Got my new Oasis today, first impressions

[coplate]

Originally Posted by Atunah

My first one had a bit of a gradient. First new Oasis2 that is. I had to get a replacement because it had some black spots in the middle of the screen. The replacement has so little gradient that its not noticeable at all. Almost non existent. Pretty much as perfect a screen it can be.

So there is some variation on them. I held them side by side when I had them both for a couple of days on same font and light and it was really obvious then.

Although really the first one would also have been readable under normal light settings and I probably would not have exchanged it was it not for the black dots.

Yes, I think it is almost certainly variations in the quality of the "light guide?" layer that goes on top of the screen to spread the frontlight around.

I am thinking about asking for a replacement, but I am not sure yet.

[odamizu]

Dilemma, dilemma.

I have been tempted by the Oasis2 due entirely to the positive screen reports, which make it sound like it would be an improvement over the screens on my Oasis1 and Voyage. But now this seems less clear.

I am also concerned about the added weight of the Oasis2. I know it can't compare to the Oasis1 in lightness (which is a key factor for me), but I'm wondering how the Oasis2 compares to the Voyage when reading in bed, holding it above you.

Any insights greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[rashkae]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Dilemma, dilemma.

I have been tempted by the Oasis2 due entirely to the positive screen reports, which make it sound like it would be an improvement over the screens on my Oasis1 and Voyage. But now this seems less clear.

I am also concerned about the added weight of the Oasis2. I know it can't compare to the Oasis1 in lightness (which is a key factor for me), but I'm wondering how the Oasis2 compares to the Voyage when reading in bed, holding it above you.

Any insights greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I can't imagine the Oasis being in any way an improvement in that scenario. The grip on the device is not nearly good enough to hold one handed agove your head. and you have much smaller edge to prop the device on opposite side.

[gteague]

i agree with wired magazine -- it's too damm big. i'm tempted to buy back my original oasis and hack some more memory into it.

/guy

[trekk]

Originally Posted by Atunah

My first one had a bit of a gradient. First new Oasis2 that is. I had to get a replacement because it had some black spots in the middle of the screen. The replacement has so little gradient that its not noticeable at all. Almost non existent. Pretty much as perfect a screen it can be.

So there is some variation on them. I held them side by side when I had them both for a couple of days on same font and light and it was really obvious then.

Although really the first one would also have been readable under normal light settings and I probably would not have exchanged it was it not for the black dots.

My first 7" Oasis was very evenly lit with only a very slight gradient, almost not visible. It was a perfect screen for me. Sadly I had to replace it, because the upper button caused multiple pageturns.

My replacement has a very noticable gradient from very bright to dark. I asked for another replacement, but ATM the Oasis is out of stock in Germany until the end of November. All you can get now is a repackaged unit from another return.

[trekk]

Originally Posted by rashkae

I can't imagine the Oasis being in any way an improvement in that scenario. The grip on the device is not nearly good enough to hold one handed agove your head. and you have much smaller edge to prop the device on opposite side.

If you hold the device directly above your head, your face will soon get some bruises The device is slippery.

When reading in bed, I experienced no problem reading for a long time while holding the device in front of me. Also no problem to prop the device on the other side, when necessary.

[trekk]

Originally Posted by coplate

I am thinking about asking for a replacement, but I am not sure yet.

I did, but I am afraid of the new one being shipped with firmware 5.9.X already installed. That would somehow undermine the intent to jailbreak this device ...

[Robmonster]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Dilemma, dilemma.

I have been tempted by the Oasis2 due entirely to the positive screen reports, which make it sound like it would be an improvement over the screens on my Oasis1 and Voyage. But now this seems less clear.

I am also concerned about the added weight of the Oasis2. I know it can't compare to the Oasis1 in lightness (which is a key factor for me), but I'm wondering how the Oasis2 compares to the Voyage when reading in bed, holding it above you.

Any insights greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I personally find it slightly more comfortable to hold one handed than the Voyage.

If you mean you are lying flat on your back with the device held directly above your face, so it's essentially horizontal, then I cannot advise. That seems a really uncomfortable way to hold anything while reading, ipad, physical book, whatever.

I do read in bed all the time, and I hold my Oasis one handed in my left hand, effectively pinched between my thumb on the front and first and second fingers on the rear. My little finger pops underneath to support. The device is held tipped back a bit from vertical. I held the Voyage the same way and my little finger doest get tired with to Oasis like it did with the Voyage.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Robmonster

If you mean you are lying flat on your back with the device held directly above your face, so it's essentially horizontal, then I cannot advise. That seems a really uncomfortable way to hold anything while reading, ipad, physical book, whatever.

I have to confess that it sounds like a terribly uncomfortable way to read. You're constantly fighting gravity. I prefer to let gravity do the work of holding the book in place, not my muscles.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Funny thing is, I took some photos with my phone (which admittedly has a rather poor camera, but I don't have anything else at the moment) in different lighting conditions and the screen actually looks somewhat better in the photos than in real life. The gradient is more visible to the naked eye.

For me, it's the opposite. I couldn't see any gradient until I tried taking a photo. And it's still very slight and close to the far edge.

Originally Posted by odamizu

Dilemma, dilemma.
.....

I am also concerned about the added weight of the Oasis2. I know it can't compare to the Oasis1 in lightness (which is a key factor for me), but I'm wondering how the Oasis2 compares to the Voyage when reading in bed, holding it above you.

Any insights greatly appreciated. Thanks!

This is so subjective. My only issue with the Oasis 2 is how awkward it is to hold. Whereas others here praise its design for comfort. For me, it's not the weight or size. It's only having that one large bezel on one side. This becomes more of a problem lying on my back in bed holding it one-handed. Because of the narrow bottom bezel, I have to hold it up to comfortably read the last lines. Then I can't seem to find a good way to position my thumb on the button. If I use my other hand for support, I often accidentally turn the page.

I don't have a Voyage to compare, but I kinda wish they'd done the larger screen for it or even the Paperwhite. So the Oasis is relegated to daytime, and I'll stick with my Kobo Aura One for bedtime.

[Atunah]

Originally Posted by trekk

My first 7" Oasis was very evenly lit with only a very slight gradient, almost not visible. It was a perfect screen for me. Sadly I had to replace it, because the upper button caused multiple pageturns.

My replacement has a very noticable gradient from very bright to dark. I asked for another replacement, but ATM the Oasis is out of stock in Germany until the end of November. All you can get now is a repackaged unit from another return.

The unit I received as a replacement, did not have the blue retail packaging. It was in a brown box, taped on the inside and outside was marked as refurbished. Considering that it was shipped out on the 2nd and the device had only been released on the 31st of October, I don't see how they could already have had returns and gone through the refurbish process. It was shipped not from amazon.com, but from the warehouse (USA). My guess is they had put some back right away to use for such cases. The device was wrapped and had a cable and looked otherwise like it has never been touched. I did ask them in the chat if it will be a brand new unit, as I saw it popping up in orders, she assured me it was.
I don't really care as long as it works.

Sorry you had to let go of a good screen. Even my first wasn't going from very bright to very dark. Course, I don't go above 11 or 12 on the light ever.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Atunah

The unit I received as a replacement, did not have the blue retail packaging. It was in a brown box, taped on the inside and outside was marked as refurbished. Considering that it was shipped out on the 2nd and the device had only been released on the 31st of October, I don't see how they could already have had returns and gone through the refurbish process. It was shipped not from amazon.com, but from the warehouse (USA). My guess is they had put some back right away to use for such cases. The device was wrapped and had a cable and looked otherwise like it has never been touched. I did ask them in the chat if it will be a brand new unit, as I saw it popping up in orders, she assured me it was.
I don't really care as long as it works.

Sorry you had to let go of a good screen. Even my first wasn't going from very bright to very dark. Course, I don't go above 11 or 12 on the light ever.

That would have been a "preview" or "evaluation" copy sent to the electronic's media for review and returned prior to release date.

From our forensics on the KOA2 during the development of the JB directions, it can be seen that these devices where in limited distribution early last August.

[Robmonster]

I received a replacement that was also in a Refurbished box. One of the corners looks 'slightly' marred when compared to the one I purchased directly.

[Atunah]

Originally Posted by knc1

That would have been a "preview" or "evaluation" copy sent to the electronic's media for review and returned prior to release date.

From our forensics on the KOA2 during the development of the JB directions, it can be seen that these devices where in limited distribution early last August.

That is interesting, thanks.

[radamo]

Originally Posted by Robmonster

I received a replacement that was also in a Refurbished box. One of the corners looks 'slightly' marred when compared to the one I purchased directly.

That would be a problem for me I think... depending on the mar.