Trying to turn the page on a Kindle
TOOELE, Utah--The first time I tried to physically turn the page of the book I was reading on my Kindle DX, I realized the mistake and chuckled at myself.
The second time I did it, I chuckled, too. But a little bit less.
And the third time? I thought to myself that perhaps I have a problem.
Exhausted after 12 nonstop days of Road Trip 2009, I decided Wednesday evening to lie low and read a book. But rather than pull out one of the three or four actual paper books I'd brought with me, I thought I'd try, for the first time, the Amazon Kindle DX I'd also brought with me to road test.
The Kindle DX has a bigger screen than its predecessor, but still doesn't allow readers to physically turn the pages of the book they're reading. For that, one would need an actual book.
(Credit: Amazon.com)And my initial conclusion: When you try an entirely new way of doing something you've done all your life, it can really mess with your mind.
I turned the Kindle on after returning to my hotel in this little town not far from Salt Lake City, having checked online for a title that looked interesting to read. I'd settled on Christopher McDougall's "Born to Run," a nonfiction tale of a writer who went to Mexico in search of a people known as the fastest and sturdiest runners on Earth. Having already set up the Amazon account, and being connected to the Internet, I found that downloading the title was a snap. Even with no instructions, the e-book was available for reading within what seemed like a minute.
So rather than waiting, I plopped down on the bed, loaded up the book, and started to read.
And at the end of that first full page of text, that's when I discovered how hard it is to break years and years of conditioning--at the end of a page, you flip to the next one. It's just what you do. Except that on a Kindle, the paper has this hard, thick plastic feel to it. And it doesn't flip, no matter how hard you try.
Instead, you're supposed to click the "next page" button. And, it's true, that works perfectly. You click the button, and in an instant, the next page of text is there for your reading pleasure.
As I said, however, I couldn't shake the conditioning. Again and again I reached for that corner of the page, trying to flip it. Maybe it was because I was so tired. Or perhaps it was because Amazon has done a really nice job of making the digital text look like what you'd find in a real book.
I began to think that was it: While the screen is smaller than a normal paperback, it's not that much smaller, and they've chosen a font and look-and-feel that truly conjure up the sense that you've got a true book in front of you.
That sense is compounded by the leather case I've got the Kindle in, meaning that, as with a book cover, there is a left side and a right side to what I'm holding up in front of me. But here, I decided, was a tangible flaw: Given that I was holding something with two sides, it was nagging my subconscious to not have a page of text on the left side.
And then, even as I got further and further into the book, I was still trying to flip that piece of paper.
All of this, of course, is my way of saying that the Kindle DX is a really nice piece of technology. It's easy and quick to use, offers an appealing presentation of a book and, while it doesn't have access to all the titles I might like to read, it seems to have a fairly sizable library.
Before cracking open the cover of the book, as it were, I'd only seen a few Kindles in action. As a device, I don't think it's anywhere near as elegant as, say, an iPod. But functionally, it is a piece of cake, and that, ultimately, is the point, right?
Literary purists are always going to hold out for the true book they can hold on to and read in front of the fire. But for folks who want to travel light, yet have access to a number of books, or for those who aren't purists, I can see the Kindle being a fine answer.
I just wonder how long it will take me before I get used to not being able to flip that corner to the next page. Of course, that brings up another problem. When I pick up my next real book, how long will it take me to stop trying to click the "next page" button?
For the next several weeks, Geek Gestalt will be on Road Trip 2009. After driving more than 12,000 miles in the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest and the Southeast over the last three years, I'll be writing about and photographing the best in technology, science, military, nature, aviation and more in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Colorado. If you have a suggestion for someplace to visit, drop me a line. And in the meantime, join the Road Trip 2009 Facebook page and follow my Twitter feed.
Daniel Terdiman is a staff writer at CNET News covering games, Net culture, and everything in between. E-mail Daniel. 
You will quickly get used to just adding a bit of pressure to switch the page.
By all reports, most people (who aren't dead tired to start with) get into it in about 50 pages.
You'll soon find that, conditioning or no conditioning, ebooks are more immersive than treeware.
Slow news day. Maybe something new with Michael Jackson you can report?
I own all 3 kindles and the DX is certainly nice for technical manuals but it is noticeably larger than the kindle 2.
One of the best features is the ability to share your collection across multiple kindles. Now my wife and daughter can share in our virtual library without having to purchase multiple copies. I nice feature indeed.
And, guess what! You "flip" the pages by dragging your finger across the screen.
Wi/Fi? Thought it was cellular based ...
Amazon sez: "Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots"
-jm
Those of us that grew up playing Missile Command took to it in a minute or two.
You'll get used to it at some point. What will really freak you out is when, in 25 years, you open an actual book and turning the pages feels weird.
It's the e-ink, imo, because I've been reading ebooks for years, on various generations of Palms, and hadn't ever tried to turn pages on those devices.
As I recall, it took me a while to stop trying to physically turn the page, but I did finally learn to click 'next page' and keep reading. Still read a lot of p-books, too, but haven't yet tried to click anything. I do pick up a heavy bulky hardcover these days and wish I could get it on my Kindle.
(Love my DX.)
I use Kindle if the price is far cheaper on Kindle, for samples (which are great) and if I'm traveling and want to bring 3 or 4 books for long flights.
On the other hand, reading a book while falling asleep -- I go for the original.
The other time I avoid my Kindle is if I'm buying a book I know I want to lend to my wife, daughters or a friend. Yep, I could lend the Kindle, but....
Doesn't work in the bath - AM a Brit, love a good soak.
Doesn't work on the beach. Love sitting in the shade.
Can't read until 10,000 ft in the air - that can be 45 mins from door close. Can't read till at Gate - in ATL, that can be a while..
If I nod off, I can generally pick up and speed read flipping through the pages to get to the right place. With the Kindle, i struggled to find my page. Don't know why, just did...
Changing font sizes changes page number. I remember page numbers. Perhaps if I got used to Kindle!!!
Can't read sitting in the shallow end of a pool or jacazzi or around the pool with kids splashing.
..... I'm 46 and a techno freak and have all the other gadgets. the Kindle is 60% of the solution for me and at the price, it's not for me - yet...
I hate the beach, but I imagine the same would work there too.
How can you not find your page? That makes no sense ... you turn it on and it's already at your page. You can also "dog-ear" pages if you really want to mark somewhere.
Kindle doesn't have page numbers ...
Did you actually own one? Doesn't sound like it.
So enjoy this video :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHX-SjgQvQ
On top of the cost of a kindle the books I purchase at the bookstore are MINE they aren't a piece of software a company may turn off or become useless if they discontinue the kindle in a few years. Better yet, I can resell, loan, or give away the books without dealing with the DMCA.
http://www.coolreaders.com/
1. DRM... you should be able to share the book even if it was $1 per share and it had a way of not letting you use it while you shared it.
2. Area of use - they need a toughKindle. As pointed out you can not drop it, get it wet use it on the beach. I think they need to make one that can stand up to the elements.
3. Charges for accessing email attachments. This is BS since you are supposed to get free cellular signal for life.
4. Not all books are available for download and not all prices are that much cheaper. They do not have to print the book on paper, ship it, store it, inventory it, display it or sell it. There should always be a much cheaper price.
I think if the resolved these 3 issues without raising the already sky high price I would seriously look into one.
That concept threw my subconsciousness for a big loop. My brain was so confused I - subconsciously - ended up putting my wallet into my right inside pocket of my coat - instead of my left - which I had done for years.
- by Gasmeister July 4, 2009 2:43 AM PDT
- Mr.Terdiman- did you have trouble with the remote control on your first modern-era television set? Did it lack that "feel" of getting up to change the station by hand? How about speed-dialing on your cell phone? Does it lack the "personal touch" of pressing those quaint and comforting keypad buttons ten times instead of once? The Kindle is about convenience, versatility, variety And comfort (I'd rather hold a small 8 oz. tablet than a 600 page book any day). And what could be more American than a device which requires an ergonomic button press instead of the phyhsically taxing and laborious effort of actually turning a real paper page?
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(27 Comments)Adapt, man.