MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Got my new Oasis today, first impressions

Derek87 · 11-12-2017, 02:03 PM

Finally got mine after much waffling and reading all the input on this thread.

Buying tips/experiences:
- bought mine through Amazon Prime Now. based on what i found on Reddit, i became aware that they often have several models available there immediately.
(also, when i was at the Amazon Book store in San Jose last weekend, the staff told me they had all models in stock with a range of 2-8 in quantity, but i wasn't ready to pull the trigger at that point. but if you have a pop up store near you, that might be a faster way to get a new Oasis too)
- as suggested somewhere else, i also initiating a chat session asking if they could transfer my "special offers removed" from my Paperwhite. the rep said they would make a one time exception for me being a loyal customer, and removed the special offers on my Oasis while keeping them off of my PW as well!

First impressions:

Good:
- no splotches or cones on this screen nor pinholes, etc. i had to go through 3 PWs to get the one i currently have, and in comparison the Oasis is still significantly better than my PW3 in this regard. the PW3 was acceptable, but now in comparison, i can see the obvious improvement. the screen is beautiful.
- new font options without using RAMP kludge (of course this is on the PW3 too but i like this enhancement ... i haven't found the use of the bold options yet, but i may explore them with other fonts beyond Bookerly at some point)
- the screen size increase is probably the most surprising benefit. i didn't think going up 1" would be that big a deal. this is the tied for the biggest benefit with the clean background relative to my PW3.
- construction with aluminum: i don't have an issues with the edges being too sharp although i would agree they could have rounded things more (see apple devices). but the device feels very solid and well built. and thankfully, the "cold touch" doesn't bother this guy with generally very warm hands.

Bad/Ugly:
- slight gradient in light intensity diminishing from thick side to thin side and a very very slight yellowing tint emerges in certain scenarios on the furthest edge on the thin side. honestly, for me, i'm on the borderline OCD here...i probably wouldn't have noticed it if i hadn't been looking for it (and read about it on the web :\) . and because it's all subjective and variable from unit to unit, i think its hard to measure by photograph and comparing with others on the web. the only way to come up with a somewhat objective comparison is to look at several units side by side in person with other folks on the forum (which is not possible). i think the acceptability of this will be in the eye of the beholder. interestingly, i do see that this gradient white to yellow is more evident in dim lighting than during daytime nor in complete darkness (the latter is how i typically read). it may have to do with the way our home's family room lighting is that causes the issue to be more prevalent.
- "Waking up" ... this is really annoying and a surprising change coming from my PW3 which for all intents and purposes comes up instantly when i open my cover or hit the "power button" (i usually keep my PW3 out of case at home and i don't have a case for the Oasis yet). did they implement a more aggressive power saving mode for the Oasis? i will ultimately come to live with this, but i am hoping that maybe that this long delay can be fixed/improved in a future firmware update.
- the jury is still out on comfort holding it in bed. and this is a big concern for me. i posted a couple weeks ago asking about how people hold it. i read on my back in bed and then hold the kindle over my head. not completely over my head, but sort of at an angle maybe over my neck/upper chest. last night, i couldn't really find a very comfortable way to hold the device, especially to make use of the page turning buttons. time will tell, but right now, this is perhaps my biggest sticking point.

this comfort issue is sticking point that may lead me to return the Oasis is if i can't find a comfortable way to hold it. i think i'll just have to try using it and see if i can come up with a good grip that works for lying in bed. (reading in chair at a table isn't an issue). i had long been interested in the original Oasis for its ridiculously light weight, but all the issues with very uneven lighting and cone effects both written about here and in other forums and a couple i saw on display kept me from dropping $290 on one. i did see Amazon occasionally has refurbished ones for sale for $199 from time to time. it might be worth trying one of those out to see if i get lucky for the lighting issue.

(aside: i typically hold my PW3 with one hand forming an L with my thumb and pointer finger and then rest the other three fingers behind...it works, but i often have to switch my hands due to fatigue. i was hoping to avoid this fatigue or discomfort with the Oasis and it's asymmetric balance)

on the flip side, the Oasis 2 is a winner for me just by virtue of the bigger screen. i was surprised to be wowed by that difference, but it's huge. of course, maybe that is coming at the cost of finding a comfortable grip/balance in my hand.

time will tell... i am willing to give this a shot for a few more days, if not a couple of weeks, but i need to figure out how to hold it comfortably. if so, then i think i can live with the small color/brightness gradient. even with that gradient, i would say the screen is superior to my PW3 (without even considering the bigger screen size). but of course at the price difference, it better be a nicer screen...

11-12-2017, 02:03 PM	#467
Derek87 Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10000 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kindle PW3	Finally got mine after much waffling and reading all the input on this thread. Buying tips/experiences: - bought mine through Amazon Prime Now. based on what i found on Reddit, i became aware that they often have several models available there immediately. (also, when i was at the Amazon Book store in San Jose last weekend, the staff told me they had all models in stock with a range of 2-8 in quantity, but i wasn't ready to pull the trigger at that point. but if you have a pop up store near you, that might be a faster way to get a new Oasis too) - as suggested somewhere else, i also initiating a chat session asking if they could transfer my "special offers removed" from my Paperwhite. the rep said they would make a one time exception for me being a loyal customer, and removed the special offers on my Oasis while keeping them off of my PW as well! First impressions: Good: - no splotches or cones on this screen nor pinholes, etc. i had to go through 3 PWs to get the one i currently have, and in comparison the Oasis is still significantly better than my PW3 in this regard. the PW3 was acceptable, but now in comparison, i can see the obvious improvement. the screen is beautiful. - new font options without using RAMP kludge (of course this is on the PW3 too but i like this enhancement ... i haven't found the use of the bold options yet, but i may explore them with other fonts beyond Bookerly at some point) - the screen size increase is probably the most surprising benefit. i didn't think going up 1" would be that big a deal. this is the tied for the biggest benefit with the clean background relative to my PW3. - construction with aluminum: i don't have an issues with the edges being too sharp although i would agree they could have rounded things more (see apple devices). but the device feels very solid and well built. and thankfully, the "cold touch" doesn't bother this guy with generally very warm hands. Bad/Ugly: - slight gradient in light intensity diminishing from thick side to thin side and a very very slight yellowing tint emerges in certain scenarios on the furthest edge on the thin side. honestly, for me, i'm on the borderline OCD here...i probably wouldn't have noticed it if i hadn't been looking for it (and read about it on the web :\) . and because it's all subjective and variable from unit to unit, i think its hard to measure by photograph and comparing with others on the web. the only way to come up with a somewhat objective comparison is to look at several units side by side in person with other folks on the forum (which is not possible). i think the acceptability of this will be in the eye of the beholder. interestingly, i do see that this gradient white to yellow is more evident in dim lighting than during daytime nor in complete darkness (the latter is how i typically read). it may have to do with the way our home's family room lighting is that causes the issue to be more prevalent. - "Waking up" ... this is really annoying and a surprising change coming from my PW3 which for all intents and purposes comes up instantly when i open my cover or hit the "power button" (i usually keep my PW3 out of case at home and i don't have a case for the Oasis yet). did they implement a more aggressive power saving mode for the Oasis? i will ultimately come to live with this, but i am hoping that maybe that this long delay can be fixed/improved in a future firmware update. - the jury is still out on comfort holding it in bed. and this is a big concern for me. i posted a couple weeks ago asking about how people hold it. i read on my back in bed and then hold the kindle over my head. not completely over my head, but sort of at an angle maybe over my neck/upper chest. last night, i couldn't really find a very comfortable way to hold the device, especially to make use of the page turning buttons. time will tell, but right now, this is perhaps my biggest sticking point. this comfort issue is sticking point that may lead me to return the Oasis is if i can't find a comfortable way to hold it. i think i'll just have to try using it and see if i can come up with a good grip that works for lying in bed. (reading in chair at a table isn't an issue). i had long been interested in the original Oasis for its ridiculously light weight, but all the issues with very uneven lighting and cone effects both written about here and in other forums and a couple i saw on display kept me from dropping $290 on one. i did see Amazon occasionally has refurbished ones for sale for $199 from time to time. it might be worth trying one of those out to see if i get lucky for the lighting issue. (aside: i typically hold my PW3 with one hand forming an L with my thumb and pointer finger and then rest the other three fingers behind...it works, but i often have to switch my hands due to fatigue. i was hoping to avoid this fatigue or discomfort with the Oasis and it's asymmetric balance) on the flip side, the Oasis 2 is a winner for me just by virtue of the bigger screen. i was surprised to be wowed by that difference, but it's huge. of course, maybe that is coming at the cost of finding a comfortable grip/balance in my hand. time will tell... i am willing to give this a shot for a few more days, if not a couple of weeks, but i need to figure out how to hold it comfortably. if so, then i think i can live with the small color/brightness gradient. even with that gradient, i would say the screen is superior to my PW3 (without even considering the bigger screen size). but of course at the price difference, it better be a nicer screen...