06-14-2009, 03:51 AM | #1 |
Apeist
Posts: 2,126
Karma: 381090
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The sunny part of California
Device: Generic virtual reality story-experiential device
|
Complain to Amazon about the Kindle DX PDF limitations?
My Kindle DX is arriving on Monday, but I am already regretting the purchase, and may return it.
I purchased it for PDF, and for the larger screen. I find the K2 too small to replicate reading a book: screen-changes every few seconds are annoying and distracting, IMO. So the bigger screen is a winner, hands down. The PDF capability was the other main factor for me: I like PDF, better than any other format. BUT, Amazon appears to have crippled the device, as far as PDF goes: 1. TOC doesn't work! - You'd think if they aimed this at students and textbooks, a TOC would be kind of important to get to the required chapters; 2. Hyperlinks don't work! This one is REALLY BIG, IMO: Most textbooks have footnotes. If you can't link to them, finding them can be a real chore. This by itself would be a reason not to take the Kindle DX seriously as a textbook reader, and to discourage potential purchasers; 3. Dictionary function not available! Again, this is just stupid, for a device which is supposedly aimed at an audience intent on learning. If anything, Amazon should have introduced custom dictionary capability in the DX; 4. Can't zoom! So, if you have a detailed graph, or a small print table, you can be excused from knowing what the content is during exams, because your cutting-edge studying device from Amazon can't zoom; 5. All PDFs filed under Personal Documents! Why?!! So, when you are looking for a title by an author in a hurry, you can never be sure where exactly it would be, among your 3000 PDFs, txt, and mobi files. It's just amazing! You'd think, in these tough economic times, Amazon would be able to hire someone with an IQ of over 60, to implement PDF support on their new large screen device. My question is, would enough whining make Amazon change their ways, and give us decent PDF support in the DX? If so, maybe there should be a concerted effort. Let's flood kindle-feedback@amazon.com with complaints! Or is it a lost battle, and should I simply return the Kindle DX, that could have been...? Last edited by Sonist; 06-14-2009 at 02:39 PM. |
06-14-2009, 04:14 AM | #2 |
Wearer of Pants
Posts: 1,050
Karma: 7634
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Norman, OK
Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone
|
I dunno... my last three Amazon kindle emails didn't even get a response (and they weren't even complaining!) The "receptive" Amazon seems to be pretty much a phantom at this point.
|
Advert | |
|
06-14-2009, 04:22 AM | #3 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 27
Karma: 12
Join Date: May 2009
Device: none yet
|
I don't know if emailing them would do any good, but I can't see any reason not to do it, either. Especially if you return it you might as well let them know that this is what cost them a sale.
Maybe CC Jeff Bezos |
06-14-2009, 09:44 AM | #4 |
I'm Super Kindle-icious
Posts: 6,734
Karma: 2434103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia
Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis
|
You should definitely use the *kindle-feedback@amazon.com* to express your concerns. That doesn't mean you'll get a response or a change in PDF support but if enough people express their concerns, it's more likely change will come.
|
06-14-2009, 09:50 AM | #5 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 75,917
Karma: 134368292
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
I do feel that once a large screen device comes out with full PDF support, sales for the DX will drop. One of Amazon's major selling points for the DX is it's PDF support. So why cripple it to such a large extent?
|
Advert | |
|
06-14-2009, 09:54 AM | #6 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
|
06-14-2009, 09:56 AM | #7 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 75,917
Karma: 134368292
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
|
06-14-2009, 11:07 AM | #8 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 44
Karma: 222
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Device: Kindle2, Kindle DX, prs 505
|
I don't think Amazon "crippled" the DX. I'm sure they are aware of the limitations and that they did what they could within the limitations of time, price and reliability. My guess is that due to the screen size they struggled to get the price under $500 and due to a desire to get the device out in time to implement textbook usage for next fall they rushed the release.
It's actually pretty apparent that the real money in ebooks is selling ebooks, not selling devices. The model is give away the razor and sell the razor blades, give away the printer and sell the ink, model. In order to achieve cheap costs, they need manufacturing experience and higher demand. I remember when a cheap pocket calculation cost several hundred dollars. |
06-14-2009, 11:26 AM | #9 | |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 75,917
Karma: 134368292
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Quote:
|
|
06-14-2009, 11:47 AM | #10 |
Connoisseur
Posts: 70
Karma: 816
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: KindleDX, iPhone3Gs
|
Interestingly, the IRex's DR supports all 5 capabilities. If they can reduce the price and increase battery life, perhaps they might beat the KDX...
|
06-14-2009, 12:53 PM | #11 |
eReader
Posts: 2,750
Karma: 4968470
Join Date: Aug 2007
Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad
|
I think Amazon can't be using Adobe software to read PDFs. It' the only explanation that makes sense. Sony's current ADE implementation supports what you're looking for, why can't Amazon's. If Amazon doesn't fix things Sony could come in with a 9.7" reader and their current ADE implementation and do an end-run around Amazon for textbooks.
|
06-14-2009, 01:49 PM | #12 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,251
Karma: 3720310
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)
|
According to the DX's User's Guide, they are using Adobe: "Native PDF support via Adobe® Reader® technology". There may be several different licenses available from Adobe, and maybe they did not choose the most expensive?
|
06-14-2009, 02:15 PM | #13 | |
reader
Posts: 6,975
Karma: 5183568
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mississippi, USA
Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD
|
Quote:
The problem may be that much of the Kindle's software is in Java, so perhaps integrating the Adobe SDK was harder than Amazon expected. It would probably have been better for Amazon to go with a Java PDF reader, which I'm sure could easily support all that the current reader is doing. |
|
06-14-2009, 02:40 PM | #14 | |
Apeist
Posts: 2,126
Karma: 381090
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The sunny part of California
Device: Generic virtual reality story-experiential device
|
Quote:
Just do it! |
|
06-14-2009, 02:57 PM | #15 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,279
Karma: 1002683
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York
Device: PRS-700
|
Quote:
they would need to sell about $600 in books atleast to make the same money they do on the hardware sale. not to mention the best sellers they are selling at a loss, it cost 9.99 and they loose a few dollars a sale because they are giving the publishers close to 14 |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Kindle DX PDF Support Limitations | sirbruce | Amazon Kindle | 9 | 05-11-2011 12:31 AM |
Kindle 3 limitations? | jozicka | Amazon Kindle | 21 | 10-07-2010 05:13 PM |
All you people do is complain... | markbot | Amazon Kindle | 7 | 05-22-2010 09:01 AM |
Kindle 2 .mobi limitations | wz2b | Kindle Developer's Corner | 9 | 03-10-2009 12:52 AM |
Unutterably Silly I know I complain about my back ... | RickyMaveety | Lounge | 2 | 09-04-2008 01:07 PM |