Kindle Paperwhite or not?

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jacwlg

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Topic # 150820 4-Aug-2014 15:42

I want to buy a kindle reader but undecided on whether to buy the "classic" kindle or the touch screen paperwhite.

Is paperwhite really worth the extra $100 or so as far as user experience goes?

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Reply # 1101818 4-Aug-2014 15:55

I've had a Kindle Keyboard, Classic, and Paperwhite. I'd take the paperwhite any day. If the frontlight annoys you it can be turned down to zero. But the ability to use it in a dim/dark room is great.

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freitasm

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Reply # 1101822 4-Aug-2014 15:58

Yes, it is worth. A lot better.

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timmmay

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Reply # 1101826 4-Aug-2014 16:02

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Paperwhite is absolutely worth it, they're a lot better. My wife has the regular, I have the PW, mine is heaps heaps easier to read especially at night in bed. The only time they're equal is in direct sunlight when you turn the light down anyway. The light can't go completely off, but it can go very dim.

I was against e-readers until I ran out of books on holiday in Samoa once, they have no book stores as far as I can tell. My wife had 40 books in her Kindle, I had 6 big heavy books and finished them. Got a kindle and never looked back.

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Reply # 1101828 4-Aug-2014 16:05

Hell yes

jacwlg

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Reply # 1101831 4-Aug-2014 16:09

So the paperwhite seems to be the handsdown, no-doubt-about-it, final answer then.

Thanks all.

Gilco2

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Reply # 1101832 4-Aug-2014 16:09

I have the DX, The Touch and The Paperwhite 2. If I had to choose it would be the Paperwhite hands down.

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ajobbins

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Reply # 1101834 4-Aug-2014 16:12

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I've had two Kindle's (current one is a Paperwhite).

They are great devices but my only complaint is that you are locked to the Amazon system (unless you pirate). Many of the other readers use open formats and many of the local libraries can now lend you eBooks for most readers except Kindle.

For that reason, I think I would seriously consider something like a Kobo Glo next time.

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josephhinvest

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Reply # 1101841 4-Aug-2014 16:19

I will chime in too, my wife and I both have first gen paper whites and I bought my mum and dad each a second gen, and they are great. :)

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qyiet

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Reply # 1101859 4-Aug-2014 16:36

ajobbins: They are great devices but my only complaint is that you are locked to the Amazon system (unless you pirate).

Or you get DRM free stuff. (The humble ebook bundles with a kindle is pretty damn seamless) but yes, the DRM most libraries have decided to use are not compatible with the kindle or particularly strong for that matter.

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ajobbins

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Reply # 1101863 4-Aug-2014 16:38

qyiet:
ajobbins: They are great devices but my only complaint is that you are locked to the Amazon system (unless you pirate).

Or you get DRM free stuff. (The humble ebook bundles with a kindle is pretty damn seamless) but yes, the DRM most libraries have decided to use are not compatible with the kindle or particularly strong for that matter.

My understanding is this is because Amazon don't allow others to use their DRM system without paying them. So you can either load Amazon DRM content or DRM free content. Amazon want to clip the ticket on everything, so this locks out the likes of libraries under Amazon's current model.

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afe66

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Reply # 1101868 4-Aug-2014 16:44

(there is always one)

I have had two kindle keyboard 3g. The first lasted 4 years until I stood on the screen at the bedside. The second I sourced from trademe and lasted 5 months until I rested by elbow on the screen (it was under some paper) and cracked the screen.
As I was due to fly long haul 3 hrs later I bought the kindle paperwhite next gen ( June this year)

I prefer the keyboard version.

Bigger to hold in the hand and more confortable.

I dont like touching the screen to change pages, prefering the buttons integrated into the bezel to change pages. Top button to advance, lower to go back. Same on both sides of the bezel so the movemnt is the same regardless of which hand I hold it in, vrs taping the right side screen goes forward taping the left goes back. If I am holding it in my left hand, reaching over to tap the right side feels like a stretch

Touching the screen is different places gives so many options, none of which I use. Never book marked or underlined or copied to my notes or shared on the internet. (I read books on it only)

Light issue not a problem as I had the official amazon cover with light driven by the kindle itself.

(Why isnt the airplane mode switch a top teer option rather than hidden under settings... I know to maximise connection to the web for syncing pages, social media etc etc - never used it)

A.

timmmay

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Reply # 1101869 4-Aug-2014 16:46

It's trivial to convert ePub books to mobi and get them onto a kindle. I use calibre and get them on using the "send to kindle" windows app. Very easy.

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Glassboy

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Reply # 1101999 4-Aug-2014 19:32

ajobbins: I've had two Kindle's (current one is a Paperwhite).

They are great devices but my only complaint is that you are locked to the Amazon system (unless you pirate). Many of the other readers use open formats and many of the local libraries can now lend you eBooks for most readers except Kindle.

For that reason, I think I would seriously consider something like a Kobo Glo next time.

Kindles are far easier to side load, than every other device I have experimented with. Amazon also assigns an email address that you can email docs to. The open source software Calibre makes it even easier to sideload a Kindle.

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Reply # 1102059 4-Aug-2014 20:25

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I have a keyboard Kindle, and it's fine.

I purchased a paperwhite for a relative, and it's much better. Worth the extra price in my opinion. If you are set on a kindle, and the price difference is affordable, then get the paperwhite. You won't regret spending the extra in my opinion.

However, before you buy either, try and have a play with the Kobo Aura HD (which is much better than the Glo - although it costs more). I picked that to replace my Kindle instead of moving to the paperwhite. It's a nice bit of kit - slightly larger screen (which actually makes a difference), higher resolution and good backlighting. It's mainly epub (I understand it will handle some .mobi, but haven't tried it). I just converted my existing kindle library to epub with calibre, and it worked fine. Two friends (one had a Sony reader, the other a Kindle) have had a play with mine, and both then went and acquired one.

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Reply # 1102097 4-Aug-2014 20:58

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Kobo glo is definitely worth a look if you're not adverse to not being totally in the Amazon eco-system. I'm sure I saw it a month or so back on sale for about $160, Noel Leemings I think. I haven't seen the Aura but the backlight on the Kobo glo (and I assume the paperwhite too) is really handy. Calibre is great going for loading up the kobo, I've never tried but it, but you can use it too convert mobi formated ebooks, I think there is other software out there that does it too.

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