Are the newer models of kindles better made than the older models were?

jbcohen · 10-14-2014, 02:57 PM

Are the newer model kindles better made in terms of how long they can go then then the older models were? I personally do not have enough experience to answer the question one way or the other since I have had only two kindles.

My first bit the dust after 15 months and its replacement has been going for a little over two years. So from the looks of things yeah the newer kindle, a paper white model one, is doing much better than the older kindle three did.

Jessica Lares · 10-14-2014, 03:06 PM

Definitely. The plastic is stronger and more sturdy on the PW compared to my K3.

Hampshire Nanny · 10-14-2014, 03:07 PM

In our family we have 3 Kindle Ones, 1 Kindle 2, 2 Kindle Keyboard (K3), and 1 Kindle Fire as well as numerous Kindle apps. We've never had a Kindle fail. When the K3 came out, I upgraded just to get the Wi-Fi connectivity and black case and passed my K1 down to my nephew. The 3 K1 devices were bought in February, May and May of 2008. Until I passed mine down to my nephew, I read on it a minimum of 5 hours per week, so it was heavily used.

The only problem we've had with any Kindle is losing them. My niece had two Kindles stolen at work and I left one in the seat pocket on an airplane.

So, from my experience, the Kindles have been well made from the beginning.

twowheels · 10-14-2014, 03:34 PM

I have no data on this, but it seems that in the K3 (Keyboard) days I'd see a post almost every day either here or on other sites with a picture of a broken screen asking what was wrong with it.

It's been a LONG time since I've seen such a picture, and I'm not sure if I've ever seen a picture of a paperwhite with a broken screen. Either people are getting better at figuring it out themselves, people suddenly all stopped asking, I'm unobservant, or the durability improved... I'm inclined to believe the latter.

Edit: to get an idea, I did a Google image search for 'kindle broken screen' and got tons and tons of Kindle Keyboards (K3), a few K4, and maybe 1 Paperwhite that was really trashed. I think they have improved.

PieMan597 · 10-14-2014, 05:18 PM

I've had my touch for three and a half years now, and it is still going strong. My experiences with the paperwhite (which I do not own) are mostly good, except I had a friend who broke his screen after a year.
I do no have any experiences with any of the older Kindles. Just don't drop your Kindle.

Barbara1955 · 10-14-2014, 06:04 PM

IMHO It All depends on the care they receive!

SteveEisenberg · 10-14-2014, 09:01 PM

I don't have a Paperwhite, but based on this video it appears much harder to disassemble for repair than my more-or-less snap-open Kindle Keyboard:

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/manual.php?id=214

krazy4katz · 10-14-2014, 09:36 PM

I have had my K3 since summer, 2010 with no problems. Occasionally it hangs and I have to restart. That is something I have noticed in the last 4 months, but it has only happened about 5 times and may not be a kindle problem per se. It could be a file problem, something corrupted etc.

desert dog · 10-15-2014, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Are the newer model kindles better made in terms of how long they can go then then the older models were? I personally do not have enough experience to answer the question one way or the other since I have had only two kindles.

My first bit the dust after 15 months and its replacement has been going for a little over two years. So from the looks of things yeah the newer kindle, a paper white model one, is doing much better than the older kindle three did.

You can take a lot of potshots at Amazon but their customer service is top notch. Part of that customer service is a commitment towards product improvement. I have owned a model of every Kindle since the Keyboard and the two PW2 units I have now are the best.

I did order a Voyage, with a delivery date of next week, and I fully expect it to be the best yet.

Another case in point is Audible. I've been an audible listener for years and since Amazon has aquired them it is easier and more comvenient than ever to download books.

10-14-2014, 02:57 PM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,033 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Are the newer models of kindles better made than the older models were? Are the newer model kindles better made in terms of how long they can go then then the older models were? I personally do not have enough experience to answer the question one way or the other since I have had only two kindles. My first bit the dust after 15 months and its replacement has been going for a little over two years. So from the looks of things yeah the newer kindle, a paper white model one, is doing much better than the older kindle three did.

10-14-2014, 03:34 PM	#4
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,855 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	I have no data on this, but it seems that in the K3 (Keyboard) days I'd see a post almost every day either here or on other sites with a picture of a broken screen asking what was wrong with it. It's been a LONG time since I've seen such a picture, and I'm not sure if I've ever seen a picture of a paperwhite with a broken screen. Either people are getting better at figuring it out themselves, people suddenly all stopped asking, I'm unobservant, or the durability improved... I'm inclined to believe the latter. Edit: to get an idea, I did a Google image search for 'kindle broken screen' and got tons and tons of Kindle Keyboards (K3), a few K4, and maybe 1 Paperwhite that was really trashed. I think they have improved. Last edited by twowheels; 10-14-2014 at 03:36 PM.

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10-14-2014, 03:06 PM	#2
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	Definitely. The plastic is stronger and more sturdy on the PW compared to my K3.

10-14-2014, 03:07 PM	#3
Hampshire Nanny Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 8064562 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3 KB, iPad2	In our family we have 3 Kindle Ones, 1 Kindle 2, 2 Kindle Keyboard (K3), and 1 Kindle Fire as well as numerous Kindle apps. We've never had a Kindle fail. When the K3 came out, I upgraded just to get the Wi-Fi connectivity and black case and passed my K1 down to my nephew. The 3 K1 devices were bought in February, May and May of 2008. Until I passed mine down to my nephew, I read on it a minimum of 5 hours per week, so it was heavily used. The only problem we've had with any Kindle is losing them. My niece had two Kindles stolen at work and I left one in the seat pocket on an airplane. So, from my experience, the Kindles have been well made from the beginning.

10-14-2014, 05:18 PM	#5
PieMan597 Still a pie Posts: 6,285 Karma: 37018654 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: PieTown USA Device: Kindle Touch, OnePlus 7 Pro	I've had my touch for three and a half years now, and it is still going strong. My experiences with the paperwhite (which I do not own) are mostly good, except I had a friend who broke his screen after a year. I do no have any experiences with any of the older Kindles. Just don't drop your Kindle.

10-14-2014, 06:04 PM	#6
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	IMHO It All depends on the care they receive!

10-14-2014, 09:01 PM	#7
SteveEisenberg Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,470 Karma: 44460032 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: near Philadelphia USA Device: Kindle Kids Edition, Fire HD 10 (11th generation)	I don't have a Paperwhite, but based on this video it appears much harder to disassemble for repair than my more-or-less snap-open Kindle Keyboard: http://www.powerbookmedic.com/manual.php?id=214

10-14-2014, 09:36 PM	#8
krazy4katz Addict Posts: 367 Karma: 1552656 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: [Kindle 1, Kindle 3 (KK)], Kindle Voyage, iPad Pro	I have had my K3 since summer, 2010 with no problems. Occasionally it hangs and I have to restart. That is something I have noticed in the last 4 months, but it has only happened about 5 times and may not be a kindle problem per se. It could be a file problem, something corrupted etc.