Comments for Vec Trip Blog http://trip.vec.com The wanderings of George & Ennie Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:43:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0-beta1 Comment on Amazon Kindle by Staton Gran http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/26/amazon-kindle/#comment-50 Staton Gran Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:43:43 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/26/amazon-kindle/#comment-50 I live in Cairo, Egypt and picked up the Kindle this summer while I was back home in the US on vacation. The whispernet service worked flawlessly for me even allowing me to do last-minute splurge book shopping before the airplane door closed on my flight back out of the US. Amazon - you have revolutionized the way I meet my voracious appetite for books now. I love that I can buy any book and receive it immediately even if that book is not available on the continent where I live. The screen is incredibly easy to read. The page turn buttons are sensitive enough to make them simple to hit but not so sensitive that I am accidentally hitting them. As someone who likes to simultaneously read multiple books, I really enjoy the string of dots under each title on the home screen showing the approximate book length and the bold dots indicating how far I am through each book. It's easy to glance and decide which book I'm going to "pick up" and continue reading. Unexpected bonus, I no longer have to flip my head and "book" from side to side when I read laying down. If I find a comfortable position, I can hold the Kindle with either hand and stay in that position for as long as I want. My 9-year old daughter is enjoying the Kindle's built-in dictionary and is looking up the meaning of more words than ever before helping improve her vocabulary much faster. Personally, if the Kindle content continues to catch up to my desired reading list, I'll never want to read on paper again. What would make it even better: 1) Allow custom sorting of the order of books and/or allow filing into custom categories. I want to separately view my children's books, my favorites and the next books I am planning to read. Allowing custom sorting would meet my need to put my e-books in virtual organized bookshelves. 2) Allow "sneak peeks" to be synchronized without whispernet. Today, I can easily purchase books and move them to my Kindle by manually connecting the device, but any free previews queue up to be wirelessly delivered only. If I want this sneak peek from outside the country, I have to sit at the PC to read it - not at all what you want to do once you've experienced the ease of reading the screen on your Kindle. I live in Cairo, Egypt and picked up the Kindle this summer while I was back home in the US on vacation. The whispernet service worked flawlessly for me even allowing me to do last-minute splurge book shopping before the airplane door closed on my flight back out of the US. Amazon – you have revolutionized the way I meet my voracious appetite for books now. I love that I can buy any book and receive it immediately even if that book is not available on the continent where I live.

The screen is incredibly easy to read. The page turn buttons are sensitive enough to make them simple to hit but not so sensitive that I am accidentally hitting them. As someone who likes to simultaneously read multiple books, I really enjoy the string of dots under each title on the home screen showing the approximate book length and the bold dots indicating how far I am through each book. It’s easy to glance and decide which book I’m going to “pick up” and continue reading.

Unexpected bonus, I no longer have to flip my head and “book” from side to side when I read laying down. If I find a comfortable position, I can hold the Kindle with either hand and stay in that position for as long as I want.

My 9-year old daughter is enjoying the Kindle’s built-in dictionary and is looking up the meaning of more words than ever before helping improve her vocabulary much faster.

Personally, if the Kindle content continues to catch up to my desired reading list, I’ll never want to read on paper again.

What would make it even better:

1) Allow custom sorting of the order of books and/or allow filing into custom categories. I want to separately view my children’s books, my favorites and the next books I am planning to read. Allowing custom sorting would meet my need to put my e-books in virtual organized bookshelves.

2) Allow “sneak peeks” to be synchronized without whispernet. Today, I can easily purchase books and move them to my Kindle by manually connecting the device, but any free previews queue up to be wirelessly delivered only. If I want this sneak peek from outside the country, I have to sit at the PC to read it – not at all what you want to do once you’ve experienced the ease of reading the screen on your Kindle.

]]> Comment on Back from the trip – Camping in the Allegheny Mountains by Shawn http://trip.vec.com/2008/06/15/back-from-the-trip-camping-in-the-allegheny-mountains/#comment-6 Shawn Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:20:48 +0000 /post/2008/06/15/Back-from-the-trip-Camping-in-the-Allegheny-Mountains.aspx#comment-6 Sounds like you had a rough go towards the end of your trip. When you are 85 sitting in the chair at the retirement home this will be one of your vivid memories of your youth! If everything always went to plan there’d be no stories to be told. Shawn (on the FJR) Sounds like you had a rough go towards the end of your trip. When you are 85 sitting in the chair at the retirement home this will be one of your vivid memories of your youth! If everything always went to plan there’d be no stories to be told.

Shawn (on the FJR)

]]> Comment on Seagate FAIL by gburgyan http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/18/seagate-fail/#comment-48 gburgyan Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:12:40 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/18/seagate-fail/#comment-48 True, the part that really pisses me off is that they got the charge through but their system kicked it out for no reason and they have a "secret department" that claims it didn't. Their systems are defective. True, the part that really pisses me off is that they got the charge through but their system kicked it out for no reason and they have a “secret department” that claims it didn’t. Their systems are defective.

]]> Comment on Seagate FAIL by Diana http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/18/seagate-fail/#comment-47 Diana Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:27:49 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/18/seagate-fail/#comment-47 Since the transaction was processed as a signed debit card transaction, you should have 60 days to dispute it through KeyBank under federal compliance regulation E. (Helps that I work there and teach this stuff!) If they aren't willing to honor the warranty, I'd go this route. Since the transaction was processed as a signed debit card transaction, you should have 60 days to dispute it through KeyBank under federal compliance regulation E. (Helps that I work there and teach this stuff!) If they aren’t willing to honor the warranty, I’d go this route.

]]> Comment on Epic fail by Richard Archer & Sue Shaw http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/16/epic-fail/#comment-38 Richard Archer & Sue Shaw Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:49:54 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/16/epic-fail/#comment-38 So sorry to hear about this George! At least you're safe and unhurt. Money will buy another bike but health is priceless. We tried to head for Battle Harbour after we last saw you but when we got on to that hardpack with the loose marbles everywhere we decided to abort.That road isn't fit for anything but an ATV as far as we're concerned! So sorry to hear about this George! At least you’re safe and unhurt. Money will buy another bike but health is priceless.
We tried to head for Battle Harbour after we last saw you but when we got on to that hardpack with the loose marbles everywhere we decided to abort.That road isn’t fit for anything but an ATV as far as we’re concerned!

]]> Comment on Onto Gros Morne by ennie http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/13/onto-gros-morne/#comment-37 ennie Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:21:43 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/13/onto-gros-morne/#comment-37 Ooh! Yes. With me next time! :-) Ooh! Yes. With me next time! :-)

]]> Comment on A victory! by JB http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/11/a-victory/#comment-36 JB Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:05:02 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/11/a-victory/#comment-36 Hello George, I wanted to send a comment after meeting you in Gander on your “way back“ across the island (Wed. Aug 12). I’m hoping you are up the Northern Peninsula and close to St. Barbe. Interesting to tag along on your journey. Good luck – I’ll be looking in with interest as you zoom along. John B Hello George, I wanted to send a comment after meeting you in Gander on your “way back“ across the island (Wed. Aug 12). I’m hoping you are up the Northern Peninsula and close to St. Barbe. Interesting to tag along on your journey. Good luck – I’ll be looking in with interest as you zoom along.

John B

]]> Comment on Trip across Newfoundland by lonewolf from daves diner in gardiner maine http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/11/trip-across-newfoundland/#comment-35 lonewolf from daves diner in gardiner maine Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:56:56 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/11/trip-across-newfoundland/#comment-35 It was a really nice to have met you when you was at daves diner, at gardiner maine. hope all is well. you stay safe. Like i was telling you my son is still wanting to move to alaska. and he riding his motorcycle. Just thinking with all the travling you do you will be able to write a book. you take care and bee safe. kathy It was a really nice to have met you when you was at daves diner, at gardiner maine. hope all is well. you stay safe. Like i was telling you my son is still wanting to move to alaska. and he riding his motorcycle. Just thinking with all the travling you do you will be able to write a book. you take care and bee safe.

kathy

]]> Comment on Trip across Newfoundland by Ata http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/11/trip-across-newfoundland/#comment-34 Ata Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:20:53 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/11/trip-across-newfoundland/#comment-34 Just to let you know, Tania, Hisham and I have been following you closely. Tania is fascinated by the journey, the terrain, the pictures, etc. Hisham says it's boring! Often, you have to read him by the opposite of what he says. (As an aside, I hope that doesn't continue for the rest of his life.) Anyway, on your travels, enjoy the thought that we are following the trail you leave. Just to let you know, Tania, Hisham and I have been following you closely. Tania is fascinated by the journey, the terrain, the pictures, etc. Hisham says it’s boring! Often, you have to read him by the opposite of what he says. (As an aside, I hope that doesn’t continue for the rest of his life.)

Anyway, on your travels, enjoy the thought that we are following the trail you leave.

]]> Comment on Nova Scotia and the Glooscap and Cabot Trails by ennie http://trip.vec.com/2009/08/09/nova-scotia-and-the-glooscap-and-cabot-trails/#comment-32 ennie Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:33:13 +0000 http://trip.vec.com/index.php/2009/08/09/nova-scotia-and-the-glooscap-and-cabot-trails/#comment-32 KAM?! LOLOLOLOLOL! xo en KAM?! LOLOLOLOLOL!

xo
en

]]>