Paperwhite Second Gen: First Impressions

[ixtab]

Hmmm... I'm generally pretty harsh with Amazon/Lab126 and their software, because I dislike their closed-source close-mindedness.

And I can't really say anything about Kindle Fires - I've never even seen one in real life...

But I do think they did a pretty good job in keeping the more or less recent e-ink Kindles up-to-date:

* Kindle 3 (Keyboard) was given a rather major update a year and a half (or so) ago which brought support for KF8 (.azw3) books. That's a move that nobody really expected at the time, because most people thought the K3 was abandoned.
* Kindle 5 (Touch) was given an update which makes it look and behave pretty much like the Paperwhite, again when people already thought it was no longer maintained. And it received another update quite recently.
* Well okay, on the K4 front, there hasn't been much happening - but then again, the software's already quite feature-complete as it is.

So I'm actually expecting the PW1 to get a few updates which will keep it more or less on par with the PW2 for the next year or two. But of course, that's just speculation - nobody here really knows.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

So now I'm waiting to see if the PW1 will get the same software features as the new PW2 before I seriously consider upgrading from my K4. If not, then I'll put my decision on hold and reconsider when it goes on clearance.

I think you will be waiting a long time for Amazon to put the PW1 on clearance, it's more like it will just disappear and remaining stocks will be used for warranty replacements.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ixtab

So I'm actually expecting the PW1 to get a few updates which will keep it more or less on par with the PW2 for the next year or two. But of course, that's just speculation - nobody here really knows.

Thanks for the info; and that's what I'm hoping.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I think it's just the expense in one go. It's £150 for a new PW plus shipping (I won't wait) plus a three year warranty.

Do you feel the need for a warranty? I've been using handheld devices for 30-odd years now, and never had one break.

[ixtab]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do you feel the need for a warranty? I've been using handheld devices for 30-odd years now, and never had one break.

Yep . I'm actually never paying for any "extended warranty" or such. I consider it a waste of money. My personal experience is that in 99% of the cases, any kind of electronic thing either dies very fast (= within a few months, which is covered by the "normal" warranty), or survives for ages, well beyond any warranty period.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ixtab

Yep . I'm actually never paying for any "extended warranty" or such. I consider it a waste of money. My personal experience is that in 99% of the cases, any kind of electronic thing either dies very fast (= within a few months, which is covered by the "normal" warranty), or survives for ages, well beyond any warranty period.

This is even more true with EU law, which states that goods must be "fit for purpose", and allows consumers to make a "reasonable" warranty claim within 6 years of purchase. Limited time warranties are not legally binding within the EU.

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by ixtab

Yep . I'm actually never paying for any "extended warranty" or such. I consider it a waste of money. My personal experience is that in 99% of the cases, any kind of electronic thing either dies very fast (= within a few months, which is covered by the "normal" warranty), or survives for ages, well beyond any warranty period.

+1
My point, and my experience too, exactly.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do you feel the need for a warranty? I've been using handheld devices for 30-odd years now, and never had one break.

Yes, I've had three replacements for my Kindle Keyboard, and I do like the security of knowing if anything happens to my devices replacing them is a breeze.

[Psykhe]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

My PW1 is very good and I've been debating over the financial sense to upgrade, especially as I have two more years of a three year warranty for it, but I am tempted.

Ebay your old one.

You should be able to get good prices for it, especially with still 2 year warranty on it. Assuming you haven't scratched the screen noticeably or stuff like that.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Psykhe

Ebay your old one.

You should be able to get good prices for it, especially with still 2 year warranty on it. Assuming you haven't scratched the screen noticeably or stuff like that.

You'd need to check whether or not the extended warranty is transferrable. Extended warranties are usually insurance policies, and are often nor transferrable.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Psykhe

Ebay your old one.

You should be able to get good prices for it, especially with still 2 year warranty on it. Assuming you haven't scratched the screen noticeably or stuff like that.

Mines perfect, but right now I am thinking of keeping it to replace my KK which gets used for a different type of sideloaded book which is not stored in the cloud.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Aren't people getting up to $122 for trading in their old one to Amazon? If that's the case then I don't see why everyone doesn't upgrade!

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You'd need to check whether or not the extended warranty is transferrable. Extended warranties are usually insurance policies, and are often nor transferrable.

Square Trade policies are transferable. I sold my K Touch with one earlier this year through eBay, no trouble at all.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

Aren't people getting up to $122 for trading in their old one to Amazon? If that's the case then I don't see why everyone doesn't upgrade!

That's only available in the US. No trade in program in any other country.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

Aren't people getting up to $122 for trading in their old one to Amazon? If that's the case then I don't see why everyone doesn't upgrade!

Well, for one thing the trade-in is only available to people in the US, so that rules out 95% of us .