Do you have a backup reader

jbcohen · 05-29-2014, 10:51 AM

A few years ago my Kindle three broke down and for a while I was without anything that could read those kindle books that I have on my book shelves. Thus I can see having a backup that I would use on ocasion to ensure that if anything happened to my current paperwhite one, I could pick up the back up and keep going without skipping a beat while I ordered a replacement. I would need to use the backup on ocasion and sync the two of them. If you have a backup like I am advocating what do you use as the backup?

An ipad mini could do that, but at that price, I don't think so. A second generation Kindle fire is an idea.

NiLuJe · 05-29-2014, 11:08 AM

Hint: the K4 is great. It's unbelievably light, and provided you don't need to make annotations, pretty easy to navigate, especially if you've used a K2 or a K3.

(FWIW, it's the one sitting in my bag everywhere I go, not my PW2, so, thanks @GM for sending me one ;p).

But to answer your original question, I personally think the concept of a backup reader *device* is a bit over the top. If you happen to have a smartphone: presto, backup reader!

.

booklover6 · 05-29-2014, 12:10 PM

I have multiple devices. So I guess they can be called back ups. I would certainly never want to be without a ready to use device. I really like touch screen eink readers.

Mike L · 05-29-2014, 12:23 PM

When I'm at home, this is not an issue. At a pinch, I can access my ebooks on my iPod (tiny screen) or even a laptop computer (horrible, but we're talking about an emergency situation). Better still, I am surrounded by about a thousand paper books; reading them is not against my religion.

But when I'm travelling, it's a definite worry. I don't want to carry multiple devices with me. And I certainly don't want to take multiple paper books. If my reader went on the blink while I was on the road .... I don't know. I think I would have to go straight out and buy a replacement.

You've really got me worried now.

Mike

Smartie · 05-29-2014, 12:33 PM

I believe most people have backup one in the sense when we upgrade to newer one,old one isn't broken yet.for example,I have kobo touch as backup since I have glo. I am actually curious at which point,you decided to buy/upgrade new one

Jessica Lares · 05-29-2014, 01:01 PM

I wouldn't get a device to use just in case. You really need to remember they have batteries, and if you leave them around unused, they will go bad.

I'd rather put the money aside for an upgrade.

Josieb1 · 05-29-2014, 02:42 PM

I have two older ereaders, a PW1 and a Kobo Aura. I just didn't get rid of them when I upgraded.

jbcohen · 05-29-2014, 03:31 PM

My employer issued smart phone is one of the newer model of blackberry, kindle 4 PC does not run on it. I could use one of my laptops, however the more portable one of the two is a samsung chromebook, there is no amazon reader for chromebook, at least that I know of as yet.

Barcey · 05-29-2014, 03:36 PM

I actually take two e-ink readers with me when I'm on vacation just because I wouldn't want to be without one if it breaks. I normally prefer my Kobo Aura but I don't want a touch screen reader for the beach/pool areas so I use my old PB360+ for that. I can put it in an aquapack and it's much more tolerant of suntan lotion or accidents. With my iphone and ipad along I just say, "Go Go Gadget" when I'm going through airport security screening. It's still a lot lighter then when I had to lug around paper books.

Katsunami · 05-29-2014, 06:35 PM

I don't have a backup e-ink reader, but I do have a tablet I can use to read ebooks while waiting on a new reader to arrive.

jbcohen · 05-29-2014, 07:24 PM

An acquapack, that is interesting as well as the back up reader. I will break that out as a another topic for discussion. Back to the idea of a backup reader.

JohnRR · 05-29-2014, 10:55 PM

If your ebook reader dies and you are in the middle of a good book, I think you can use your computer, smartphone or tablet PC to download it and continue your journey until your ebook reader is fixed or a new one arrives. You can even go to the library to find if the book is there and borrow it.

Penforhire · 05-30-2014, 04:55 AM

I consider my iPad to be a decent back-up, if it ever comes to a lost or broken Kindle PW.

pchrist7 · 05-30-2014, 08:59 AM

Hi All
I SO fell in love with my K3, the screen etc., that when I had a hardware failure (screen-replaced with no charge) I simply decided to buy a spare K3 before they were officially discontinued. Spare K3 is still a "virgin", keep charged, tested etc. but hopefully it's there if I need it.
I made that decision only based on my yearlong usage of K3, the newer once might work as well, but I don't like the idea of "touch", I like the physical buttons.
Old topic really, what should I do if ...

You just have to decide .

Cheers Per,

U2Bono269 · 05-30-2014, 11:35 AM

I don't think it's worth it. When I got my Simple Touch new, I immediately sold my Nook 1E to alleviate the cost of the new one. When I move on to the next Kindle paperwhite model, I'll sell my Simple Touch to make up the cost again.

I thought about keeping as a backup, but my reasoning is this: If my Nook breaks, I will buy a new one. There's no question about that, and I think you would agree with me. I'd be on Amazon in 2 seconds ordering a Paperwhite and it'd be at my door in 2 days. I'd survive for 2 days without a book. If I REALLY needed a new reader RIGHT NOW I'd go to Barnes and Noble and get a new Glowlight and be reading in an hour.

It doesn't seem like a good idea to keep around a device you won't use, particularly as batteries tend to go bad. Kindle cloud reader will allow you to use your book in a web browser on a chromebook until a new one arrives.

05-29-2014, 10:51 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Do you have a backup reader A few years ago my Kindle three broke down and for a while I was without anything that could read those kindle books that I have on my book shelves. Thus I can see having a backup that I would use on ocasion to ensure that if anything happened to my current paperwhite one, I could pick up the back up and keep going without skipping a beat while I ordered a replacement. I would need to use the backup on ocasion and sync the two of them. If you have a backup like I am advocating what do you use as the backup? An ipad mini could do that, but at that price, I don't think so. A second generation Kindle fire is an idea.

05-30-2014, 08:59 AM	#14
pchrist7 Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 6514 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3 3G+Wifi, Oasis	Yes i do Hi All I SO fell in love with my K3, the screen etc., that when I had a hardware failure (screen-replaced with no charge) I simply decided to buy a spare K3 before they were officially discontinued. Spare K3 is still a "virgin", keep charged, tested etc. but hopefully it's there if I need it. I made that decision only based on my yearlong usage of K3, the newer once might work as well, but I don't like the idea of "touch", I like the physical buttons. Old topic really, what should I do if ... You just have to decide . Cheers Per,

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05-29-2014, 11:08 AM	#2
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Hint: the K4 is great. It's unbelievably light, and provided you don't need to make annotations, pretty easy to navigate, especially if you've used a K2 or a K3. (FWIW, it's the one sitting in my bag everywhere I go, not my PW2, so, thanks @GM for sending me one ;p). But to answer your original question, I personally think the concept of a backup reader device is a bit over the top. If you happen to have a smartphone: presto, backup reader! .

05-29-2014, 12:10 PM	#3
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	I have multiple devices. So I guess they can be called back ups. I would certainly never want to be without a ready to use device. I really like touch screen eink readers.

05-29-2014, 12:23 PM	#4
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	When I'm at home, this is not an issue. At a pinch, I can access my ebooks on my iPod (tiny screen) or even a laptop computer (horrible, but we're talking about an emergency situation). Better still, I am surrounded by about a thousand paper books; reading them is not against my religion. But when I'm travelling, it's a definite worry. I don't want to carry multiple devices with me. And I certainly don't want to take multiple paper books. If my reader went on the blink while I was on the road .... I don't know. I think I would have to go straight out and buy a replacement. You've really got me worried now. Mike

05-29-2014, 12:33 PM	#5
Smartie Addict Posts: 285 Karma: 1150760 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Kindle PW,KOBO H2O	I believe most people have backup one in the sense when we upgrade to newer one,old one isn't broken yet.for example,I have kobo touch as backup since I have glo. I am actually curious at which point,you decided to buy/upgrade new one

05-29-2014, 01:01 PM	#6
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	I wouldn't get a device to use just in case. You really need to remember they have batteries, and if you leave them around unused, they will go bad. I'd rather put the money aside for an upgrade.

05-29-2014, 02:42 PM	#7
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,086 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra 2	I have two older ereaders, a PW1 and a Kobo Aura. I just didn't get rid of them when I upgraded.

05-29-2014, 03:31 PM	#8
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	My employer issued smart phone is one of the newer model of blackberry, kindle 4 PC does not run on it. I could use one of my laptops, however the more portable one of the two is a samsung chromebook, there is no amazon reader for chromebook, at least that I know of as yet.

05-29-2014, 03:36 PM	#9
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	I actually take two e-ink readers with me when I'm on vacation just because I wouldn't want to be without one if it breaks. I normally prefer my Kobo Aura but I don't want a touch screen reader for the beach/pool areas so I use my old PB360+ for that. I can put it in an aquapack and it's much more tolerant of suntan lotion or accidents. With my iphone and ipad along I just say, "Go Go Gadget" when I'm going through airport security screening. It's still a lot lighter then when I had to lug around paper books.

05-29-2014, 06:35 PM	#10
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	I don't have a backup e-ink reader, but I do have a tablet I can use to read ebooks while waiting on a new reader to arrive.

05-29-2014, 07:24 PM	#11
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	An acquapack, that is interesting as well as the back up reader. I will break that out as a another topic for discussion. Back to the idea of a backup reader.

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05-29-2014, 10:55 PM	#12
JohnRR Connoisseur Posts: 61 Karma: 642334 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Earth Device: None	If your ebook reader dies and you are in the middle of a good book, I think you can use your computer, smartphone or tablet PC to download it and continue your journey until your ebook reader is fixed or a new one arrives. You can even go to the library to find if the book is there and borrow it.

05-30-2014, 04:55 AM	#13
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I consider my iPad to be a decent back-up, if it ever comes to a lost or broken Kindle PW.

05-30-2014, 11:35 AM	#15
U2Bono269 Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 13110 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, iPad Air 2	I don't think it's worth it. When I got my Simple Touch new, I immediately sold my Nook 1E to alleviate the cost of the new one. When I move on to the next Kindle paperwhite model, I'll sell my Simple Touch to make up the cost again. I thought about keeping as a backup, but my reasoning is this: If my Nook breaks, I will buy a new one. There's no question about that, and I think you would agree with me. I'd be on Amazon in 2 seconds ordering a Paperwhite and it'd be at my door in 2 days. I'd survive for 2 days without a book. If I REALLY needed a new reader RIGHT NOW I'd go to Barnes and Noble and get a new Glowlight and be reading in an hour. It doesn't seem like a good idea to keep around a device you won't use, particularly as batteries tend to go bad. Kindle cloud reader will allow you to use your book in a web browser on a chromebook until a new one arrives.