Older Kindles- still worth getting?

[barryem]

I like when my Kobo let's me increase the font weight. It's a nice feature when it works. It often doesn't work since I read side-loaded books I got from Amazon.

The font weights in the Kindle are okay with me. This is, to me, a pretty small matter. For decades reading paper books I never cared if the font was heavy or light or big or small. Every book was different and sometimes I'd notice at the start and then forget all about it.

Now that I'm older and my eyes aren't as good I care a little more. It might take a couple of paragraphs of reading before I forget about it. I doubt if I've ever thought about it past the first page.

Barry

[Anthem]

The higher resolution screens combined with the newest versions of the software features (Page Flip!) and the front light make it really hard for me to go back to any previous generation of Kindle or even the basic current gen versions.

[robko]

Originally Posted by barryem

I like when my Kobo let's me increase the font weight. It's a nice feature when it works. It often doesn't work since I read side-loaded books I got from Amazon.

Just to clarify, advanced FONT functions have nothing to do with sideloaded vs Kobo books. It is Kobo native FONTS that will let you change weight. If you're reading a sideloaded book you can still change the weight as long as you are using a native font (or patch your reader to allow weight adjustment on sideloaded FONTS). Beyond my level of knowledge, but I suppose it's possible that depending on the coding of the book it may prevent weight from being changed the same way some hard code the margins or line spacing etc.

[barryem]

I've tried changing the fonts various ways in Calibre before putting it on the Kobo. I've tried both embedded fonts and the fonts that came with the book. I don't think I know enough about this to be sure I've covered all the possibilities but it's been unreliable with everything I've tried.

I did try some hacks to deal with this a couple of years ago. I remember they weren't very reliable either. Maybe better is available now. I guess I lost interest.

If anyone knows a simple way to make that reliable I'd like to know. If it's not simple I'm probably not that interested.

Barry

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by barryem

I've tried changing the fonts various ways in Calibre before putting it on the Kobo. I've tried both embedded fonts and the fonts that came with the book. I don't think I know enough about this to be sure I've covered all the possibilities but it's been unreliable with everything I've tried.

I did try some hacks to deal with this a couple of years ago. I remember they weren't very reliable either. Maybe better is available now. I guess I lost interest.

If anyone knows a simple way to make that reliable I'd like to know. If it's not simple I'm probably not that interested.

I started to say the rule is simple: If you use the font settings to choose a font supplied with the firmware, the advanced font settings will be active.

But, then I remembered there are two fonts for Japanese use that don't have the advanced settings. These are "Kobo Tsukishi Mincho" and "Kobo UD Kakugo". And when checking their names, I notice OpenDyslexic on the list and checked it. It doesn't support the advanced settings either.

I suppose the simplest rule is:

If you choose one of Amasis, Avenir Next, Caecilia, Georgia, Gill Sans, Kobo Nickel or Malabar, the Advanced settings will be enabled. For any other font, or using "Publisher Default", the Advanced settings will not be enabled.

[db105]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Font weight is very much a matter of personal taste. The Kindle's fonts seem absolutely fine to me. I've had Kindles since the Kindle Keyboard, and haven't noticed any difference in font weight between the older and newer models.

I agree that it's a matter of personal taste, but the difference exists and you'll notice it if you compare side by side a modern Kindle with a Kindle 4. For me it's important that the font is comfortable for my eyes, and with the modern Kindle the font looks lighter and it requires more effort for me to read.

Being a matter of taste or individual sensitivity, you might be perfectly comfortable with the fonts the modern Kindles provide, just as I was with the ones the Kindle 4 provided. If you are not comfortable, though, it's really annoying that you can't adjust the weight or sideload a font more to your taste (as I mentioned, you can embed a font in an ebook using Calibre and then open the book in a modern Kindle and select the personalized font, but you have to be forever doing that, book by book).

Originally Posted by Sirtel

That depends. I've always read exclusively with the Helvetica font and found it satisfying on both old and new Kindles. Of course, it's sans serif, so not to everyone's taste. It's true that all the other fonts on newer Kindles are a bit too light, but not Helvetica.

That is correct. The Helvetica font is the only one that has quite a lot of weight in modern Kindles, and if you like it then you are fine. However, it's not a very suitable font for reading books on eInk for most readers, being sans serif and all. This is again a matter of taste but it seems that most readers agree that serif fonts (like Caecilia or Bookerly) work better in print or on eInk screens, while sans serif fonts look fine on computer or tablet screens.

[montalex]

Boy, are we ereader users spoiled! When you buy a paper edition of, say, Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall", you don't kvetch about the font used, nor about the resolution of the text (print on paper is always way worse than e-ink in that regard. You just enjoy the damn book! I'm still very happy with my Kindle Keyboards (I have 4 of them, acquired from friends and students, and resurrected with used screens and motherboards, or restored with the fabulous Kubrick). Just saying...
Cheers to all, and thanks for all your help over the years!

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by montalex

Boy, are we ereader users spoiled! When you buy a paper edition of, say, Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall", you don't kvetch about the font used, nor about the resolution of the text (print on paper is always way worse than e-ink in that regard. You just enjoy the damn book! I'm still very happy with my Kindle Keyboards (I have 4 of them, acquired from friends and students, and resurrected with used screens and motherboards, or restored with the fabulous Kubrick). Just saying...
Cheers to all, and thanks for all your help over the years!

I guess you've never read reviews where the reviewer bitched about the tiny type used by the publisher in an effort to save paper? This sort of grousing was fairly common in reviews of certain editions of PD classics

[db105]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I guess you've never read reviews where the reviewer bitched about the tiny type used by the publisher in an effort to save paper? This sort of grousing was fairly common in reviews of certain editions of PD classics

Yes, mass market paperback editions sometimes use a small font size that is rather uncomfortable for some readers. That's an advantage of eInk readers: you set your own font size. I just wish that Kindles allowed us to sideload our preferred font or at least adjust the weight of the fonts they offer. People with excellent eyes can read anything and feel comfortable, but as the eyes become more tired with age, you really appreciate these things.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by db105

I just wish that Kindles allowed us to sideload our preferred font or at least adjust the weight of the fonts they offer

That's what Kobo's are for.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by db105

...I just wish that Kindles allowed us to sideload our preferred font or at least adjust the weight of the fonts they offer. People with excellent eyes can read anything and feel comfortable, but as the eyes become more tired with age, you really appreciate these things.

That's why as long as I can strip DRM and convert formats, I will use a Kobo, even though I buy my books from Amazon.

[ApK]

I have a K3 (KK) and a PW2. I keep the K3 in the Amazon lighted leather case.
I am still a lover of the page turn buttons on the K3, and honestly do not like the ergonomics of using a touch screen to turn pages.
Also, full disclosure, I don't use either of them much at all. I've been listening to audiobooks (and working through a couple paper hardbacks).

I am not totally in love with the front-lit screen on the PW2. It seems a bit soft to me, and the color cast is not ideal. If all else were equal, I think I prefer the K3 in bright room light, to the PW2.

The PW2 is smaller and lighter, especially considering the K3's cover, so that's a plus.
The touch screen, as much as I don't like it for page turns, is wonderful for navigation, dictionary lookup and other system operations.

I would not give up my K3, because of the buttons, and because the screen is very clear in good light, but if it died, and I had to buy a new eink reader, I would not go find another K3. I'd probably try a Voyage. Or, if they cut the price a lot, the Oasis.

(The PW2 is more or less designated as my daughter's at this point. )

[db105]

Originally Posted by ApK

I would not give up my K3, because of the buttons, and because the screen is very clear in good light, but if it died, and I had to buy a new eink reader, I would not go find another K3. I'd probably try a Voyage. Or, if they cut the price a lot, the Oasis.

From what you have said, it looks like you'd love a K4:

I am still a lover of the page turn buttons on the K3, and honestly do not like the ergonomics of using a touch screen to turn pages: ---> You have those page turn buttons in K4, and no touch screen.

I am not totally in love with the front-lit screen on the PW2. It seems a bit soft to me, and the color cast is not ideal. If all else were equal, I think I prefer the K3 in bright room light, to the PW2. ---> the screen and fonts of the K4 are the same as the K3.

The PW2 is smaller and lighter, especially considering the K3's cover, so that's a plus. ---> The K4 is small like the PW.

The touch screen, as much as I don't like it for page turns, is wonderful for navigation, dictionary lookup and other system operations.
--> OK, the K4 does not have a touch screen for navigation, but it's a small price to pay to be able to have buttons and no touch screen for page turns.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by db105

From what you have said, it looks like you'd love a K4

I probably would not turn it down if it was given to me, but of the current crop, the Voyage seems like it's closer to my ideal, with it's even better screen, better lighting, and everything else I want.
(I haven't seen an Oasis in person, and it's more expensive than I would even consider paying right now.)

[Boston]

My mom has an older kindle and a Sony PRS-650. She has tried using the touchscreen and hated it. I've want to upgrade her to a larger front-lit reader but she won't give up the buttons. On the other hand, I was first in line when the front-lit readers came out and now I wouldn't consider a reader without it. Admittedly, neither of us use any of the extra features like the dictionary - we just read them as you would a paper book. I used to upgrade our readers every year but recently there hasn't been anything compelling enough where I've felt the need to. Other than the ability to change font size, things like font styles, higher resolution, faster page turns are nice but not must haves if you are happy with your current reader.