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Posts Tagged ‘Amazon’

I’m loving my Kindle DX. This Christmas I received a bundle of Amazon gift certificates that I used to buy more books and a clip on lamp. The Kindle and my computer, and the TV are my source entertainment while I have been home with an as yet diagnosed illness.

When I get tired of reading I can play old radio plays (mp3 files) that I downloaded from Zootradio.com my favorite old radio play site.  Using a male to male stereo cable I connect the headphone jack to a set of small amplified computer speakers. The Kindle DX brings new life to Sherlock Holmes episodes of the 40′s. Oh and don’t forget Orson Well and the Third Man.

The coolest part of shopping for Kindle books are the free books Amazon has made available. Amazon has quite a few Jack London titles. I’m a big fan of London. When I lived in California I visited Wolf House and his grave. When I was a kid I think I read White Fang three times.

Since I wrote my first comments on the device my Kindle fell from the seat of the car onto the curb as I got out of the car.  It was either damaged at this point or after placing it back in the car the car door slammed against one corner. When I got home I discovered the display had been damaged. I contacted Amazon using their on-line procedure of sending a form email first and then accepting telephone call from a support person. Amazon truly impressed me.  The warranty took care of my broken Kindle. Amazon had a new one in my mail box with forty-eight hours.

When I purchased the Kindle I bought this Belkin cover for it. In m ost circumstances it is all I needed but for longer trips I may consider a larger container with more padding. In a few days I should receive the clip on light I ordered for the Kindle. The reading light situation isn’t perfect in my home. I figure one of the small battery powered lamps will do the trick.  My only hope is the battery life of the lamp will be as good as the Kindle’s.   The Kindle has given me a great deal of enjoyment in the four or so months that I have owned it.  The good things about it out weigh the few gripes I have. Maybe I should have also purchased the extended warranty?  Perhaps you are thinking about purchasing a Kindle yourself. Feel free to use the links on this page to make your purchase and support DougWeb. While I am home and not able to work every little bit helps.

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• Whispernet has spotty coverage in Southern Maryland. Why hasn’t SPRINT found new tower space YET to improve coverage? This has always been a VerizonWireless county but come on folks. In Calvert County we have huge dead spots for SPRINT service where Verizon Wireless picks up the slack. It has been that way for years. SPRINT does its best to cover the highways but leaves the neighborhoods along the bay wanting. I hope the Kindle is impetus for SPRINT to FIX coverage. I might even be tempted finally to switch allegiance.
• The experimental browser is still experimental. It’s not Firefox or IE7. It is years behind anything you have ever used. It is text based. It is very primitive. It is pig-dead slow and the displayed results of a URL will test your ability to read gobbledygook.
• As a book reader the DX is wonderful. I ENJOY reading books with it.
• As you may have already read I also bought the Kindle to read PDF files. I’m satisfied for the most part. As long as I have m,y reading glasses PDF works for me.
• MP3 works. You cannot use the Kindle like an iPod apparently. I still have some experimenting to do but I don ‘t think the unit will play a playlist of music files. The functionality appears to be for audio books and podcasts. Bummer! All of your indexed audio files are mixed in with your books. Dumb idea Amazon. I sure would like to group PDF files, books, and audio in different directories. I cannot even imagine having to wade through page after page of book titles, MP3 titles, and PDF file titles to find what I want. The organizational philosophy of the device needs to be reexamined. It too is primitive.
• Menus are simple and easy to find. Bookmarking is cool.
• I like the size of the DX. Anything smaller and I would not enjoy reading as much as I do.
• Battery life is nothing short of amazing.
• Turning the unit off requires you to wait four or five seconds. I’m used to it now but sheesh!
• I have had the unit freeze in one more or another for no apparent reason. Holding the off button over for longer than for seconds seems to help.
• Really pleased with no contract or commitment. Had Amazon made a a cellular specific offering millions would have eventually opted out. 
• Typing using the chicklet keyboard is difficult and non-standard.

I keep evaluating and writing as I learn more. Mostly I am very pleased and am not bothered by the price I paid for Kindle DX.

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When you buy a title through Amazon at DougWeb you help support the site. DougWeb has been a big fan of Amazon.com for many years. It was and remains one of the few affiliate programs that really works. I’m also a satisfied Amazon.com customer and very happy Kindle owner!

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