Comments on: ‘Optimized for Kindle DX’: Gadgetizing format descriptions

By: HeavyG

HeavyG — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:11:52 +0000

Your anti-Amazon angle aside, it is good to see Amazon start labeling titles such as this.

I just sent the sample of that book to my Kindle and it apparently uses a LOT of tables. The tables appear to be graphics and while I could zoom in a bit it was still tough to read (sans magnifier glass anyway!).

The use of epub as a file format wouldn’t really be an improvement in viewing large complex tables on a screen the size of those in the small Kindle. In those cases there is just no substitute for a bigger screen.

Again, it is good of Amazon to provide some fair warning. I bought a SQL book when I got my first Kindle. It didn’t deal well with the numerous tables in that title and I eventually bought a paper copy also.

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:44:19 +0000

Hi, Greg–the original post quoted the Amazon description. Re the self-serving issue. Soft drink “compatibility” is a lot different from the e-book variety. Thanks. David

By: Greg M.

Greg M. — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:16:52 +0000

Click on the What Is This Link for this description: “This title has complex layouts and has been optimized for reading on Kindle DX’s larger screen, but can still be viewed on other devices.”

I think that is fair and good. Readers with the smaller screen could very well dissatisfied with such titles.

As for Amazon being self-serving…. What do you expect from a business? You can imagine the Coca-Cola company doing an ad for Coke quenching thirst on a hot Summer’s day, but it would be unreasonable to want them to say Pepsi would do the same too.

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:05:34 +0000

Felix and Paul…

F: I’ve already said as much–that it’s true but self-serving.

P: Well, I’m rooting for Amazon to do ePub, so that “large screen machines” would be better, lol.

Thanks,
David

By: Paul Biba

Paul Biba — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:20:04 +0000

I don’t see any problem with this. The DX was released as a special purpose device, so it is only logical that Amazon should point out those books that work best on it. Since there are no other large screen machines what do you want them to say: “Optimized for large screen machines that may, or may not, come into existence someday.”

By: Felix Torres

Felix Torres — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:10:04 +0000

Uh, do you know any other large screen machines that read AZW? C’mon.
They are telling the literal truth.
Yes, its self-serving.
Self-service is not (yet) illegal.

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:35:55 +0000

But, Felix, why not just say, “Optimized for large-screen machines, including the Kindle DX”? Oh, well, I suppose the answer would be, “But it’s still the Kindle format, and that’s the only large-screen machine.” Still, I’d rather things not be so product-specific, and besides, Amazon will almost surely release big e-readers besides the DX. The real solution is for Amazon to do ePub. Here’s hoping! Thanks. David

By: Felix Torres

Felix Torres — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:27:35 +0000

Hmm, I see it as truth in advertising.
Having tried to read graphics-heavy files on 6″ eink devices I can see value in warning folks that the 6″ experience may be suboptimal.
Would that all PDFs came with a warning: “optimized for PC displays!”