How many of us upgrade our readers because of new technology

jbcohen · 03-20-2014, 10:33 AM

Versus upgrading because your older one broke down, a forced upgrade?

I have never upgraded, thus far because of new technology. My first one was stolen, the screen of my second cracked, the directional keys of my third broke down and I was no longer able to do anything on it, the on/off button on my fourth broke and I was no longer able to turn it off/on and my fifth is almost a year and a half old and its doing quite well.

Rizla · 03-20-2014, 10:57 AM

I like the flexibility of an open Android OS, so I grabbed a couple of Nook STs while they were cheap. I might be tempted to buy another reader if I can root it and it has a good front-light. Oh yeah, and it has to be reasonably priced. I won't spend big bucks on tech since my new 650 died after 14 months.

peachiekene · 03-20-2014, 11:11 AM

I have, but it has been more about my reading habits changing and upgrading the technology to suit.
I started off with the original nook. I know everyone hates on the color screen, but I really liked flicking through the covers. I was at home a lot so low battery wasn't a huge problem for me at the time. When I started working again, the low battery became an issue and so I upgraded to the ST. I was happy with that for over 2 years.
After my son was born, I started reading a lot more at night and booklights were just not doing it for me. I ended up going with the kobo glo.

I don't really see upgrading anytime soon. MAYBE if they ever come out with a color eink screen, but even then I'd be iffy on it.

theducks · 03-20-2014, 11:33 AM

Run'em till they drop

Faster is nice, but just about every new (dedicated reader) device has included a 'we know better' presentation feature that can't be fully disabled

Then there is the cost reduction feature, sold as an Improvement.
Eliminate those expensive/problematic buttons (switches) and further push 'Touch only' by eliminating other features (like any kind of audio on the K4NT. If my Astak can play a MP3 with only 10 selection keys and a slow ARM, the NT sure should).

Tablets are great for Manuals and charts, but they are heavy and have poor battery life. I see no need to use mine for the typical 'Great American Novel'

HarryT · 03-20-2014, 12:26 PM

Yes, I often upgrade due to new technology. I have never broken a reader or tablet. Both my main current reading devices - iPad Retina Mini and Kindle PW2 - were bought because of technological improvements.

xg4bx · 03-20-2014, 12:35 PM

I have within the past few months but only because of bargains lol. I bought a Nook ST with Glowlight because I had wanted a lit ereader and Best Buy had a nice sale ($60), and got a vanilla Nook ST for my wife during the same sale ($40). I upgraded my Kindle Keyboard to one of the newer Kindle basics because Amazon had a one day sale on them a few weeks ago ($50). My Kindle Keyboard still works fine however and will be kept as backup.

pidgeon92 · 03-20-2014, 01:16 PM

I have upgraded quite a bit, but unless something new and whizbang pops up, I'll probably stick with the units I have for the next few years.

faithbw · 03-20-2014, 01:58 PM

I've upgraded before but I'm trying to get into the habit of not replacing simply because newer tech is out.

sakura-panda · 03-20-2014, 02:16 PM

Ebook readers are pretty straightforward (for me) -- I don't need the latest technology to read text -- so I have only upgraded once, to replace a reader with a worn out battery.

I could have bought an after-market battery and replaced it myself, but decided to take advantage of the second-to-latest model closeout and bought a newer model to replace it. (Sony T1 when the T2s were just coming out.) However, I wanted the wi-fi and brighter screen, so with that in mind, perhaps I did upgrade for technology and not because I *had* to.

My other readers were in addition to and, except for the one that was a gift, were not intended to be readers at all. I just started using them that way.

crossi · 03-20-2014, 02:31 PM

The last upgrades were downgrades to me. Much less memory and no page turn buttons in return for a light I would have no use for. No thanks. For each of my tech upgrades I expect more memory not less.

Josieb1 · 03-20-2014, 02:54 PM

I'm a bugger for upgrading but hopefully now I've finally got my iPad mini retina I'm going to stay static for a while. I've promised to sit on my hands for at least a year

ccowie · 03-20-2014, 02:59 PM

My favourite reader is my PRS 350. It's not the fanciest, but it's easy to carry with me anywhere and it does the job. I've run around trying to pick up a few extras just in case something happens. The big issue for me is that I'm a dinosaur that loves the LRF format and I don't like EPUB. Everything gets converted to LRF and when the last of my PRS series machines dies, I just might die along with it..

laughingdragons · 03-20-2014, 03:29 PM

Once

I upgraded my first reader a Sony Pocket 300 to The Sony Pocket 350 because of how may more books it could hold and the touch screen.

I haven't changed since then and I've had it since Nov. 2010. I just ordered a new battery for it. It's only lasting a few days at a time now.

I do want a kindle PW for the night time reading capabilities.

Junnier · 03-20-2014, 03:59 PM

I got my first reader, a Kindle Keyboard 3G (formerly known as the Kindle 3 3G), when they were first available in my country -- mid-late 2010. That old girl's about to hit the four-year mark and she's still going strong. While I love the new (although it's not so new any more) frontlighting screen technology, as long as my lighted case (also hitting the four-year mark!) continues to work, I don't see myself upgrading to a Paperwhite just yet. Obsolescence and breakdowns are my motivators.

SleepyBob · 03-20-2014, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccowie

My favourite reader is my PRS 350. It's not the fanciest, but it's easy to carry with me anywhere and it does the job. I've run around trying to pick up a few extras just in case something happens. The big issue for me is that I'm a dinosaur that loves the LRF format and I don't like EPUB. Everything gets converted to LRF and when the last of my PRS series machines dies, I just might die along with it..

What advantages does LRF have?

03-20-2014, 10:33 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	How many of us upgrade our readers because of new technology Versus upgrading because your older one broke down, a forced upgrade? I have never upgraded, thus far because of new technology. My first one was stolen, the screen of my second cracked, the directional keys of my third broke down and I was no longer able to do anything on it, the on/off button on my fourth broke and I was no longer able to turn it off/on and my fifth is almost a year and a half old and its doing quite well.

03-20-2014, 12:35 PM	#6
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	I have within the past few months but only because of bargains lol. I bought a Nook ST with Glowlight because I had wanted a lit ereader and Best Buy had a nice sale ($60), and got a vanilla Nook ST for my wife during the same sale ($40). I upgraded my Kindle Keyboard to one of the newer Kindle basics because Amazon had a one day sale on them a few weeks ago ($50). My Kindle Keyboard still works fine however and will be kept as backup. Last edited by xg4bx; 03-20-2014 at 12:37 PM.

03-20-2014, 03:59 PM	#14
Junnier avant l'heure Posts: 19 Karma: 463226 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura HD	How many of us upgrade our readers because of new technology I got my first reader, a Kindle Keyboard 3G (formerly known as the Kindle 3 3G), when they were first available in my country -- mid-late 2010. That old girl's about to hit the four-year mark and she's still going strong. While I love the new (although it's not so new any more) frontlighting screen technology, as long as my lighted case (also hitting the four-year mark!) continues to work, I don't see myself upgrading to a Paperwhite just yet. Obsolescence and breakdowns are my motivators.

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03-20-2014, 10:57 AM	#2
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	I like the flexibility of an open Android OS, so I grabbed a couple of Nook STs while they were cheap. I might be tempted to buy another reader if I can root it and it has a good front-light. Oh yeah, and it has to be reasonably priced. I won't spend big bucks on tech since my new 650 died after 14 months.

03-20-2014, 11:11 AM	#3
peachiekene Fanatic Posts: 572 Karma: 1972282 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hampton Roads, VA, USA Device: kobo aura one, htc 10, kobo glo hd	I have, but it has been more about my reading habits changing and upgrading the technology to suit. I started off with the original nook. I know everyone hates on the color screen, but I really liked flicking through the covers. I was at home a lot so low battery wasn't a huge problem for me at the time. When I started working again, the low battery became an issue and so I upgraded to the ST. I was happy with that for over 2 years. After my son was born, I started reading a lot more at night and booklights were just not doing it for me. I ended up going with the kobo glo. I don't really see upgrading anytime soon. MAYBE if they ever come out with a color eink screen, but even then I'd be iffy on it.

03-20-2014, 11:33 AM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,897 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Run'em till they drop Faster is nice, but just about every new (dedicated reader) device has included a 'we know better' presentation feature that can't be fully disabled Then there is the cost reduction feature, sold as an Improvement. Eliminate those expensive/problematic buttons (switches) and further push 'Touch only' by eliminating other features (like any kind of audio on the K4NT. If my Astak can play a MP3 with only 10 selection keys and a slow ARM, the NT sure should). Tablets are great for Manuals and charts, but they are heavy and have poor battery life. I see no need to use mine for the typical 'Great American Novel'

03-20-2014, 12:26 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, I often upgrade due to new technology. I have never broken a reader or tablet. Both my main current reading devices - iPad Retina Mini and Kindle PW2 - were bought because of technological improvements.

03-20-2014, 01:16 PM	#7
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I have upgraded quite a bit, but unless something new and whizbang pops up, I'll probably stick with the units I have for the next few years.

03-20-2014, 01:58 PM	#8
faithbw Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 1526148 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: A place where the sun always shines Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Mini 2	I've upgraded before but I'm trying to get into the habit of not replacing simply because newer tech is out.

03-20-2014, 02:16 PM	#9
sakura-panda Guru Posts: 932 Karma: 9558874 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Michigan, USA Device: Kindle Oasis; 11" iPad Pro (Books, Kindle, Kobo, MapleRead SE)	Ebook readers are pretty straightforward (for me) -- I don't need the latest technology to read text -- so I have only upgraded once, to replace a reader with a worn out battery. I could have bought an after-market battery and replaced it myself, but decided to take advantage of the second-to-latest model closeout and bought a newer model to replace it. (Sony T1 when the T2s were just coming out.) However, I wanted the wi-fi and brighter screen, so with that in mind, perhaps I did upgrade for technology and not because I had to. My other readers were in addition to and, except for the one that was a gift, were not intended to be readers at all. I just started using them that way.

03-20-2014, 02:31 PM	#10
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	The last upgrades were downgrades to me. Much less memory and no page turn buttons in return for a light I would have no use for. No thanks. For each of my tech upgrades I expect more memory not less.

03-20-2014, 02:54 PM	#11
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	I'm a bugger for upgrading but hopefully now I've finally got my iPad mini retina I'm going to stay static for a while. I've promised to sit on my hands for at least a year

03-20-2014, 02:59 PM	#12
ccowie Hiding with an ereader Posts: 391 Karma: 3987376 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony PRS 950, Ipad 2, PRS 350	My favourite reader is my PRS 350. It's not the fanciest, but it's easy to carry with me anywhere and it does the job. I've run around trying to pick up a few extras just in case something happens. The big issue for me is that I'm a dinosaur that loves the LRF format and I don't like EPUB. Everything gets converted to LRF and when the last of my PRS series machines dies, I just might die along with it..

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03-20-2014, 03:29 PM	#13
laughingdragons Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 1125536 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: CA Device: Sony PRS-350 1 Pink 1 Silver Paperwhite Kindle	Once I upgraded my first reader a Sony Pocket 300 to The Sony Pocket 350 because of how may more books it could hold and the touch screen. I haven't changed since then and I've had it since Nov. 2010. I just ordered a new battery for it. It's only lasting a few days at a time now. I do want a kindle PW for the night time reading capabilities.