Kindle DX

H

hardee

New member
Is anyone using one of these?

miranda-main-hero._V189854680_.jpg

Link to the Kindle DX site is here:

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-DX-Wireles ... m_cmu_pg_t

I have a friend who is nearly blind and is considering buying a CCTV reading system in order to be able to continue reading his books. I am thinking this "Kindle DX" would be less expensive, much more portable, and easier to use. It would depend on the font size available. I have been able to find that it will zoom PDF's to 300%, but that doesn't tell me the usable font size for general book print. Would like to help steer him in the right direction. He is not too interested in the Kindal becasue to him it is like a computer. I don't know the ease of use of the device. Could use some help here.

Thank you in advance.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Harvey,

What is it about the computer that he doesn't like? I'm wondering because (at least on a mac) there are pretty nice built-in features for the sight impaired. E.g. I can read at any zoom level I choose, I can force the display to black on white or white on black, I can get the computer to speak the words to me on mouse over etc. From my fully sighted perspective, it seems like this would solve the problem. But without knowing what his experience is I have to assume that I am missing something.
 
Roger,

He is 75 years old and not into new and different. They currently do not have internet available at the house. I believe the Kindle will do audio too, but he is very hard of hearing as well, so not sure that the Kindle would have the audio umph it would take, where the mac probly would have, going through an amp and speaker system.

Hope that info helps. Thanks.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
My mother has a kindle. she has been using to for two years and just loves it. she is always trying to talk me into getting one. I don't like holding it much. to thin and hurts my hands. i do know that you can enlarge the print on the screen to make it easier to read. that was my problem with it to tell the truth. You have to hit a button every 5 seconds for the next page. I read fast and it just irritates me. Susan wants one so I will get her one and try it to see if I want one. It would save a lot of room in the boat. Susan and I will bring ten books for a week cruise and only read one. with the kindle we can bring 1000's and one take up room of one.
 
I got my daughter a Kindle last Christmas. She loves the thing. The screen is designed for reading text and it looks amazingly like ink on paper. I do believe there are several levels of font size choices. If he wants it just for reading, I think the Kindle might be the best. Here's is a short ad video that makes clear the difference between the made-for-reading Kindle and the do-it-all iPad. And yes, the informative content is the only reason I watched the video so many time.
 
Found this down in teh Kindle site;

"Basic Web Browser

Kindle DX's basic Web browser works well to read simple, text-centric Web sites such as Google and Wikipedia. Need to find a movie listing or look up a sports score? Now it's easier than ever to find the information you're looking for right from your Kindle DX. The experimental Web browser is not currently available for some customers outside of the U.S. Check your country"
Click to expand...

Does this mean that I could get to the C-Brats site on this device? If so, with no monthly wireless fee, and pretty decent coverage, it might be a consideration for more than just reading books :wink

Tom, the Kindle DX is almost twice the size of the original V1 & V2.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Tom - to bring 1000's of books won't you have to have 10,000's of dollars? Or I guess you can have 1000's of choices and only buy the ones you want. That to me is the one con of the e-readers. You have to buy the book to read it - for a little less than printed, for sure - but then it isn't really yours to give away or donate to the local library. Kind of like iTunes songs on a more expensive level. The Kindle is the cheap part. But they are cool!
 
I bought Sally a Kindle 2nd Generation for her birthday. She doesn't read this site so I can talk about it. Has wifi and free 3G connectivity. I can see the C-Brats on it. No charges for connecting. It's a little smaller than the DX but bigger than my Droid with the Kindle function on it. Hope she likes it!

Charlei
 
Mike,

Thanks for the link. I had to watch twice to find the Kindle :smiled

I agree, Those shiny screens are a PAIN. :roll:

Can you give me an estimate of the largest font size that the screen adjusts to :?:

Thanks,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Those pics are of one of the small ones. The DX might be even bigger. If you turn the thing sideways you get more words per line.
 
I dont have one but read books on the iTouch and listen to music, video and audiobooks using headphones, built in or external speakers
I would look at the iPad.
A lot features than a Kindle
Tons of free apps too
 
Kindle now has an experimental text to speech feature, have not tried it yet. Not sure the second generation kindle switches screen if you turn it sideways. It's so much bigger than my DroidX, I don't think it would make much difference.

Once I give this to Sally, maybe she'll let me play with it some. Not sure I should show her how to buy books....It's my credit card.... :disgust

Charlie
 
Boy, I love this site. Thank you all.

Tyboo, yes, I found that, but only in a picture, and not as good as you have it here. Hard to judge from that. Thanks for clearing that up.

Roger, Thanks for the offer, we will talk.

Tom, Thanks for the phone number too. Surprised her.

I'm thinking if this turns out to be too cool, I might want one too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Mike, tell her thanks for me, Good shots and nice to have the dime for reference. It is looking like this is a nice device.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
There are programs and groups (Lions, etc) that will supply free to low cost equipment to qualifed persons. Their doctor or optometrist will assist you with these resources plus provide adaptive training to use the equipment on a daily basis. There are several type of equipment and the person should try all of them and may need all of them

When my father in law lived with us, he stopped reading the newspaper and watching alot of TV. We replaced the TV and bought large print books but it didnt help. A quick trip to the eye doctor for cataract surgery solved the eye problem but he still said there was a lot crap (or other word) in the paper and TV so lets go fishing and drink some beer.
 
OK, call me a Luddite but could anyone here explain why a fully functional person needs a Kindle? I can definitely see the benefits for a paraplegic, quad, or vision challenged person but otherwise IMHO it’s just a cool expensive adult toy. Caveat: I am not against adult toys - I have a big toybox myself but unlike the Kindle phenomena they are definitely considered toys.

I read a lot! As Tom says, he takes 10 books on a cruise but only reads one. I take one or two pocketbooks with me in my truck, car, boat, and maybe 10 in the RV if we plan a long trip. Pocketbooks are cheap (very cheap if one uses a local book trader or hospital/senior center trading library). I can turn a page in a fraction of a second, set bookmarks and never worry about recharging or WiFi access. More importantly, nobody steals a paperback and if it falls overboard, well, no big deal. I have a laptop if I want to access the Brat site or shop or do a ton of research free. In fact, over the years the internet has pretty much replaced reference books for me.

It’s like the new brainiac phones. I own two phones. One with basic functions and Bluetooth, the other with email capability and most of the Droid capabilities. To use the brainiac cost me an extra $30/mo., I rarely activate it – usually on trips the laptop would throw me into paying for extra baggage. The Ipad is an option but it’s AT$T and att service around here sucks.

So back to the Kindle. Please give me some valid reasons I have to own a Kindle.

Luddite Don
 
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