# Kindle Paperwhite II - Anyone have one? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640 "2014-06-12T17:30:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/1 "2014-06-12T17:30:23Z")
I’m considering purchasing an e-book reader and have been looking at the Kindle Paperwhite II. Anyone have one of these? Do you like/love it? Are there any cons? Is anything else out there better (I only want an e-reader, not a full tablet). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/2 "2014-06-12T17:36:11Z")
My husband likes his a lot. The front light is useful, the screen is excellent, and the integration with the Amazon ecosystem is wonderful. There aren’t as many customization options as some other e-ink readers, but there should be enough choices for most people. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/3 "2014-06-12T22:50:20Z")
I love my Paperwhite. The light is wonderful for reading in bed, it’s clear and easy to read in the sun (just like a paperback), it’s light weight, hooked up to GoodReads, and it’s easy to get books onto it, however acquired. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/4 "2014-06-12T23:06:46Z")
First e-reader for me. You will need Wi-fi to complete the registration but it can be used without otherwise. It does not read books in .epub format. Get [Calibre](http://calibre-ebook.com/) to convert to .mobi (Kindle). It’s dead easy loading books off the computer. Connect the USB cable and the Kindle appears as a drive/folder. Drag and drop. Get a good case that protects the screen. Lots of choices. I went with the Amazon leather cover, expensive but the Kindle snaps into the frame(I’m not sure if I can get it out again) and closing the cover puts it to sleep, opening wakes it up. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/5 "2014-06-12T23:11:41Z")
I have an old style Kindle (keyboard kind) which I really like and have recently bought a Kindle White II for my son’s fiancée for her birthday. It hasn’t arrived yet but I assume it’ll be linked to my Amazon account. I hope it’s not too difficult for her/me to assign it to her. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/6 "2014-06-12T23:14:44Z")
I have been researching this myself in the last several days. I’ve figured out that I want the 2nd gen, paperwhite, 6", wi-fi (no 3g), and with the ads. If you want to talk specifics I can explain how I made the choices. Now I just have to find the money… Suddenly that $49 Kindle Whatever sounds good. ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/7 "2014-06-13T12:55:07Z")
Thanks for all the info, everyone. > [@](#): > > There aren’t as many customization options as some other e-ink readers, but there should be enough choices for most people. What kind of options are not available? > [@tapu](#): > > I have been researching this myself in the last several days. I’ve figured out that I want the 2nd gen, paperwhite, 6", wi-fi (no 3g), and with the ads. If you want to talk specifics I can explain how I made the choices. I’d love to hear your specifics, as I have been doing research for a couple weeks myself. Love to know if there’s anything I missed. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/8 "2014-06-13T14:29:02Z")
> [@Orionizer](#): > > Thanks for all the info, everyone. > > What kind of options are not available? For example, the Kobo Aura has many font style choices including type and thickness, not just size of text. Margins and other options are also more customizable with sliders. Other less well known readers have even more customizations available. But as I said, the options on the Paperwhite should be enough for most people and the Amazon ecosystem provides a great user experience that isn’t matched by anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/9 "2014-06-13T14:53:23Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > For example, the Kobo Aura has many font style choices including type and thickness, not just size of text. Margins and other options are also more customizable with sliders. Other less well known readers have even more customizations available. > > But as I said, the options on the Paperwhite should be enough for most people and the Amazon ecosystem provides a great user experience that isn’t matched by anyone else. Ok, thanks for that info! I should be ok without those options. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/10 "2014-06-13T14:54:31Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s dead easy loading books off the computer. Connect the USB cable and the Kindle appears as a drive/folder. Drag and drop. You don’t need to hook your Kindle to your computer. You can send the docs over the internet. There’s several ways. **Send to Kindle for PC** [http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/pc](http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/pc) this is software that installs on your machine. You can drag and drop files or rightclick on them and choose the send to kindle option. It also adds an option to the print dialog on the computer. If you’re reading a document in Word, you can go to Print it and select your Kindle as the printer, and it will be sent to your device. There’s also a Mac version. **Send to Kindle by Email** [http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/email](http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/email) Each Kindle device has its own email address. You can find out the email address at the Manage Your Kindle page on Amazon. You can just email the item as an attachment. (There’s a list of acceptable file formats on that page). **Send to Kindle from your Browser** [http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/firefox](http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/firefox) There are browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and IE. That link is for Firefox. It adds a button to your toolbar and when you find an article you want to read later, you can click the button to send it to your device. Anything you send this way gets stored in your Amazon Cloud Drive. You can manage the documents stored on that drive via the website: > **[Amazon.com: : All Departments](https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=23967574011)** > > Online shopping for from a great selection at All Departments Store. As far as the Paperwhite goes, it’s my most essential device. I have a first gen and it’s so perfect as it is that I haven’t even wanted to update (although I might when the 3rd gen comes out this fall.) ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/11 "2014-06-13T15:35:27Z")
**Merneith** , you just blew my mind. Thanks for the info! ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/12 "2014-06-13T16:27:18Z")
Wow! Thanks for those links and tips! That’s great! ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/13 "2014-06-13T16:31:12Z")
I have - and love - a first generation PaperWhite. Has anyone here owned both that and the second generation? Is there a big difference? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/14 "2014-06-13T16:40:49Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > For example, the Kobo Aura has many font style choices including type and thickness, not just size of text. Margins and other options are also more customizable with sliders. Other less well known readers have even more customizations available. Not sure how extensive options on the Kobo or other e-readers are, but the Kindle has six native font options (Baskerville, Caecilia, Caecilia Condensed, Futura, Helvetica, and Palatino) in additon to the “Publisher Font” if made available by the publisher. There are eight size settings for the fonts, three different settings for line spacing, and three different options for margins. I find these more than sufficient to provide a comfortable reading medium. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/15 "2014-06-13T16:52:57Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > You don’t need to hook your Kindle to your computer. You can send the docs over the internet. There’s several ways. I don’t have Wi-fi so I do everything by transfer. ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/16 "2014-06-13T16:55:41Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > Not sure how extensive options on the Kobo or other e-readers are, but the Kindle has six native font options (Baskerville, Caecilia, Caecilia Condensed, Futura, Helvetica, and Palatino) in additon to the “Publisher Font” if made available by the publisher. There are eight size settings for the fonts, three different settings for line spacing, and three different options for margins. > > I find these more than sufficient to provide a comfortable reading medium. Sounds perfect for me, too! ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/17 "2014-06-13T16:57:01Z")
One quick question - if I were to go to a local office store (Staples, Office Depot, etc) is there a way to determine that what they have is a 2nd gen and not a 1st? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/18 "2014-06-13T17:01:07Z")
I have one and an older Kindle DX with buttons. The buttons are very nice, but the screen is nicer on the Paperwhite. I have trouble navigating the books on both, but I like Kindle because I always have something to read. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/19 "2014-06-13T17:01:17Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I don’t have Wi-fi so I do everything by transfer. Oh, sure. That’s perfectly viable. I just wanted to mention the options. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640/20 "2014-06-13T17:01:48Z")
There was a problem with the first gen. light. It was often blotchy though it varied. The software can be updated to 2nd gen. [Download](http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_left_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201064850) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-paperwhite-ii-anyone-have-one/690640.md?page=2)