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

[MikeB1972]

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 use a book case, I'd need the solar panel on the spine

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

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'd quite like that too but then we'd need a cover for the cover I can't see a solar panel strip on the outside of a cover surviving long when being carried in a bag

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Yolina

I'd quite like that too but then we'd need a cover for the cover I can't see a solar panel strip on the outside of a cover surviving long when being carried in a bag

A solar panel is rather scratch resistant. Ages ago, we bought a solar panel battery charger (charged AA and AAA batteries). We were on a biking trip, camping on the way. That thing still works, even after all the abuse it received (it's old-tech, so it couldn't even charge the more powerful AA batteries anymore, but it still works!)

Even though a solar panel would be useless most of the time in our case, I'd still would love to have one, as charger for my ereader. Just because it's a solar panel! (but that's not enough to offset the 6" screen and non-watertightness of the device).

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm inclined to think much the same. The Oasis just doesn't look like a device that Amazon would design, but who knows. It is definitely butt ugly, appears to be an ergonomic nightmare, disappointing to lefties like myself, and doesn't really seem to bring anything new or innovative as far as reading text to the eInk world. I guess if you cannot significantly improve the eInk screens, then you try to cover that up with all kinds of non-screen design features. You can put all the lipstick you want to on a pig, but it is still just a pig!

[howyoudoin]

Originally Posted by jswinden

disappointing to lefties like myself

How so?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by booklover6

To get back on topic, the screen size of the Kobo Aura HD & H2O is really fantastic. If the "new top of the line" Kindle has that size screen, along with the metal case of the Voyage, I will be tempted. I have the Aura HD, but never take it out of the house, as e-ink screens are known for their fragility.

I take my H2O out of the house quite often with no problem. It's not more or less fragile than a 6" screen Reader.

As for the new Kindle, it's going to be yet another 6" screen.

[Jason90]

I don't think the problem with this new kindle is so much as that it will be a bad ereader but we were all expecting alot more and it is definatley not a voyage replacement for most,selling this alongside the paperwhite and voyage line is just weird,who does amazon think this device caters for.

There was suppose to be more than one device leaked in the kindles latest firnware so there may be hope yet that the voyage will get updated independently.

[barryem]

I'm pretty surprised at this thing. I wasn't really expecting Liquavista, or even wanting it. I thought it might be waterproof although that's not something I care about. I also expected it to be pretty much the same as every other Kindle in the past with minor improvements but it's not at all the same. I can see someone not liking it but I can't see thinking it's not a radical departure.

I don't know if I have any use for one. I have a Voyage and every model Paperwhite but the last few months I've been reading almost exclusively on a phone, as a result of a month of experimental reading on the phone. I'm not sure if I'll go back to reading on the Kindle yet. Time will tell. But this thing is so unique I'll be tempted to get one if it's not too awfully expensive, just because I'm curious.

I do agree that it's somewhat ugly and looks a bit unwieldy but it's different enough I won't know if I like it till I have one in hand.

I do wonder about the width of the bezel where the buttons are, and if that might have been a lot narrower. Not as narrow as the other bezel sides; wide enough to grip easily, but narrower than it is. Again, I probably can't really know that till I try one.

Barry

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Jason90

...but we were all expecting alot more and it is definatley not a voyage replacement for most,selling this alongside the paperwhite and voyage line is just weird,who does amazon think this device caters for.

It quite possibly caters to me. And others like me who skipped the the whole Paperwhite/Voyage line. I've never been tempted to jump back into a new Amazon eink Kindle device until now (since the K2US). Bet I'm not alone. Amazon may strike out occasionally, but they're not complete idiots. This appeals to someone or they wouldn't be thinking of leaking/releasing this device. Whether it appeals to enough for it to be successful is yet to be seen.

[latepaul]

I love the way everyone assumes their needs/wants/preferences/usage is typical and that anything that doesn't meet them is an abject failure!

[Shane R]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

If this is real (I'm still holding out hope), then Amazon has hit on what is probably THE thing that will make me not want it. I know I'm weird, but asymmetrical things drive me crazy.

Don't study the size and shape of your eyes or feet, then. Or the length of your arms. The lengths of your digits...the size and shape of...well, let's just say asymmetry abounds in nature.

[Jason90]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

It quite possibly caters to me. And others like me who skipped the the whole Paperwhite/Voyage line. I've never been tempted to jump back into a new Amazon eink Kindle device until now (since the K2US). Bet I'm not alone. Amazon may strike out occasionally, but they're not complete idiots. This appeals to someone or they wouldn't be thinking of leaking/releasing this device. Whether it appeals to enough for it to be successful is yet to be seen.

How many people who have been interested in a kindle would jump ship over this new model,people wern't complaining about the weight or battery life to begin with.

The only redeemable feature left going for this imo is if it uses the new i.mx7 and has a faster refresh rate and navigation.

Im more interested in einks new display tech regal 2 and what i.mx7 brings to the table,can see myself waiting to go for a non amazon device now.

[emellaich]

So, as I think about this. I believe its designed to be used 'naked' with the cover being used to store it.

My take is that the asymmetrical design will prove to be ergonomically excellent. With the weight in the palm of your hand and a wider grip, plus the notch to tuck your fingers over, it will be more comfortable to hold.

The problems is that the cover takes a lot of that away. The cover hides the notch, evens out the weight so that is not in your palm and removes the thinness of the protruding edge.

The key is that one of the Chinese leak translations referred to the fact that the magnets made the cover easy to put on and easy to remove. This is only an advantage if you are going to be frequently removing the cover.

I like this concept, but I have two concerns. 1) I hope the screen is extra durable (flexible, but scratch resistant?) in case I drop it cover-free; and 2) When I am mobile I won't have anywhere to set the cover down, so I hope it still works as an attached cover even if its not the ideal scenario.

[Shane R]

Originally Posted by latepaul

I love the way everyone assumes their needs/wants/preferences/usage is typical and that anything that doesn't meet them is an abject failure!

That's the nature of internet comment forums.

I never thought that Kindles would continue to be popular after smartphones and tablets became pervasive.

[emellaich]

Originally Posted by latepaul

I love the way everyone assumes their needs/wants/preferences/usage is typical and that anything that doesn't meet them is an abject failure!

As a continuation of your thought... and anyone who wants to use it differently from them is an idiot.