[LM_NET] TECH: Kindle2 my second impression

[Frederick Muller <mullinator52@GMAIL.COM>]

WOW there is sure a lot of interest in the Kindle.  Please let me
point out, that I am not, nor do I not intend to be an electronics
reviewer.  I just wanted to give my impression of the device.  Please
don't ask me to test certain things.  There are many reviews and tests
of the Kindle online... I read many of them before I purchased mine.

I eventually am going to try a magazine or newspaper and maybe a
blog.. but I don't know when.

One thing I forgot to mention in my first impressions... the menu
system is not intuitive.  While I HAVE adjusted the speech feature,
changing the voice and speed, I am not sure how I did it.

Second... I mentioned that you have to look up words in the
dictionary.  That was incorrect.  There is a dictionary listed on the
home page, but if you move the cursor in front of a word of a book you
are reading, the definition appears on the bottom of the screen (if it
is in its dictionary.) I was trying to hightlight the word.. you don't
do that.  For example, I put the cursor in front of "pregame" (I would
spell it pre-game) in my current book and it gave no definition or
indication that it was not in the dictionary.  This all stems back to
my previous statement.  The menu system and some operations are not
intuitive and the instruction manual is small.

One other thing one has to get used to,  there are no page numbers (I
guess since you can change the font size.)  There is a sliding
thermometer scale thing on the bottom which gives the percentage of
how much the book you have read.   There are also some weird numbers
displayed but I have no idea what they mean.

Finally... I am sure you have read that the screen is not backlit.
That means it provides no light.  It is like a paper book.. you need a
light to read.  I am going to take it to a restaurant tonight and see
how I make out.

Enjoy reading.. no matter what format you use.  If you decide to spend
the money ($359) on the Kindle to read.. that is great...the other
features are ancillary in my estimation.

-- 
Frederick Muller, Librarian
Halsted Middle School Library
Newton, NJ
mullinator52@gmail.com
My book reviews are compiled at http://www.mullersreviews.com
My book review blog is at http://MullerInTheMiddle.blogspot.com

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