Amazon announces Kindle Oasis

[Barty]

Originally Posted by tovare

Important Message
There was a problem with some of the items in your order (see below for more information): New - Kindle Oasis with Leather

*ARGH!*

Do you live in an ... Oasis?



I see MR is currently in the anger phase of premium kindle acceptance. Next up

Bargaining:

- if they drop the price / unbundled the cover, I'll buy it.
- if it has a plastic substrate. I'll buy it
- if it smells like the ocean, I'll buy it

Acceptance:

- the reviews are so good!
- I read so much, it's really a bargain!
- I'm getting carpal from my voyage!

[Shane R]

Originally Posted by Avwriter

This review has better pics of the case and back of the device.

http://gizmodo.com/what-your-need-to...ind-1770691363

I’ve spent the last few years using a Kindle Paperwhite, and never found holding that e-reader with one hand too difficult. That said, the new Kindle practically disappears into your palm. It’s super light—just 4.6 ounces—and when you hold it in your hand, it’s almost like the thing’s not there.

Yeah, first sale/price-drop/black friday I'm buying one. With saved up credit to knock down that price...

[happysnapper22]

Wouldn't pay $286 never mind £269

Nice try Amazon...

[the.Mtn.Man]

Originally Posted by Shane R

Wow. That's an interesting device.

Lack of ecosystem (per that review) is a huge, huge con though.

The nice thing about Kobo is that it can read a variety of formats, including the highly popular epub, so the internet is your ecosystem. Plus, the entire internal memory is available for sideloaded books. None of that "90% of the memory is reserved exclusively for purchased book" nonsense.

That said, Kobo does maintain their own online store, so I'm not sure why you think there's no official ecosystem.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by the.Mtn.Man

The nice thing about Kobo is that it can read a variety of formats, including the highly popular epub, so the internet is your ecosystem. Plus, the entire internal memory is available for sideloaded books. None of that "90% of the memory is reserved exclusively for purchased book" nonsense.

Where are you getting this 90% for purchased books?
I have never seen that on any kindle.
Yes, I am "stuck" with compatible formats, but I can sideload as many as the device will handle on my kindle ereaders.
Now yes, the Fire is partitioned into so much for apps and the rest for everything else.

[DSpider]

Originally Posted by emellaich

If you are using it naked, I wonder how it will lay down on a table? Flat with the screen cantilevered in the air, or tilted over resting on the edge of the screen and the edge of the bulge?

Hopefully flat or pressing the buttons would be a pain.

If you are using it naked, won't you get chilly?

[Avwriter]

Originally Posted by theducks

But the other advantage, is the cover can be left charging (and forgotten ) while the reader travels away from the charger

Unfortunately, if you look at the users guide (posted earlier in this thread), you will see that the case cannot be charged separately from the reader. The only charging port is located on the reader itself.

[June]

I am tempted for the ergonomics. But a case without a stand is a deal breaker for me, need a stand for reading at the table etc I will be following it and interested in hearing what the battery life of the device itself is. Too bad there isn't TTS

[the.Mtn.Man]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Where are you getting this 90% for purchased books?
I have never seen that on any kindle.
Yes, I am "stuck" with compatible formats, but I can sideload as many as the device will handle on my kindle ereaders.
Now yes, the Fire is partitioned into so much for apps and the rest for everything else.

I wasn't talking specifically about the Kindle. I know that Nook readers reserve a portion of the space exclusively for purchased material.

[June]

Originally Posted by tovare

Important Message
There was a problem with some of the items in your order ---
Sorry, this item can't be shipped to your selected address


*ARGH!*

Did you try the .de store, they often ship to Scandinavia when the others don't.

[NullNix]

Originally Posted by tlrowley

I pre-ordered

I'm still using the 1st gen PW, and for the past few months I've been suffering from some yet-to-be-diagnosed inflammatory arthritis in my hands & wrists which make holding my PW just about unbearable. I've been wanting to upgrade, so for me it's all about the weight. The difference in price between a Voyage + case and the Oasis (with case) isn't very much.

I have more or less the same reasons -- 1st-gen PW user, and I have RSI kept under control by an ergonomic keyboard that costs easily three times what the Oasis does. I spend about as much time reading as I do using said keyboard, and much of that is on the Kindle, so it seems penny-wise and pound-foolish not to go for something that is clearly ergonomically better. It's a shame the squeezy page-turn things and especially the light sensor didn't come across, but the ergonomics alone, and the reduced weight, decided it for me. (Also, the battery case brings back one of the PW1's nicest features, which I've definitely got used to: the huge long battery life.)

However... most people do not bother with ergonomically optimal devices (there's a reason proper ergonomic keyboards are so expensive: they're halfway towards the insane 'medical device' markup). So the Oasis is unusual in that respect alone: it's a device built for its ergonomics aimed at the relatively-price-insensitive part of the mass market. It'll be interesting to see how it does. (And I'll post here saying how I think it compares to the PW1 once I've had a try with it.)

[NullNix]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

So yes, the bundle + ergonomic will sell this thing.
Average consumers are being taught that bundles are better.

So Ergonomic, charging cover, extended battery life, more LEDs will sell it.
Typical consumer won't read the details.

The bundles *are* better if you were always planning to buy a cover anyway. I've never bought a Kindle without one: I wouldn't feel safe going outside with one in a country as rainy as the UK otherwise. (Yes, yes, a waterproof Kindle would have fixed this, as would a jewel-encrusted pony. But a waterproof Kindle can't save you if you drop the damn thing in mud. A cover *has* saved me in that situation before.)

Of course, Amazon's covers are hardly ideal -- the PW1's cover had a tendency to flip open as the thing fell, and the Oasis's cover only covers half the back -- but it's a lot better than no cover at all.

[Rbneader]

Originally Posted by Shane R

Wow. That's an interesting device.

Lack of ecosystem (per that review) is a huge, huge con though.

Kobo's bookstore is pretty good, though. It's not got all the Amazon-exclusive indie books but I think it has most mainstream books. They're apparently very popular overseas, apparently, and have pretty good coupon deals.

Ecosystem value depends on the specific customer.

I buy books from multiple stores, plus turning fanfic and news articles into ebooks. Ecosystem is a non-consideration for me because I'll always need to sideload anyway.

[Logseman]

The timing of this device and Nook's effective withdrawal from the market is not mere coincidence. This Kindle Oasis is the result of the very little competitive pressure that Amazon suffers these days.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by kaibob

Because of my age, I find it increasingly difficult to turn pages on my Paperwhite by tapping or swiping on the screen. So, I went ahead and ordered an Oasis, which, hopefully, will work better for me with the page-turn buttons. The total cost including the no-ad fee, Arizona sales tax, and charger was $357.53.

It sounds like I'm one of perhaps two members of this forum who will buy the Oasis. All the inexpensive books I'm able to read on a Kindle are a major source of enjoyment, so the Oasis should be worth while for me.

To be honest, you might be better of with a Voyage because you can adjust the amount of pressure needed to press the buttons.