010/08/hanvon-b10-windows-tablet-heading-to-germany.html

Anadem P101 Windows 7 Tablet
http://liliputing.com/2010/06/anadem-tablet-is-the-anti-ipad-windows-7-a-ton-of-buttons.html
http://besttabletreview.com/anadem-p101-tablet-pc-windows-7-gloss/

Toshiba Folio 100 (was : Smartpad)

Hanspree Tablet

LG Optimus Pad
http://www.slashgear.com/lg-optimus-pad-unveiled-super-thin-and-running-android-3199701/

Archos 101 Tablet
http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/4986/archos-101-internet-tablet-preview

As you can see there's plenty of stuff in the works - all with their own strenghts and drawbacks - and the iPad 2 is also around the corner.

It's quite noticeable tablets are taking over

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/09/17/netbook-sales-are-crashing-quick-blame-the-ipad-not-the-lousy-netbooks/

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx


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Post #: 38
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/22/2010 10:54:51 AM   
jomni


Posts: 2827
Joined: 11/19/2007
Status: offline 		Let's see how the technology develops.  iPad2 has smaller screen so it actually makes PDF reading much harder.
The more powerful and cheaper these tablets become, netbooks and ebook readers might just die.


< Message edited by jomni -- 9/22/2010 10:55:32 AM >

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Post #: 39
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/22/2010 12:26:59 PM   
sterckxe


Posts: 4605
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From: Flanders
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jomni
Let's see how the technology develops.  iPad2 has smaller screen


It's all rumours at this point - so yes, there's talk of a 7 inch iPad, but it's also possbile the iPad 2 will have the same size as the current one or that there will be 3 different sizes available. I think it would make business sense to have multiple sizes with 10 inch being the prefered size for reading books, 12 inch or more for business presentations and video conferencing and 7 inch if your primary use is casual surfing on the couch

<edited for ugly grammatical mistake>

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx


< Message edited by sterckxe -- 9/22/2010 2:40:29 PM >

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Post #: 40
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/22/2010 1:28:28 PM   
jomni


Posts: 2827
Joined: 11/19/2007
Status: offline 		Oooh... iPad Nano.

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Post #: 41
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 9/22/2010 1:36:57 PM   
Zakhal


Posts: 2494
Joined: 1/4/2001
From: Jyväskylä, Finland
Status: offline 		Small 250€ notebook is best for reading manuals. eReaders are for reading books not really good with manuals. They cant even show color pics and they are too slow and cumbersome for big manuals.

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Post #: 42
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/3/2011 10:33:31 AM   
Clarisse

 

Posts: 2
Joined: 10/3/2011
Status: offline 		I am tired of lugging my bulky, heavy, and short-lived programming manuals around to my job so I'm thinking about buying a Kindle DX. My concern is that eReaders seem geared-up to just read novels (page-by-page reading) instead of flipping back and forth like you do in textbooks.FYI...I'm thinking about purchasing the Kindle DX for this purpose.iPhone

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Post #: 43
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/3/2011 1:21:10 PM   
sabre1


Posts: 1928
Joined: 8/15/2001
From: CA
Status: offline 		^ Phenomenal, the idiot bot is even on topic. It won't be long before we can't tell if it's a bot. I wouldn't be sure about this Clarisse other than the stupid link.

Time to break out the old board games and quit hanging around the forums, since I won't know if it's the regulars.

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Post #: 44
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/3/2011 1:22:57 PM   
sabre1


Posts: 1928
Joined: 8/15/2001
From: CA
Status: offline 		I'm still waiting for the price of the DX's to drop, since Clarisse brought the topic up about the DX.

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Post #: 45
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/3/2011 1:42:56 PM   
sterckxe


Posts: 4605
Joined: 3/30/2004
From: Flanders
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: sabre1
I'm still waiting for the price of the DX's to drop, since Clarisse brought the topic up about the DX.


Clarisse got his spamming lower behind reported

Here's someting everyone looking into the DX should do (I did) :

Borrow a Kindle DX from a friend and take it to another friend with an iPad or any combination you can think of with the provision that you can compare both of them side by side. It's not even a fair contest : the iPad for the win - unless you plan to spend 3 weeks in a jungle somewhere without any electrical outlets, in which case the DX will do.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx





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Post #: 46
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/3/2011 1:51:04 PM   
JudgeDredd


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Status: offline 		I don't care how good it is - I will gratefully die a slow and painful death before I buy an apple product

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Post #: 47
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/3/2011 2:00:31 PM   
sterckxe


Posts: 4605
Joined: 3/30/2004
From: Flanders
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd
I don't care how good it is - I will gratefully die a slow and painful death before I buy an apple product


Technically speaking I don't even own it anymore as my wife has it more or less permanently confiscated to check her mail and digital photography forum from the comfort of the couch :)

A movie on tv - is it any good ? - takes 10 seconds to check in the IMDB app - the weather tomorrow ? 5 seconds on the weather app. Digital magazines ? full colour and it's blazingly fast to just flick through them - compared to the Kindle DX taking half a second to display the next page ... in B/W

I've got Slitherine's Egypt, Engineering an Empire on it and hardly get a chance to play it :)

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

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Post #: 48
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/4/2011 12:10:54 AM   
Challerain

 

Posts: 270
Joined: 6/16/2001
From: Mansfield, Texas
Status: offline 		Amazon just revamped their entire Kindle line - they have some pretty good new Kindles.

And it is hard to compare the Ipad to a Kindle; the Ipad has a lot more functionality and a lot higher price tag.

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Post #: 49
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/4/2011 1:54:16 AM   
sabre1


Posts: 1928
Joined: 8/15/2001
From: CA
Status: offline 		JD,

I kind of feel the same way about Apple. Something about them is just plain annoying to my righteous way of thinking.

Challerain,

You are right Kindles are a LOT cheaper. I own the latest nook (not the color) for my pleasure reading, and I enjoy it tremendously. Being able to dl something to read without going to the bookstore which is two hours away is wonderful.

If I want the funtionality of the Ipad, I use my laptop.

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Post #: 50
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/4/2011 2:19:52 PM   
JudgeDredd


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Status: offline 		http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPqk_eKwVLY

lol


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Post #: 51
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/5/2011 1:17:33 AM   
sabre1


Posts: 1928
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From: CA
Status: offline 		That about sums it up...^

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Post #: 52
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 10/5/2011 1:27:11 AM   
htuna


Posts: 591
Joined: 1/19/2009
From: Boston, MA
Status: offline 		I bought a Tohsiba Thrive and bought EZPDF reader.. it is cheaper than Apple.. doesn't give money to Apple.. and it works great!!.. I still like my Kindle as well for reading regular books..

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Post #: 53
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 12/2/2011 6:15:05 AM   
rhondabrwn


Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline 		OK, time to resurrect this thread in light of the new tablet offerings:

Here are some quick shots I just took of my Kindle Fire:

War in the East cover




Sample manual page with graphic




With a quick touch you can zoom the image in and out for viewing; easy to scroll around the zoomed image with a finger tip. You can also just turn the Fire sideways and view the page in a widescreen mode and again scroll with your fingertip. I find the portrait view to be just as (or more) readable as having a printer version in a binder sitting on my lap. Load time is very quick and no lag when turning pages. I'm dumping a whole bookcase of carefully printed manuals... just no need for them anymore. Just a lot of wasted paper and ink and time.

Again, I just took these pix a minute ago to use for these postings... not the best photography. You really have to see the actual screen to appreciate how clear and readable it is. You can easily scroll through the pages with the scroll bar that pops up when you double tap. Page turning is a simple left or right swipe of the fingertip.

The only problem has been switching between my old Kindle 2nd Generation and the new Fire... I keep touching the screen on the old one expecting buttons to activate and pages to turn!

Attachment (2)

< Message edited by rhondabrwn -- 12/2/2011 6:23:46 AM >

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Post #: 54
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 12/2/2011 9:48:20 AM   
jomni


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Post #: 55
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 12/2/2011 1:13:14 PM   
sabre1


Posts: 1928
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From: CA
Status: offline 		Looks good Rhonda, I may have to add one to my Christmas list.

Not much difference between Nook and Kindle tablet.

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Post #: 56
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 12/2/2011 9:55:51 PM   
rhondabrwn


Posts: 2570
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From: Snowflake, Arizona
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quote:

ORIGINAL: jomni

You play WITE?  Amazing!


And I also own WiTP AE, but that doesn't mean I play either of them well

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Post #: 57
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 12/2/2011 10:00:28 PM   
rhondabrwn


Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: sabre1

Looks good Rhonda, I may have to add one to my Christmas list.

Not much difference between Nook and Kindle tablet.


One significant difference... although the Nook has 16 gig of RAM rather than the Fire's 8 gig, the Nook only lets you use ONE of those gigs for your own stuff (like manuals). The other 15 gigs are reserved for content that you buy from them. So you have to use a micro-SD card for personal storage. That's doable, of course, but it takes the total price of a Nook up close to $300 vs the Fire's $199. You can use all the free memory on the Fire anyway you want to, I'm not sure, but I believe you can store some of your private content in "the Cloud".

Other than that... yea, they'll both do the job :)

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Post #: 58
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 1/14/2012 7:05:48 AM   
Jamesstar2

 

Posts: 1
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Status: offline 		Have you ever hear about kindle coupon. Yes., kindle coupon can make you save your money on buying kindle. As a metter of fact, the coupon can be used for buying kindle at amazon. You can get discount rater if you use this coupon.. Ok to get the coupon you can read at : Kindle WiFi Review

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Post #: 59
RE: Kindle for reading manuals? - 1/14/2012 11:42:23 PM   
Prince of Eckmühl


Posts: 2459
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From: Texas
Status: offline 		There are other options for viewing manuals, ones that are relatively inexpensive, easy to read, and readily accessible while playing:






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