# New Kindles announced. What do you think? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107 "2012-09-08T18:14:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/61 "2012-09-11T14:36:30Z")
I’ve been wanting an e-reader for a long time now and I think the addition of a light has finally clinched it for me. I really want something I can read in bright sunlight and in bed next to my sleeping wife. This will do both. And apparently very well. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/62 "2012-09-12T16:01:19Z")
After reading reviews and such, I think I’m going to get the Nexus 7. I’m ok with the special offers page on Amazon. I’ll pay the $15 to get rid of it. I’m fine with the closed ecosystem. I don’t use many apps anyways. I’m fine without the GPS. But what I’m _not_ fine with is the [Customers Also Bought](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/09/fire-software-2012-09-10-800-1-450.jpg) at the bottom of every page whenever the Fire isn’t in landscape. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/63 "2012-09-12T16:52:41Z")
I keep looking at the paperwhite and it just seems to me that there’s going to be so much contrast between the white and black that it’s going to cause a lot of strain. I like the black on off white of the other Kindles. Anyone else notice that? Just me? ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/64 "2012-09-12T17:51:33Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I keep looking at the paperwhite and it just seems to me that there’s going to be so much contrast between the white and black that it’s going to cause a lot of strain. I like the black on off white of the other Kindles. > > Anyone else notice that? > Just me? I did sorta think about that. I like that the Kindle app for iThingy and Android lets you set the background to Sepia. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/65 "2012-09-12T19:31:43Z")
I think the new Kindles are a good improvement, but for the price I’d still go for the Google Nexus 7. ETA: Here is a good comparison review: [http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/09/amazon-kindle-fire-versus-google-asus-nexus-7/](http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/09/amazon-kindle-fire-versus-google-asus-nexus-7/) ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/66 "2012-09-14T05:20:06Z")
I want to make sweet, sweet love to my Nexus 7. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/67 "2012-09-14T15:38:52Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > One downside I’ve heard to the new Paperwhite versions is that they’ve removed the audio features (no text-to-speech, no speakers or headphone jack). > > I’m interested in the opinions of current Kindle owners. What do you think of these changes? I’ve owned a Kindle for several years. The first generation then the third (Kindle Keyboard). Other than to set up the wi-fi password and to create collections (why they don’t let you do that on your computer when the Kindle is plugged in via USB, I don’t know) I never use the keyboard. I’ve never used the audio features, but I may be rare in that. I’m very much a “right tool for the job” kind of person and that’s why I never cared about all these features Kindles supposedly lack that people bitch about. As far as I’m concerned as an E-reader designed to read books only which is all I want it to do, it’s the best out there. I haven’t been tempted by the Kindle 4 or the Touch (they may be the same device), but I am tempted by the Paperwhite. Very tempted. Not enough to pre-order, but I will be monitoring the reviews when they are released into the wild and may take the plunge later this year. What I’m not sure I’ll like is touching the screen to turn pages - I like the buttons. > [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Well of _course_ they just announced new models. I just got mine last week. :rolleyes: > > I love my new Kindle and the new ones, especially the Kindle Paperwhite, sound very cool. If you did just buy it a week ago, you can still pack it up and ship it back for a no questions asked refund and get a Paperwhite. No need for :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/68 "2012-09-14T17:07:07Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > They are being a bit disingenuous with this claim of “8 weeks” of battery life. > > [Amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Paperwhite-Touch-light/dp/B007OZNZG0) > > “8 weeks” is based on reading only 30 minutes per day. That is just over 1 day of battery life, or 0.17 weeks, if measured in the conventional way (i.e. hours of sustained use, not how long you can let the thing sit essentially idle before the battery dies). > > Their comparison chart is very misleading as a result, because it compares their “8 weeks” of battery life (assuming 30 minutes of use per day), to the conventional battery life figures for other devices (which assume constant use until the battery dies, e.g. number for “smart phone” battery life is 4-13 hours). > > I expect better than this from Amazon. This is like a car manufacturer advertising 100 mpg gas mileage, with fine print stating it was measured on a downhilll slope with a tailwind. Eh - this is pretty much a standard industry practice; Barnes and Noble measures the Nook’s battery life in the same way. And it makes good sense, because it gives a sense of the reality of using this product - unlike a smartphone or tablet, you won’t be charging it every day, and you probably won’t even be charging it every couple of weeks. I read a lot on my old Kindle Touch (before I smashed it), and I never really had to keep an eye on battery life - the bulk of the time, I could just treat it like a book, leave the charger at home on trips, and so on. That’s why I consider the 8-week figure to be basically fair. If you want to rephrase it as “you can use the device constantly, for three full work-days, without needing to recharge”, that’s still pretty impressive. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/69 "2012-09-14T17:34:26Z")
> [@Mauvaise](#): > > I’ve never used the audio features, but I may be rare in that. I’m very much a “right tool for the job” kind of person and that’s why I never cared about all these features Kindles supposedly lack that people bitch about. As far as I’m concerned as an E-reader designed to read books only which is all I want it to do, it’s the best out there. Yeah, the more I consider it, the less the lack of audio bothers me. I usually use a small mp3 player for audiobooks anyway, so I can be mobile and hands-free. > [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Eh - this is pretty much a standard industry practice; Barnes and Noble measures the Nook’s battery life in the same way. And it makes good sense, because it gives a sense of the reality of using this product - unlike a smartphone or tablet, you won’t be charging it every day, and you probably won’t even be charging it every couple of weeks. I read a lot on my old Kindle Touch (before I smashed it), and I never really had to keep an eye on battery life - the bulk of the time, I could just treat it like a book, leave the charger at home on trips, and so on. Plus, Amazon is not exactly hiding the “30 minutes of reading a day with the light set at level 10” part. On the website, it’s right there alongside the “8 weeks” claim, in more than one place. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/70 "2012-09-14T18:03:39Z")
It’s exceedingly rare for tech manufacturers to lie outright, these days - there are just too many gadgetblogs waiting to test any objective claim made. If anything, some specs (like battery life) tend to be a bit undersold. ---
**Author:** ![HansH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@HansH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HansH)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/71 "2012-09-18T13:28:14Z")
I will like a kindle or whatever which has 2-3 pages I can turn to look back or forth. Like a book. But I think I have to wait till oled flexible screens will be a common thing. And even then I am not sure I can get what I want. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/72 "2012-09-18T14:10:06Z")
I got my new Kindle Fire HD and love it to death. I didn’t realize what a difference it would make to me to be able to see the book covers in color. I lose track of books when I don’t have that visual cue. Bookmarking, highlighting, adding notes-- easy as pie. It does web, email (not just webmail). I know there’s a state that will marry us. I just know it. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/73 "2012-09-18T16:16:28Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I got my new Kindle Fire HD and love it to death. I didn’t realize what a difference it would make to me to be able to see the book covers in color. I lose track of books when I don’t have that visual cue. Bookmarking, highlighting, adding notes-- easy as pie. It does web, email (not just webmail). I know there’s a state that will marry us. I just know it. How are the “customers also bought” ads? That was the deciding factor for me on whether to get it or not (I didn’t). Do you find them obtrusive? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/74 "2012-09-18T17:57:42Z")
I have a Kindle 3 with light, which I love and have zero problem with, but I still want a Paperwhite. But I cannot really justify the expense to myself, much less my wife. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107/75 "2012-09-18T22:36:21Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > How are the “customers also bought” ads? That was the deciding factor for me on whether to get it or not (I didn’t). Do you find them obtrusive? Not at all. They’re like what you see on the amazon page when you’re looking at a book, and below you have, “Customers who bought ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ also bought…” and then the book covers that you scroll through horizontally. On the kindle, those book covers are pretty small, proportionately, Maybe the size of large postage stamps. It’s very unobtrusive, and frankly, I LIKE to know what people bought who also bought ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre.’ I often find new stuff to read that way. I love that amazon suggests purchases based on my buying history. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kindles-announced-what-do-you-think/634107.md?page=3)