CES 2010 - KindleBoards meets M-Edge

[loca]

Harvey, you da man!!

[MLPMom]

I love that it comes in different colors. I don't know if I would ever have a need for one but we are going to the beach this summer so you never know!

[cheerio]

so that is why Harvey went to Las Vegas

I was wondering why

[3boysnagirl]

I would like this too, but I doubt I would buy without access to the on/off switch.

I'd probably just buy the baggie thing you guys have shown before. 

[Margaret]

I will definitely have to give some thought to this.  Although I don't have much experience with my Kindle, I can appreciate the need for access to the on/off switch, especially if one is reading on the beach and taking breaks for swimming, walking, etc.  Otherwise, the Guardian looks to be about perfect.  I will be looking forward to reading some reviews on this product.

[Pushka]

Ah, I missed the on/off access thingy too!  Is it possible to keep the kindle awake for say, a couple of hours without having to toggle buttons etc?  I am thinking of reading, long walks on the beach, going for a swim to cool off and then going back to read and dripping water in the kindle while trying to waken it again.  And the water would then stay trapped inside and create havoc!

[darryl64]

When I first saw this yesterday I was so excited and couldn't wait to buy 3 of them (we have 3 Kindles).  However, upon hearing that there is no access to the on/off switch, I am no longer interested.  Our main use would be on the beach.  There is no way I'm opening the cover while on the beach!  Unless M-Edge changes the design, we are going to pass and look for another alternative.  I love M-Edge covers (that's all we own actually).  

[Vegas_Asian]

Ohh makes me want a k2 even more

[Jane917]

Doesn't the K2 go to sleep automatically after 10 minutes of disuse? If so, I wouldn't worry about the on/off switch in the case.

[Betsy the Quilter]

It's waking it up from the sleep to read that's the issue.  People don't want to have to open the case to start reading again.  I think it's a problem for people who want to read in environments with dust or moisture.  On the other hand, as a carrying case for travel, it is still very appealing to me.

Betsy

[Pushka]

Doesn't the K2 go to sleep automatically after 10 minutes of disuse? If so, I wouldn't worry about the on/off switch in the case.

Yup, turning it back on is the issue - which is why I asked if there was a way to prevent it going to sleep!

[drenee]

The only way to keep it from going to sleep is to push a button before 10 minutes is up. 
Not something I want to worry about.
deb

[Pushka]

Ah, that isn't really workable then, is it.  Maybe another firmware update could give people an option to sleep or not and change the time before it goes to sleep.

[darryl64]

Perhaps another alternative would be a firmware change that could enable an additional way to wake the K2 up from sleep mode (like a multi-key/button combination).  This would allow you to wake it up when the on/off switch is not accessible.  Of course, I don't see Amazon making this kind of change to make one manufacturer's product work for the Kindle.  The cover should be engineered to work with the Kindle.

[mlewis78]

If I were on a beach, I'd have a towel with me (at least one!) to wipe my hands on, so I wouldn't mind opening it up to wake the kindle up.  There are towels in the bathroom (where I'd be taking a bath) as well.

[loca]

Ohh makes me want a k2 even more

What do you have now?

[Harvey]

I double-checked with M-Edge today about some of your questions. The Guardian will initially come out for the Kindle 2. It is possible, although not a certainty, that a version will later be produced for the DX. It is not likely that a version will be made for the Kindle 1... sorry!!

[Pushka]

Hm, maybe our beaches are sandier but if there is any chance of sand getting in, and moisture, then fiddling with opening the case just to turn it on makes no sense at all. The cover must be adapted to give access to the on/off otherwise I don't get the point.

[lynninva]

Here is a link to a CNN video of the M-Edge Guardian. The up-close pictures that Harvey posted were great, but the video adds to the appeal for me.  (I think CNN plays a very brief commercial before the M-edge video starts.)

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/tech/2010/01/09/ces.floating.e.reader.cnn

I can see some applications where you could open the case to wake up the Kindle & then secure it again.  For example, you could get it ready before you jump into the bubble bath with the Kindle. 

[mlewis78]

I would buy this if I were still a beach goer or liked reading in the tub.

[tsemple]

"...except for on/off switch." Huh? That pretty much makes it worthless. The whole point is to be able to read while in adverse conditions (bathtub/poolside, rain, blowing sand/dirt, ocean spray, snorkeling/scuba diving). If you have to expose Kindle to all that because it fell asleep...no way. Nice try, but back to the drawing board...

[pomlover2586]

"...except for on/off switch." Huh? That pretty much makes it worthless. The whole point is to be able to read while in adverse conditions (bathtub/poolside, rain, blowing sand/dirt, ocean spray, snorkeling/scuba diving). If you have to expose Kindle to all that because it fell asleep...no way. Nice try, but back to the drawing board...

Gotta agree here.......concept is GREAT.....but I wouldn't want a product where I couldn't access the on/off button without exposing the kindle.

[mlewis78]

I used to go to the beach a lot, and I didn't sit around with sand on my hands, and my hands were dry within 2 minutes of getting out of the water.  As I mentioned earlier, I always had towels with me to wipe my hands on.  I always had a book with me and I didn't want to get that wet or sandy either.

How is the access to on-off switch with the other waterproof covers?  Some people just use a baggy and sand and/or water drops could get into the baggy, especially if you read with sand on your hands (which I don't).

[Chris W]

Lotsa comments about the lack of accessibility to the on/off switch. I played with the switch on my DX, and I can't figure out a way that could be made workable through a membrane. I think if MEdge could have done it, they would have, but it seems like more of an Amazon design issue than MEdge's.
Since they are a major manufacturer of accessories for the Kindle, I'm sure they get advance notice of new products (i.e. dimensions & features so that they can design a new cover ready for when the device comes out), but have to keep those notices confidential. So I wonder if the new software update will have a workaround for the sleep function. A user defined sleep period, including a choice for 'off' would obviate the need to access the on/off switch.
Just a thought.

[nicuknitter]

Since the Kindles use no power to maintain the display, it would be very nice to be able to turn off the "screen-savers".  I hear a lot of discussion regarding people not liking them anyway.