IT Professionals

Amazon Kindle Continues To Disappoint

Posted by on Apr 14, 2009 | 4 Comments

While there is no question that the new Amazon Kindle is vastly better than the previous model, the fact remains that it has a long way to go to prove its value in these difficult economic times. Unlike more versatile devices such as the iPhone, netbooks, etc that can provide multiple functions for a very similar price point, the Kindle leaves a lot of people wondering if this is all it offers?

Then we have this problem – crappy fonts! Really, like the Kindle needed more things working against it this late in the game. But alas, it does indeed have some font issues that simply must be overcome because as it stands now, the current font provided for this reading device is unacceptable.

But hey, if Kindle users are not seeing this font issue as a problem for them personally, more power to them. And if access to books via Amazon in a $300+ device is where it is at for them, then who am I to judge, right?

  • Adam

    You should think about actually using the Kindle before writing an “article” about it. It’s not a multipurpose device as has been stated hundreds of times before, in plenty of articles and by Jeff Bezos.

  • Randy Allen

    I don’t have a problem with the fonts. The only negative I have is I wish the “paper” was whiter and the “ink” was darker. I have to have light to read, more so than reading a bound book. I don’t need it to surf the web, watch movies, talk on, or take pictures. I have a TV, computer, camera, and cell phone that do those jobs too well to be replaced. I got it so I could read books, most for $9.99, which will pay for my Kindle in about a year and a half. The convenience of being able to buy a book when i finish one at 10:30 PM is a huge selling point for me. The size of the package that can hold more than I can read in a year or two is also a plus. As soon a more college text books can be purchased, it could end the 30 pound book bags I see every day. Prices will fall as more people buy this type of product. I, for one, am not disappointed.

  • Merritt McCall

    I have, use, and very much appreciate the Kindle 2. It IS a specialized device, rather than a multi-purpose device, but that is by choice. Reading on it is far better than reading on aa backlit device!

    The Kindle2 allows setting the font size in a range from approximately 9 points to approximately 18 points. Perhaps the folks who are having trouble reading at the 9 point size might want to think about choosing a larger size.

    My eyesight is no longer what it once was, and I find it wonderful to be able to read any book or document I wish in a “large-print” type font. That capability enables me to read with greater comfort and for a longer time.

    The Kindle does NOT disappoint those of us who use it a lot.

  • Gary

    I use the Sony ebook reader. About the same price as the Kindle and without Opra promoting it, it still is real good for what it is designed to do. The new version has touchscreen and an onboard lit screen when needed. Yeah too much money as all new technology is but I like mine. Great for reading when walking, waiting at the doctors (without touching icky magazines), reading on the plane and storing thousands of books, pictures, documents and music in compact form.
    You don’t want one then don’t buy it. Just keep talking and texting in some existential way wasting bandwidth.