Product Review: Amazon Kindle Strengths and Weaknesses
Website design By BotEap.comAmazon’s high-profile e-book reading device called the Kindle has caught the attention of readers. But then the cost of the device, which ranges from $ 350 to $ 400, makes people stop. This product review will introduce you to the features of the Kindle and my thoughts on its strengths and weaknesses.
Website design By BotEap.comWhat the Kindle can do
The Kindle is an e-book reading device the size of a pocket book. With a screen that uses e-ink display technology, it allows you to comfortably read digital text in both sunlight and artificial light. The screen refresh rate when you advance the page of an e-book is faster than when turning a page on paper. Depending on whether you use the Kindle’s internal memory or add memory cards, you can store tens to hundreds of e-books and audiobooks.
If you like audiobooks, the Kindle is a great device because it has an internal speaker for direct listening to audiobooks. Or it can be connected to headphones or external speakers, just like in your car. Because the mp3 files of audiobooks are larger than e-books, you will need memory cards if you plan to load the device with more than a couple of audio titles.
In addition to e-books and audiobooks, your Kindle can access numerous blogs and newspaper and magazine posts.
A leading ability of the Kindle is wireless shopping. Right now, you have immediate wireless access to the Amazon store in the United States. You can make purchases and upload content to your Kindle without using a computer.
The strengths of the Kindle
Overall, the physical features of the Kindle are ergonomically comfortable. The page turn buttons work smoothly and can be easily used by hands of all sizes. The device’s power use is conservative, and depending on your reading habits, you can expect a week or two to go by without charging.
The large selection of content through Amazon for your device is also a strength. With thousands of e-books, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available wirelessly to users, you won’t be short of easily accessible media.
Also note that wireless service has no ongoing cell phone charges. Your Kindle’s running costs will be determined by the amount of content you purchase.
The weaknesses of the Kindle
Being a first-generation device, the Kindle is not perfect. In my opinion, the user interface was difficult to understand and the menus were cumbersome to use. For example, when browsing the table of contents of an e-book, I found it somewhat difficult to align the menu cursor with the titles.
I have noticed that the mechanical parts are comfortable to use, but I did not always agree with their location. The right side only has a control to advance the page while the left side has controls to advance the page or return to the previous page. Therefore, to turn back one page, you are forced to use your left hand. I think the page up and page back controls should be on both sides of the device. To add to my confusion, there was a control labeled “Back” on the right hand side, which I would mistakenly press when trying to go back one page. This control actually returned me to a different menu.
Another general complaint from many users about the Kindle is the proprietary format of Amazon e-books. The device is designed to guide you shopping only on Amazon. This is understandable from a business point of view, but it means that e-books purchased through Amazon can only be viewed on your device. If you decide to purchase an e-book reading device from another company in the future, then you will not have access on that new non-Kindle device to any e-books you have purchased from Amazon.
Although it is designed to be an Amazon device, the Kindle can be used to read e-books from other sources. A USB cable will connect the device to your computer, where you can upload e-books in the widely available Mobipocket format (unencrypted files only) or plain text files.
conclusion
The Kindle presents you with a quality device for reading e-books along with other media. Although not perfect, especially with a user interface that often puzzles me, it still serves its purpose well. A final consideration is the vendor of the device. Amazon is a great company with a great selection of content and, more importantly, an excellent reputation for customer service.
The Kindle is an e-book reading device the size of a pocket book. With a screen that uses e-ink display technology, it allows you to comfortably read digital text in both sunlight and artificial light. The screen refresh rate when you advance the page of an e-book is faster than when turning a page on paper. Depending on whether you use the Kindle’s internal memory or add memory cards, you can store tens to hundreds of e-books and audiobooks.
If you like audiobooks, the Kindle is a great device because it has an internal speaker for direct listening to audiobooks. Or it can be connected to headphones or external speakers, just like in your car. Because the mp3 files of audiobooks are larger than e-books, you will need memory cards if you plan to load the device with more than a couple of audio titles.
In addition to e-books and audiobooks, your Kindle can access numerous blogs and newspaper and magazine posts.
A leading ability of the Kindle is wireless shopping. Right now, you have immediate wireless access to the Amazon store in the United States. You can make purchases and upload content to your Kindle without using a computer.
The strengths of the Kindle
Overall, the physical features of the Kindle are ergonomically comfortable. The page turn buttons work smoothly and can be easily used by hands of all sizes. The device’s power use is conservative, and depending on your reading habits, you can expect a week or two to go by without charging.
The large selection of content through Amazon for your device is also a strength. With thousands of e-books, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available wirelessly to users, you won’t be short of easily accessible media.
Also note that wireless service has no ongoing cell phone charges. Your Kindle’s running costs will be determined by the amount of content you purchase.
The weaknesses of the Kindle
Being a first-generation device, the Kindle is not perfect. In my opinion, the user interface was difficult to understand and the menus were cumbersome to use. For example, when browsing the table of contents of an e-book, I found it somewhat difficult to align the menu cursor with the titles.
I have noticed that the mechanical parts are comfortable to use, but I did not always agree with their location. The right side only has a control to advance the page while the left side has controls to advance the page or return to the previous page. Therefore, to turn back one page, you are forced to use your left hand. I think the page up and page back controls should be on both sides of the device. To add to my confusion, there was a control labeled “Back” on the right hand side, which I would mistakenly press when trying to go back one page. This control actually returned me to a different menu.
Another general complaint from many users about the Kindle is the proprietary format of Amazon e-books. The device is designed to guide you shopping only on Amazon. This is understandable from a business point of view, but it means that e-books purchased through Amazon can only be viewed on your device. If you decide to purchase an e-book reading device from another company in the future, then you will not have access on that new non-Kindle device to any e-books you have purchased from Amazon.
Although it is designed to be an Amazon device, the Kindle can be used to read e-books from other sources. A USB cable will connect the device to your computer, where you can upload e-books in the widely available Mobipocket format (unencrypted files only) or plain text files.
conclusion
The Kindle presents you with a quality device for reading e-books along with other media. Although not perfect, especially with a user interface that often puzzles me, it still serves its purpose well. A final consideration is the vendor of the device. Amazon is a great company with a great selection of content and, more importantly, an excellent reputation for customer service.