Exclusive: meet the Amazon Kindle with 'Paperwhite' backlit display

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Connallmac

I thought I would dislike a kindle without physical buttons. But when I tried the Touch version I found it actually works quite nicely.

Yes, I was sceptical about the touch interface before getting my Kindle Touch. Now I find that the lack of buttons doesn't bother me at all.

[scheichxodox]

But how do you hold the Touch? You would have to move your thumb each time you want to turn the page. It's not possible to simply rest the thumb on the display of course.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by scheichxodox

But how do you hold the Touch? You would have to move your thumb each time you want to turn the page. It's not possible to simply rest the thumb on the display of course.

I hold it with my thumb on the edge of the screen bezel, and a slight rolling of my thumb is sufficient to turn the page. Remember that you don't need to actually touch the screen, just break the IR beams which are about 1mm above the screen surface.

[scheichxodox]

Well, first I'll wait until the new Kindle is released, maybe it has page turn buttons on the side, who knows. Then I still may try it out in a local store like Staples before I finally decide to not buy it. But right now, I can't imagine how I can use an ereader without physical turn buttons. That's the one thing I love most about my K3. I don't have to move my thumb at all. Just rest it directly on the button and a really light press is enough. How much more comfortably could it get?

[Connallmac]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I hold it with my thumb on the edge of the screen bezel, and a slight rolling of my thumb is sufficient to turn the page. Remember that you don't need to actually touch the screen, just break the IR beams which are about 1mm above the screen surface.

Same here. I actually tried out the K4 first, because it retained the page turn buttons, but the darn thing was too thin and light for my hand. I kept turning pages accidentally. So I sent it back and got the Touch instead, and it has been a very good e-reader.

[markbot]

It's surprising that no one has corrected the "back light" feature comment across any of the regurgitated news stories.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by markbot

It's surprising that no one has corrected the "back light" feature comment across any of the regurgitated news stories.

Many people seem to regard "backlit" as simply a synonym for "illuminated", without stopping to think what the word actually means. Of course an eInk display is opaque, hence cannot be backlit.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Many people seem to regard "backlit" as simply a synonym for "illuminated", without stopping to think what the word actually means. Of course an eInk display is opaque, hence cannot be backlit.

And this is one of the disturbing things about the interwebz....loss of integrity, consciousness, correctness. The Interwebz have become Faux News.

[mewmartigan]

New one looks great to me and I bet the price will be nice too. Can't wait for the pre-order page to show up.

I definitely prefer the touch to the physical buttons. Will be interesting to see if the non-touch version gets any kind of update or at least updated software when the new ones arrive.

[soulfuldog]

If the display looks significantly better I *might* have considered upgrading IF there'd been page turn buttons on the side. It's not a lot of hassle to touch the screen with your thumb to turn pages, but nothing beats the comfort and usability of those buttons on the side.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by l_macd

If the display looks significantly better I *might* have considered upgrading IF there'd been page turn buttons on the side. It's not a lot of hassle to touch the screen with your thumb to turn pages, but nothing beats the comfort and usability of those buttons on the side.

Nothing beats them except NOT having them.

[TongueTied]

If it has a front light, I'm in. However, I think it will be many moons before Amazon will sell them down here.

[Zeebra]

Originally Posted by MovieBird

There don't appear to be any physical page turn buttons :[

That's my deal breaker. Hopefully they don't just refresh the Touch and have another model with buttons (and the screen improvements)

[TimW]

Nate has an article on the Verge images and there's some consideration on the exact meaning of "Haute Resolution," whether it means "high resolution" or "higher resolution." If it is indeed an HD screen, I'd have to buy one...for curiosity's sake. (I have to think of some rationalization; I don't really need one.)

[vrf]

Will the new "Paperwhite" e-ink make up for the reduced contrast from the lighting overlay? I'm skeptical. The front-lit Nooks clearly had less contrast.