Kindle Voyage - First Impressions

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Wow, I was in BB this afternoon getting the Origami case and until I read your post about looking at another Voyage at BB it never even occurred to me that I should have done that. D'oh!! I'm sure I walked right by a display unit but must have had tunnel vision or perhaps a brain fart!!! I usually don't pull a Homer Simpson, d'oh!

Have a look next time you're there. I swear I think they've also improved the PW2 since I got mine. The demo looked even better than mine and this wasn't the case last year. The latest batches are so much better. Just goes to show being an early adopter is often not the best thing. The demo of the PW2 they had out was really nice. If I didn't have an e-reader, I'd have walked out with a PW2 over the voyage, let's just say.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by pghaworth

My Note 3 is an absolute joy, and has been from day 1, and I love it so much that I am afraid to upgrade to the Note 4. I went from an Evo 3G, which was rooted and AMAZING, to an Evo 4G LTE and the performance difference was night and day. I wanted to throw my LTE at my windshield every time I used it (much like I want to do with my PW1).

Not sure. Many say that it is not really worth upgrading just for the improved resolution. I wouldn't know - I upgraded from S4 to Note4. And the difference is huge. Both in size (Doh ) and screen quality. Not as big as the S3 screen compared to the S4 (never personally had a S3, but in comparison to the S4 the S3 screen looks bad). I mean it is just a phone, right? It is very nice to read on in the Kindle app and Chrome works for access to MR. Plus it can make phone calls, unfortunately sometimes when it rings I have to answer it.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

Have a look next time you're there. I swear I think they've also improved the PW2 since I got mine. The demo looked even better than mine and this wasn't the case last year. The latest batches are so much better. Just goes to show being an early adopter is often not the best thing. The demo of the PW2 they had out was really nice. If I didn't have an e-reader, I'd have walked out with a PW2 over the voyage, let's just say.

They do that on purpose. The Voyage is a scam to sell more PW2, now that they appear to have the light fixed on PW.

(just kidding)

[Hypernova]

So I went to pick up a Voyage at BestBuy today. Seems like there only have one unit, so I definitely cannot do marry-go-round return.

First with maximum brightness. Horrible pink. Though I think the picture actually enhanced the effect a great deal--to my naked eyes it wasn't that bad. I see pink, sure, but not that distracting.

The second picture is more of my usual reading environment: some ambient light with the brightness level at 10. I think I see some pink in the picture, but again I think the picture actually enhanced the effect. It's quite ok to my naked eyes. I'm not too sure about the color gradient. I thought I saw it at first, but now I can't really.

So for me I'm still torn. I would be ok reading on this especially if a font hack is possible in the future. I also pay ~$162 for this Voyage (using 10% coupon and another 10% cashback) so while still expensive it's actually cheaper than H2O for me. On the other hand, I saw the Voyage vs. H2O comparison and Kobo's various font configuration really appeal to me. Might take a chance an order one to settle once and for all rather than keep wondering if I'd like H2O better. Really wish Kobo wouldn't charge for the return shipping.

Note: First picture took with Lumia 1020, second with Fuji X-10. No real reason why I did that but mentioned it just in case.

[Rumpelteazer]

I had been hoping the Voyage would be good. I skipped the PW1 because of the quality problems and the PW2 because I bought a Kobo Aura HD. But I got fed up with the Kobo's quirkiness and went back to my simple, non-touch Kindle. And now it's a repeat of the PW1.

After looking at how much it costs to order a PW2 plus cover ($258 inlcuding shipping and tax) I've decided to keep my basic Kindle, if and when Amazon opens their Dutch store I might be tempted to get the PW2.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Hypernova

On the other hand, I saw the Voyage vs. H2O comparison and Kobo's various font configuration really appeal to me. Might take a chance an order one to settle once and for all rather than keep wondering if I'd like H2O better.

The Kobo H2O must have a better screen than that. That two-tone screen would drive me nuts. I sure hope Amazon can get this straightened out.

[Hypernova]

Originally Posted by rcentros

The Kobo H2O must have a better screen than that. That two-tone screen would drive me nuts. I sure hope Amazon can get this straightened out.

If it was as bad as shown in my first picture, I'd be crazy reading on it also. But, again, I have to say that the real thing looks better than that. At the maximum brightness, there is pink glow and some gradient, but nowhere near as obvious as in the picture I took. I attached another picture at maximum brightness, this time with Fuji X-10.

There's a chance I may keep this because it's cheaper than what I'd have to pay for H2O plus the Voyage will most likely be easier to sell off on Craigslist when the time comes. By no means I'm impressed with the Voyage at its MSRP, but various factor may just make it "good enough" for me. I'll give it a couple read and see what I think afterwards.

[WilliamG]

Originally Posted by BrentB

Nope, they all do not. At least one I know of. Mine. No issues. Love it.

I wish I believed it to be true.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

Have a look next time you're there. I swear I think they've also improved the PW2 since I got mine. The demo looked even better than mine and this wasn't the case last year.

Yeah, I agree. I looked at a PaperWhite 2.5? (on display at Best Buy, while I was looking for a Voyage on display) and it looked really good. I don't remember being that impressed with them in the past.

[JoHunt]

Originally Posted by WilliamG

I wish I believed it to be true.

Why do you think the poster is not telling the truth? Please stop accusing those who are pleased with their Voyage of being delusional, blind, etc. We accept that you are not happy with the Voyage however the same courtesy is expected for those who are.

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by Hypernova

If it was as bad as shown in my first picture, I'd be crazy reading on it also. But, again, I have to say that the real thing looks better than that. At the maximum brightness, there is pink glow and some gradient, but nowhere near as obvious as in the picture I took. I attached another picture at maximum brightness, this time with Fuji X-10.

In that case, it doesn't look too bad at all. The first picture just looked awful in comparison. Considering you'll never use it with the screen that bright in a dark room anyway.... its how it looks to you in your various reading environments that matters.

My PW2 looks very good in a dark room at maximum brightness, but its never used that way so its a pointless measurement. In some poor lighting conditions the screen can take on a bit of a blue tinge with the light set low, that's all that bothers me slightly. The rest of the time in various lighting conditions and with the light at varied levels, it looks terrific. I'm definitely keeping my PW2 for at least another year. The general improvements to the display of the Voyage are tempting, but unless they fix the lighting, I'll probably look at what Kobo offers instead next year if I upgrade.

Originally Posted by joehunt

Why do you think the poster is not telling the truth? Please stop accusing those who are pleased with their Voyage of being delusional, blind, etc. We accept that you are not happy with the Voyage however the same courtesy is expected for those who are.

Well said.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by joehunt

Why do you think the poster is not telling the truth? Please stop accusing those who are pleased with their Voyage of being delusional, blind, etc. We accept that you are not happy with the Voyage however the same courtesy is expected for those who are.

Thank you. I got a Voyage yesterday at Best Buy, and I have to say that mine is perfectly fine. The screen is really good, and the page press buttons are in the right place for my hands. I was concerned about the lack of a raised bezel, and the fact that the buttons weren't raised at all, so I put a thin strip of Scotch tape along the side. I think that when Skins are available, I'll get one of those, and it will serve the same purpose.

Shari

[negris123]

I went to Best Buy yesterday and purchased a second voyage. The first one was a pre-order from Amazon that I received on launch day. I returned it for a refund due to the two-tone screen. The one from Best Buy suffers from the same problem although not as bad. I thought I would keep it because I really wanted the higher resolution, but after reading on it for a few hours, I can't justify replacing my PW2 with the Voyage. I don't care about the buttons, the auto-brightness doesn't work, but I would keep it if the light was at least as good or better than my PW2. It isn't and I think about that every time I go from light blue to yellow on the screen. Sadly, this one is going back to the store, too.

Originally Posted by Hypernova

So I went to pick up a Voyage at BestBuy today. Seems like there only have one unit, so I definitely cannot do marry-go-round return.

First with maximum brightness. Horrible pink. Though I think the picture actually enhanced the effect a great deal--to my naked eyes it wasn't that bad. I see pink, sure, but not that distracting.

The second picture is more of my usual reading environment: some ambient light with the brightness level at 10. I think I see some pink in the picture, but again I think the picture actually enhanced the effect. It's quite ok to my naked eyes. I'm not too sure about the color gradient. I thought I saw it at first, but now I can't really.

So for me I'm still torn. I would be ok reading on this especially if a font hack is possible in the future. I also pay ~$162 for this Voyage (using 10% coupon and another 10% cashback) so while still expensive it's actually cheaper than H2O for me. On the other hand, I saw the Voyage vs. H2O comparison and Kobo's various font configuration really appeal to me. Might take a chance an order one to settle once and for all rather than keep wondering if I'd like H2O better. Really wish Kobo wouldn't charge for the return shipping.

Note: First picture took with Lumia 1020, second with Fuji X-10. No real reason why I did that but mentioned it just in case.

When a shadow is cast on my Voyage that shadows is often pink. I think it might have to do with fluorescent lights in my case as they tend to have a soft pink light.

Originally Posted by WilliamG

I wish I believed it to be true.

While mine is a bad one and yours is a bad one and it looks like most Voyages or less than good, nevertheless there are a few people on here that received good ones and I know them and trust their opinions. I know we are frustrated, especially those of us who went through this two years ago with the PW1, but there is no need to anger the lucky few by making statements that they interpret as basically calling them liars. They are not lying, they truly got good units, and I'm glad they did. It gives me a glimmer of hope that in the future I might also get a very good one too.