New Kindles today

[haertig]

I don't look at the features, changes/updates, covers, charging methods, etc. of a new device release until after I've evaluated the basic worth of the device. In this case, that initial question appears to be "Is an eReader worth over $200?" My answer to that is "No". So I will hang on to my PaperWhite 3 until it dies, and when it does, I'll look to see what other eReaders are available at what price. I'm guessing that they're not going to get cheaper between now and then, no matter the brand, so I'll probably end up switching to reading eBooks on either my smartphone or my tablet. Both of those devices do a whole lot more than a single use eReader. Mind you, I do like reading books on my PaperWhite. That cost me $89 back in 2017. Even that price was somewhat of a stretch for me. That is not an affordability thing - I am lucky enough to be able to buy whatever I want without thinking about it. But I got to this desirable position in life by not buying things that are overpriced for what they do.

Other's opinions and needs may be the total opposite of mine. Those who consume books at an accelerated pace, or require larger font sizes because of vision difficulties will likely feel completely different than I do (I do enjoy enlarging font sizes when my eyes are tired, but that's not a critical feature for me if it jacks the price up exorbitantly).

It is possible for vendors to price themselves out of the market. That's happening in other areas as well. Take video streaming. Used to be, all's you needed to watch your favorite shows was Netflix. But nowadays you have to subscribe to Netflix and Paramount+ and Disney+ and Hulu and Peacock and AppleTV and AmazonPrime and HBOMax and YouTube and ... Each one at an individual subscription price that is about the same as you used to pay for only one (Netflix) that had everything. Amazon is pulling this same "divide and conquer" stunt now. You don't need just an eReader, now you need to buy a separate charging stand, case, page turning buttons, etc. If you want "lightweight and thin", then having to add a separate case for button functionality pretty much destroys that concept. Might as well just read on your smartphone when you're on the go, or tablet when you're at home. The value/cost ratio for Kindles is taking a nosedive. Probably other brand eReaders as well. They're going to go the way of other electronic Dodo birds like the PDA's (e.g., "Palm Pilot") etc. When a simple device does one and only one thing, it needs to get cheaper over time, not more expensive.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by haertig

I don't look at the features, changes/updates, covers, charging methods, etc. of a new device release until after I've evaluated the basic worth of the device. In this case, that initial question appears to be "Is an eReader worth over $200?" My answer to that is "No". So I will hang on to my PaperWhite 3 until it dies, and when it does, I'll look to see what other eReaders are available at what price. I'm guessing that they're not going to get cheaper between now and then, no matter the brand, so I'll probably end up switching to reading eBooks on either my smartphone or my tablet. Both of those devices do a whole lot more than a single use eReader. Mind you, I do like reading books on my PaperWhite. That cost me $89 back in 2017. Even that price was somewhat of a stretch for me. That is not an affordability thing - I am lucky enough to be able to buy whatever I want without thinking about it. But I got to this desirable position in life by not buying things that are overpriced for what they do.

Other's opinions and needs may be the total opposite of mine. Those who consume books at an accelerated pace, or require larger font sizes because of vision difficulties will likely feel completely different than I do (I do enjoy enlarging font sizes when my eyes are tired, but that's not a critical feature for me if it jacks the price up exorbitantly).

It is possible for vendors to price themselves out of the market. That's happening in other areas as well. Take video streaming. Used to be, all's you needed to watch your favorite shows was Netflix. But nowadays you have to subscribe to Netflix and Paramount+ and Disney+ and Hulu and Peacock and AppleTV and AmazonPrime and HBOMax and YouTube and ... Each one at an individual subscription price that is about the same as you used to pay for only one (Netflix) that had everything. Amazon is pulling this same "divide and conquer" stunt now. You don't need just an eReader, now you need to buy a separate charging stand, case, page turning buttons, etc. If you want "lightweight and thin", then having to add a separate case for button functionality pretty much destroys that concept. Might as well just read on your smartphone when you're on the go, or tablet when you're at home. The value/cost ratio for Kindles is taking a nosedive. Probably other brand eReaders as well. They're going to go the way of other electronic Dodo birds like the PDA's (e.g., "Palm Pilot") etc. When a simple device does one and only one thing, it needs to get cheaper over time, not more expensive.

Someone's said the markets are the only very thing that's free.
Having watched this video, it can be that there will be chinese companies emerging (yet there are anodized-aluminium premium devices they made, and others - but the firmware, and updates support... ) already.

Spoiler:

Just recalling the Forma weights only 189 gr on its 8".
Imho there will always be options.

[cellaris]

I usually make the most of special offers from both e-reader manufacturers and the shops that sell them. In recent years, I’ve found it relatively easy to get 6” and 7” e-readers from the leading brands on the market for less than €100. It’s just a matter of patience (if price is a deciding factor, which it isn’t always). Official prices are merely a guide. The market isn’t static. Special offers will continue to be available.

[Sirtel]

Well, I don't want to read books on a phone or a tablet, and I'm willing to pay 200-300€ for a suitable eink device. "Suitable", for me, means a 7-8" screen and built-in physical page turn buttons (not a remote or a case with buttons). So none of these new Kindles is suitable.

I'd consider a case with buttons only if there was no eink device with built-in buttons available at all, of any brand.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by haertig

When a simple device does one and only one thing, it needs to get cheaper over time, not more expensive.

They did. I think the first Kindle was about $400 on release. My first Nook was a relative bargain at $260 a couple years later. No front light, but it did have buttons on both sides. Of course Nooks still do. People have been predicting the demise of ereaders pretty much since they came out. I don't think they're going extinct anytime soon. Seems like they are more popular than ever lately.

[Josieb1]

I’ve bought the new 32GB basic, mainly because my 2024 basic was struggling with the number of books I kept on it. I have cut back and reduced the number of ebooks downloaded but I still wanted the Aluminium version. Saying that I also want the new Colorsoft but I’m not prepared to pay £290 + the cost of a case. I’ll stick with my existing Colorsoft until Amazon decide to reduce prices.

[Waylander]

How is the UI in the latest fw? I updated 5.19.4 and beyond on my 16GB PW6, and as a result, my sideloaded AZW3 books got the same UI as the KFX books directly from Amazon. Along with this, I think it did something to the font rendering as it changed the line heights on my sideloaded books. I'd set the line height to 1.3em, which with Bookerly made much tighter line spacing, but more importantly, reduced the blank space at the bottom of the screen. Now with fw 5.19.4 onwards, Bookerly with 1.3em now has a big white space at the bottom of the screen.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by Kaysclie

I bought that same page turner in Pink the other day. I like it so much that I just ordered a pillow stand to hold my kindle as I read it sitting on my couch!

Are those dogs yours? They are beautiful! Are they Collies or Shelties?

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by haertig

I don't look at the features, changes/updates, covers, charging methods, etc. of a new device release until after I've evaluated the basic worth of the device. In this case, that initial question appears to be "Is an eReader worth over $200?" My answer to that is "No". So I will hang on to my PaperWhite 3 until it dies, and when it does, I'll look to see what other eReaders are available at what price. I'm guessing that they're not going to get cheaper between now and then, no matter the brand, so I'll probably end up switching to reading eBooks on either my smartphone or my tablet. Both of those devices do a whole lot more than a single use eReader. Mind you, I do like reading books on my PaperWhite. That cost me $89 back in 2017. Even that price was somewhat of a stretch for me. That is not an affordability thing - I am lucky enough to be able to buy whatever I want without thinking about it. But I got to this desirable position in life by not buying things that are overpriced for what they do.

Other's opinions and needs may be the total opposite of mine. Those who consume books at an accelerated pace, or require larger font sizes because of vision difficulties will likely feel completely different than I do (I do enjoy enlarging font sizes when my eyes are tired, but that's not a critical feature for me if it jacks the price up exorbitantly).

It is possible for vendors to price themselves out of the market. That's happening in other areas as well. Take video streaming. Used to be, all's you needed to watch your favorite shows was Netflix. But nowadays you have to subscribe to Netflix and Paramount+ and Disney+ and Hulu and Peacock and AppleTV and AmazonPrime and HBOMax and YouTube and ... Each one at an individual subscription price that is about the same as you used to pay for only one (Netflix) that had everything. Amazon is pulling this same "divide and conquer" stunt now. You don't need just an eReader, now you need to buy a separate charging stand, case, page turning buttons, etc. If you want "lightweight and thin", then having to add a separate case for button functionality pretty much destroys that concept. Might as well just read on your smartphone when you're on the go, or tablet when you're at home. The value/cost ratio for Kindles is taking a nosedive. Probably other brand eReaders as well. They're going to go the way of other electronic Dodo birds like the PDA's (e.g., "Palm Pilot") etc. When a simple device does one and only one thing, it needs to get cheaper over time, not more expensive.

I pretty much think along the same lines as you. While I might be able to afford it, do I really need to buy it if there are alternatives.

I do need and like being able to adjust the font size. I stopped buying paper books for several years because it became too difficult to see the print. I discovered Fanfic online and switched over to reading that on my pc after converting the text into Word docs. I did this for years until I discovered ebooks in 2009, and I've been reading them ever since.

All these companies are being held over a barrel by Eink, but they are also taking advantage of the market by separating everything out so that people have to buy everything separate. We are the ones caught in the middle.

But options do exist. If one of my ereaders dies, I will make the determination if I want to get another one and whatever price they are selling for. If I deem the price too high, then I will simply switch to reading on my one of my old cellphones, current phone, pc, or in a stretch my tablet.

I have no problem reading off of a LCD screen, having spent decades working on computers with a color monitor, and buying if necessary, a cheap phone to use as a reader is very doable. I already have 3, two of which have replaceable batteries that are still being made!

I refuse to be held hostage by these companies. At some point I may have to decide to switch from T-Mobile to another company since they keep pushing the fact that if you go into one of their stores you will only be assisted if you have their app on your phone. F you and the horse you rode in on! I'm not living my life on my phone for anyone, and so far, there are still options available to choose from so that I don't have to do that.

[Gormagon]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

I refuse to be held hostage by these companies.

Where do you live that companies can hold people as hostage. Even in countries where there's a monopoly one can usually choose not to buy/make a contract with a company. That may be difficult in some European countries where you have to pay for something you didn't order like radio/television just because you moved into a flat. But since we are talking about e-ink devices there's nobody forcing anyone to buy such a device.
Just don't buy anything that doesn't offer an open system that makes switching devices very easy.