Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,801
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on May 10, 2019 16:49:50 GMT
And I wish that companies that produce techy items wouldn't just assume that everyone knows how to figure out how those items work without a a manual or guide.
I just purchased a Kindle Paperwhite. It's my 4th Kindle, so I have had one for a long time, but this is my first Paperwhite. I hope I grow to love it more than I do right now. I was so excited to get it, but I hate it. First of all, it's so small. I guess I will get used that, but it is so much smaller than the FireHD, which is what I have had for a long time.
But what I hate most is that I can't figure out how to do anything on it. This morning, it was on it's "sleep" mode or whatever it's called, and I could NOT figure out how to get it to come up. I was swiping all over the screen, nothing happened. Finally, I googled and found a pdf guide on Amazon, but why couldn't there be something in with the Kindle to tell you where to go if you need help?
I also can't figure out how to bookmark pages. Or how to get back to the home screen once I am in the middle of a book. I tap all over the screen, and can't get anything to appear so that I can navigate somewhere else. Does all that make sense??
Vent over. I am just feeling really, really dumb right now. I went with the PW because I like to read outside, but I kind of want to send it back.
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Post by Zee on May 10, 2019 16:57:17 GMT
You'll get used to it but I agree, it's not necessarily intuitive. I Google every time I want to do something more than change books. It's kind of annoying.
So, you found the switch on the bottom to wake it up. If you want to get to the navigation screen, you need to touch up at the very top under the edge and a menu bar will appear. It may or may not be obvious how to do whatever you want to do, so have your phone nearby so you can Google step by step without needing a PDF (too cumbersome for me).
You can get back to your other books by the little home icon.
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Post by finsup on May 10, 2019 17:00:30 GMT
I agree, I don't find the Paperwhite intuitive at all. And my library's e-book lending isn't compatible with it, which bums me out. I don't like reading an e-book on my iPad, I like the E-ink!
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Post by busy on May 10, 2019 17:02:24 GMT
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,801
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on May 10, 2019 17:03:55 GMT
You'll get used to it but I agree, it's not necessarily intuitive. I Google every time I want to do something more than change books. It's kind of annoying. So, you found the switch on the bottom to wake it up. If you want to get to the navigation screen, you need to touch up at the very top under the edge and a menu bar will appear. It may or may not be obvious how to do whatever you want to do, so have your phone nearby so you can Google step by step without needing a PDF (too cumbersome for me). You can get back to your other books by the little home icon. Thanks for the tips. I also don't like that it is all black and white. Not sure why that bothers me, but it does. LOL
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,801
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on May 10, 2019 17:05:47 GMT
That is the one I found. I haven't read it all yet, but I have it saved on my computer.
Also, I just thought of one other thing...does it not have an internet browser?
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Post by Zee on May 10, 2019 17:06:45 GMT
I've used mine almost every single day for 6 years, replacing my old unlighted Kindle. I really love my PW even though it's kind of a pain to figure out anything but the basics!
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,801
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on May 10, 2019 17:09:45 GMT
I've used mine almost every single day for 6 years, replacing my old unlighted Kindle. I really love my PW even though it's kind of a pain to figure out anything but the basics! I read every single day, too. I have always loved my Kindle, so I hope I grow to love this one, too. I like how light weight it is, but it's soooo small. It's not a whole lot bigger than my iPhone. (I have the 8 plus) I do like that it is waterproof.
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Post by oliquig on May 10, 2019 17:43:55 GMT
There are most likely YouTube videos about it if you're more of a visual learner rather than an accelerated one.
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Post by Zee on May 10, 2019 17:48:41 GMT
That is the one I found. I haven't read it all yet, but I have it saved on my computer.
Also, I just thought of one other thing...does it not have an internet browser?
Go to the home screen using the house icon Tap the three little bars icon Under that, you'll see "experimental browser". At least mine does. But I never use that because ain't nobody got time for that. I use mine as a book only, not as something to surf the web.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 13:20:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2019 17:56:13 GMT
I want to find something simple for my husband’s father. So we can send photos and texts that he can see and surf the web a little bit.
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Post by mikklynn on May 10, 2019 17:56:50 GMT
I have found YouTube videos to be the best place to learn. I used them to figure out my Cricut. The independent videos were much more useful than the Cricut videos.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,801
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on May 10, 2019 17:59:31 GMT
That is the one I found. I haven't read it all yet, but I have it saved on my computer.
Also, I just thought of one other thing...does it not have an internet browser?
Go to the home screen using the house icon Tap the three little bars icon Under that, you'll see "experimental browser". At least mine does. But I never use that because ain't nobody got time for that. I use mine as a book only, not as something to surf the web. Thanks again! I tend to not surf the internet on my Kindle very often. I just wasn't sure if that was even an option. I probably won't like doing it since everything is black and white.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,801
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on May 10, 2019 18:00:16 GMT
Thanks to those who suggested YouTube. Not sure why I didn't think of that.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,801
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on May 10, 2019 18:01:38 GMT
I want to find something simple for my husband’s father. So we can send photos and texts that he can see and surf the web a little bit.
Not sure you will want this device then. LOL I think it is strictly for reading. It's all black and white, so he might not enjoy the photos much.
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Post by Zee on May 10, 2019 18:36:57 GMT
One thing I love about the Kindle is the built-in dictionary/wiki. It's really handy for archaic terms when you're reading historical books or that type of thing.
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
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Post by freebird on May 10, 2019 18:39:11 GMT
I just sold my paperwhite a couple weeks ago. It was 5 years old and I probably only used it 5-6 times.
I do agree with companies assuming you'll know how to do something. I had to call tech support because our internet was out last night. Actually, I just wanted to report an outage. Instead, I'm climbing under my desk, trying to answer technical questions I don't know the terminology or answers to. All I could think was "what if I was 85?". I was frustrated, and at the end, the tech guy was super sarcastically RUDE to me that I had to ask for a supervisor.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 13:20:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2019 19:09:35 GMT
I want to find something simple for my husband’s father. So we can send photos and texts that he can see and surf the web a little bit.
Not sure you will want this device then. LOL I think it is strictly for reading. It's all black and white, so he might not enjoy the photos much.
I just need something easy for him to use. He really is dumb when it comes to tech.
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Post by unknown pea on May 10, 2019 19:20:38 GMT
One thing I love about the Kindle is the built-in dictionary/wiki. It's really handy for archaic terms when you're reading historical books or that type of thing. Lost count of how many times I used that feature in the very very long book I just read about Queen Elizabeth 1.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,792
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on May 10, 2019 19:46:46 GMT
I bought myself a new Paperwhite for Christmas and I love it! I'm reading so much more now that I have it. There are two things I would change if I could: -I would make the home screen color so I could see the book covers in color -I would move the power button to the top. Sometimes if I'm trying to prop the Paperwhite on something I accidentally turn it off because the button is on the bottom
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Post by chaosisapony on May 10, 2019 19:51:52 GMT
I will totally validate you on this. A couple of years ago I was trying to set up my Silhouette machine and it was a nightmare. There was very little instruction included in the box, it wasn't working properly and after doing a bunch of Googling I determined I needed to update the firmware. My internet connection died in the middle of that leaving my Silhouette completely dead. So I had a $300 paperweight. Silhouette support kind of sucks but we did eventually get it working again.
My Paperwhite is an older one, the 2015 version I believe, but it did this whole demo thing when I turned it on that was really helpful. Told you where to tap and what functions could be found where. It also came with a user guide downloaded on it as one of the ebooks. If you still need help I'd see if you can find that. Every Kindle I have ever bought came with the user guide already loaded on it.
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Post by AussieMeg on May 10, 2019 22:39:40 GMT
I don't consider myself to be dumb when it comes to technology, but if anything is going to do me in it's a Kindle and an Amazon account! I also have a paperwhite. It's my third Kindle, and even though I absolutely love it, I agree that it's not really intuitive, and I think the other two that I've had are easier to navigate. I hope you grow to love the paperwhite. I really do love it (despite the navigation difficulties).
I hate having to read user manuals for anything, I learn better by watching, so whenever I need to know how to do something on any device I head straight for Google and YouTube.
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Post by SweetieBugs on May 10, 2019 23:29:43 GMT
I usually look at Youtube videos every time I get something or need to use a service (when I wanted to start Spotify and when I got my Fitbit Charge 3). Now days, nothing comes with a User Guide and it is so frustrating. I find the better Youtube videos really help because they are visual. Also, I usually go to the website and download the User Guide pdf on my computer. I did that right away after getting my Kindle almost 9 years ago.
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Post by SweetieBugs on May 10, 2019 23:39:34 GMT
Oh, and I will completely validate your feelings that current technology is not intuitive at all. When I got my first smart phone maybe 5 to 6 years ago, the icons at the bottom included one that was an image of a house. Of course, that would be the "home page". I get that. That is intuitive. Then, maybe only 4 weeks into having my phone, there was a software update and the icons at the bottom when to a "left arrow", a "circle" and a "square". Other than the left arrow key, what the HELL do you think a circle and a square mean?? And, no the square was not home, the circle is. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I'm still grumbling about that.
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Post by dewryce on May 10, 2019 23:40:17 GMT
It sounds like you’ve gotten some help, yay! Slight hijack: just wanted to point out that not being able to use technology (that doesn’t even sound very user friendly) DOES NOT equal dumb. You sound so down on yourself and you really shouldn’t be. Inexperienced? Okay. No affinity for it? Sure. But not dumb. And I’m sure there are some areas that are right up your alley where others struggle. You wouldn’t call them dumb.
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Post by maryland on May 11, 2019 0:04:32 GMT
I am bad with anything technical! I have a cell phone, but only use it for the basics, I can't figure out how it works. But I guess I don't care that much, because I never read the instructions or try hard. But that's what my kids are for!
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 11, 2019 1:18:06 GMT
Not sure you will want this device then. LOL I think it is strictly for reading. It's all black and white, so he might not enjoy the photos much.
I just need something easy for him to use. He really is dumb when it comes to tech. Get him an iPad. My BFF’s nontechnical 70 year old mom got an iPad and LOVED it. She learned how to use it very quickly, and in fact ended up finally upgrading her ancient Nokia flip phone to an iPhone because it was so easy for her to learn.
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Post by lucyg on May 11, 2019 6:07:19 GMT
I got a Paperwhite for Christmas, too ... my first actual Kindle, although I’ve been using the app on both iPad and iPhone for years. I really love this thing. Perfect size, lightweight, easy-to-read screen. I do agree with Rhondito’s two wishes. I guess a color model would be more expensive, but the button on the bottom? Really?? There should be a manual already loaded on yours. I read it first thing (I know, borrrrring) but it helped me understand how it worked. I have tech issues, too. Afterwards I couldn’t remember/figure out how to set bookmarks, but the 10yo showed me. Tap the very upper right corner of the screen for drop-down bookmark management. As someone above said, tap anywhere across the top for the rest of the navigation. Except the very upper right corner.
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Post by monklady123 on May 11, 2019 11:23:47 GMT
I agree, I don't find the Paperwhite intuitive at all. And my library's e-book lending isn't compatible with it, which bums me out. I don't like reading an e-book on my iPad, I like the E-ink! You should go after your library about that! So many people have Kindles...I'm surprised that isn't an option at least. Our library has several choices to choose from when you click "download" for the ebooks, one is Kindle which takes us to Amazon to download the book. Or something like that. I know how to do it, but I have no idea how it works. lol
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Post by monklady123 on May 11, 2019 11:35:53 GMT
I totally agree! In fact I probably wouldn't be able to do half of the things I can do on my iPhone if it wasn't for my dd. And the Firestick? omg... I can never remember which "AV" setting to put it on, and that setting is different from the setting for the DVD player, which is different from the TV...and which remote to use since there seem to be 4 or 5? My ds finally made a cheat sheet for all of that which I keep in the basket that houses all the remotes. And yes, I can go to YouTube for help, or google, which I do when it's something specific... Like if I know I need to rotate a photo on my phone I can google "rotate photo on iPhone" and up will come the answer. But often there are things that I don't even KNOW that I'd like to know...those are the things that the kids are good for. Like for example, who knew I could take a photo of a check and deposit it to my bank account via my phone? I learned that one when it was raining one day and I was grumbling out loud about having to drive to the bank to deposit a check I'd just received from my mother. My dd was here and said, "Moooom... why don't you just do mobile banking??" um... because I never knew that was a thing. Anyway, I do use a Kindle Paperwhite but I'm probably not using all its features. I do google sometimes but mostly I've come to terms with the features that I use regularly. Although I'm old-fashioned and really do prefer a real book I love the Paperwhite for the ability to enlarge the print, and for library books (no need to remember to return them on time!), and for travel (or errands such as car inspection or anywhere where I have to wait)... I like being able to carry about many books at one time so I can decide what I'm in the mood to read at any given moment.
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