I think this should be in this area..HELP- device confusion

[ira1]

Hi, New to the forum. I searched some old threads to see what folks use for e-reading. I am in a quandry. I am, as you are, an avid (my wife says obsessed) reader. I purchased a galaxy tab 7inch 2 a couple of years ago and used it extensively. 85% reading 15% other. Then...I lost it on a school trip (I am a special educator). For a couple of days I was back to real paper and a flashlight at night so I wouldn't disturb my wife.

I purchased a paperwhite 2 and truly enjoyed it (outside of a connectivity issue one day). It was light, easy to read and best of all, I could read it at night. It didn't seem to need as much semi-fragile treatment as my tablet (due to less electronic stuff and no glass), and actually seemed sturdy enough if it were to fall. I brought it to the beach and WOW...I could read!

However, I had buyer's remorse. "What about the other stuff it is lacking? For only 40 bucks more I can get a tablet that does so much more and still read!
So, I returned it and got the tab 4 7 inch. It is a wonderful tablet. Amazon works fine, etc.. HOWEVER, now I find myself checking email, fb, etc...prior to reading and sometimes during. I still don't use much on it outside of email, fb, google keep, and a periodic search (all of which I guess I could use on my smart phone). I can also use it periodically for work to take a quick note at a meeting, film an interaction with a student, show a video, etc... (probably 5% of what I've used it for in the past.

I can't afford two devices...advice?
Thanks for your help,
Ira

[anesthezea]

I have an iPad Mini and a few eink readers. I have used my iPad for a lot of reading, but I am more likely to give in to distractions on it. I tend to read more productively on my eink readers.

[jandrew]

Originally Posted by ira1

For only 40 bucks more I can get a tablet that does so much more and still read!

Apparently, the and still read part is only true in principle for you.

[ira1]

not sure what you mean jandrew...

[mystika1]

That is why I stay on my Paperwhite 2. I can't seem to read for a long period of time on my tablet without pausing to check facebook or email. I loaded a couple of card games and word searches to the Paperwhite 2(for those moments when I want to play) and now I find it to be perfect. :-)

Penny

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by ira1

not sure what you mean jandrew...

You thought a tablet could do everything the PW could and more, and that is true -- except that since you keep finding yourself distracted by all those other things you can do, it is a moot point; you can't really read on a tablet even though the device itself supports doing so.

Which is more important? Having a multi-purpose tablet, or getting to read without being distracted? If the second, you may wish to re-return and get back your Paperwhite.

[tubemonkey]

I have a nice combo that only set me back $150 -- Kindle Fire HD 7" 16GB (2012) for $100 and Kindle 4S (2011) for $50. But then, I picked them up on sale; so timing is everything. Additionally, the Kindle 4S is non-touch and has no light; but it works for me.

Amazon releases new ereaders and tablets in the fall (Sep-Oct), so that's a great time to grab the previous year's devices at a discount. I picked up the Fire HD 7 last Black Friday (Nov 2013); and for $100, it was a steal.

Not trying to steer you in this direction, but it's another option to think about.

[AnemicOak]

Another option is to check pawn shops for an older Kindle (like a Kindle Keyboard), as people report finding them for around $20-$30. Add a book light and you should be set.

Or maybe watch Craigslist or pawn shops for deals on a Paperwhite 1 or 2

Just a tip if buying used. Make sure you can register it to your Amazon account before you pay to ensure that it's not a blacklisted device.

It didn't seem to need as much semi-fragile treatment as my tablet (due to less electronic stuff and no glass)

Just a note. Current Kindle's use a standard eInk screen which does indeed have a glass substrate that is quite fragile if not treated well.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Another option is to check pawn shops for an older Kindle (like a Kindle Keyboard), as people report finding them for around $20-$30. Add a book light and you should be set.

Or maybe watch Craigslist or pawn shops for deals on a Paperwhite 1 or 2

Just a tip if buying used. Make sure you can register it to your Amazon account before you pay to ensure that it's not a blacklisted device.



Just a note. Current Kindle's use a standard eInk screen which does indeed have a glass substrate that is quite fragile if not treated well.

I agree about being careful when buying used as unless you buy a used kindle from Amazon you always run the risk of it being a lost/stolen reader that can't be registered to your account. I'm not sure how many posts have been made here at MR about people wanting help to sort out that issue. Of course there is nothing that can be done as it is something controlled by Amazon itself as far as that goes. Not that I'd want to be a receiver of stolen goods myself anyway.

[ira1]

thanks for the input so far...
wow- didn't know about blacklisted or scam used kindles...
and obviously didn't know they were glass...

i love the idea of buying the last model cheaper but then missing out on the features.

i read a good straight hour today on tablet before someone interrupted me...which i used to be able to do on the old tablet....maybe a good sign.

too bad i just can't get both now...
keep the opinions coming...we here in the world of the indecisive appreciate your thoughts.
thanks again,
ira

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ira1

thanks for the input so far...
wow- didn't know about blacklisted or scam used kindles...

YW -- your best bet for refurbished (used) Kindles is to get them from Amazon. They're in like-new condition and carry the full one-year warranty.

[Yapyap]

If you can at all afford it, and really like using a tablet and would rather not give up on its extra abilities again, I'd also suggest looking into a refurbished or used-in-good-condition Kindle in addition.

Either the K3 (Kindle Keyboard) or the Kindle Basic (no touch screen, no frontlight) should do very well for outdoors reading as well as reading under normal lighting (anywhere where you could read a paperback without an extra light), and keep the tablet for reading where you need the extra light - and just learn to deal with the extra temptations of email checking, web browsing, etc at those times.

If an extra Kindle, even a used one, is really out of reach, and you can read on a tablet (because for some people it's not just the distractions that are the problem but also just reading on a backlit LCD screen in general - that doesn't seem to be the case for you though!) then .... just learn to deal with the distractions. (Easier said than done, I know - I've learned to put my iPad away from arm's reach when I sit down to read with my Kindle, or it'll be just as bad, reaching for the tablet too often to compulsively just "check on things". Sigh.)

[anesthezea]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

I've learned to put my iPad away from arm's reach when I sit down to read with my Kindle, or it'll be just as bad, reaching for the tablet too often to compulsively just "check on things". Sigh.)

I have to do the same thing! If my iPad or my phone are too near, I'm far too tempted. Usually, if I give in to check my email, that leads to Facebook, then an hour later I look up and oops, I forgot to read my book!

To the OP: Like others have said, I'd suggest keeping the tablet for its bells and whistles if you really don't want to part with it for that reason, but get a cheaper ereader if/when possible. I recommend the refurbished Kindles from Amazon. I have had two and both units were indistinguishable from a brand new device. In fact, I still have both of them - my Kindle Keyboard and my son's Kindle Fire HD.

If you can find a good price on a Kindle Keyboard, I highly recommend it as a simple ereader (no touch screen, no light, but more internal space than newer models). As much as I love my Paperwhite 2, my Kindle Keyboard has been the most reliable of all the ereaders I've owned.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Just a tip if buying used. Make sure you can register it to your Amazon account before you pay to ensure that it's not a blacklisted device.

Yep, that's what I did with the last Kindle I bought at a pawn shop. Registered it to my account before I left the store. (Of course that one was a 3G, it might be a little more difficult with non-3G models.)

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by crich70

I agree about being careful when buying used as unless you buy a used kindle from Amazon you always run the risk of it being a lost/stolen reader that can't be registered to your account.

The risk can be mitigated by asking a few, straight-forward questions (at a Pawn Shop or on Craigslist) and by specifically looking for Kindles that are "registerable" on eBay. Basically, if it looks "fishy" it probably is.