Considering a Kindle Touch - Have Questions - Need Advice

[Zell]

I already have a Kindle Keyboard that I bought for myself last Christmas and am thinking of getting a Kindle Touch for this Christmas.  I'd give my 15 year old son the K3.  I have some questions:

1- Is there enough room on the "frame" around the touch screen to hold onto while reading a book?  I'm wondering if my fingers will constantly inadvertently be touching the screen.  I do this with my iPad a lot and it's annoying because the pages on the touch screen will move or change.

2- Is the touch screen really worth the extra money over the lower-end Kindle that costs around $75?  Why pay the extra money for the touch screen?

Thanks!

[kisala9906]

I like the touch screen and have not had any issues holding it the screen is indented unlike the iPad . As far as paying more, well for me I prefer the touch screen over the 5 way control and page turn buttons. I also love being able to click the word I need a definition for.

[rho]

I did go to put the kindle down and I grabbed the screen - I realized what I did and it didn't go too far ahead - I really don't think it will take me long to get over that but for the next little bit I will click the bookmark when I am done reading - it is just getting used to the differences - I think I am going to love it.  To the point I am considering selling my K2 - even possibly my new DX  .

[Ann in Arlington]

I already have a Kindle Keyboard that I bought for myself last Christmas and am thinking of getting a Kindle Touch for this Christmas.  I'd give my 15 year old son the K3.  I have some questions:

1- Is there enough room on the "frame" around the touch screen to hold onto while reading a book?  I'm wondering if my fingers will constantly inadvertently be touching the screen.  I do this with my iPad a lot and it's annoying because the pages on the touch screen will move or change.

I don't have a touch but have other touch screen devices. . . .my feeling is that you adapt . . .you learn to pick it up/hold it/use it in such away as to not accidentally do something.

2- Is the touch screen really worth the extra money over the lower-end Kindle that costs around $75?  Why pay the extra money for the touch screen?

Thanks!

I personally don't think so.  I got the basic Kindle for $79 and I think it's great . . .smaller and lighter than the Keyboard Kindle I also have. . . .responsive. . . .just works really really well. I don't have any problem with the button controls and I don't think I'd particularly like a touch screen for an eInk device.

Still, I've not laid hands on one in person. . .I'm going to be running some errands tomorrow and if near a store that has them I might stop in and see if I can play.  I may very well have a different opinion after doing so.  

I can say that I played with the nook touch and was fairly impressed with it. . .this was at least 6 months ago.

[CoffeeCat]

I already have a Kindle Keyboard that I bought for myself last Christmas and am thinking of getting a Kindle Touch for this Christmas.  I'd give my 15 year old son the K3.  I have some questions:

1- Is there enough room on the "frame" around the touch screen to hold onto while reading a book?  I'm wondering if my fingers will constantly inadvertently be touching the screen.  I do this with my iPad a lot and it's annoying because the pages on the touch screen will move or change.

2- Is the touch screen really worth the extra money over the lower-end Kindle that costs around $75?  Why pay the extra money for the touch screen?

Thanks!

I agree with what Ann said about the "frame", you adapt. I know some people hold their thumb on the screen itself while reading which would be problematic, but I've always held the frame on my K's. It is thin on the KT, but I haven't had an issue with it yet, or my iPad.

2. I don't think it's an astronomical difference with the touch screen. I went with the touch over the regular $79 version because I didn't like the idea of using the 5 way for notes. I don't write them a whole lot, but the touch is easier for me. The touch screen is a matter of preference. Whether it's touch or the 5-way, the new K's are a nice upgrade for the price.

[Mips]

I love my Keyboard K3.  I wanted another Kindle with 3G so when the Touch came out I jumped on it.  Now the jump feels like it was onto a grenade: I'm not so sure it was a good idea.

I prefer the touch screen over the 4 way controller thing. 
I'm meh about the touch keyboard over the actual keyboard.
However, choosing the font sizing on the touch screen has been hit or miss.
Many things on the touch screen have been hit or miss requiring different amounts of pressure to be applied.
The page turning is very annoying on the touch screen: many times it has turned many more pages but most annoying is that I can only comfortably turn the page forward with my right hand, back a page with my left.  With the K3kyb I was able to click with with either hand from either side.  I really loved that.
The weight: Amazon lists the Touch wgt as lower than the K3kyb but it feels heavier and clunkier.  It is thicker.  I can get used to the thicker but the weight is an issue with my health issues.  The K3kyb is so much more comfortable to hold.

So far I'm closer to printing a Return ticket  for my Touch than I am to loading my library onto it.

[Hoosiermama]

I really like the Touch, but it does require changing some habits. With my K2, when I got done reading, I'd just close the cover. At least with the cover I have on the Touch, I have to make sure I put it to sleep. Last night, when I opened the cover the font was REALLY BIG. I think it's because the cover touched the right area to menu, and it resized.  Quite the shock when I opened the cover!

So far, I like it much, much better than the K2 (and I LOVED my K2). I like the touch screen to change pages, I love the size, I love the color...there's nothing that I don't like about it. It's definitely different than the other Kindles, but I think an improvement. On my K2, the 5 way controller had gotten persnickety, and didn't want to work, and the next page button on the left side had decided it didn't really want to work all the time either. Now I just lightly tap, and I'm onto the next page.

[Sandpiper]

I love touch screen generally.  So LOVE the Kindle Touch.  Currently I have K3/KK, DXG, K Touch, K Fire.  What I have a problem with from device to device is putting it to sleep and waking it up.  Have to stop and think what to do with the one in my hands -- top? bottom? slide? press?

[leigh7911]

Last night, when I opened the cover the font was REALLY BIG.

Just wanted to say this amused me quite a bit.   

[pomtroll]

It doesn't take long to learn how to handle a touch screen. My Sony 350 is even smaller & I have no problems.

[mikeschr]

I love my Keyboard K3.  I wanted another Kindle with 3G so when the Touch came out I jumped on it.  Now the jump feels like it was onto a grenade: I'm not so sure it was a good idea.

I prefer the touch screen over the 4 way controller thing. 
I'm meh about the touch keyboard over the actual keyboard.
However, choosing the font sizing on the touch screen has been hit or miss.
Many things on the touch screen have been hit or miss requiring different amounts of pressure to be applied.
The page turning is very annoying on the touch screen: many times it has turned many more pages but most annoying is that I can only comfortably turn the page forward with my right hand, back a page with my left.  With the K3kyb I was able to click with with either hand from either side.  I really loved that.
The weight: Amazon lists the Touch wgt as lower than the K3kyb but it feels heavier and clunkier.  It is thicker.  I can get used to the thicker but the weight is an issue with my health issues.  The K3kyb is so much more comfortable to hold.

So far I'm closer to printing a Return ticket  for my Touch than I am to loading my library onto it.

About the page turning, do you know that you can swipe anywhere on the screen, with either hand?  Just swipe left to right for page back, and right to left for page forward.  It's not necessary to reach to a particular part of the screen unless you're going to tap instead of swipe.  That may not make the difference in keeping it for you, but a lot of people don't seem to have discovered this yet.

[NYCKindleFan]

It's not just the touch screen. To my knowledge, the $79 Kindle does not have x-ray, text to speech or speakers and it has a shorter battery life. That's why they can offer it for such a low price. If you aren't interested in the bells and whistles and just want a simple e-reader, it's a good deal.

[caseyf6]

X-ray?

[Betsy the Quilter]

A new feature on Kindle 4 and later.  Amazon describes it this way:

X-Ray

Amazon invented X-Ray, a new feature that lets customers explore the “bones of the book.” With a single tap, readers can see all the passages across a book that mention ideas, fictional characters, historical figures, places or topics that interest them, as well as more detailed descriptions from Wikipedia and Shelfari, Amazon’s community-powered encyclopedia for book lovers.

Amazon built X-Ray using its expertise in language processing and machine learning, access to significant storage and computing resources with Amazon S3 and EC2, and a deep library of book and character information. The vision is to have every important phrase in every book.

You can find out more about it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Touch-e-Reader-Touch-Screen-Wi-Fi-Special-Offers/dp/B005890G8Y#xray

KindleBoards is one of the best sources of information about Kindles, if you have a question, don't hesitate to ask, we love talking about the Kindle!

Betsy

[NYCKindleFan]

X-ray?

Please review the product page on Amazon. Tons of info and should always be read before ordering.

[ElaineOK]

I would have considered the Baby over the Touch, but I am addicted to 3g.  As it is, I am adapting to the Touch screen. Some things I really like.  Some things not so much, but it isn't going anywhere. 

Elaine
Norman, OK

[samanthawarren]

Comparing my Touch to my K3, I have to say I prefer the Touch by far. It's much easier to highlight things using your finger instead of the controller, getting a definition is much simpler and faster, and navigating is a breeze. Typing is a lot better than trying to use the 5-way, too.

[thayer]

Comparing my Touch to my K3, I have to say I prefer the Touch by far. It's much easier to highlight things using your finger instead of the controller, getting a definition is much simpler and faster, and navigating is a breeze. Typing is a lot better than trying to use the 5-way, too.

I guess it all depends on how you use the Kindle. For example, with the KK it's dead easy to toggle Text-to-Speech or the MP3 player with the press of a shortcut. There is no such shortcut for the Touch; often you have to leave your book, go to the home screen > menu > experimental > music player. That's a pain.

Want to control the volume after the device has shut off? Good luck. The K3's hardware volume buttons work even when the device is in standby. For the Touch, you have to open the cover, turn it on, go to 'menu' and tap the volume buttons (which seem less than responsive at most times).

These are just a couple of the many inconveniences I have discovered in my transition from the KK3G to K4T.

[arshield]

Also no audiobook on the baby one.  My main reason for not getting it.