Advice for Kindle Paperwhite 5th Generation

[mbektic]

Hey everyone,

I own both a kindle Paperwhite 7th generation, and my wife uses a kindle Paperwhite 5th generation. I realize the Kindle she's using feels super outdated and it's having issues like resetting her position in books to beginning. It's obvious Amazon doesn't intend to upgrade the firmware anymore on this device, which sucks because I absolutely love the new UI after the 5.13.7 update on my Paperwhite.

So that's what brings me here today, is there any recommendations you guys have to improve the experience on her Paperwhite? I know jailbreaking is a thing, but from what I read it was mostly done to change the lock screen or add custom fonts, both of which I can do now on my kindle.

Has there been any mod, or anything done by the community that has allowed the Kindle to install newer version of the firmware? I doubt it but I figured I would ask since they do provide the source code for the kindles.

Or is there anything else you recommend, I'm a techy guy, so I'm not too worried if it's a little more involved.

Thanks in advance!


Side note, she's running the lastes version 5.6.1.1 and ad free, if that makes a difference.

[Sirtel]

Buy her a new Paperwhite.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Buy her a new Paperwhite.

Or a Kobo Libra, 7" and page turn buttons. She can use her paperwhite serial number to read Amazon ebooks on the Libra. That's what the good Lady here does. I do it too. Though both of ours are PW3 = Gen7. A Gen5 paperwhite is a paperwhite 1, only 212 dpi compared to PW3, PW4, PW5? and Libra all at 300 dpi. Though Amazon still sell a Basic at 167 dpi recently upgraded to have a front light. Lipstick, pigs.

There is no point to jailbreaking it just to read stuff.

See also Calibre.

[mbektic]

I figured the obvious answer was just buying a new one, but was hopeful for something else. Just feel bad replacing a device that really could last plenty more years.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by mbektic

I figured the obvious answer was just buying a new one, but was hopeful for something else. Just feel bad replacing a device that really could last plenty more years.

It’s nearly ten years old. It must need recharging frequently.

Why not plan to trade it on a 10th gen Paperwhite? They’re going to be (actually are, in some cases) clearance-priced with the upcoming release of Gen 11. She’d get a much-improved device for not a huge outlay and you’d be restarting the clock. Because thinking a ten-year old device “could last plenty more years” is delusional.

[tomsem]

The 5th generation Paperwhite (I had one) was a bit of a miserable device. It was the first front lit device, the screen was a bit murky, and it has less RAM (256MB vs 512MB) which make it sluggish. Even the 167dpi Kindle 10th gen would be better.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by mbektic

I figured the obvious answer was just buying a new one, but was hopeful for something else. Just feel bad replacing a device that really could last plenty more years.

If you live in the U.S. go to Shop Goodwill and pick up an inexpensive 7th Generation Paperwhite. They've always got a lot of them up for auction — often complete with Amazon OEM cases.

https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Listing...uyerPrefs=true

Keep the 5th generation Paperwhite for backup.

(This search was for "Kindle Paperwhite." You'll also find more Paperwhites just searching for "Kindle," as a lot of them aren't listed with "Paperwhite" in the title. Be aware that they sometimes list Kindle Basics as Kindle Paperwhites — so watch for that also.)