A couple questions about Paperwhite and Oasis

[texasnightowl]

So...I have not been keeping up with developments for quite a while. My last ebook reader purchase was a non-touch Kindle 4. Every now and then I was tempted to buy a paperwhite, but I never followed through. I also still have a Kindle Keyboard around (hasn't been used in years, but is still registered to my account). I happened to note that Amazon is offering 20% off on trade-ins towards a new Kindle right now and I am tempted. Especially with Prime Day also coming up.

All that said, I am trying to decide between a Paperwhite and an Oasis. To be honest, it may come down to whatever price Amazon sets for the Oasis for Prime Day. I think last year it went as low at $175? If it does that, with the 20%, I might go for it.

So to the actual questions...

1. Does Amazon do this 20% off trade-in offer often? I mean, the Keyboard is only worth $5 at most on their trade-in, so it's really the 20% off that is the draw, especially with a potential Prime Day deal.

2. Are the current versions of the Paperwhite and Oasis relatively new? Or is there likely to be an updated version in the relatively near future?

3. Is it still possible to de-drm books delivered to the Paperwhite or Oasis? Or would I need to download them to my pc for my K4?

4. Leaving out the issues of page turn buttons, is the main difference between them the 7" screen and the amber lighting? I used to be a stickler for buttons, but with so much touch tech, I've kind of given up.

5. I'm aware that Kobo is pretty much the other "main" e-reader at the moment. Best reasons to consider a Kobo (Clara or Libra H20) instead?

Note...I do use Calibre...or at least have in the past. I haven't updated for a while (I'm on 2.85.1), but at least I have in the past used Calibre to keep my collection and sideload books, etc.

Any and all input welcome! Thanks!

[Sirtel]

You cannot de-DRM books delivered directly to the PW and the Oasis, AFAIK. You can de-DRM them by using the Download and Transfer with USB option.

Calibre collection management won't work with newer Kindles. Sideloading works as before, but it's better to use azw3 instead of mobi.

Why consider Kobo: they integrate better with Calibre, including series and collection management. They have more customization options and you can patch them to add even more (relatively simple even for someone knowing nothing about coding or programming). Kobo Libra H2O is cheaper than the Oasis, but nearly as good (or even better, depending on your viewpoint). Also, Kobo readers will get the excellent Oxford dictionaries this October (Kindles use Oxford dictionaries; Kobo dictionaries were considered pretty poor in comparison).

[texasnightowl]

Thanks. I thought that was the case re: drm and the PW/Oasis.

I've been trying to read some reviews on the Libra H20. Overall it sounds pretty good. Does it ever go on sale for less than the $169?

The tempting part of the PW or Oasis would definitely be whatever the Prime Day discount price is plus the potential 20% off. But, for the current trade-in offer, I have to take advantage of it today or tomorrow, before I know what Prime Day prices will be for sure.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by texasnightowl

3. Is it still possible to de-drm books delivered to the Paperwhite or Oasis?

Yes.

Or would I need to download them to my pc for my K4?

If you get a PW4 or Oasis, it would be better to download to pc for that since a book for a K4NT might not support features available for the PW4 or Oasis and any illustrations in the K4NT book might be lower resolution.

No book downloaded to pc for USB transfer supports KFX specific features, but many consider that a feature rather than a problem.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by texasnightowl

Thanks. I thought that was the case re: drm and the PW/Oasis.

I've been trying to read some reviews on the Libra H20. Overall it sounds pretty good. Does it ever go on sale for less than the $169?

I don't think Kobo does sales often, certainly not on the scale of Amazon. But the Libra is a fine reader (I'm loving mine), with the same screen size as the Oasis, at a much lower base price, even without sales. If the Oasis at its standard price is not off-putting for you, you might even want to consider the Kobo Forma, an 8-inch reader for not much more than the 7-inch Oasis.

[texasnightowl]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

If the Oasis at its standard price is not off-putting for you, you might even want to consider the Kobo Forma, an 8-inch reader for not much more than the 7-inch Oasis.

The standard price of the Oasis IS off-putting to me. I'm not going to spend $249. The only way I end up with the Oasis is if on Prime Day the price is the same as last year ($175) and I do the trade-in on an old kindle for the 20% off (have to make my mind up today on the current trade in promotion).

Are the Kobo Libra's actually kept in stock/on display at WalMart Super Centers? I haven't actually been to mine since March. I'd consider going in to the store to have a look...maybe.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You cannot de-DRM books delivered directly to the PW and the Oasis, AFAIK.

Yes, you can depending on Kindle firmware.

FW 5.10.1.3 and older uses the same KFX DRM as K4PC 1.24. Afaik, the current DRM in use by FW 5.10.3-5.13.2 is supported on the latest DeDRM tools that work with K4PC 1.25-1.28.

[texasnightowl]

ok, quick update. I did submit my keyboard for trade-in. The 20% is effective immediately. So, I'm waiting to see what the prices are on prime day. luckily prime day is 13-14 and I don't have to ship the keyboard in until the 21st! So...time to see what they do on prime day!

(I did try to check to see if the Libra is on display at my local WM stores but as far as I could tell from the website, no.)

[LCIII]

Originally Posted by texasnightowl

(I did try to check to see if the Libra is on display at my local WM stores but as far as I could tell from the website, no.)

Same thing in my area. None in the stores, which is a disappointment. Many people want to see one in person.

I really hope B&N starts looking financially secure and makes the Nook a serious contender again. Being able to walk into any B&N, see the devices, and get in-store support is nice.

[LDB]

I have a Kobo Aura One. It is a good reader with a quality screen and even lighting. I have a Nook but don't remember what model, something within the last year or so. And I have a Kindle Fire. I read about 99% on my Kindle Oasis. I'm used to it and it does well. I'm looking at one of the 10" Boox units though, most likely the Note Air. It is also eink so the screen is excellent and it is easy on the eyes. It could replace both my Kindle and my iPad.

[texasnightowl]

Thanks for the input. I'm still holding out to see what Prime Day brings. The Oasis is still top of my list. That said, I actually read a book on one of my Kindle Keyboards the other night and I had forgotten that I actually like the feel of it in my hand better than my K4NT. The battery in my KK is toast though. It looks like some replacement batteries are available. I may grab a battery for the KK that I am keeping. (I actually have 2 KKs at the moment. One was mine and one was my father's. He passed away in 2017 so I moved his KK to my account and that is the one I am trading in towards the Oasis.)

[Tomk2]

My number 1 kindle is my Voyage
No 2 is the Oasis
I have the most recent PW but rarely use it, and let the wife take it over once or twice a year.

To me, amber lights mean nothing. Page turn buttons mean everything. I bought my previous gen Oasis heavily discounted, it was worth it. PW and Oasis were new last year? If they refresh one or the other next year, you could get a hefty discount like I did last year.



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[texasnightowl]

if anyone is still following...I do have another question...

Are the batteries in the current Paperwhite and Oasis replaceable?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by texasnightowl

if anyone is still following...I do have another question...

Are the batteries in the current Paperwhite and Oasis replaceable?

Probably not because they're both waterproof. I know (by reading) that the Oasis is nearly impossible to get into and I'm guessing that the newest Paperwhite would be also. Paperwhite versions 1 through 3 are relatively easy to open up and work on.

[texasnightowl]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Probably not because they're both waterproof. I know (by reading) that the Oasis is nearly impossible to get into and I'm guessing that the newest Paperwhite would be also. Paperwhite versions 1 through 3 are relatively easy to open up and work on.

Thanks! The waterproofness makes sense as to why it would be nearly impossible to open them up. To be honest, I would not have even thought about this as a question except that I read a book on my KK for the first time in a long time the other night and it felt so nice in my hand...even better than my K4. But the battery only lasted for reading the one book (hadn't been used in a while). It has been a surprise to find that there are some battery options out there for the KK.