New "top of the line Kindle" details coming next week

[tomsem]

What I like is that they have pared it down by eliminating the large bezel above and below, and have significantly reduced cover-less weight as compared with Voyage. And the asymmetric design may not appeal to some, but it makes sense to me, and I think I would prefer it to Voyage (at least without the cover attached, it would be much lighter and easier to hold).

How is its weight-with-cover comparable to Voyage-with-cover? Seems like even that could be less, especially if it is just a solar panel thing and has no battery of its own. But if it contains additional storage and can be charged independently (either plugged into something, or more slowly via solar cells), so much the better.

I want to think it has glass front layer like Voyage. And what is difference between 'PagePress' and 'Page Buttons'? The buttons better be quiet and not too finicky about how they get pressed.

But yes, somewhat disappointing if that is all there is to it.

Still it would be some sort of upgrade for me, because I don't have a Voyage, I think I like the form factor, and the screen should be more evenly lit and perhaps more defined text than my PW3 with its plastic front layer.

Price is obviously one of the most important considerations that is as yet unknown.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by tomsem

What I like is that they have pared it down by eliminating the large bezel above and below, and have significantly reduced cover-less weight as compared with Voyage. And the asymmetric design may not appeal to some, but it makes sense to me, and I think I would prefer it to Voyage (at least without the cover attached, it would be much lighter and easier to hold).

How is its weight-with-cover comparable to Voyage-with-cover? Seems like even that could be less, especially if it is just a solar panel thing and has no battery of its own. But if it contains additional storage and can be charged independently (either plugged into something, or more slowly via solar cells), so much the better.

A simple way to reduce weight would be to use a smaller battery. That means a shorter runtime, but, with a battery in the cover, that can give them the same overall life, but still allow them to claim that it is the lightest device. So, my bet is the device plus cover weighs pretty much the same as the Voyage plus cover.

If I'm right about the internal battery, then I think the solar cover is good idea. It will charge the battery whenever there is light hitting it. It wouldn't surprise me if this was enough to keep battery runtime around the same as the Voyage. If the solar cover is lighter than the battery cover, it's a win all round.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by ApK

As a lefty, I'm hoping one just turns it over to use it left handed.
I'd prefer buttons on both sides, but that would be an acceptable compromise.

In that case, the logo will be upside down, and if it's on the front, that will distract me to no end. (But I'm not left handed, so that's not an issue.)

I just think asymmetrical devices look ugly.

[newkindlefun]

You can see in the Chinese leak that it turns over. There is no logo on the front.

For me asymmetrical isn't necessarily an issue. There is the Trek concept design on the forum which looks pretty nice as a drawing. But the bezel is smaller so it's not so jarring.

[Yolina]

I have a problem with asymmetrical things too (well, not everything but definitely with the Oasis, it just looks wrong)
Also as someone who switches holding hand regularly, having to flip the reader over every time would likely drive me nuts very quickly.

If we're playing 'guess the price' and given that the cover is included, I'm going to say £250 in the UK (the Voyage is £170)

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

That's what some of us said in 2009 about our jetBook Lites!

Still do, if they released one with a faster processor and an updated screen I'd get one now

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I too don't see what people have against a solar charger.

I do think it is strange, though, that the Kindle of all things should seemingly be the first device to ship with a solar charger.
However useful it is for a Kindle, it would be far more useful for a smartphone or tablet... and yet, no one seems to be trying to convince people they need to get a smartphone/tablet with a solar charger.

Even the third-party solar chargers that are available don't seem to get much press, and the Kindle will come with one by default?

You can get solar cases for phones, the main problems are that a smartphone takes up way more power than you get from a phone sized panel and your phone is normally in a pocket away from the sunlight.

I've got a rucksack with a solar panel and a smallish panel living on the windowsill at home and I still can't always keep my phone charged off-grid although my ereader & mp3 player are usually charged from solar only during the summer. It helps if you have a Labrador and need to be outside 3 hours a day though, it would probably help more if I lived somewhere that got more sunshine than rain.

[aceflor]

I totally approve the concept of a "green" e-reader, and I think the solar cover would make it perfect.
I also am delighted to see buttons making a come back.

BUT....
1. I would have loved a waterproof device, because 6 months of the year, half of my reading time is spent on the water or near the water. That's probably just me though, and I realize that many are not interested in this feature
2. Bigger BUT : if those pics are real, that thing is butt ugly imho.
3. Due to its price the Voyage was a niche product, so what does it make the Oasis.. a mini-niche product ???

I am still incredulous regarding those pics. The design of that thing is just too.. weird (in a bad sense) for me to believe they are real. I am thinking April's Fool from Jeff.
But I have been wrong in the past so maybe it is indeed what the new Kindle will look like. And if so, unless there is a huge feature that we have missed in the specs, I am out.

[Josieb1]

It's certainly a device I'd want to hold and see before buying. Hopefully in a few months John Lewis will have them on display. Unless it feels and reads amazingly well it's not one I can see me wanting. It's not shouting 'Buy Me'

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by aceflor

I totally approve the concept of a "green" e-reader, and I think the solar cover would make it perfect.

If they'd create an e-reader with a solar cell in the top of the front panel *and* in the front of the cover, it would maybe even be possible to create a reader that recharges while reading as well as when lying down. It would never run out of battery.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

If they'd create an e-reader with a solar cell in the top of the front panel *and* in the front of the cover, it would maybe even be possible to create a reader that recharges while reading as well as when lying down. It would never run out of battery.

Oh, yes, it would....

It all depends on where your reading is done. My husband has a kindle and he'd use that solar charger only a few time each year as he mostly reads in bed. In the dark... And no solar panel has worked in the dark so far!

[Mnementh]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Oh, yes, it would....

It all depends on where your reading is done. My husband has a kindle and he'd use that solar charger only a few time each year as he mostly reads in bed. In the dark... And no solar panel has worked in the dark so far!

But where would the kindle be when not reading?

If out on a bedside table or somewhere light then it would be charging, even if only a small amount.

[DiapDealer]

Unless one stores their eink device in a drawer when not in use, they WOULD see battery charging benefits from a built-in solar charging feature. There'd be no way around it. Whether or not someone cares about that benefit is another story, of course, but there are no real valid "it wouldn't work for me" claims.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Mnementh

But where would the kindle be when not reading?

If out on a bedside table or somewhere light then it would be charging, even if only a small amount.

On a nightstand. And especially in summer, it's rather dark in the bedroom (curtains are closed to keep the heat out, roof windows can be hot otherwise). And even if the curtains aren't closed, I think it'd still be mostly too dark to even fill up what you've used the night before.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Oh, yes, it would....

It all depends on where your reading is done. My husband has a kindle and he'd use that solar charger only a few time each year as he mostly reads in bed. In the dark... And no solar panel has worked in the dark so far!

Hm. In my case, it might work using the evil red glow emanating from my eyes

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Unless one stores their eink device in a drawer when not in use, they WOULD see battery charging benefits from a built-in solar charging feature. There'd be no way around it. Whether or not someone cares about that benefit is another story, of course, but there are no real valid "it wouldn't work for me" claims.

I'd like a cover with a solar panel strip at the front. The reader would charge by just having it lie on the table at the office. I could probably get by using only the power supplied when side-loading books, or I could connect the reader to the cell phone charger that's always plugged in over here.