Yeah I know, but you can read books on them plus more for just a bit extra than a paperwhite.
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Amazon Kindle |OT| of eInk superiority
- Thread starter HiroProtagonist
- Start date
Personally I would never read books on a non-e-ink screen, that would sort of defeat the purpose of getting an e-reader.
Then I would look a larger range of tablets instead.
davidcotton
Member
The only thing that would improve the paperwhite for me would be to re introduce the page turn buttons.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
Unless you want to go through the trouble of rooting the device to get yourself out of the Fire's Amazon obsession, I would just forgo the Fire and load a Kindle app onto a Nexus or other comparable product.
Plus, e-ink really is a feature worth a dedicated device for.
shamo42
Member
This. I also hope for a better e-ink screen with more contrast. Since the Kindle Keyboard from 2010 the contrast hasn't improved at all afaik. Whites need to get whiter and darks pitch black.
Why?
CornBurrito
Member
I absolutely love my Paperwhite. Best gift I ever got for myself.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
The Keyboard looks pretty good, and they've got the whole "quality variance of e-ink" thing taken care of, and it looks better than a cheap paperback, but it's still a bit muddier than a good, well designed paper book. There's always room for more improvement. Better resolution, better contrast, more gradients in the grays, etc.
Oh yeah, higher resolution and soft gradient, absolutely. I was asking why the contrast. It's the one thing I don't think needs work. I don't like absolutely white backgrounds for reading at all. The ebook reader I used to use on my PalmOS devices was always set to a cream background for just that reason. If we were talking colour picture books I'd be into it, but for B&W no.
IMO the contrast of a physical book is the gold standard, and the PW isn't really anywhere near that.
VistraNorrez
Member
Books aren't created equal. PW exceeds every mass market paperback I've seen (I'd guess these are what most people read too). A properly illuminated e-ink Pearl screen (which is easier to attain than any physical book) is in many ways better than the average trade paperback even. A nice new hardcover can have beautiful white pages and deep dark ink, but there is no standard there either, and I would never say a PW is isn't anywhere near it in quality. It's a step down in contrast, but not much.
It would be nice for e-ink to have the ability for even greater contrast, but where it's at now there is nothing stopping me from getting engrossed in a book. Even on my Kindle 2, I never stopped reading because of the lesser contrast. The PW is by far my best reading experience. I'll take the smaller form factor and lighter weight or a hardcover's contrast any day.
I disagree. Compared to most of my books the paperwhite is pretty much there contrast-wise, and far outstrips them for clarity, due to sharpness.
shamo42
Member
Thanks the the PW's illuminated screen, contrast seems better. Turn brightness up and whites get whiter. Without that illumination however, contrast is far from perfect imo.
What I want is better contrast without any illumination. This would allow for a more natural reading experience and improved battery life.
VistraNorrez
Member
I'm not sure why one would ever not keep the screen properly illuminated. Outside on a bright sunny day you don't need the light, and screen is gorgeous. But when you don't have that kind of environment it's always worth it to use the light. And the PW illuminates the screen perfectly.
I'm not even sure how the PW is an unnatural reading experience. You need light to read. It's built in to the reader. It's far better than and other artificial lighting source on any other medium. It's the best lighting for reading, period
I get what your saying, though, yes there can be improvements. From me though e-ink readers are the improvement on paper books. From clay tablets, to scrolls, to codices, to e-readers. It's still early on with e-readers and I expect them to evolve quite a bit more.
I mainly read during the day, by natural light only.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
There might be a new model coming in the next two months or so. No rumors on my watch though, just better tablets.
Also, I encourage you to buy used if that doesn't bother you, due to how fast prices drop after the box is opened.
Easystride
Member
I liked a drink before the war, but the next two books in the series are vastly superior. The bonhoefer biography has a definite evangelical bend to it, strongly recommend a skip.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
Handmaid's Tale if you want an excellent dystopian woman-focused novel. Infinite Jest is better experienced in print due to the appendix/footnotes, but if you want it more portable the digital version will do. I've heard good things about Brain Rules but never read it myself
Jayayess1190
Member
That's awesome. E-readers aren't the sort of devices I'm going to upgrade on an annual cycle, but when my Paperwhite dies, I'll probably switch to a Kobo device.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Why is that?
On a completely shallow front, I prefer how the Kobo e-readers look, and I like their greater variety of font choices (even with the Paperwhite's new fonts, I've yet to find a font on the Kindle that I really like). Most of my interest though comes from the fact that Kobo's devices are more open--they natively support ePub, and while my library's Kindle selection is growing, there are still many more books available for checkout in ePub format than there are for Kindle. Perhaps most importantly, I can buy Kobo books from independent bookstores, allowing me to support bookstores (if only marginally) while still enjoying the convenience of eBooks.
There are still some quirks--I believe Adobe ePubs require a download of Adobe's library software before they can be transferred onto a device, James Baldwin's library is coming out on Kindle on the 17th but isn't yet available on Kobo, and so on--but if I'm going to own an e-reader, I'd prefer to own the device that's more open and indie-friendly.
Native Pocket support's also a nice incentive. I do most of my Pocket reading on my phone, and it'd be great to be able to read long essays and short stories on a proper screen.
I should totally do PR for Kobo.
Any Japanese Kindle owner?
I was wondering two things about them:
- Can they be imported (from Amazon or some other site)?
- Is the Japanese dictionary any good? As in, it works like the any other country-specific Kindle of any other country-specific Amazon?
I suck at reading Japanese. I have to look words up all the time, so having a Japanese Kindle would greatly help me.
I was wondering two things about them:
- Can they be imported (from Amazon or some other site)?
- Is the Japanese dictionary any good? As in, it works like the any other country-specific Kindle of any other country-specific Amazon?
I suck at reading Japanese. I have to look words up all the time, so having a Japanese Kindle would greatly help me.
GarthVaderUK
Banned
I was thinking about buying one, I guess I'll wait then!
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Ah, I see. Thanks for the explanation. I don't really know much about e-Readers, so I don't really know the difference between Kindle, Kobo, Nook, etc.
You mean you don't work for Kobo? Coulda fooled me!
metalslimer
Member
Can't wait to see the new model, finally getting an ereader
Going on two years now with my Kindle 4 (button version). I'll be interested to see what improvements they made to the paper white.
a secret-boss
Banned
Just got a class action law suit email from amazon about those publisher who conspired with apple.
Might get credit for some kindle book
Might get credit for some kindle book
A Human Becoming
More than a Member
Is there no wish list option for the Kindle app (on Android)? Seems like a significant missed opportunity.
You just heard about this now? They're the reason eBook prices went up after the iPad was announced in 2010. Hated those assholes when that happened. Amazon had such a good thing going with ebook discounts and Apple came and screwed it up for a few years.
My expensive version of a "wish list" is to just buy everything that I may want to read in the future
Amazon accidentally reveals new Kindle Paperwhite and September 30th release date
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/3/46...w-kindle-paperwhite-september-30-availability
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/3/46...w-kindle-paperwhite-september-30-availability
My paperwhite is perfectly fine, but an improved screen and speed are enough to get me to upgrade.
Wonder if they're just refreshing the paperwhite and not the button version?
I'm getting one for my GF. If it looks very similar to the old one, I might have to try and switch mine with hers
VistraNorrez
Member
I wonder how many of those software features will come to the original Paperwhite.
MentallyCritical
Member
Aww, damit! just bought mine like a day or two ago :|
Well good thing the "accidental announcement" doesn't hold anything substantially better(at least for me).
Well good thing the "accidental announcement" doesn't hold anything substantially better(at least for me).
I don't see why not, surely GoodReads integration would only need a software update. (and it says in that image "coming soon" so not even the new paperwhite will ship with it)
chickdigger802
Banned
you probably can return it. Amazon CS are some of the best imo.