kindle 7th gen versus new kindle

purple_fishy · 10-30-2016, 10:54 AM

I am thinking about purchasing a kindle as a second e-reader. I use the Nook reader most of the time but would like a kindle as a backup reader. I have tried reading my kindle books on the ipad but it keeps me awake and gives me headaches after extended time.

I was thinking about just getting a used/refurbished kindle from a previous generation to save a bit of money. Am I losing out on anything major by buying a previous gen to the newest one?

Cinisajoy · 10-30-2016, 11:07 AM

If you just want it for reading, I would say go for the previous generation.
All my kindles are older.

barryem · 10-30-2016, 11:29 AM

I have all three Paperwhites, from the first one to the newest one. I also have a Voyage. I do prefer the Voyage because of it's smaller size and lighter weight but it's a very small preference. The Paperwhites are so good I'm not sure the difference was worth the Voyage's higher price. Still, I have it and I like it.

I rotate between all four devices regularly, using the Voyage a bit more than the Paperwhites. Among the Paperwhites I prefer the two recent ones to the original one because they're a little faster. The Paperwhite 1 has a slower CPU and it's noticeable. Not a problem but hard to miss.

The Paperwhite 2 and 3 are the same speed. The Paperwhite 3 has the 300dpi screen and the Paperwhite 2 has a 212dpi screen. A lot of people can tell the difference but I can't. I really see no difference in them at all and I like them equally well.

I've also bought Amazon's certified refurbished Kindles a few times. I don't recall which are which. These are the ones that come with a 1 year warranty. They're just like new and I can't tell the difference and I've never had a problem with one.

My suggestion, if you want to save a bit of money, is get the 2nd generation Paperwhite. if you want to save more get the 1st generation. It's not bad at all. But it is slower and it's not quite as evenly lit as the 2nd generation. It's a beautiful device but the newer one is more so.

The truth is that whichever one you get you'll like it. They're all excellent. I suspect you'll end up using your Nook as a backup and reading on the Kindle.

By the way, I also have a Nook Glowlight Plus and it's a pretty nice device except for that crazy home thingy right where I want to put my fingers when I'm holding it. I also don't like the way the dictionary is in grayed out text so I can't read it. Other than that it's as nice as a Kindle but those are serious problems for me. It's the only reader I wish I hadn't bought.

Barry

jswinden · 10-30-2016, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purple_fishy

I am thinking about purchasing a kindle as a second e-reader. I use the Nook reader most of the time but would like a kindle as a backup reader. I have tried reading my kindle books on the ipad but it keeps me awake and gives me headaches after extended time.

I was thinking about just getting a used/refurbished kindle from a previous generation to save a bit of money. Am I losing out on anything major by buying a previous gen to the newest one?

Some of the lighted Kindles have a blue tint, so that will likely keep you awake just like the iPad. The iPad can be set to a warmer (red tinted) screen, BTW. With the lighted Kindles you are stuck with whatever tint you get. As mentioned, some Kindles have a blue tint and some have a warmer tint. There is no telling which you will get as quality control on Kindles does not seem to produce consistency within their lighted screens.

344a · 10-30-2016, 07:32 PM

Kindle 7th Gen got no front light。 I think having front light is quite important.

barryem · 10-30-2016, 09:34 PM

I've read a number of articles about the blue light sleeping issue and the bulk of those written by people with a scientific bent seem to say that's mostly pop science. It seems the studies that show blue light affects sleep have been concerned with a lot more like than we get from ereaders.

There's nothing to say it's not a real problem but there's not much pointing to it being a real problem either. I read every night in bed, usually for 15 or 20 minutes but often for over an hour. I go right to sleep, almost always. I wake up a lot during the night and I have since before ereaders and tablets were invented. It's kind of a normal thing for people my age. But falling back to sleep is rarely a problem.

In fact when I do get up I sometimes read a little before I try to go back to sleep. I did that this morning about 2AM. I read a chapter, about 20 minutes, and went back to sleep.

I usually do this on a lighted Kindle with my bedlamp also on. Sometimes I use my phone or a tablet.

Barry

Tarana · 10-31-2016, 10:09 AM

The basic kindle (7th gen) has no light (works for me 95% of the time). I don't read in bed ever. The primary difference with this model vs. older ones is that it has bluetooth so that you can use text-to-speech on any speaker with bluetooth.

If you recall, the old Kindle keyboard was the last ereader in the Amazon line to have a speaker so you've had to buy tablets if you needed/wanted text-to-speech. Now, you can link your ereader to a bluetooth speaker and have text-to-speech. Given that I have vision problems, it is a feature I use increasingly more frequently. Otherwise, the layout is the same as the paperwhite.

jswinden · 10-31-2016, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

I've read a number of articles about the blue light sleeping issue and the bulk of those written by people with a scientific bent seem to say that's mostly pop science. It seems the studies that show blue light affects sleep have been concerned with a lot more like than we get from ereaders.

There's nothing to say it's not a real problem but there's not much pointing to it being a real problem either. I read every night in bed, usually for 15 or 20 minutes but often for over an hour. I go right to sleep, almost always. I wake up a lot during the night and I have since before ereaders and tablets were invented. It's kind of a normal thing for people my age. But falling back to sleep is rarely a problem.

In fact when I do get up I sometimes read a little before I try to go back to sleep. I did that this morning about 2AM. I read a chapter, about 20 minutes, and went back to sleep.

I usually do this on a lighted Kindle with my bedlamp also on. Sometimes I use my phone or a tablet.

Barry

I definitely agree that the alleged sleep issue with lighted Kindles and tablets is likely more pop science, or shall we just say science fiction, than truth. However, when reading on a lighted screen (Kindle or tablet or computer) in a dark room, the blue light can cause eye fatigue for many people. A warmer tint from the red end of the light spectrum is better for reading in darker environments. If you go out side at night and turn on a regular white light flashlight, even for just a fraction of a second, it will take several minutes to get your night vision back to normal. However, if you turn on a red light in the dark the effect on your night vision is much less noticeable. So it is best to read on a warmer tinted (red end of light spectrum) lighted screen in the dark than on one that is cooler tinted (blue end of light spectrum).

HarryT · 10-31-2016, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarana

If you recall, the old Kindle keyboard was the last ereader in the Amazon line to have a speaker so you've had to buy tablets if you needed/wanted text-to-speech.

I think the Kindle Touch (the successor to the K3) had a speaker and TTS, didn't it? I have a vague recollection of this being the case, but I may well be wrong.

EDIT: Yes, it did. See:

https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Touch-.../dp/B005890G8Y

This was the point at which the Kindle line split into the "basic Kindle" (the K4) and the Touch (the K5). The K5 had audio and TTS; the K4 didn't. The Touch was the last Kindle model to have a speaker.

Tarana · 10-31-2016, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think the Kindle Touch (the successor to the K3) had a speaker and TTS, didn't it? I have a vague recollection of this being the case, but I may well be wrong.

EDIT: Yes, it did. See:

https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Touch-.../dp/B005890G8Y

This was the point at which the Kindle line split into the "basic Kindle" (the K4) and the Touch (the K5). The K5 had audio and TTS; the K4 didn't. The Touch was the last Kindle model to have a speaker.

Maybe specific models of that model. My sister has a Kindle Touch and it has no speaker.

But still, the thing is that if you have no need for text-to-speech, it's not a game changer for the OP. That is really the primary advancement that they wouldn't get from an older model. For me though, it was the reason I bought it despite having a collection of ereaders.

HarryT · 10-31-2016, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarana

Maybe specific models of that model. My sister has a Kindle Touch and it has no speaker.

Amazon re-use names, which confuses things. There have been a number of "Kindle Touch" devices, just as there have been a number of "basic Kindles". The one I'm talking about was the first Kindle model with a touch screen, which was the immediate successor to the Kindle Keyboard.

JSWolf · 10-31-2016, 01:17 PM

The Kindle Touch did have TTS and a speaker.

Cinisajoy · 10-31-2016, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think the Kindle Touch (the successor to the K3) had a speaker and TTS, didn't it? I have a vague recollection of this being the case, but I may well be wrong.

EDIT: Yes, it did. See:

https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Touch-.../dp/B005890G8Y

This was the point at which the Kindle line split into the "basic Kindle" (the K4) and the Touch (the K5). The K5 had audio and TTS; the K4 didn't. The Touch was the last Kindle model to have a speaker.

Yes, my K5 has audio.

Tarana · 10-31-2016, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Amazon re-use names, which confuses things. There have been a number of "Kindle Touch" devices, just as there have been a number of "basic Kindles". The one I'm talking about was the first Kindle model with a touch screen, which was the immediate successor to the Kindle Keyboard.

Maybe that was the key. She got her Touch just before it was discontinued.

barryem · 10-31-2016, 11:16 PM

I think there's some confusion about what is a Kindle Touch. That was the name, as I recall, of the Kindle 5. Amazon called it the Kindle Touch. When they came out with the newer non-lit Kindle that somewhat resembles a Paperwhite a lot of people called it the Kindle Touch but I'm not sure that was an official name. Probably people who are describing a Kindle Touch without sound are referring to that one.

This is all from memory and I'm not 100% sure I'm right about any of it. But I think I mostly have it right. I'm sure if I don't someone will let me know.

Barry

10-30-2016, 10:54 AM	#1
purple_fishy Zealot Posts: 124 Karma: 33812 Join Date: May 2011 Location: The land of sand and sun Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook STR, iPad Air 2	kindle 7th gen versus new kindle I am thinking about purchasing a kindle as a second e-reader. I use the Nook reader most of the time but would like a kindle as a backup reader. I have tried reading my kindle books on the ipad but it keeps me awake and gives me headaches after extended time. I was thinking about just getting a used/refurbished kindle from a previous generation to save a bit of money. Am I losing out on anything major by buying a previous gen to the newest one?

10-31-2016, 10:09 AM	#7
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,031 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	The basic kindle (7th gen) has no light (works for me 95% of the time). I don't read in bed ever. The primary difference with this model vs. older ones is that it has bluetooth so that you can use text-to-speech on any speaker with bluetooth. If you recall, the old Kindle keyboard was the last ereader in the Amazon line to have a speaker so you've had to buy tablets if you needed/wanted text-to-speech. Now, you can link your ereader to a bluetooth speaker and have text-to-speech. Given that I have vision problems, it is a feature I use increasingly more frequently. Otherwise, the layout is the same as the paperwhite. Last edited by Tarana; 10-31-2016 at 10:30 AM.

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10-30-2016, 11:07 AM	#2
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	If you just want it for reading, I would say go for the previous generation. All my kindles are older.

10-30-2016, 11:29 AM	#3
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I have all three Paperwhites, from the first one to the newest one. I also have a Voyage. I do prefer the Voyage because of it's smaller size and lighter weight but it's a very small preference. The Paperwhites are so good I'm not sure the difference was worth the Voyage's higher price. Still, I have it and I like it. I rotate between all four devices regularly, using the Voyage a bit more than the Paperwhites. Among the Paperwhites I prefer the two recent ones to the original one because they're a little faster. The Paperwhite 1 has a slower CPU and it's noticeable. Not a problem but hard to miss. The Paperwhite 2 and 3 are the same speed. The Paperwhite 3 has the 300dpi screen and the Paperwhite 2 has a 212dpi screen. A lot of people can tell the difference but I can't. I really see no difference in them at all and I like them equally well. I've also bought Amazon's certified refurbished Kindles a few times. I don't recall which are which. These are the ones that come with a 1 year warranty. They're just like new and I can't tell the difference and I've never had a problem with one. My suggestion, if you want to save a bit of money, is get the 2nd generation Paperwhite. if you want to save more get the 1st generation. It's not bad at all. But it is slower and it's not quite as evenly lit as the 2nd generation. It's a beautiful device but the newer one is more so. The truth is that whichever one you get you'll like it. They're all excellent. I suspect you'll end up using your Nook as a backup and reading on the Kindle. By the way, I also have a Nook Glowlight Plus and it's a pretty nice device except for that crazy home thingy right where I want to put my fingers when I'm holding it. I also don't like the way the dictionary is in grayed out text so I can't read it. Other than that it's as nice as a Kindle but those are serious problems for me. It's the only reader I wish I hadn't bought. Barry

10-30-2016, 07:32 PM	#5
344a Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 505964 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Hong Kong Device: Hong Kong is done.	Kindle 7th Gen got no front light。 I think having front light is quite important.

10-30-2016, 09:34 PM	#6
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I've read a number of articles about the blue light sleeping issue and the bulk of those written by people with a scientific bent seem to say that's mostly pop science. It seems the studies that show blue light affects sleep have been concerned with a lot more like than we get from ereaders. There's nothing to say it's not a real problem but there's not much pointing to it being a real problem either. I read every night in bed, usually for 15 or 20 minutes but often for over an hour. I go right to sleep, almost always. I wake up a lot during the night and I have since before ereaders and tablets were invented. It's kind of a normal thing for people my age. But falling back to sleep is rarely a problem. In fact when I do get up I sometimes read a little before I try to go back to sleep. I did that this morning about 2AM. I read a chapter, about 20 minutes, and went back to sleep. I usually do this on a lighted Kindle with my bedlamp also on. Sometimes I use my phone or a tablet. Barry

10-31-2016, 01:17 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,251 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The Kindle Touch did have TTS and a speaker.

10-31-2016, 11:16 PM	#15
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I think there's some confusion about what is a Kindle Touch. That was the name, as I recall, of the Kindle 5. Amazon called it the Kindle Touch. When they came out with the newer non-lit Kindle that somewhat resembles a Paperwhite a lot of people called it the Kindle Touch but I'm not sure that was an official name. Probably people who are describing a Kindle Touch without sound are referring to that one. This is all from memory and I'm not 100% sure I'm right about any of it. But I think I mostly have it right. I'm sure if I don't someone will let me know. Barry

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