What is bad about the Kindle?

You hear all this great stuff about the Kindle but is that just euphoria because e-paper is novel? What do Kindle owners identify as the disadvantages of a Kindle, if any?

asked by jlaird (119)


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A possible downside for kids that have Kindles: the Kindle can read to you (in a lame computer voice) and I wonder if having the "book" read to a kid isn't giving the kid the full benefit they'd get if they had to read each word.

posted by benicio (221)

8 votes

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If you like the feel of paper on your fingers, and don't like spending almost $300 on a device to read books, then the Kindle is not for you.

posted by debmalewski (868)

7 votes

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Many of the Kindle negatives I've experienced have already been noted, but one that's not: no page numbers, so referencing a book, say in a paper or essay, gets tricky.

posted by wrestler88 (149)

7 votes

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Many of the Kindle negatives I've experienced have already been noted, but one that's not: no page numbers, so referencing a book, say in a paper or essay, gets tricky.

posted by notorious (226)

7 votes

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One negative of the Kindle is that it doesn't have a built-in bookstand. That is, something built into the back so it can be held upright as you read it on the table. But that's not something traditional books had either. Still a negative in my eyes.

posted by manny (173)

7 votes

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The biggest disadvantage is that Amazon can delete your books without your permission, as happened recently with a novel by George Orwell. Also, many books are not available for Kindle.

posted by John (7928)

6 votes

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The Kindle has drawbacks: it's way expensive, many users have basic issues with the look-and-feel of the device, and Amazon has not ever disclosed the full limits and conditions of the book licenses (for instance, whether they can suddenly 'revoke' purchased copies of 1984, as recently happened).

posted by Zoso (847)

6 votes

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Lots of book titles aren't available in a Kindle format. I've found myself buying several "regular" books since I bought mine.

posted by apple (364)

6 votes

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I think reading the words on the screen is unappealing. It's not the same as a book, it's worse, and so my reading experience is slightly less positive.

posted by shalom (227)

I agree. This is the worst part in my eyes. The screen is grey -- dark grey words on a grey "paper. "
posted by greysquirrel (225)

6 votes

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The screen does not have sufficient contrast to be easily readable in all light conditions. As demonstrated recently, Amazon can delete books that you have purchased at their discretion.

posted by akitzmil (9)

5 votes

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I have found that if an author changes their desire to have their work as an ebook, it can be removed from your purchases and a refund given.

posted by simplyheartfelt (21)

4 votes

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