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December 28, 2007

Our Kindle Has Arrived!

Start the New Year off by exploring the latest in e-book technology: Amazon's Kindle. But before you spend your hard-earned money--$399 before shipping and handling--stop by the Library and spend some time with our Kindle. We're still exploring all of its features, but here's what we've learned so far:

About the size and weight of a paperback book, the Kindle is a big improvement over early e-book readers. Its high-resolution display technology, called electronic paper, works using ink, just like regular books and newspapers, but the Kindle's ink particles are displayed electronically. The reflective electronic paper display is easy on the eyes and can be read clearly even in bright sunlight, but the page flash you see when you turn pages (part of the ink placement process) is a little annoying. The Kindle includes six text size options, and the screen navigation buttons are large and easily accessible on either side of the unit. Below the 3.5 x 5-inch display is a full keyboard, which can be used for taking notes and performing searches on stored documents.

In addition to a built-in dictionary, the Kindle is designed to hold over 200 digital books, newspapers, blogs, and magazines. If that's not enough for you, you can purchase an additional SD memory card, which can be inserted under the battery cover on the underside of the unit. The Kindle uses Amazon's Whispernet wireless service, which works in much the same way as cell phone wireless service, allowing you to get content in most locations whenever you want. When you purchase the Kindle using your Amazon account, the device is automatically synced to your account for easy 1-click ordering. I purchased a digital book and a trial subscription to The New York Times for the Library's Kindle, both of which were received within seconds.

While the Kindle does not offer many of the cool features of that famous new touch phone, it would be an excellent device for students, commuters, members of the publishing industry, and anyone who loves gadgets. Have we piqued your interest? If so, be sure to stop by the Darien Technology Center at the Darien Library and spend some time with our Kindle.

Happy New Year!

Posted by JudyS at 11:50 AM | Comments (0)

December 20, 2007

Post-Holiday Tech Support

Whew! After a very busy fall--we had almost 300 students in our fall technology classes, a new record--the holidays arrived with a whoosh! Once the craziness of the holidays subsides, you may find yourself with a new mp3 player, digital camera, laptop, or other e-gadget, and you might not know how to get started. Well, the Darien Library tech staff is here to help!

I know it's a cliche, but when working with a new piece of electronic equipment, remember to read the instructions and refer to the troubleshooting tips in the product manual. If you still have problems, go online and visit the manufacturer's website. (If you're not sure how to find the website, let us know. We'll have you online in minutes.) Many companies supply product manuals on their websites in pdf form for easy browsing and printing.

Lists of FAQs (frequently asked questions), also available on manufacturers' websites, are another good place to go when hunting for an answer to a product-related question. And, if you're in need of a more personal touch, give us a call and we'll set up a one-on-one session with you so we can take a peek and see if we can help. For more information or to set up an appointment with a member of our tech staff, contact Judy Sgammato by phone at 655-1234 x136 or by email at jsgammato@darienlibrary.org.

Posted by JudyS at 05:39 PM | Comments (0)