Comments on: Kindle Letdown http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/ Technology and Geek Stuff by Eric Burke Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:37:00 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Vinayak http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30639 Vinayak Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:19:32 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30639 My UI design team found out that it needs an ON/OFF button. One button will do. Separate buttons for ON and OFF are not required. Although they might be good for maintaining symmetry. Also, the text "I guess it needs a few more buttons?" is not required to be printed on by ALL the users we surveyed. Most of them were of the opinion that if it is deemed really necessary by ERIC then it could be made "SOFT" as well. Cheers. ;-) My UI design team found out that it needs an ON/OFF button. One button will do. Separate buttons for ON and OFF are not required. Although they might be good for maintaining symmetry.

Also, the text “I guess it needs a few more buttons?” is not required to be printed on by ALL the users we surveyed. Most of them were of the opinion that if it is deemed really necessary by ERIC then it could be made “SOFT” as well.

Cheers. ;-)

]]> By: Nils T. Devine http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30385 Nils T. Devine Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:14:54 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30385 you're not alone. http://www.baekdal.com/future/products/amazon-kindle-2-3/ you’re not alone.

http://www.baekdal.com/future/products/amazon-kindle-2-3/

]]> By: Leon http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30378 Leon Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:43:03 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30378 The disadvantages of soft keys are that touch screens are more expensive and that your screen gets dirty, making reading a bit more difficult. I also think that physical buttons are stronger and as such a better option for often used functions; I'd make the back/next/home buttons physical in stead of soft to protect the screen. The rest of the keyboard can be soft; you won't be writing all that much on it I think. The disadvantages of soft keys are that touch screens are more expensive and that your screen gets dirty, making reading a bit more difficult.
I also think that physical buttons are stronger and as such a better option for often used functions; I’d make the back/next/home buttons physical in stead of soft to protect the screen.
The rest of the keyboard can be soft; you won’t be writing all that much on it I think.

]]> By: John Röthlisberger http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30369 John Röthlisberger Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:08:33 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30369 Now you just need the arrows to have a slightly more hand-drawn look, and you're all set. =) Now you just need the arrows to have a slightly more hand-drawn look, and you’re all set. =)

]]> By: John Röthlisberger http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30368 John Röthlisberger Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:07:26 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30368 Loving the new font -- MUCH better than the previous one (Tekton?). Loving the new font — MUCH better than the previous one (Tekton?).

]]> By: Eric Burke http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30343 Eric Burke Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:14:10 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30343 Yeah, I wasn't sure about those two buttons. My design team is performing extensive usability studies as I type this. Yeah, I wasn’t sure about those two buttons. My design team is performing extensive usability studies as I type this.

]]> By: Thiago http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30338 Thiago Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:53:24 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30338 Why the two buttons in your Kindle prototype? Soft buttons for it, too! :) Why the two buttons in your Kindle prototype? Soft buttons for it, too! :)

]]> By: Logan http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30336 Logan Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:23:00 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30336 Tom, Amazon claims a 6" diagonal on the screen. A standard paperback page is more like an 8" diagonal. Tom, Amazon claims a 6″ diagonal on the screen. A standard paperback page is more like an 8″ diagonal.

]]> By: Tom http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2009/02/10/kindle-letdown/comment-page-1/#comment-30332 Tom Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:46:00 +0000 http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/?p=1013#comment-30332 Take another look at that picture. If you compare the area of the text on one of the pages of the book, it almost perfectly matches the screen size of the kindle, when you take the margin into account. Take another look at that picture. If you compare the area of the text on one of the pages of the book, it almost perfectly matches the screen size of the kindle, when you take the margin into account.

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