# Anyone Have the Kindle Paperwhite? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2012, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296 "2012-12-17T11:55:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/1 "2012-12-17T11:55:25Z")
I have the Kindle Touch with e-ink technology and I do love it, but I’ve been drooling over the Paperwhite for a few months now. Knowing how much longer I have to read a book appeals to me, as does an optional backlit screen. Also, if it’s lighter weight, and the cover is not as heavy, that would be ideal. It’s also supposedly ‘‘faster,’’ which I hope means their ridiculously clunky library and online functions were fixed. The process for getting online from Kindle Touch is a bit ridiculous, and organizing books is a pain. So. Do you like it? Was it worth the buy? How different is it from the Touch? Thanks, Christy ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/2 "2012-12-17T12:05:28Z")
Posting to keep an eye on this thread. I just bought one for my wife for Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/3 "2012-12-17T15:11:21Z")
Subscribing to keep an eye on this as well. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/4 "2012-12-17T15:26:30Z")
I considered buying one but was scared off by numerous user complaints of (and one YouTube video depicting) uneven lighting / dark blotches on parts of the screen. If anyone’s bought one I’d be interested to hear if they have that problem. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/5 "2012-12-17T21:55:21Z")
So am I the only one that bought one? I’ve had mine for a couple of months now and I’m satisfied with it. It IS smaller and lighter than my old Kindle keyboard, but the screen size appears to be identical. I can now (barely) fit it and its cover in my back jean pocket. I usually keep the back light turned way down to conserve battery. I do, however, turn it up when I want to read before I go to sleep and my SO doesn’t want me to turn on the light. It’s pretty comfortable to read in the dark with the back light on. It doesn’t have a headphone jack or a speaker, so you can’t have it read books to you like my kindle keyboard could – but I don’t see that as much of a disadvantage. Connecting to the Amazon store doesn’t seem to take too long. I’ve done it several times to get the book description of a book I’m starting. I do remember my old kindle didn’t do this very quickly, so the Paperwhite is better. J. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/6 "2012-12-17T22:19:24Z")
My wife & I have each had one for a while now and like them. Can’t compare to the Touch as we upgraded from the Kindle 3. About the first thing I did was jailbreak it and install mods for custom screensavers and collection management (in concert with _Calibre_). Amazon has changed the way the software deals with collections so it’s not quite as easy to use but still OK. The built-in light works well, it’s great when I’m putting my son to sleep and end up sitting in a dark room until he’s finally nodded off. On both we have had no real issues with uneven lighting, there is a little ‘blotchyness’ along the bottom of the screen where the LED’s reside but when reading I don’t notice it at all, especially when in a darkened room. Easier to hold and lighter than my Kindle 3. I also have the Amazon cover that contains a magnet which puts it into screensaver mode when closed and wakes it when opened. Neat 🙂 I don’t use the store via Kindle, I’d rather just buy via their website and send it to my Kindle through that. I’d prefer more storage space and physical forward/back buttons would be nice sometimes but otherwise have had no issues at all. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/7 "2013-01-04T22:26:37Z")
I’m going to answer my own question now, because I broke down and bought it (it was inevitable. Kindles are the closest thing we have to magic.) So far… I love, love, love that it allows me to read in any light conditions. In pitch dark I keep it on the lowest setting and it reads just fine. The contrast is much improved. Navigation is easier for me than it was on the Kindle Touch, and the pages seem to turn more fluidly. Time estimates for completion are fun. I like the smaller case a lot, which wakes it up and puts it to sleep. It’s heavy, quite a bit heavier than my Kindle Touch (which I gave my husband.) I’m still trying to find a comfortable one-handed position with the case. There is some unevenness in the light, particularly at the bottom, but I forget about it fairly easily… you can’t see it in the daylight and at night I barely have the light on to notice. The Collections management thingy is improved and I like the cover view option, but I still think the Collections thingy is needlessly confusing. All in all, I think it’s an improvement. Can someone tell me about this jailbreak thingy? I’ve never jailbroken any device before. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/8 "2013-01-04T22:38:15Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Subscribing to keep an eye on this as well. Thread tools in the top right, subscribe to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/9 "2013-01-04T23:19:13Z")
Hope I’m not ticking people off, but this appears to be the only current eReader thread. I just got a Nook Simple Touch. B&N’s bottom of the line reader. I just wanted to a cheap semi-tablet to play with. Runs Android 2.1 and is easily rootable. So I’m playing games and running Opera Mobile on it. (Reading the Dope on it is very hit or miss. Maybe there’s some settings I need to adjust.) Oh, using it as a reader? The built-in reader is _awful_. It is so very, very bad I can’t see how B&N can possibly compete against Kindles and such. So I’m testing out other readers. Aldiko is currently on hand. Better, as long as it’s an ePub. (Despite the Android store saying it works with a dozen different formats, it _only_ handles ePub.) I have PDFs and txt files. Converting with Calibre, etc. is a pain. Next up either Moon+ or Coolreader. I might even try the Kindle reader for Android. Yes, there are people out their using Kindle software on a Nook. My tip: unless you get a eReader with a _very_ high resolution color screen, go with the monochrome ones. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/10 "2013-01-04T23:34:59Z")
A back lit Kindle seems strange. I thought the entire point of the Kindle (I have the older, regular one, which I love) was that it wasn’t back lit so it would be easier on the eyes and the battery. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/11 "2013-01-04T23:40:19Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > A back lit Kindle seems strange. I thought the entire point of the Kindle (I have the older, regular one, which I love) was that it wasn’t back lit so it would be easier on the eyes and the battery. It’s front lit actually, so not the same as backlit LED that you are used to. Here’s how it works: [How the Kindle Paperwhite Works - Graphic - NYTimes.com](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/26/technology/light-reading.html) The battery life is the same as most other eink readers (Amazon claims 8 weeks reading 30 minutes a day). ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/12 "2013-01-04T23:57:57Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > It’s front lit actually, so not the same as backlit LED that you are used to. Here’s how it works: [How the Kindle Paperwhite Works - Graphic - NYTimes.com](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/26/technology/light-reading.html) > > The battery life is the same as most other eink readers (Amazon claims 8 weeks reading 30 minutes a day). I’m really interested in this - I have a keyboard Kindle that I like, but I’ve always thought I’d prefer a lighter background and my screen has a terrible glare when I try to use my clip-on booklight (not to mention the difficulty in finding a place to clip the damn thing without pressing buttons or obscuring the screen). I love the e-ink look, as opposed to reading a computer or tablet, and I really don’t like reading from a back-lit screen. If I didn’t have a Kindle, I’d go back to paper books exclusively. Now I’ll have to concentrate on dropping mine a few more times so I can justify replacing it. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/13 "2013-01-05T00:11:04Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I love, love, love that it allows me to read in any light conditions. In pitch dark I keep it on the lowest setting and it reads just fine. The contrast is much improved. Navigation is easier for me than it was on the Kindle Touch, and the pages seem to turn more fluidly. Time estimates for completion are fun. I like the smaller case a lot, which wakes it up and puts it to sleep. I got one for Christmas! I adore it and my whole family is green with envy. I suspect they’ll all trade in their old models in the next few months. I agree with everything you said up there. > [@](#): > > It’s heavy, quite a bit heavier than my Kindle Touch (which I gave my husband.) I’m still trying to find a comfortable one-handed position with the case. But this part surprises me. I have the Kindle Touch also and I would say that the Paperwhite is slightly lighter. But checking at Amazon it seems you’re correct. I guess I just have so much love for it that I never noticed. Maybe fairies hold it up. I agree, it is a kind of magic. > [@](#): > > There is some unevenness in the light, particularly at the bottom, but I forget about it fairly easily… you can’t see it in the daylight and at night I barely have the light on to notice. The Collections management thingy is improved and I like the cover view option, but I still think the Collections thingy is needlessly confusing. And I agree with this part here. The lighting is enough to just set off the screen but the key is adjust it for the ambient light settings. It makes a difference if the Kindle itself is the lightsource or if there’s normal room level light or what. Just cranking the Kindle light all the way up and leaving it there isn’t the optimal setting. Fortunately, adjusting the light is a snap. > [@](#): > > All in all, I think it’s an improvement. Can someone tell me about this jailbreak thingy? I’ve never jailbroken any device before. Googling will turn up the instructions, but I don’t know. Unless you’re really into the DIY aspects of it, I wouldn’t bother. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/14 "2013-01-05T00:23:30Z")
Got one for Christmas. So far I really like it. To me, a huge appeal of the Kindle is that you can read it in bright light (laying by the pool, etc.) With the backlight you can read it in bed or on a dark airplane without supplemental light. (Remember the Kandle?) An e-ink reader is very easy on the eyes. I think the size and weight are great. I’ve had a number of Kindles. A couple of them failed on me. The warranty worked pretty good but it’s still an aggravation. I hope the Paperwhite is more bullet-proof. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/15 "2013-01-05T00:39:47Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > A back lit Kindle seems strange. I thought the entire point of the Kindle (I have the older, regular one, which I love) was that it wasn’t back lit so it would be easier on the eyes and the battery. This was also my reason for getting one, and why I was hesitant to go for the Paperwhite. It’s not like an LED screen. It’s hard to describe… it’s like something glow-in-the-dark with text on it. You can turn it down all the way if you don’t like the glow, and it will look exactly like the e-ink display. I find it works best at a higher light setting in brighter daylight - better contrast - whereas just the faintest glow is all I need for night reading. I’ve had no issues with eye strain. I’ve only had it a couple of days, and I still have that, ‘‘Wait, this is glowing, it’s weird’’ moment from time to time, but it’s easy to forget about and I imagine with continued use I won’t notice at all. As far as battery drain, it’s supposed to last as long as the Kindle Touch even with the light all the way on (as long as wireless is de-activated.) I’ve been reading for hours a day and so far I still have 3/4 battery left. I don’t even have to turn it off anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/16 "2013-01-05T00:54:03Z")
I sold both of my kindles (mine/wife’s) and bought Paperwhites. I had cataract surgery, and with the old Kindle needed reading glasses to read because it was too dark. With Paperwhite I don’t need glasses - can read it clear as day. Wouldn’t trade it for anything else. And not having to find a well-lit space to read is great. I do find that its discharge time is a bit faster than the old Kindle’s. But not enough to be a big bother. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/17 "2013-01-05T01:46:08Z")
I have a Paperwhite, it’s my 4th Kindle and _by far_ the best. The front light is fantastic. It’s perfect for reading in bed, because the light is not harsh like an LCD backlight, and can be dimmed far enough to not bother my wife. But the best feature is the cover (sold separately in various colors). Admittedly it’s a bit heavy, but it has a magnetic latch that also turns the Kindle on/off. So I never even have to find and push the power button (or any button) - I just open the cover and start using the touchscreen. This may sound like a minor point but it makes a big difference. I was originally annoyed by the way it displayed suggested books on the top page, even on the supposedly ad-free version. But a later firmware added an option to get rid of this. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/18 "2013-01-05T03:01:14Z")
I’ve had my PPW for 2 or 3 months now and love it. The light is slightly uneven at the bottom of mine, but it doesn’t bother me and doesn’t obscure the text or anything like that. Overall the light is very smooth looking and can be adjusted for the situation so it never gives me too much glare or not enough light. The light is the main reason I got it, and I don’t regret it. My eyes are getting a little older now, and the light helps me see the text a little better, plus I can read in the dark! I previously had the Kindle Touch, which I also adore and would never have replaced if not for the light that the PPW offers. To me the Touch and the PPW don’t feel that different in weight. I guess they do differ a little, but I don’t feel it during use. I usually read in bed with the hand holding the Kindle propped against the mattress or pillow. The only small gripe I have is that I miss having a home button. The Touch has one but they removed it from the PPW. Touch screens are awesome, but just that one button for going to the home screen I would really like to have back. Small, tiny, infinitesimal gripe. > [@Quimby](#): > > A back lit Kindle seems strange. I thought the entire point of the Kindle (I have the older, regular one, which I love) was that it wasn’t back lit so it would be easier on the eyes and the battery. As another poster said, it isn’t backlit…it’s front lit. It’s very nice and you can turn the light down low to conserve battery power if desired. Battery life seems comparable to the Touch as far as I can tell. I usually have the light no higher than level 10, and it’s usually around 5. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/19 "2013-01-05T04:22:05Z")
I think I may be sold. Going to wait for the 3G model to go down in price a little though. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296/20 "2013-01-05T08:00:57Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > So. Do you like it? Was it worth the buy? How different is it from the Touch? I got a Paperwhite for Christmas, and I’m just going to say - I love it so much. It’s perfect. Can’t compare to the Touch, since I didn’t have one of those. This, for me, was an upgrade from a Kindle 2 (keyboard version!) I loved my Kindle 2, read from it nearly every night for like three years now. Thought it was damn near ideal. The Kindle Paperwhite is better in every way - It’s smaller, the backlight is perfect (adjustable, doesn’t seem to affect battery life, and now I can turn my nightstand lamp off _before_ I fall asleep reading.) and the x-ray function is surprisingly useful. Seriously, the Paperwhite gets my highest recommendation. Best e-reader there is, IMO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-the-kindle-paperwhite/644296.md?page=2)