MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - I've never owned a Kindle. What about you?

donnieparker · 11-08-2013, 10:55 AM

I won't buy a Kindle because they've turned e-readers into a race for the bottom. Since Amazon got involved, I think e-readers across the board have gotten more fragile, more cheaply made, and have suffered a lot of QC issues.

I bought a Sony PRS-350 a few years back, and the build quality is phenomenal. Three years later, and it's held up to some serious abuse. While I enjoy my new Kobo Aura, I know in three years it will be completely destroyed.

But now? In order to get to that magic 120 USD price point (or in the Aura's case, 150), serious corners have been cut. E-readers don't last. They break REALLY easily. In order to become the dominant eBook supplier, Amazon ruined the e-reader device market. I mean, look at Sony! They had to quit the U.S. market because people wouldn't pay more for a better quality reader!

So long story short, I can't buy from Amazon, when Amazon clearly has no interest in making or selling quality hardware. I enjoy reading on an e-reader, and I'm sad that there are no premium options anymore.

11-08-2013, 10:55 AM	#88
donnieparker Member Posts: 23 Karma: 422 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Aura	I won't buy a Kindle because they've turned e-readers into a race for the bottom. Since Amazon got involved, I think e-readers across the board have gotten more fragile, more cheaply made, and have suffered a lot of QC issues. I bought a Sony PRS-350 a few years back, and the build quality is phenomenal. Three years later, and it's held up to some serious abuse. While I enjoy my new Kobo Aura, I know in three years it will be completely destroyed. But now? In order to get to that magic 120 USD price point (or in the Aura's case, 150), serious corners have been cut. E-readers don't last. They break REALLY easily. In order to become the dominant eBook supplier, Amazon ruined the e-reader device market. I mean, look at Sony! They had to quit the U.S. market because people wouldn't pay more for a better quality reader! So long story short, I can't buy from Amazon, when Amazon clearly has no interest in making or selling quality hardware. I enjoy reading on an e-reader, and I'm sad that there are no premium options anymore.