Despite the USPS estimated delivery date of SEPT 7, my Kindle 3
(with free 3G & WiFi) arrived today [FRI, Sept 3], two days after shipping. (I ordered on AUG 4.)
Kindle 3, Graphite
While it was charging, I downloaded all my books from archive, then copied my Kindle 2 collections, then realized I should have set up WiFi BEFORE all of that.
I went to my PC and added the K3’s MAC ID into my wireless security. That should be all I need to do on that end. I checked that I allow sufficient connections on the router and I do. I broadcast our SSID (network name) because one computer on our network has trouble relocating it even after successfully connecting the first time. Its reaction after SSID is hidden:
Huh, where’d it go??
When I went to setup WiFi on the Kindle 3, it did NOT see my network. I hit Re-scan. Nothing. Waited a few minutes. Re-scan. Nothing. So I went to Enter Other Networks and typed in the SSID name and password. And then it connected and I was switched to WiFi. I’m writing this so someone out there doesn’t think maybe their WiFi isn’t working when you just need to give it a little help.
I need to change my newspaper subscription on Calibre to deliver to the new Kindle. And I need to copy my personal documents over. Then I think I’ll have everything in place.
First impressions: the e-ink is definitely darker. Looks like black compared to dark gray on the Kindle 2 and the letters are cripser. Not sure how they determine 50% darker e-ink, but there is a noticeable difference. When laid over the K2, it is substantially smaller vs a side-to-side visual comparison. Thinner too.
It somehow feels solid but looks almost fragile. Not sure how long I can read it “naked” before I get a lightweight cover, though the back is not nearly as slippery as the K2. Also, the next/previous buttons are very narrow, maybe a third the width of the same buttons on the K2. I know you can see this in pictures, but until you see it in person, it’s hard to appreciate the difference. And, they go through the entire Kindle 3. When you press the button, you can feel it move on the back of the Kindle.
The new 5-way also is much smaller than I imagined from looking at the photos. I have to press top/right/bottom/side with the tip of my fingernail to avoid hitting the menu or back buttons, then I use the tip of my finger to click the center/select button. If you’ve chewed your fingernails down to the nub, it could be tricky navigating with the new 5-way. Overall, the keyboard is smaller, but the buttons seem much easier to press. I often had to double-press the K2 buttons before they worked.
Screensavers: I was hoping we’d get a new batch, or at least an expanded batch, but so far the three I’ve seen are all dupes. I don’t know why they lock users out of adding your own without a hack. Publishing the spec and having a folder for them would seem to be a good way to open up the 3rd party market and user-created screens.
It came MOSTLY charged, but I’m leaving it plugged in to finish up any indexing after adding my books, not that I have a lot. I only bought the K2 around Christmas.
So far, most of my impressions are surface impressions since I haven’t had a chance to read much on it, other than the menus and whatnot. Other than the network not showing up on scanning, no out-of-box problems yet. <knock wood>
-John Passarella, Author
