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

[newkindlefun]

Originally Posted by Barty

Ok I had too much time on my hand, so I drew up my Oasis alternative.

(sorry about the lores pic and lousy Paint job. Zero artistic skills here)

edit: on second thought, I may toss the audio jack and just go with bluetooth. One less port to cover up. I want the built-in speaker(s), though; don't always have a BT speaker around.

okay, may have to up to $239 USD

Yours is much better even if it does have one wider bezel. The Oasis looks more bulky even if it's smaller.

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Has anyone seen a USB port on the Oasis in any of the pics making the rounds? It comes with a charging cover according to some reports. Does that mean the USB port is only in the cover?

No photos that I have seen show a USB. It may well be that it can only be charged and information transferred with the cover. Their does appear to be a power button on one of the ends...maybe next to that.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Steve H

I am ambidextrous and do not switch hands often. I anticipate that I will switch even less with the Oasis. For me this may be the most ergonomic e-reader ever. That angled back is no accident.

Switching hands will be easy. Just toss it in the air and catch. But before you release your grip, give it a slight flip toward the receiving hand.

With practice and a few replacements, you'll eventually get the hang of it.

[Shane R]

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

I think what needs to be kept in mind here is that there's choice.

Some people wanted real page turn buttons, some people like the ergonomics of the wedge shape. They now have the added choice.

Those who don't like these features - things haven't changed at all for them. The previous models are still available for purchase. Competing companies still sell ereaders. The current ereaders these people own still exist and function for the purpose they bought them. Companies aren't obliged to put out ereaders with features they did not promise explicitly, and which for now exist solely in wishful thinking threads as we have seen in the weeks leading up to now.

[Jason90]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Nope. Not if (like someone else has already mentioned) you only use the case for storage/transport. Read naked, store/charge in the easily removeable case. I only ever used a case to make a device easier to hold one-handed in the first place. If the magnets make it easy/quick to get in and out of the case, I'll read without the case and still realize all benefits.

If I buy it, of course.

There's plenty of options out there for mobile external power that can charge usb devices such as battery packs,would probably be easier to take with you too then having the case in the bag.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Jason90

There's plenty of options out there for mobile external power that can charge usb devices such as battery packs,would probably be easier to take with you too then having the case in the bag.

I have no need for a mobile external device charger. And there is no "bag." If I take my (potential) new reader anywhere, I will be carrying it in its case. Why on earth would an external charger with battery packs/cables be any more easy/portable for me and my reader (with or without its charging case)?

Besides ... do you really purport to know what would be "easier" for me??

I'm not trying to convince anyone this device would be great for them. I'm only dismissing the opinions that it couldn't be great for anybody.

You're free to hate it all you like. Just stop pretending you have universal, objective reasons (that will apply equally to everyone) for doing so. We all have different needs/priorities/preferences.

[Atunah]

I have to switch hands on my Voyage all the time. Not because I want to, but because I cramp up otherwise. Its just not balanced to press the buttons for me without having to grip it so it cramps after a while, or it slides out of my hand if I am not careful. I love my Voyage for the screen and having "buttons" back as I couldn't use the paperwhite, but the small area to hold on to while having a thumb on the page turn is sometimes a struggle.

Compare to when I had my K1, the first kindle with the large buttons and wedge design, I held that thing in one hand and rarely cramped up. Super ergonomic.

This new one here also might be great to hold without cramping up. Maybe my fingers are short, but I cannot comfortably hold my Voyage in one hand and still turn pages safely. I kind of lean it on something with the other edge. It has fallen out of my hand several times while pressing the haptic. Its like I just lose gripe on it.

With weight all in the palm area, I can see how this works well for ergonomic reading. I have never been a fan of every device getting thinner and thinner all around and me then trying to hold on to the darn things. I am a voracious reader and so I read in long sessions if I can.
All that matter to me with an ereader is the screen, how the letters look as if they are on the top like paper, even lit and how comfortable is it to hold. And buttons, I must have buttons. So curious about these buttons.

It all depends on the price now.

[emellaich]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Switching hands will be easy. Just toss it in the air and catch. But before you release your grip, give it a slight flip toward the receiving hand.

With practice and a few replacements, you'll eventually get the hang of it.

Instead, I'm picturing something more like a one-handed cartwheel. You set the oasis down, and as one hand reaches the floor the other hand picks up the oasis and carries it back upright and turned over.

[emellaich]

Originally Posted by Atunah

but the small area to hold on to while having a thumb on the page turn is sometimes a struggle.

I agree. I would take a picture, but it's at home. However, my thumb is much wider than the border on my voyage. I either have a cramped grip on the edge, or my thumb hangs over the reading area too much.

Since my voyage screen is cracked I will be buying a new one, and it will probably be an oasis. However, I am still considering buying a used Kindle Touch off ebay. TTS is important to me because I like to listen in the car.

but, whispersynch doesn't work that well. I tried reading on my voyage and listening on a cheap fire. Two problems. 1) Even when you send books to the fire they don't actually load until you open them the first time. 2) Whispersync isn't always up to date and sometimes it syncs the wrong book (the one that has less reading progress). It can be done easy enough but making sure that both readers have the same book (and I go through them rapidly) and that they are both at the same point puts an extra barrier in my book listening.

[Jason90]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I have no need for a mobile external device charger. And there is no "bag." If I take my (potential) new reader anywhere, I will be carrying it in its case. Why on earth would an external charger with battery packs/cables be any more easy/portable for me and my reader (with or without its charging case)?

Besides ... do you really purport to know what would be "easier" for me??

I'm not trying to convince anyone this device would be great for them. I'm only dismissing the opinions that it couldn't be great for anybody.

You're free to hate it all you like. Just stop pretending you have universal, objective reasons for doing so. We all have different needs/priorities/preferences.

I didn't say I hate it but it is a letdown yes and Steve H stated the longer battery life and lighter design would make him consider a purchase when that only counts when using the case which negates the weight and ergonomic benefits of the new design.

How are you going to benefit from both? If you just have the kindle wth you and the case your going to need to take it off and put it somewhere...it isn't the best of anything but the opposite.

This kindle probably does feel better in hand than the voyage but at the expense of battery life,that's the fact of the design not me pretending anything.

I think we need a new poll set up to see who is in favour of this and not,should clear it up for you

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Jason90

I didn't say I hate it but it is a letdown yes and Steve H stated the longer battery life and lighter design would make him consider a purchase when that only counts when using the case which negates the weight and ergonomic benefits of the new design.

How are you going to benefit from both? If you just have the kindle wth you and the case your going to need to take it off and put it somewhere...it isn't the best of anything but the opposite.

This kindle probably does feel better in hand than the voyage but at the expense of battery life,that's the fact of the design not me pretending anything.

I think we need a new poll set up to see who is in favour of this and not,should clear it up for you

My guess would be 33% favor, 33% does not favor, and 34% makes no difference.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by Yolina

I'm right handed but I hold my Kindle in either hand, it's probably 50% each hand and I switch quite often. I wouldn't like having to flip the Oasis every time

I only have one hand. That takes care of THAT problem

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Has anyone seen a USB port on the Oasis in any of the pics making the rounds? It comes with a charging cover according to some reports. Does that mean the USB port is only in the cover?

My guess: the oasis is intended to be used in the case all the time. Amazon will claim that with "typical usage", you'll never need to plug it in to charge. You CAN use it outside the case, but I'm guessing the main unit has a substantially smaller battery than current kindles. The USB port is probably in the cover, so to charge or sideload books you need to "dock" it. Meaning the cover is not an optional accessory.

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by Jason90

I didn't say I hate it but it is a letdown yes and Steve H stated the longer battery life and lighter design would make him consider a purchase when that only counts when using the case which negates the weight and ergonomic benefits of the new design.

How are you going to benefit from both? If you just have the kindle wth you and the case your going to need to take it off and put it somewhere...it isn't the best of anything but the opposite.

This kindle probably does feel better in hand than the voyage but at the expense of battery life,that's the fact of the design not me pretending anything.

I think we need a new poll set up to see who is in favour of this and not,should clear it up for you

I think an assumption is being made about the battery life of the Oasis without the cover. We don't know that there will be a sacrifice. We do know that there will be a gain of battery life with the cover utilized.

I anticipate the ergonomics of this device are well thought out in ways that I will like. Easier to hold than my current Voyage or Paperwhite 3. While I have never owned a cover and would prefer a naked device I see no need to avoid using the cover for transport/charging purposes. My guess is it will magnetically snap to the front of the Oasis to stay closed.

It will be superlight as a naked device but probably no heavier than an old Kindle Touch with a cover. I also anticipate better lighting will be a plus. We still have a lot to find out about the Oasis and battery life without the cover is a big one.

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by Barty

I only have one hand. That takes care of THAT problem



My guess: the oasis is intended to be used in the case all the time. Amazon will claim that with "typical usage", you'll never need to plug it in to charge. You CAN use it outside the case, but I'm guessing the main unit has a substantially smaller battery than current kindles. The USB port is probably in the cover, so to charge or sideload books you need to "dock" it. Meaning the cover is not an optional accessory.

You may be at least partially right as the Amazon.ca comparison chart stated cover "included"

[robko]

Originally Posted by Steve H

I think an assumption is being made about the battery life of the Oasis without the cover. We don't know that there will be a sacrifice.

Yes it's an assumption, but it's a logical one. They had to reduce around 60 gms of weight somewhere and the battery would be the most likely place to get that much weight, especially when they have a supplementary battery in the cover.