2022 Kindle Basic

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Badcatalex

Oh great, now the Oasis seems like even more of a hard sell for those interested in upgrading.

8 GB of storage with no USB-C, with a slightly bigger screen than the current Paperwhite, when the basic model of Kindle has 16 GB of storage now and not only has USB-C, but also a 300 PPI display.

Basically, the base model is now better in some ways than the Oasis. At least it is a good upgrade for people still using the Paperwhite 2 and 3.

I agree that Amazon needs to update the Oasis stat and I’d be shocked if one isn’t in the pipeline. As with all bells and whistles, just how much are buttons worth? I personally couldn’t justify the premium over the PaperWhite.

I liked buttons myself, but when I migrated to Kobo from Sony I got over it.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by issybird

I agree that Amazon needs to update the Oasis stat and I’d be shocked if one isn’t in the pipeline. As with all bells and whistles, just how much are buttons worth? I personally couldn’t justify the premium over the PaperWhite.

I liked buttons myself, but when I migrated to Kobo from Sony I got over it.

I made one attempt to "get over" buttons back in 2014 and didn't succeed. For me, buttons are a must-have. Plus, I value lopsided shape far more than regular, so for me the shape of the Oasis is an advantage over the PW.

That said, I may consider a new Oasis if it's 8'' and has an outstanding screen, but whether I'll buy it even then is by no means sure. I'm pretty content with my Kobos at the moment, and have acquired a dislike for the Kindle software (this from a gal who was a diehard Kindle fan for 8 years. I still remember those arguments I had with JSWolf about Kindles vs Kobos .)

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by issybird

I agree that Amazon needs to update the Oasis stat and I’d be shocked if one isn’t in the pipeline. As with all bells and whistles, just how much are buttons worth? I personally couldn’t justify the premium over the PaperWhite.

I liked buttons myself, but when I migrated to Kobo from Sony I got over it.

Worth is in the mind of the purchaser.

amazon dropped page turn buttons, then added them back on premium devices even though no player in the US maket had them. Later kobo threw in the towel and added them to premium devices. So there must be enough demand to be worthwhile. Maybe enough were defecting to miniscule US market share Pocketbook and Onyx for the page turn buttons that it got attention.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by haertig

I disagree. The device does not support it.

The "support" you talk of is an outside thing, it is a service provided by Amazon that is completely separate from the device itself. The device knows nothing - zilch - about the formats it supposedly "supports through conversion". If Amazon starts charging for the service, limits it only to books purchased from Amazon, or drops it entirely - could it still be said that the device "supports the format"? Can you sideload a book in this "supported format"? No. Because the device does not actually support the format, except through the magic of misleading marketing jargon.

Originally Posted by rcentros

Agreed. You might as well say that every eReader supports every format — so long as you can convert it.

I disagree with you both that there is absolutely no difference whatsoever regarding EPUB and every other format not natively supported on kindles.

You might as well say synching across devices is not supported because the devices don't do it among themselves without involving amazon.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Worth is in the mind of the purchaser.

amazon dropped page turn buttons, then added them back on premium devices even though no player in the US maket had them. Later kobo threw in the towel and added them to premium devices. So there must be enough demand to be worthwhile. Maybe enough were defecting to miniscule US market share Pocketbook and Onyx for the page turn buttons that it got attention.

I did say personally.

Was it demand, or was it just a means of differentiation? Amazon added them back at a time when they were being outstripped in terms of comfort light and waterproofing and size. Obviously some like, even demand, buttons. But how much value added was there for most buyers? I have no idea myself.

Again, as someone in the Kobo camp, I still think the new Basic Kindle has it all over the Clara 2E in terms of value; similarly, I think the PW5 is a better value than the Libra. But then, I’m cheap.

[haertig]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I disagree with you both that there is absolutely no difference whatsoever regarding EPUB and every other format not natively supported on kindles.

Then it stands to reason that we should say that Kindles will no longer support MOBI. But in reality, they will continue doing that just fine. However, Amazon is dropping support for the MOBI conversion in their Send-to-Kindle software. But the device will still display MOBI's as it always has - you just won't be able to use Send-to-Kindle to get the book there. You'll have to sideload instead.

I have also heard that Kindles have already been supporting EPUBS for ages. Because you can take an EPUB book, simply rename it to a TEXT file with a .txt filename extension, and then use Send-to-Kindle to get it to your device in a converted format. As I said, I have not tried this personally to verify that it actually converts anything, but I've read that it does.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Presumably it supports animated page turns as well, and performance on par with the latest Paperwhite.

Why assume that? Granted, it would be nice if it is true. But there's no reason to assume that along with the upgraded screen and double the storage that they will also upgrade the processor.

Also, any word on what generation screen they are using?

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I made one attempt to "get over" buttons back in 2014 and didn't succeed. For me, buttons are a must-have. Plus, I value lopsided shape far more than regular, so for me the shape of the Oasis is an advantage over the PW.

That said, I may consider a new Oasis if it's 8'' and has an outstanding screen, but whether I'll buy it even then is by no means sure. I'm pretty content with my Kobos at the moment, and have acquired a dislike for the Kindle software (this from a gal who was a diehard Kindle fan for 8 years. I still remember those arguments I had with JSWolf about Kindles vs Kobos .)

Same here. I used to love my Kindle more than my Kobo, but these days I LOVE my Kobo and really dislike what they did to the Kindle software. I kind of miss how accurate the reading time left in book is on a Kindle, but not enough to stop reading on my Kobo Libra 2.

So while this new Kindle sure looks tempting (no flush screen, yay!) I don't think I can handle the UI when I'm used to how organized my Kobo is.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Why assume that? Granted, it would be nice if it is true. But there's no reason to assume that along with the upgraded screen and double the storage that they will also upgrade the processor.

Also, any word on what generation screen they are using?

It's true we do not yet know what processor it will have, but it will be upgraded, as it now supports Dark Mode.

The curious thing here is that Wikipedia shows the same processor is used for both the 10th generation Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, yet only the latter supports Dark Mode.

I would also say that the 10th generation Paperwhite is quite sluggish compared to the newest one. Since this model might not get updated for 2 or 3 years, it would behoove them to put in something faster, if not the same CPU as PW5.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I disagree with you both that there is absolutely no difference whatsoever regarding EPUB and every other format not natively supported on kindles...

I think we're in agreement on this, but I'm not sure. The way I look at it:

If you have to convert ePub to AZW3 to get it to work on the Kindle, that's not supporting ePub. Using Amazon's mechanism, how would you convert DRM protected ePubs via Amazon?

PocketBook (for one) supports AZW3 (non-DRM protected Kindle eBooks) natively, but it does a horrible job of it.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by issybird

Again, as someone in the Kobo camp, I still think the new Basic Kindle has it all over the Clara 2E in terms of value; similarly, I think the PW5 is a better value than the Libra. But then, I’m cheap.

It depends on how much you value warm light and water resistance. It's a little bit like comparing apples with oranges. But really the Clara 2E is meant to compete with the Paperwhite. (And we still don't know how well lit the new Kindle Basic's screen will be.) When you compare the new Kindle Basic with the Nia (hardware-wise) the Nia seems way overpriced. But, then, that depends on how much you value Kobo's firmware as opposed to Kindle's firmware. This is really making B&N's decision to drop to 212 ppi for their Nook 4e look even sillier.

[Quoth]

Still, 212 dpi looks hugely better than 167 dpi.
The Nia has certainly a much better screen than the older Basic and Kindle is terrible for sideloaded covers, collections, series and annotations. Amazon's series info is erratic and can't be over-written without a jailbreak. Also Amazon's Kindle is too Amazon Server centric (so called Cloud).

The main Kindle advantage is seamless buying of ebooks from Amazon.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Still, 212 dpi looks hugely better than 167 dpi.
The Nia has certainly a much better screen than the older Basic ...

Not arguing that point. Actually the Nia is basically a Tolino Page 2 that came out about three years ago (the Nia replaced the Aura 2nd Edition)... so 212 dpi was pretty much expected in the low-end reader at that point (still is). Why Kindle kept the 167 dpi resolution is a mystery to me. The Nook 4e dropped back to 212 dpi, seven years after the B&N's last 212 dpi screen -- and they're charging as much for it as the Clara HD (which also has warm light).

Originally Posted by Quoth

The main Kindle advantage is seamless buying of ebooks from Amazon.

Agreed. Even though I'll probably never buy one, I like that they've upgraded their bottom line reader to 300 dpi (hopefully its front light is good and even).

[hleo12]

Amazon is really making it hard to switch. I'm done with the UI and the library system. But they sure do make up for it with availability and price point.

I've been looking over at listings here for my next upgrade, but even a Kobo Clara HD here is more expensive than the latest paperwhite. I'd imagine the same thing will happen with Clara 2E. I wish Kobo would branch out again here.

[ChrisHistorian76]

At first glance, my reaction to the new 2022 Kindle was "I really don't understand what Amazon's doing here." Upon further reflection though, I do understand it. They could do what many people (myself included) wish they'd do and release a Kindle with stylus and note taking support and/or release a new version of the DX and truly significantly update the Kindle line for the first time in many years.

Unfortunately, they won't do either of those things because for Amazon it's all about getting people to buy e-books. If they can get people to buy a Kindle device, so much the better. But ultimately they don't care where people read e-books as long as they're buying them from Amazon. They won't truly innovate the Kindle devices until their e-book sales force them to do so, and who knows when (or if) that'll happen.