# Kindle Oasis **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078 "2016-04-13T14:17:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Galwegian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galwegian/32/3426_2.png) [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/1 "2016-04-13T14:17:58Z")
Just announced: the Kindle Oasis. I was in the market for a new Kindle, and was holding out for a Voyage 2 with a bigger screen. This new one looks okay, but still has a six inch screen and… $289.99 ! For a Kindle! Hell, I’m glad they’re still selling the original Voyage, I’ll plump for one of those instead. Any thoughts? Anyone who might pay that for an ebook reader? ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/2 "2016-04-13T14:22:25Z")
I just use the kindle app on my smart phone these days. Before that I was using the Fire ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/3 "2016-04-13T15:02:45Z")
I love my paperwhite, and don’t see the need to upgrade. Note that if you are an Amazon Prime person, you can get a decent reduction in price currently if you purchase a kindle. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/4 "2016-04-13T15:08:32Z")
This is the first I’ve heard of it, that I can remember, so a link might be nice. Here’s one: [Amazon’s New Kindle Oasis Is the Fanciest-Pantsiest E-Reader Ever](http://www.wired.com/2016/04/amazons-kindle-oasis-fanciest-e-reader-ever/). > [@](#): > > AMAZON TRYING TO BUILD a better Kindle is kind of like Superman joining a gym: Nice idea, knock yourself out, but it’s not like you need it. Sounds like it’s the same for this as it is for top-of-the-line models of lots of things: it may indeed be the best, but it’s not enough better than significantly cheaper alternatives to justify buying it, unless you’re not at all price-conscious or having the best is really important to you. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/5 "2016-04-13T15:37:45Z")
Note the price includes the fancy leather cover with built-in battery pack - so compared to $200 for a Voyage without a cover, $290 for a new top-of-the line model seems in line. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/6 "2016-04-13T15:45:03Z")
Looks very nice. The return of the dedicated page-turn buttons is a good choice. For that price, though, I’ll stick with my current Paperwhite for now. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/7 "2016-04-13T16:13:27Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Note the price includes the fancy leather cover with built-in battery pack - so compared to $200 for a Voyage without a cover, $290 for a new top-of-the line model seems in line. Only if you ignore that it’s the exact same screen as the $120 Paperwhite, and the screen is the reason we have e-ink readers in the first place. You could buy three Paperwhites for that price, and also keep them plugged in for better battery life. So … I don’t know. I mean, I’m sure it’s nice enough. Enjoy those $170 buttons, I guess! ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/8 "2016-04-13T16:27:56Z")
The main reason I haven’t bought an e-book reader is this: if I leave a paperback book on my lounge chair at the pool, it will still be there when I get back from a swim. If I leave an expensive piece of electronics in the same place – well, it’s a much riskier proposition. I might take the risk with a $80.00-$100.00 gadget. But when you get up into the $300 range, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/9 "2016-04-13T16:42:18Z")
None of these things are waterproof, either, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/10 "2016-04-13T16:46:06Z")
Meh. I still read my Generation 1 Kindle DX. If I want/have to read something the size of a paperback I’ll just use my phone. That way I don’t have to carry another gadget. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/11 "2016-04-13T17:03:35Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > None of these things are waterproof, either, sadly. No, but if you have a model with page-turn buttons, I don’t see why you couldn’t put it in a Ziplock bag. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/12 "2016-04-13T19:04:14Z")
Well, I about crapped my pants at the $189 price tag. Seems like an awful lot of money to me. There’s no way I’d pay that. My two older Kindles are chugging along fine, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/13 "2016-04-13T19:06:05Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Well, I about crapped my pants at the $189 price tag. Seems like an awful lot of money to me. There’s no way I’d pay that. My two older Kindles are chugging along fine, thank you. Go get yourself to a bathroom. $_2_89 😃 ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/14 "2016-04-13T19:08:38Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > No, but if you have a model with page-turn buttons, I don’t see why you couldn’t put it in a Ziplock bag. You don’t even need buttons - the touch screen works fine through a ziploc bag, I’ve done it myself. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/15 "2016-04-13T19:13:23Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > You don’t even need buttons - the touch screen works fine through a ziploc bag, I’ve done it myself. There are nice dry pouches made for the kindle. Do not trust a ziplock for anything more than a light splash. I’ve known many people who try using a ziplock for their phone for boating and they all end up getting new phones. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/16 "2016-04-13T19:57:00Z")
I am happy with my Voyage but the Oasis looks interesting and I will look into it in a year or two when I am ready to upgrade; hopefully the price comes down a bit too. The grip for better one-handed use looks useful; I frequently hold the Voyage in one hand and it’s not that comfortable. I like the physical buttons too. I am not sure I will use the leather case much but it does look classy. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/17 "2016-04-13T20:20:02Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I love my paperwhite, and don’t see the need to upgrade. > > Note that if you are an Amazon Prime person, you can get a decent reduction in price currently if you purchase a kindle. I don’t see any special prime pricing anywhere. Did I miss it? ---
**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:** [April 13, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/18 "2016-04-13T20:37:35Z")
The odd thing: Amazon allows left-right hand positioning with this. But how about landscape mode? I _always_ read in landscape mode. (One reason I installed Cyanogenmod on my B&N Simple Touch was so that I could forever be in landscape mode.) Do you hold it with the bulge at the bottom? Certainly not at the top??? Good: Comes with a cover. Bad: A battery heavy cover. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/19 "2016-04-13T23:19:38Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > But how about landscape mode? I always read in landscape mode. (One reason I installed Cyanogenmod on my B&N Simple Touch was so that I could forever be in landscape mode.) > > Do you hold it with the bulge at the bottom? Certainly not at the top??? It does have landscape mode - I would have to assume you would use it with the bulge on the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078/20 "2016-04-13T23:23:30Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I don’t see any special prime pricing anywhere. Did I miss it? I got an email. I’m speshul? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-oasis/752078.md?page=2)