News A new type of Kindle might be on the horizon, but not the kind we need

[AC News]

Rumors fly amock about a color Kindle. Whether this is true or not is secondary. What you should really be asking is whether we even need one.

A new type of Kindle might be on the horizon, but not the kind we need : Read more

 

[radiobabylon]

i think, probably, you are not the target market for the kindle devices, especially not the 'basic' kindles (paperwhite etc, not the scribe/oasis/et al)... i buy kindles explicitly BECAUSE all they are is a reader. and i would pay double for a color kindle paperwhite in a hot minute (like, immediately, right this instant, i would preorder one if it were available). ive wanted a color e-ink device ever since the first ones went on the market but havent bought one, and it isnt because of price... its because i dont want an everything and the kitchen sink device, i want a READER. and i especially dont want an android reader.

youre also incorrect about the battery usage. a color e-ink screen uses no more power than a black and white one. the thing that causes the terrible battery life on the other color readers is ANDROID. the kindle os does mostly NOTHING when you arent turning pages (or adjusting settings), and if airplane mode is on, its for really real doing nothing at all. aside from readability, thats the whole point of e-ink, it takes zero power to hold a screen. so that power drain is from all the OTHER things the device is doing.

i think its great that there are kindle alternatives, because clearly, not everyone buys a device for the same reason. but i suspect a lot of kindle die-hards use them not because of the price, but because theyre very focused devices that are EXCELLENT for what they do: reading books. and i suspect a basic paperwhite with a color screen would sell quite well indeed.

 

[OutofNames]

I agree with radiobabylon.

The Kindle (especially Paperwhite) is meant for one thing, reading.
It has a long battery life, charges quickly and the newer models are mostly waterproof.
People buy books from the Amazon store, and use other various free/discounted services, particularly checking out books for free from the library (a tedious process but it can be done).

If you want an electronic Swiss army knife with apps/perform multiple functions, use an Amazon Fire, or your Smartphone, Tablet, Laptop, etc.
The last thing you want when reading a book is interruptions/notifications popping up on your screen/constant updates.

I'm currently using a 4GB 2015 Kindle Paperwhite model that I purchased in 2017 and I've only used half the storage to date.
When I checked within that last year it still had the most current OS (I'm sure it's about to stop getting current OS updates if it hasn't already but 8+ years of primary OS support for any device is pretty good these days).
This is my first Kindle and all I've done to keep functioning is
1. Buy a case and keep it closed when the Kindle is not in use
2. Keep it away from water, keep it out of the sun when the Kindle is not in use
3. Keep it away from pets/small children
4. Keep it out of dusty/dirty environments
5. No throwing it around or putting anything heavy on top of it
6. Put it in Airplane mode at all times when not syncing for new books or updating the OS, which is not frequent (WiFi is the biggest battery drain).

I would pay more for a Kindle with a color screen with the idea that I would get at least 6-10 years of use out of it.
I like the idea of a color Kindle to better see illustrations/maps in books, I may even consider Manga and Comics on a Kindle (depending on image quality/storage use).