Paperwhite Second Gen: First Impressions

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

I know! I agree. I was also not happy I couldn't change my fonts either.

That may be a problem with future firmware on PW1. We'll have to keep watch. I don't leave WiFi on all the time so I never get updates pushed out to me.

[induna]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I also read that PW2 doesn't have the multiple dictionaries options like the PW1. How could they forget to give it a feature that they just gave the PW1?

Almost certainly because they had to lock down the software on the PW 2 BEFORE the dictionary enhancement was completed and tested due to the manufacturing schedule. I would be shocked if the PW 2 did not reach feature parity by the next firmware update. And, of course, the PW 2 has several new features.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by induna

Almost certainly because they had to lock down the software on the PW 2 BEFORE the dictionary enhancement was completed and tested due to the manufacturing schedule. I would be shocked if the PW 2 did not reach feature parity by the next firmware update. And, of course, the PW 2 has several new features.

Yes but normally amazon would have the update ready release. Remember the KFv1? The fact that it's not there yet is pretty shocking to me considering Amazon's track record.

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by Blossom

That may be a problem with future firmware on PW1. We'll have to keep watch. I don't leave WiFi on all the time so I never get updates pushed out to me.

This is very true. I don't keep my WiFi on all the time either for the same reason.

[RDaneel54]

Brief review. I went from my Basic Kindle (after K3, etc) to the PW2 which I got yesterday afternoon. Love it. Love the speed, the screen, the software, etc. It is everything I'd hoped for. Haven't seen any screen defects.

Mine has a cooler coler, even light distribution. I did change to every page refresh as the occasional ones were causing a little grayness to the screen (to my eyes).

[allowingtoo]

Huh. I can't for the life of me power off the Paperwhite I'm going to return. It just keeps restarting. It won't even default to the screen saver mode unless I just let it sit there for a while. Is this normal after you have reset it?

[Yolina]

Have family visiting so only now catching up with the thread...

Xendula, I can definitely see the pink/green on yours, and some pink on TechieGirl's device too - sooooo disappointing
And I got a perfect score of 0 in the colour test thingymajig

[SampleAndy]

Originally Posted by 7hir7een

*shudder* Those are two of my paperwhites. One of which (the right) is the one I unfortunately kept because it was the best out of 4.

The paperwhite 2 is definitely better!

I'm a little confused. Do you mean those were pictures of two different PWs? I thought I could see the same pattern on both pictures, but the light intensity was just higher on the left picture.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I also read that PW2 doesn't have the multiple dictionaries options like the PW1. How could they forget to give it a feature that they just gave the PW1?

I never knew that until you just posted it. I had used the Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) on my PW 2012 as the Primary Dictionary and it still went to the New Oxford if it couldn't find the word.

With the PW 2013, if one uses the ISBE as the Primary Dictionary and the word is not found there, it defaults to a BLANK pane with only the Wikipedia as an alternative.

Thus, I changed both to only use the New Oxford for consistency.

Off topic: I have laid in bed with disabling pain many times and once it resulted in a ruptured appendix which almost killed me. The doctor was amazed I could take that kind of pain without complaints or seeking help.

[SampleAndy]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

You can return them quite easily at Best Buy. I asked and they give you two weeks for a complete refund. Not as good as Amazon, but enough time to check over the screen. I'm also sure Amazon would still stand behind it after the 2 weeks too.

I agree though, it's really a shame their quality control hasn't been better with the PW's. And while only a handful of people are reporting specks and pinholes on the boards, I'm betting more people have them and just don't notice it.

Last year, I'd nearly convinced myself that I had to have a new Paperwhite, until I'd read about all the problems people were having with them, and seeing the blotchy screen pictures. I waited until October? and went to Best Buy, where I could see what I was buying before I took it home. I played with the demo, and I had the rep open the box on the new one and did all the tests I could think of there in the store before I took it home.

Some time later, I repeated the process and took home a Fire HD. A little later than that, I proceeded to drown it. Even though it hadn't been purchased from Amazon, they replaced it. It'd be great if Amazon only sold perfect products, but they definitely stand behind them.

I wasn't really considering a PW2 until I'd read partway through this thread, but now that I've read ALL of it... I'm perfectly... well, almost perfectly happy with my PW1. Thank you all for taking the risks and posting your experiences. I really appreciate your help, back then and now.

(if you're curious about the soggy Fire story.)

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by sirmaru

I never knew that until you just posted it. I had used the Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) on my PW 2012 as the Primary Dictionary and it still went to the New Oxford if it couldn't find the word.

On the PW1 you could have as many as needed. I have the default dictionary at the one that comes with it but I also have 5 other dictionaries installed. It's a new feature given to use in the last Firmware update last month. It works well.

I have

• New Oxford American Dictionary
• Oxford Dictionary of English
• Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Merriam Webster's:

• Spanish - English Dictionary
• French - English Dictionary
• German - English Dictionary
• Italian - English Dictionary

All I do is press on a word and the definition pops up. I then just click on the dictionary name and a drop down menu appears and I can select the dictionary I want to go to. I can switch back and forth at will. I love this feature!

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I have:

• New Oxford American Dictionary
• Oxford Dictionary of English
• Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Merriam Webster's:

• Spanish - English Dictionary
• French - English Dictionary
• German - English Dictionary
• Italian - English Dictionary

I love this feature!

No shit, Sherlock...

Have you sought help yet, before you acquire a dictionary addiction?

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by SampleAndy

Last year, I'd nearly convinced myself that I had to have a new Paperwhite, until I'd read about all the problems people were having with them, and seeing the blotchy screen pictures. I waited until October? and went to Best Buy, where I could see what I was buying before I took it home. I played with the demo, and I had the rep open the box on the new one and did all the tests I could think of there in the store before I took it home.

Some time later, I repeated the process and took home a Fire HD. A little later than that, I proceeded to drown it. Even though it hadn't been purchased from Amazon, they replaced it. It'd be great if Amazon only sold perfect products, but they definitely stand behind them.

I wasn't really considering a PW2 until I'd read partway through this thread, but now that I've read ALL of it... I'm perfectly... well, almost perfectly happy with my PW1. Thank you all for taking the risks and posting your experiences. I really appreciate your help, back then and now.

(if you're curious about the soggy Fire story.)

Just read your soggy Fire story. That's impressive, for sure. Glad you got a new one. Amazon got in touch with me after I left a poor review of the PW1 and they were great sending out replacements for it. Unfortunately, none of them were perfect, but I did appreciate their customer service going above and beyond.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Have you sought help yet, before you acquire a dictionary addiction?

The first two came with the Kindle. The Webster 1913 is for Regencies I read and the rest are just translator dictionaries for various books that use foreign phrases so I don't have to use my phone to look them up every time or turn on WiFi and hope the translate feature works for a change.

[anywho]

My first PW2 had a shadow so I complained. I just received my second PW2. Guess what? This one has a pinhole.

Seriously? quality is SERIOUSLY lacking