How long do you expect your Kindle to live?

augustjen · 07-20-2012, 10:36 AM

My Kindle 3G is about 3 years old. I loved it, but I'm disappointed it has died despite my cherishing and kind handling.

Whenever I click to the next page a search box opens with the numbers '45' in the box - if I press the 'back' button, it goes off searching for '45'. Clicking the 'previous page' button brings up the font menu - like I had pressed the 'Aa' button.

Amazon says it is terminal and they offered to supply me a refurbished Kindle for $85 and only a 3 month warranty. (No chance!)

I've read quite a few negative comments about the life of the Kindle on the internet, and it looks like I have been lucky keeping it going for 3 years!

I am very tempted to go for a new Nook GloLight from Ebay - I live outside of the US and B&N wouldn't deliver to me.

What do forum members think! Am I naive and should I stick with the Kindle?

susan_cassidy · 07-20-2012, 11:44 AM

My K1 is over 4 years old, and still going strong. So is my husband's. $85 for a refurb sounds like a great deal to me.

HarryT · 07-20-2012, 11:46 AM

The thing that normally limits the life of a reader is the battery. A lithium battery will typically last around about 5 years, and they aren't really designed for replacement by the end user.

ProfCrash · 07-20-2012, 11:51 AM

3 years sounds like a good run to me. I am guessing that you used your a fair amount, I know that I have used mine a ton. You will probably find that the life expectancy of a Nookor current Sony is the same as the kindle.

AnemicOak · 07-20-2012, 11:55 AM

Three Kindle's here.

K2us - bought 2/2009
K3 3G - bought 8/2010
KT wifi - bought 11/2011

All work great, with maybe a little less battery life now in the K2 than when it was new. All have been heavily used (I read about 350-400 books a year) and I've been quite happy with their durability. Of course like anything electronic they could fail at any time if a capacitor or other component were to go out.

HarryT · 07-20-2012, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Of course like anything electronic they could fail at any time if a capacitor or other component were to go out.

In the OP's case, I suspect a mechanical switch failure.

augustjen · 07-20-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

My K1 is over 4 years old, and still going strong. So is my husband's. $85 for a refurb sounds like a great deal to me.

Thanks for your advice Susan - but how do I know that a refurb is not going to turn out a dummy, Amazon can only vouch for it for 3 months. A new Kindle touch is $14 more, like for like is just $63 extra with a 12 month warranty. Maybe it's all about being lucky.

It has come as a bit of shock at how short an ereader's life is, not least finding out how much I am missing my Kindle!

Thank you all for answering, must admit you've restored my faith.

AnemicOak · 07-20-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by augustjen

Maybe it's all about being lucky.

To some exent it always is with anything electronic IMO.

RainingLemur · 07-20-2012, 12:38 PM

FOREVER! Or, until the battery finally decides to call it a life.

I imagine that mine probably has another 3-4 years left in it. But, can't be too certain.

tubemonkey · 07-20-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by augustjen

Thanks for your advice Susan - but how do I know that a refurb is not going to turn out a dummy, Amazon can only vouch for it for 3 months. A new Kindle touch is $14 more, like for like is just $63 extra with a 12 month warranty. Maybe it's all about being lucky.

It has come as a bit of shock at how short an ereader's life is, not least finding out how much I am missing my Kindle!

Thank you all for answering, must admit you've restored my faith.

Get a new Kindle. I have the K4 ($79) and love it. I got it on sale at Walmart for $49 (Apr 12). It's now my primary reader and my K3 (Apr 11) is now doing backup duty.

A new Kindle means a one year warranty and many credit cards will double your warranty up to one additional year. Both of my Kindles have two year warranties at no additional cost to me.

soulfuldog · 07-20-2012, 12:57 PM

If you valued the 3G connection on your old Kindle (i.e. used it to browse the web, check email as well as purchase books from Amazon), then go for the refurb. We have two Kindle 3's bought via Amazon Warehouse as refurbs, a) they were in perfect condition b) both are about a year old and haven't had any problems.

If you don't really need the 3G, you could just get a new Kindle, either the Kindle 4 or Kindle Touch will be smaller and lighter than your old Kindle. Though if the Nook Glowlight interests you, it might be worth your while waiting for a couple of months to see if Amazon releases the new Kindle with a built-in light that's supposed to be coming.

I wouldn't recommend buying a Nook if you aren't in the US because if you do buy one, you won't have any customer support avenues open to you if it develops a fault.

augustjen · 07-20-2012, 11:07 PM

Did the deed - rightly or wrongly (wrongly is tipping the scales at this moment), with the view that Kindle is looking to wheeling out a back-light model hopefully soon, so I went the refurb route.

Was charged $125.06 for the item and shipping costs and import fees.

Also, I've to return my damaged Kindle,

Quote:

insert the Kindle into a plastic bag, put it in original packaging if available, and send it back to us within 30 days from the date of this e-mail. If we don't receive the device by then, you'll be charged the full retail price for the replacement Kindle.

If I don't bother sending it back, how does that work? No need to answer this as it's academic - it will be sent back - although it's to go via UPS with tracking and insurance. Cost of shipping will be returned.

Knew I should have gone the less 'messy' route and just ordered a new one.

Feelings of being trotted along

.

augustjen · 07-20-2012, 11:10 PM

Just want to say thanks again for your comments.

Musashi · 07-23-2012, 07:23 AM

5 years or more. Forever is good too.

carld · 07-23-2012, 12:57 PM

I'm guesting my K3 will last just long enough so that they're no longer available, and I'll have to settle for a non-3G version.

07-20-2012, 10:36 AM	#1
augustjen Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 620820 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: UK and Spain Device: Keypad Kindle	How long do you expect your Kindle to live? My Kindle 3G is about 3 years old. I loved it, but I'm disappointed it has died despite my cherishing and kind handling. Whenever I click to the next page a search box opens with the numbers '45' in the box - if I press the 'back' button, it goes off searching for '45'. Clicking the 'previous page' button brings up the font menu - like I had pressed the 'Aa' button. Amazon says it is terminal and they offered to supply me a refurbished Kindle for $85 and only a 3 month warranty. (No chance!) I've read quite a few negative comments about the life of the Kindle on the internet, and it looks like I have been lucky keeping it going for 3 years! I am very tempted to go for a new Nook GloLight from Ebay - I live outside of the US and B&N wouldn't deliver to me. What do forum members think! Am I naive and should I stick with the Kindle?

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07-20-2012, 11:44 AM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	My K1 is over 4 years old, and still going strong. So is my husband's. $85 for a refurb sounds like a great deal to me.

07-20-2012, 11:46 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The thing that normally limits the life of a reader is the battery. A lithium battery will typically last around about 5 years, and they aren't really designed for replacement by the end user.

07-20-2012, 11:51 AM	#4
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	3 years sounds like a good run to me. I am guessing that you used your a fair amount, I know that I have used mine a ton. You will probably find that the life expectancy of a Nookor current Sony is the same as the kindle.

07-20-2012, 11:55 AM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Three Kindle's here. K2us - bought 2/2009 K3 3G - bought 8/2010 KT wifi - bought 11/2011 All work great, with maybe a little less battery life now in the K2 than when it was new. All have been heavily used (I read about 350-400 books a year) and I've been quite happy with their durability. Of course like anything electronic they could fail at any time if a capacitor or other component were to go out.

07-20-2012, 12:38 PM	#9
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	FOREVER! Or, until the battery finally decides to call it a life. I imagine that mine probably has another 3-4 years left in it. But, can't be too certain.

07-20-2012, 12:57 PM	#11
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	If you valued the 3G connection on your old Kindle (i.e. used it to browse the web, check email as well as purchase books from Amazon), then go for the refurb. We have two Kindle 3's bought via Amazon Warehouse as refurbs, a) they were in perfect condition b) both are about a year old and haven't had any problems. If you don't really need the 3G, you could just get a new Kindle, either the Kindle 4 or Kindle Touch will be smaller and lighter than your old Kindle. Though if the Nook Glowlight interests you, it might be worth your while waiting for a couple of months to see if Amazon releases the new Kindle with a built-in light that's supposed to be coming. I wouldn't recommend buying a Nook if you aren't in the US because if you do buy one, you won't have any customer support avenues open to you if it develops a fault.

07-20-2012, 11:10 PM	#13
augustjen Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 620820 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: UK and Spain Device: Keypad Kindle	Just want to say thanks again for your comments.

07-23-2012, 07:23 AM	#14
Musashi Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 515166 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: iPad 4th Generation. Kindle Paperwhite.	5 years or more. Forever is good too.

07-23-2012, 12:57 PM	#15
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I'm guesting my K3 will last just long enough so that they're no longer available, and I'll have to settle for a non-3G version.

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