Beyond that, the specs say that the device can be stored at temperatures upward of 14 degrees. That might be as generous as saying it works above freezing. We had a couple of cold days in NYC a week ago, one with temperatures in the 20-30 degree range. I knew better at this point than to try reading on my Kindle, but I did have it in the back pocket of my backpack while I was walking around. Come Tuesday, I couldn't get the battery to fully recharge. The charging light would stay on and on and on, and within five minutes of starting to read the device went from having four battery charge lights (of 4) to being down to 3. After a couple of days the battery unfroze and has been charging and drawing down as it's supposed to.
I've already gotten used to the fact that I have to adjust my reading for the possibility of rainy weather, but for the next two months it looks like I'm going to have to spend a lot of time planning around having a useless piece of plastic in just about any outdoor waiting situation. I'm not happy about this, and I think it's a significant enough issue that Amazon may want to reconsider its official specs for the device and maybe be a little more forthright about discussing weather issues in its marketing. This would not be a good holiday gift for your friends in Wasilla.
4 comments:
I had the Kindle on my Amazon Wishlist, but I yanked it off before anyone could buy it because I decided to wait for the Kindle 2 next year. Now I'm glad I did. Maybe they will fix that issue in the next version. I certainly don't have problems like that with my phone or iPod. I wonder if it has to do with how the page renders.
I'd be interested to know how the Sony reader compares. In the meantime, maybe you should hit a ski shop and get one of those little chemical heat pads they sell as mitten warmers and slip it into the back of your Kindle case by the battery when you're out and about in the cold.
Peat: It's more the way the display works than how the software renders the page. Your cell phone and iPod likely use LCD display technology (the same as is in your laptop's display), whereas the Kindle uses eInk technology. I'm pretty sure LCDs don't like cold, either, but they can tolerate a lot more of it before they die.
Even the numbers Amazon quotes for the Kindle's operating range seem pretty warm to me -- the electronics can certainly operate much lower, so it's likely the display technology is limiting it. eInk has only been widely-available commercially for a few years, so it's not surprising the kinks haven't been worked out. I'd expect the Sony Reader to have the same problem, unfortunately, because it uses eInk as well.
I don't think it would impact my use of an ebook reader much, because, despite living in New England, I don't tend to read outside in the cold much, but it's good to know this problem exists.
Just found your very learned blog. What a treat. Thank you for taking the time to post, it does help strangers miles away, who are gimbling in the wabe wondering about Kindles and such.
(a baker who gimbles)
That's frustrating. Maybe as part of its marketing strategy, Amazon could pay to move us all to Florida. And then have the hurricanes surgically removed from the atmosphere.
Post a Comment