[egh34]

Since I have had my Kindle for a month, I decided to write Amazon and give them my thoughts on any improvements they could make (page numbers and books covers as screen savers). I sent it last evening, and this morning I had this response:

Hello,

Thanks for writing your positive feedback and suggestions about our Kindle 2.

We'll consider your feedback regarding the page numbers and screen savers as we
plan further improvements.

Customer feedback like yours really helps us continue to improve our store and
provide better service to our customers. Thanks for taking time to offer us your
thoughts. I've passed on your comments to the Kindle team.

Our goal is to help you get the most out of your Kindle experience. If you need
further assistance, please contact customer support at 1-866-321-8851.

Thank you for making Kindle 2 a success by owning and using it. We'll honor your
commitment by continuing to provide the quality product availability and support
you expect for your Kindle.

Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question:

If yes, click here:


Anyway, I am just so impressed that they actually read my feedback, and responded nicely back to me. Gotta love Amazon!

 

[nelamvr6]

Page numbers will never happen.

They are simply impractical when text size is variable.  If I'm reading with text size 3 and you're reading with text size 2, my page 100 will be in an entirely different place than your page 100.

But location 100 is the same no matter what text size you use.

You'll really be a lot happier if you just get used to locations.

But apart from that, I agree completely, for me Amazon CS has always been top notch!

 

[egh34]

Um....that's pretty much the same canned response they give to everyone. They change a few words to make it sound like they are addressing your specific issue but it's more or less a form letter.

Happiness Bubble burst...

 

[KindleKay (aka #1652)]

Um....that's pretty much the same canned response they give to everyone. They change a few words to make it sound like they are addressing your specific issue but it's more or less a form letter.

ummmm...yeah....I don't want to burst your bubble, but ^^this^^ is true

 

[egh34]

ummmm...yeah....I don't want to burst your bubble, but ^^this^^ is true

It's ok, we all gotta grow up sometime.

 

[KindleKay (aka #1652)]

It's OK egh...I remember getting what I thought to be a "personal" response from CS while I was waiting for my Kindle.  My bubble burst, too 

(older and wiser now)

 

[Ann in Arlington]

They DID have to read it enough to know what to put in the paragraph that specifically addresses your issues, even if the rest of the letter was boilerplate. . . .

Ann

 

[L.Canton]

I've had nothing but a great experience with Amazon staff, and I'm glad they replied to you. It looks like at least some of the letter was written by a human specifically in reply to your email.

 

[egh34]

They DID have to read it enough to know what to put in the paragraph that specifically addresses your issues, even if the rest of the letter was boilerplate. . . .

Ann

Exactly...kinda like it's the thought that matters!!

And I soooo know they won't give me page numbers, but I would like periodically updated screensavers or the ability to use book covers as screensavers, so maybe they will use those ideas (Ha ha, when pigs fly!!)

 

[MichelleR]

If pages numbers are 200/354 -- the current page and total pages, I think it could work. The page numbers will vary based on text size, of course, but why couldn't it calculate that? Fans of pages just want to see a more familiar rendering if the information.

I've adjusted to percentages, but the page numbers would be just another way to gauge that.

 

[rscarlett]

I would like periodically updated screensavers...

It seems to me that I have a new batch of Amazon generated screensavers than I had when my K2 first arrived. I figured it was a part of the 2.0.1 or 2.0.2 updates.

Any other thoughts on this?

 

[khrunner]

I made the mistake of writing Amazon CS instead of calling regarding their shipping my Amazon cover.  It was shipped from Kentucky supposedly heading to Colorado and was scanned on arrival 3 days later in New Jersey.    A couple of days later, it was still in New Jersey, and I wrote Amazon about it. I got an email back from someone who didn't understand what the problem was. (I needed the case to arrive on time to take my K2 on a trip with me.  Finally ended up taking it in a picture mailer, which worked fine.)  She had checked, and it was on schedule to arrive on the estimated day. I should contact them if it didn't.  I received the impression she didn't understand the geography involved. When it didn't arrive as scheduled, I called Amazon and talked to a very nice man who immediately arranged for another cover to be sent since we didn't know if the post office would ever get the one in NJ out to me.  They finally did, BTW, and I sent it back to Amazon, since I had the second one already.

That said, it sounds like someone human did read your letter.  With the volume of mail they get, some of replies have to be boilerplate or they would never get it all answered. 

 

[egh34]

It seems to me that I have a new batch of Amazon generated screensavers than I had when my K2 first arrived. I figured it was a part of the 2.0.1 or 2.0.2 updates.

Any other thoughts on this?

I haven't noticed any new ones, other than the stand 15 or so that came with my K2.

 

[Lilly]

Page numbers will never happen.

They are simply impractical when text size is variable. If I'm reading with text size 3 and you're reading with text size 2, my page 100 will be in an entirely different place than your page 100.

But location 100 is the same no matter what text size you use.

You'll really be a lot happier if you just get used to locations.

But apart from that, I agree completely, for me Amazon CS has always been top notch!

I don't know why we cant have both, they have the ability. Anyone that has the Mobipocket Reader software knows when you open a book in the software it has page numbers instead of locations. The Kindle 2 has 3 numbers at the bottom keeping track of your progress (percentage, location, total location); I say Amazon replace the total location number with the page number and those who prefer location will still be satisfy and those who want page numbers will be happy. I see pros and cons for both and I think the reader that implements both will be a step up in the right directions!

 

[nelamvr6]

I don't know why we cant have both, they have the ability. Anyone that has the Mobipocket Reader software knows when you open a book in the software it has page numbers instead of locations. The Kindle 2 has 3 numbers at the bottom keeping track of your progress (percentage, location, total location); I say Amazon replace the total location number with the page number and those who prefer location will still be satisfy and those who want page numbers will be happy. I see pros and cons for both and I think the reader that implements both will be a step up in the right directions!

I'm sure they could do it, but I don't believe they will. I guess time will tell.

I have no objection to including page numbers, but if they take away one of the numbers that are alreay there I'll be upset! I actually like the details that are now given, I don't really miss page numbers at all.

I suppose the ideal solution would be to give us the option of which set of numbers we want...

 

[MamaProfCrash]

Would it be possible to do page 1.1 - 1.6. So you know that you would be on page 1 in some version of the DTB and the number after the decimal representing what font size you were using?

 

[nelamvr6]

Come on guys!  Just let go!  It doesn't hurt!

Pages numbers can safely be left behind in your brave new Kindle world!

 

[KindleKay (aka #1652)]

OK- I have a question that up until now I have been nervous to ask....but what the hey!  I am feeling brave....

Here goes.....

*deep breath*

How does one understand the location in Kindle?  I just don't "get" it so I ignore it!!!

 

[Rhiathame]

OK- I have a question that up until now I have been nervous to ask....but what the hey! I am feeling brave....

Here goes.....

*deep breath*

How does one understand the location in Kindle? I just don't "get" it so I ignore it!!!

I have found posted on some other boards that it is the word count. I use the location exclusively for finding my place in the full book after purchasing it when I had been trying it out via a sample.

 

[nelamvr6]

I have found posted on some other boards that it is the word count. I use the location exclusively for finding my place in the full book after purchasing it when I had been trying it out via a sample.

That's about right, a bit of an over-simplification, but not much.

That's why the location is the same no matter what size font you're using.