Yeah, I remember hearing about that when it first came out. Mostly, I think the problem was people setting the backlight incorrectly. If you use the Paperwhite with the light cranked up to High in a dark room you can see a slight shadow along the edge of the screen. If you turn the light down a few notches, like you should, the shadow isn’t as visible.
The light settings aren’t as inuitive. You need the highest light settings in bright sunlight and you want lower light settings in dark rooms. This is because a dark room needs less light to provide a contrast between the text and the color of the page. I’m not saying you can’t use the light - not at all. Just that you shouldn’t crank the light up to the highest setting and leave it there regardless of the ambient light environment.
But even if you do crank the light up to “Day Star” levels, the shadow is no more obtrusive than than the shadow along the edges of the pages when you’re reading a book. It doesn’t obscure the text at all.
I don’t think the software updates make a difference. It has to do with the physical structure of the way light is directed along the screen. I think people’s eyes have just made the adjustment and they don’t notice it any more.
But isn’t there an actual screen difference between 1st and 2nd gen at the hardware level? I just don’t want to go to a local store and purchase and find out it’s 1st gen hardware.
Sure, as I said these are enough for most people and my husband is happy with his.
The Aura has 11 fonts to choose from, including two specifically for dyslexia. You can also adjust the weight and sharpness of to further customize each font. I find this useful since the fonts tend to get washed out a bit by the lighting. Font size, line spacing, and margins all have slider controls, rather than a few defined selections.
Well, that is extensive. And impressive, especially the fonts designed for dyslexics. I just wanted to point out the precise range of Kindle options for the OP so they could make an informed judgement.
As to any obvious external difference, apparently the back of the device is the most telling disparity; the first model has a subtle engraved lower-case “kindle” logo but the new one has the familiar “amazon” smiley-arrow logo in gloss. So if you can see the back of the device, you can be sure you have the new one if you see the Amazon logo and not the kindle logo.
I’ve got a 2011 vintage Kindle Touch (sans ads), and it’s the best thing since sliced bread.
The only thing I wish it had as far as reading is concerned, is some sort of illumination, and the paperwhite series has that covered.
Otherwise, I love the idea that I can have dozens of books on the device at once, buy them with a couple of clicks on Amazon and have them download automatically without me having to fiddle with it.
Battery life is stellar, it’s physically a pretty tough device, and it is easy to read in almost every lighting condition except for extremely low light, which makes sense, considering that it doesn’t provide any illumination of its own.
I like the touchscreen / one button interface. I do wish I could customize the screen regions for forward/backward/etc… but it’s not unusable as-is.
I just ordered a used Kindle–not paperwhite, not 3g–for $35. I surprise myself because I was all set on the paperwhite. But then I thought:
I can turn a light on at night when I read.
I don’t need 3g. I just don’t see myself being in situations with no wi-fi and I desperately need a book downloaded NOW.
*I can find out if I like a Kindle for $35 (-$49). Then I can always upgrade. I prefer to pay the lower figure now than to pay $120+ for the paperwhite.
*Apparently these other kindles worked pretty well for people.
Tell me you’re thinking. Also, ask me about mine when I get it.
I have a 2nd gen Paperwhite and I love it. It’s my first Kindle, so I can’t compare it to others. One thing I really love is that I have the Kindle app on my iPad, so I can switch back and forth between them as needed and the software keeps track of my place in the book, no matter which device I’m on.
The “backlight” is really nice. Much preferable to a reading light.
One other factor to consider if deciding between a brand-new second-generation Paperwhite and a second-hand, refurbished, or just cheaper first-generation model, is the current software runs on both. So while there are real differences in hardware (mainly improved contrast, light, page-turn, and processor), the software is the same. So the first-generation model still gives you Goodreads on Kindle, Smart Lookup, Vocabulary Builder, Inline Footnotes, etc.
I’ve had every Kindle e-ink model since the first—which cost $400 back in 2008, and was incredibly clunky—but I haven’t yet upgraded to the newest Paperwhite because the increase in performance and features just isn’t as large as it was in the previous models. Yes, the screen light can be uneven if it’s set too bright in a dim setting. And yes, the screen flickers slightly on page turns, but that never bothered me from the beginning. So if there’s an economic consideration, the first-gen Paperwhite is very nearly as good as the second, and performs very nearly as well.
I probably will upgrade eventually—if only because I give the older models to my sister, so she’s still using the non-lit model—but now I’m wondering if there’s an even-newer model due any time soon.
These are very good points. The software was another consideration I had when choosing the cheaper model. And, it does seem prudent to wait for the next model–even if I buy the preceding model at a reduced price then.