Question...

Nate the great · 12-06-2007, 11:13 PM

Has anyone begun to think of their Kindle as an e-library, not ebook reader? It may sound a little goofy, but I am beginning to feel that way.

I don't think e-library really fits. Does anyone have a better idea?

JSWolf · 12-07-2007, 12:33 AM

I think of the Kindle as an electronic gadget. I think of the 505 as an electronic book reader.

An electronic library would be something I setup on my computer with a good program as the front end to manage the ebooks.

Alisa · 12-07-2007, 01:03 AM

I have a bit. I don't think of it as a "gadget" at all. (Jon - Do you own one?) People make a huge deal out of the Internet access, but really that's more a means to the end of getting content and doing the occasional Wikipedia search. It's not suited for web surfing. It's suited for reading. My smartphone is way better for my "gadget" needs. The only thing that keeps the Kindle from fully seeming like a library is the lack of ability to organize content better. As it is now, I think of it more like a bookcase. At least it's sortable, which is one up on my bookcases, but I don't think I'll endeavor to fill my SD card until I can actually group things into categories.

catsittingstill · 12-10-2007, 10:35 PM

I think of it as a magic book that could become any e-book I owned, and any e-book I wanted to buy from Amazon. "Library" is not quite the right word for that--I guess a combination of "bookshelf" and "bookstore" comes closest.

Zoot · 12-13-2007, 03:16 PM

After getting my forth or so purchased book on it, it did occur to me that "library" was a better term for it than "book", yeah.

Library may be a bit of a stretch, but "book" is way too singular to describe it. It happens to look like a book though. There's definitely room here for some new clever terminology (or at least marketing-speak).

Z.

JSWolf · 12-13-2007, 03:28 PM

Zoot, Have to disagree with you... I think the 500/505/Gen3 look more like books then the Kindle. The Kindle looks more like some sort of hand held game.

Alisa · 12-13-2007, 03:29 PM

I can see why that might be your impression of the look but I think us Kindle users are thinking more in terms of the experience of using them.

JSWolf · 12-13-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

I can see why that might be your impression of the look but I think us Kindle users are thinking more in terms of the experience of using them.

Well, in terms of use, then I would say all the eink readers are about the same once content is loaded.

Zoot · 12-13-2007, 03:34 PM

I meant only that it looks like a single book rather than a pile of books. No comment on the relative bookishness of the Kindle vs. the competition

I'm sure someone somewhere has already "modded" one of the readers into a hollowed-out real book, etc.

Z.

Alisa · 12-13-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Well, in terms of use, then I would say all the eink readers are about the same once content is loaded.

I think this is where the content organization capabilities would really differentiate. This is why I said it was somewhere between a bookcase and a library to me. A library is organized. It's sortable and searchable which really helps, but I'd like to be able to go to a category and browse. I REALLY hope they add subfolders or something in upcoming firmware. I only have a couple hundred titles on this thing and it's already unwieldy.

mdibella · 12-13-2007, 03:57 PM

Heh I am carrying around a 505 (which is full) and a Kindle. I switch between the two depending on which one has the book I want to read.

Kindle's software is, IMHO, more library-like than Sony's (but then I happen to think that Sony's software just really bites...).

The Sony is easier to carry around though, because it fits in my purse (the Kindle is too big).

They're both libraries to me though. I love them!!

I found a battery backup charger at Gomadic.com...it has interchangeable tips, and they have tips that fit each device, so I don't even need to worry about dead batteries. It t akes 4 AA batteries and recharges them as needed, even if I am reading at the same time.

It also works for my iPod and my Archos 605 WiFi (who's a gadget freak? Moi????) so I am all set 8-)

Someone please tell me why I feel compelled to have all this portable electronic gadgetry? I never actually *go* anywhere...

RWood · 12-13-2007, 04:42 PM

Gadget / device / gizmo / gear / stuff / its all rock 'n roll to me.

I have a Sony 500 and think of it as a portable library. Just selections from a larger stockpile somewhere else. Quite like just the stuff I need for this trip or this week.

DaleDe · 12-14-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

I think this is where the content organization capabilities would really differentiate. This is why I said it was somewhere between a bookcase and a library to me. A library is organized. It's sortable and searchable which really helps, but I'd like to be able to go to a category and browse. I REALLY hope they add subfolders or something in upcoming firmware. I only have a couple hundred titles on this thing and it's already unwieldy.

Without categories it is much less than a library. Maybe it is a bookshelf. That is the model my ebookwise emulates and it does support categories. It draws a little bookshelf on the top of the manager and shows me how much room I have left on the shelf for books.

Dale

12-06-2007, 11:13 PM	#1
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Question... Has anyone begun to think of their Kindle as an e-library, not ebook reader? It may sound a little goofy, but I am beginning to feel that way. I don't think e-library really fits. Does anyone have a better idea?

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12-07-2007, 12:33 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,110 Karma: 142517494 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I think of the Kindle as an electronic gadget. I think of the 505 as an electronic book reader. An electronic library would be something I setup on my computer with a good program as the front end to manage the ebooks.

12-07-2007, 01:03 AM	#3
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I have a bit. I don't think of it as a "gadget" at all. (Jon - Do you own one?) People make a huge deal out of the Internet access, but really that's more a means to the end of getting content and doing the occasional Wikipedia search. It's not suited for web surfing. It's suited for reading. My smartphone is way better for my "gadget" needs. The only thing that keeps the Kindle from fully seeming like a library is the lack of ability to organize content better. As it is now, I think of it more like a bookcase. At least it's sortable, which is one up on my bookcases, but I don't think I'll endeavor to fill my SD card until I can actually group things into categories.

12-10-2007, 10:35 PM	#4
catsittingstill Guru Posts: 643 Karma: 551634 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle 1.0.8, iPod Touch, Kindle Keyboard	I think of it as a magic book that could become any e-book I owned, and any e-book I wanted to buy from Amazon. "Library" is not quite the right word for that--I guess a combination of "bookshelf" and "bookstore" comes closest.

12-13-2007, 03:16 PM	#5
Zoot Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 34 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Amazon Kindle	After getting my forth or so purchased book on it, it did occur to me that "library" was a better term for it than "book", yeah. Library may be a bit of a stretch, but "book" is way too singular to describe it. It happens to look like a book though. There's definitely room here for some new clever terminology (or at least marketing-speak). Z.

12-13-2007, 03:28 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,110 Karma: 142517494 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Zoot, Have to disagree with you... I think the 500/505/Gen3 look more like books then the Kindle. The Kindle looks more like some sort of hand held game.

12-13-2007, 03:29 PM	#7
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I can see why that might be your impression of the look but I think us Kindle users are thinking more in terms of the experience of using them.

12-13-2007, 03:34 PM	#9
Zoot Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 34 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Amazon Kindle	I meant only that it looks like a single book rather than a pile of books. No comment on the relative bookishness of the Kindle vs. the competition I'm sure someone somewhere has already "modded" one of the readers into a hollowed-out real book, etc. Z.

12-13-2007, 03:57 PM	#11
mdibella Groupie Posts: 193 Karma: 1107 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Infinite Kindles, Occasional Sony's	Heh I am carrying around a 505 (which is full) and a Kindle. I switch between the two depending on which one has the book I want to read. Kindle's software is, IMHO, more library-like than Sony's (but then I happen to think that Sony's software just really bites...). The Sony is easier to carry around though, because it fits in my purse (the Kindle is too big). They're both libraries to me though. I love them!! I found a battery backup charger at Gomadic.com...it has interchangeable tips, and they have tips that fit each device, so I don't even need to worry about dead batteries. It t akes 4 AA batteries and recharges them as needed, even if I am reading at the same time. It also works for my iPod and my Archos 605 WiFi (who's a gadget freak? Moi????) so I am all set 8-) Someone please tell me why I feel compelled to have all this portable electronic gadgetry? I never actually go anywhere...

12-13-2007, 04:42 PM	#12
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Gadget / device / gizmo / gear / stuff / its all rock 'n roll to me. I have a Sony 500 and think of it as a portable library. Just selections from a larger stockpile somewhere else. Quite like just the stuff I need for this trip or this week.

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