Should I Upgrade From Kindle Keyboard?

[QuackXP]

First off I am not what you would call an avid reader. I really only started reading regularly in my mid 30's. Maybe I would be called a regular reader. A few years ago a stumbled on a deal for a Kindle Keyboard with the amazon leather case and light as I wanted something better than reading on my phone and a regular tablet would not make it better as my issue with the phone was less screen size and more glare.

My Kindle Keyboard has served me well. I've looked at newer version and while the screens are nicer I never felt justified in upgrading. I think part of it is the $35 I paid two years ago for mine so even $80 + a case seems allot to me given my reading habits.

However I do like the time to finish chapter in the Kindle phone app and I'm sure some of the newer Kindles have an even better screen. There is still some kinds of artificial or natural outdoor light situations I find difficult with Kindle Keyboard, however they are the exception not the rule.

Also how have people who had the non touch models adapted to the touch one? I really like how the buttons are located on the Kindle Keyboard and I think swiping on the screen would seem unnatural and also not keep the screen as clean.

I've read the Kindle 5 has better contrast and slightly faster load times. It's also lighter and I'm sure if I waited around I could find one cheap then sell mine so the upgrade costs would be minimal.

I would not miss the physical keyboard at all. About the only time I use it is to type in WiFi passwords. Most of the time any books I order or transfer are through a traditional laptop.

[NullNix]

Originally Posted by QuackXP

First off I am not what you would call an avid reader. I really only started reading regularly in my mid 30's. Maybe I would be called a regular reader. A few years ago a stumbled on a deal for a Kindle Keyboard with the amazon leather case and light as I wanted something better than reading on my phone and a regular tablet would not make it better as my issue with the phone was less screen size and more glare.

OK, so it's clear that an Oasis is not for you! Probably neither is a Voyage.

Originally Posted by QuackXP

Also how have people who had the non touch models adapted to the touch one? I really like how the buttons are located on the Kindle Keyboard and I think swiping on the screen would seem unnatural and also not keep the screen as clean.

For me, the adjustment was easy. You don't need to swipe when reading books: you can turn the page one way by touching the right portion of the screen, or the other way by touching the left side. The PW screen, at least, doesn't accumulate grease: it's some sort of plastic, not glass.

Originally Posted by QuackXP

I would not miss the physical keyboard at all. About the only time I use it is to type in WiFi passwords. Most of the time any books I order or transfer are through a traditional laptop.

I've just come off a lot of notetaking as a consequence of proofreading, so many the PW1 started to misbehave from the sheer load (it doesn't work well when you have thousands of notes in a book). To be honest, the predictive text touchscreen keyboard is no worse than the K3's physical keyboard, which was so tiny I could never hit the right keys in any case. Both are, obviously, far worse than a *real* keyboard, but I can't expect a proper ergonomic keyboard on a Kindle, it would never fit plus keyboards like that tend to cost much more than the whole Kindle...

[cvkemp]

That just depends on what your needs are. My first Kindle was a keyboard and I loved it. I ended up giving it to my aunt so she had some way to read and get books, she did not drive and did not go out much but she had a amazon account and internet. It finally stopped working last year and I got her a new PW3.
So if you just have to have a new Kindle do it life is short. But if what you have still works for you why up grade. I have a PW2 and voyage both were given to me and so I will keep using them.

[Barbara1955]

Watch Trade in Deals. I Traded my K3 for $30 & Amazon Added a Bonus to be used to buy a New Kindle of $20 = $50 for the K3 I put toward a New PW3 & it was on sale!! Paid $55!!!!

[Cinisajoy]

Does the Kindle serve your purposes?
If so and you don't read that much then I wouldn't buy a new one.
Think of all the books or other stuff you can buy.
If it ain't broke, why replace it?
To me, that would be a waste of money.
Now if you read constantly, I might recommend buying a backup.


Oh and on the lighting, in the natural light I am assuming you mean the sun streaming straight down on it that will be with any device.

[soulfuldog]

I upgraded from the KK to the PW2 and although I probably would still prefer page turn buttons, I didn't miss them as much as I thought I would, you fairly quickly get used to just tapping the screen instead. Some people don't like the in-built light as it slightly detracts from the clarity of the text, but you'd have to look at this yourself to see if you even notice it. Personally, the way the light brightens the screen in varying light situations more than makes up for it. I wouldn't go back to a non-lighted reader now (though I do stay in a part of the world that is lacking in sunshine!). Also, the newer models are that much smaller and lighter to hold compared to the KK, I do not miss that huge big keyboard at all!

In saying that, if you're not really that bothered, there's no real need for you to upgrade. I ask my Mum every now and then if she wouldn't like me to buy her a new Kindle to replace her KK, but she's happy to keep using it and probably will do so until it breaks (5 years later her refurb KK is still going strong).

[blackcatw81]

I hated the new Kindle basic just for the touchscreen: I accidentally kept touching the screen, turning pages, changing the font etc.. It was very frustating! >.< So after two days of use I returned it even if the screen quality was great. I bought a used K4NT silver and it was love at first read :3
The silver K4NT broke after one year of intensive use (but I think the cover was also to blame), now I have an Hanlin (no touch with 3g) and a Trekstor Pyrus (Liro) other than a used black K4NT

EllyG81 Sent from My Vivo X710L Using Tapatalk

[krazy4katz]

I had a K3 also. The Voyage convinced me to upgrade because it had buttons — I didn't want to swipe the screen. I love the KV! However the price difference is substantial. If you don't care about buttons, which were so nice on the K3, I would go with the Paper White. The quality of the screen on any of the newer devices is worth the upgrade.

[QuackXP]

The one feature I like about the kindle app on Android is the time left in chapter. What kindle software version did that feature show up on?

Also is there a list somewhere of all of the changes from version to version of the software?

For the most part I am happy. I have no issue reading on my current hardware. But if I could get some of the newer features and a better screen even if its not the 300ppi of the PW. I might be willing to buy used if the price is right.

Big thing I was looking for is people who went from physical buttons to touch screen and how they liked it.

[JSWolf]

To answer the question about upgrading a K3, I'd say yes. If I was upgrading a K3, I would go for the PW3.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by QuackXP

The one feature I like about the kindle app on Android is the time left in chapter. What kindle software version did that feature show up on?

I have it on my KT.
ISTR it first appeared on the KT with the 5.3.7 update, shortly after it appeared on the PW1 for the first time.

Also is there a list somewhere of all of the changes from version to version of the software?

No, but you can look through this forum for the "hey, look at this update" announcements.

For the most part I am happy. I have no issue reading on my current hardware. But if I could get some of the newer features and a better screen even if its not the 300ppi of the PW. I might be willing to buy used if the price is right.

Big thing I was looking for is people who went from physical buttons to touch screen and how they liked it.

Well, I started with a touchscreen device, but I know I could never switch to a physical buttons device.

[DreamWriter]

My first e-reader was a Kindle Keyboard (with lighted cover). I eventually bought a Paperwhite 3 and passed the KK along to my spouse, who still uses it.

I wouldn't go back to a non-lighted e-reader now. For me, text on the Paperwhite is much easier to read. I was concerned about fingerprints, but that turned out to be a nonissue. The screen has a slightly textured matte finish, which I find pleasing to touch. I do miss page-turn buttons, but I adapted quickly to screen swiping/tapping. I did seriously consider the Voyage but couldn't justify the big price difference, especially since the Paperwhite was on sale at the time.

[badgoodDeb]

I finally convinced my mom to follow my lead, and upgrade from a buttoned kindle (the K4 ones) to a touch one -- because of the ability to touch a word and get a definition. We're both highly educated and don't *need* to look up words. And with the difficulty of doing so on the K4, we never did. But it's sooo easy on a touch screen, to just touch a word and get a definition, that I find myself taking the time to look up words much more often. I've spent years just knowing the general definition of a word from context. But it's so nice to take the time to actually learn!

Like, what the heck is a "deal table"? Oh! "deal" defn 2: fir or pine wood, especially when sawn into planks of a standard size. Never heard that before. But authors of the early 1900's (whoever I was reading at the time) used it commonly.

So, touch screens have some advantages! Which is to say, you might want to consider that, when deciding if any of the touch Kindles would be worth it.

[badgoodDeb]

Oh, and Mom always sits beside a lamp, and didn't think she needed a lighted Kindle either. She was astonished at how much it helps. So you might like it!

[tovare]

Originally Posted by QuackXP

First off I am not what you would call an avid reader. I really only started reading regularly in my mid 30's. Maybe I would be called a regular reader. A few years ago a stumbled on a deal for a Kindle Keyboard with the amazon leather case and light as I wanted something better than reading on my phone and a regular tablet would not make it better as my issue with the phone was less screen size and more glare.

I would recommend the Kindle Paperwhite 3 because it´s a real step up.

1. It´s more pocketable (which is why I got the Kindle Non-touch)
2. I do miss page-turn buttons to some extent, but not very much. (I really don´t miss the keyboard, since typing on the touch screen is much faster).
3. The light is very nice on the PW.
4. Buying books directly on the device is a lot better too.

You might find that the improved light (compared to the cover you have) and the size will increase your use.

The Kindle Oasis is probably not worth it for anyone. But I´m getting one anyway because it´s the reader I wanted (The Voyage pretty much fit that bill too, and is perhaps more tech-savy than the Oasis, but I didn´t like the design on the back and origami covers).