Amazon Announces Kindle Colorsoft

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Scoob

Does Kobo do ads? If they do, they're still cheaper. Boox doesn't do ads and if they're more expensive, the devices can do more than just read.

Kobo does not do ads. There is no such thing as an ad supported Kobo. Oddly, enough, neither does Amazon Canada have ad supported devices though you did have the option to bundle Kindle Unlimited for an extra cost though the newest models do not show that option.

[Scoob]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Kobo does not do ads. There is no such thing as an ad supported Kobo. Oddly, enough, neither does Amazon Canada have ad supported devices though you did have the option to bundle Kindle Unlimited for an extra cost though the newest models do not show that option.

I think its only US Amazon that has ads on kindles with option to pay for removal. Everyone else had no ads but the price for the device was more as a result. I know nothing about Kobo so it's a nice surprise they are add free.

[cellaris]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I have a Clara Color (well, my kid has one) and the color covers are neat for, like, ten seconds. I wouldn't mind reading on a color reader. They are less contrast-y in black and white, but not enough to bother me anyway. It's just that in my experience, the color really didn't add much. And the price for the Colorsoft feels pretty steep.

Even the color cover on the sleep screen, when I open the sleep cover, it usually disappears before I could even see it.

Indeed a colour device makes sense if you use colour. For me too, it seems to me "little" colour to limit myself to the covers and underlining, although from what I read many users are happy with just that, and what matters is always the individual's satisfaction. In my particular case of use I also apply colour to the text of the book (headers and footers, chapter titles, initial letters, notes, quotations...) and it is now very difficult for me to do without colour. In fact that's why I don't have a colour e-reader with Linux (Kobo, PocketBook and now Kindle), not because they have colour, but because they have "little" colour. The day when it will be possible from the e-reader itself to apply colour to the text, I will definitely buy a Linux device.

I don't mind the issue of contrast and sharpness. In the conditions in which I use my colour e-readers (indoors and with the lighting on) I find it very difficult to find significant differences. The only significant difference I find with my monochrome e-readers is that some have colour and some do not. I sincerely believe that an average user will have no problems in this aspect (in these conditions of use). And as I have said on other occasions, the criterion of excellence (best resolution, contrast, sharpness, illumination...) is not the only criterion people use to buy an e-reader. Individual circumstances and personal preferences bring other factors into play in the buying process, and that is why any brand does not have just one "excellent" e-reader for sale, but a variety of very different models. A basic Kindle (167 ppi, no illumination) coexisted with the Kindle Voyage (and I dare say sold more). Or a Kobo Nia coexisted with a Kobo Libra 2. In this sense, there will always be people who prefer a colour e-reader, despite its shortcomings, to a monochrome e-reader. Simply because one has colour and one doesn't, no matter how good it is. So personally I'm glad that Kindle has joined the colour e-reader bandwagon. Now all the major brands have them and it will be up to the user to choose them or not.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Scoob

I think its only US Amazon that has ads on kindles with option to pay for removal. Everyone else had no ads but the price for the device was more as a result. I know nothing about Kobo so it's a nice surprise they are add free.

Kindles in the UK also come with ads, with the option to pay a little more to have no ads.

[drofgnal]

I'll probably get one of these, not sure which. Color or paperwhite signature. I'm not sure going color for around 100 more is worth it for the book cover and highlighting? I expect some books with illustrations, like LOTR, might benefit from color illustrations. But is it worth the extra 100? I can read on my iPad mini for color. It'll probably be the paperwhite signature for me.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by nabsltd

When I traded in an old Kindle for my Scribe purchase, I got the 20% discount at purchase, even though I had not yet sent it in. I got the gift card after they got the old Kindle.

Note that I don't mention what kind of "old Kindle", because I don't know. I literally bought a used/refurbished one at Woot, then immediately turned it in for the discount and gift card. The gift card was exactly the same amount as I paid for the Kindle, so it turned out I got 20% off just for slapping a new UPS label on a box that Amazon sent to me.

Also, that 20% discount applies to bundles, too. I bought the Scribe in a bundle with a cover and a charger, and got 20% off the bundle price.

Note the Scribe bundle I purchased in July of 2023 cost $341 and now costs $474. This is before trade in, gift card, etc. With those, I paid $246.

In the UK you have to wait until Amazon have processed the trade in and sent you the gift card before the 20% off is applied.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Bookstooge

No buttons. Well, I guess once my original Oasis really kicks the bucket, I'll be going to kobo or pocketbook.
Not looking forward to learning a new system, sigh...

I cannot recommend any Kobo at present. If Kobo comes out with a new Libra 2 then sure I can recommend Kobo. But I cannot recommend a color mode, 6" screen, or the ones with the poor battery. So that leaves nothing.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Does anyone here actually have a PW6, PW6SE, or Colorsoft in their hands? I'm morbidly curious what the firmware version it ships with is.

They are not out yet. They are only available for pre-order.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Of course, Amazon could easily add CBR functionality to Kindles either natively or via send-to-kindle.

(If they do it, I'd guess it's via send-to-kindle like they did with epubs)

Why would Amazon add formats that are only for side-loading when they don't have to?

[Waylander]

As ever, I like looking at new devices, and am tempted by the 16GB 7" Paperwhite. But I'm not rushing to buy one immediately; I'm going to wait a bit for video reviews and user experience to see if there are any kinks I need to be aware of. BadEreader's video reviews are useful, as are Nate from EbookReader.Com's video review. Once they're out, I'll have more info to go on.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Kobo does not do ads. There is no such thing as an ad supported Kobo. Oddly, enough, neither does Amazon Canada have ad supported devices though you did have the option to bundle Kindle Unlimited for an extra cost though the newest models do not show that option.

My Kobo Touch would disagree.

[leaston]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why would Amazon add formats that are only for side-loading when they don't have to?

Couldn't this be said for any feature of an ereader? Why bother adding any feature that isn't specifically necessary to read books? Back/front light, buttons, touch screen, sound, higher dpi etc. etc.

Customers want features and if Amazon don't add certain ones, a rival will. Surely the demand drives the feature list, at least in part?

[cgsmom]

OK, that was close. I almost had myself talked into trading my PW4 for the Colorsoft, or at least the Paperwhite Signature Edition. After reading on my PW4 for a couple of hours, I realized why I don't use it much and it is the only reader I have without page turn buttons. I REALLY want buttons.

Then I discovered, if I chose "Download and Transfer with USB" under Kindle Content and select my Oasis, Calibre does not liberate my book. If I choose PW4, the book liberates fine. That is a great reason to keep my PW4.

When the time comes that I need a new reader, I guess it is Kobo for me.

Edit: I just realized why my liberation experiment didn't work. I don't have the Oasis serial number entered into Calibre. Oh well, I still am not buying a new Kindle.

[Renate]

Buttons are certainly a "hot button" issue. Software features you can ignore. If you hate buttons and they're there you can hardly ignore them.

I've said it before, but try clickers, either finger, keyfob or remote style. You may come over to the dark side.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Renate

When I got my Go6 I thought that I'd keep reading on my Poke5 until I'd plumbed all the depth of software on the Go6. But I switched over to the Go6 (with Carta 1300) as soon as I got rid of the worst software flaws. Contrast matters.

Of course it matters. But it is not the only thing that matters. Even in your example, you did not move to the Go6 until you "got rid of the worst software flaws."