Kindle Voyage's flushed screen: is it an improvement? (also, do I need a cover?)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by meeera

I don't necessarily think it's foolish to not use a cover. I do think it's foolish to not use a cover, then whinge and post bad reviews because your device "magically broke itself".

I don't necessarily think that actually reading on a device without a cover is foolish; damage tends to happen to readers when they aren't being used. You put it down on a table, and then knock it off, or spill something on it, or drop something on top of it. A cover will certainly help to prevent damage in all those situations.

[badbob001]

When I read on my Kindle in bed, I would worry about falling asleep and having it drop to the floor on the side. I could have used the cover, but I still didn't like the weight. I ended up putting a soft mat on the floor next to my side of the bed.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by badbob001

When I read on my Kindle in bed, I would worry about falling asleep and having it drop to the floor on the side. I could have used the cover, but I still didn't like the weight. I ended up putting a soft mat on the floor next to my side of the bed.

Your solution is ridiculously simple....and sleep in the middle.

[badbob001]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Your solution is ridiculously simple....and sleep in the middle.

No matter how wide the bed is, it's just not going to work for me.

[Barbara1955]

On one side of my bed is the window on the other is my dogs 4" thick foam bed! I woke up many a time with the K3 either on the window sill or the dogs bed

[Psykhe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think we would all agree that using a cover reduces the chance of breaking your reader.

It is not as easy.

Does using a cover reduce the chance of breaking the reader while *not using* it? Yes, we can definitely agree with this. But a sleeve does this just as well.

Does using a cover reduce the chance of breaking the reader while *using* it? No, we most definitely can not agree with this. I explained my reasons why I disagree with this already.

Basically, my issue is with the word "cover". Replace it with "some form of protection" and we can agree.

I don't think one can reasonably describe it as "ridiculous" to hold the view that it is foolish. The fact that you may not share that opinion does not mean that it's not a valid opinion for the person to hold.

Opinion 1: "You do not need a cover."
Opinion 2: "Opinion 1 is foolish."
Opinion 3: "Opinion 2 is ridiculous."

If Opinion 2 is "valid" Opinion 3 must be valid too, by exactly the same logic. Both are putting a value on the opinion of someone else.

If someone is the "valid" opinion that the opinion of someone else is foolish why is it *not* a "valid" opinion that this opinion of someones opinion is ridiculous?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Psykhe

It is not as easy.

Does using a cover reduce the chance of breaking the reader while *not using* it? Yes, we can definitely agree with this. But a sleeve does this just as well.

Does using a cover reduce the chance of breaking the reader while *using* it? No, we most definitely can not agree with this. I explained my reasons why I disagree with this already.

The problem is, though, that if you use a reader without any form of protective cover, are you really going to take the trouble to put it into a slip case (or whatever it is you use) every time you put it down? Consider the scenario where you're reading and the phone rings, or the doorbell rings, or the baby cries. I would suggest that you're likely, in those situations, to just put the reader down unprotected, and that's when mishaps can easily occur.

Speaking personally, pretty much all the times over the years that my reader has fallen off something have been when I've just put it down after reading. Had I not been using a cover, there's a good chance that at least one of those falls (falling about 5' from a bridge parapet onto cement paving) would have broken the screen had I not been using a cover.

But at the end of the day it's a personal choice. If you're happy to live with the increased chance of breaking, that's nobody's decision but yours to take.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by badbob001

No matter how wide the bed is, it's just not going to work for me.

I'm the one that ends up hogging the bed sometimes and we have a king size bed.

[Pangolin]

Thanks for the bed cartography, that's hilarious. Now, while my husband would no doubt agree, we need the 'duvet (mis)appropriation guide', 'cos there we would have a verrrrry different story At least we no longer have to deal with the 'bedside light broohaha' anymore

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The problem is, though, that if you use a reader without any form of protective cover, are you really going to take the trouble to put it into a slip case (or whatever it is you use) every time you put it down? Consider the scenario where you're reading and the phone rings, or the doorbell rings, or the baby cries. I would suggest that you're likely, in those situations, to just put the reader down unprotected, and that's when mishaps can easily occur.

Speaking personally, pretty much all the times over the years that my reader has fallen off something have been when I've just put it down after reading. Had I not been using a cover, there's a good chance that at least one of those falls (falling about 5' from a bridge parapet onto cement paving) would have broken the screen had I not been using a cover.

But at the end of the day it's a personal choice. If you're happy to live with the increased chance of breaking, that's nobody's decision but yours to take.

Very well said!

[crossi]

The trouble with covers are that they are device specific. Upgrade to a new device and the old cover no longer fits. The Oberon covers for example are gorgeous (if you don't mind the weight) but spending $75 for something that in a couple years becomes useless is not sensible.

[Psykhe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I would suggest that you're likely, in those situations, to just put the reader down unprotected, and that's when mishaps can easily occur.

Occur - yes. But "easily"?

Unless you are really clumsy chances that you break your reader that way are pretty low. The scenario you describe can also be applied on another household good which is if anything more breakable than a reader - Dishes. How many dishes did you break in the last years during normal handling?

For me in the last 4 years this number is zero. I broke two, but both not during normal handling, but because they slipped out of my towel when I was drying them. So I do not think that is a danger high enough to make a cover anywhere near a "must have".

Speaking of readers, personally in the last 4 years my reader never ever fell off somewhere when I put it down after reading. Once it fell down before reading, though. It was a short throw of it on my bed and it bounced off that badly that it went to the floor. No damage though despite it being totally naked. Needless to say I do not make such stunts with it anymore.

So I would overall call the chance of a reader breaking without cover as hugely overstated.
I would classify for myself using a cover having about the same benefit as using a helmet in the car. Sure it would add protection and some people need it, but benefit is for me so minimal that it is not anywhere near worth the discomfort.

And let's not forget that as crossi said Covers do not grow on trees. Even if I would break on average a reader every 2 years due to not using a cover I could get a replacement (meaning a 2 year old used reader of the same model from ebay) for about the same price as the cover would cost me (~$40).

Originally Posted by HarryT

But at the end of the day it's a personal choice. If you're happy to live with the increased chance of breaking, that's nobody's decision but yours to take.

Indeed. Which is exactly why making a blanket statement like "it is foolish to use a reader without cover" is ridiculous.
Not because it is "an opinion" but because it is a blanket statement. The only blanket statement which is generally correct is "My situation is not the same as that of everyone else.".

[pendragginp]

For me in the last 4 years this number is zero. I broke two, but both not during normal handling, but because they slipped out of my towel when I was drying them. So I do not think that is a danger high enough to make a cover anywhere near a "must have".

Um - what on earth happened that you had to dry two different readers? Inquiring minds want to know!

And - to keep this on subject - would whatever it was not have happened had said readers not been naked?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by crossi

The trouble with covers are that they are device specific. Upgrade to a new device and the old cover no longer fits. The Oberon covers for example are gorgeous (if you don't mind the weight) but spending $75 for something that in a couple years becomes useless is not sensible.

But nobody is suggesting you buy a $75 cover. Nobody is suggesting anybody buy a $75 cover.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Psykhe

Occur - yes. But "easily"?

Unless you are really clumsy chances that you break your reader that way are pretty low. The scenario you describe can also be applied on another household good which is if anything more breakable than a reader - Dishes. How many dishes did you break in the last years during normal handling?

For me in the last 4 years this number is zero. I broke two, but both not during normal handling, but because they slipped out of my towel when I was drying them. So I do not think that is a danger high enough to make a cover anywhere near a "must have".

How many times do you take a dish out of the house? How many times do you put your dishes in places where you can easy put something heavy on it? How any times do you put a dish in a bag (with other stuff) and take it out of the house. Most people use their Reader in a way they do not with dishes. So comparing dishes to Readers is rather silly.

Speaking of readers, personally in the last 4 years my reader never ever fell off somewhere when I put it down after reading. Once it fell down before reading, though. It was a short throw of it on my bed and it bounced off that badly that it went to the floor. No damage though despite it being totally naked. Needless to say I do not make such stunts with it anymore.

You were lucky. If your Reader had broken, would you be using a case now?

So I would overall call the chance of a reader breaking without cover as hugely overstated.

I can tell you, I've read of more people breaking a naked Reade then a Reader in a case, This is not overstated.

[And let's not forget that as crossi said Covers do not grow on trees.

But crossie is talking about a specialized $75 case. You don't have to spend that much on a case. So I don't think that counts.

Even if I would break on average a reader every 2 years due to not using a cover I could get a replacement (meaning a 2 year old used reader of the same model from ebay) for about the same price as the cover would cost me (~$40).

But would you really want to buy a 2-year old Reader with a battery that could be on it's way out?

Indeed. Which is exactly why making a blanket statement like "it is foolish to use a reader without cover" is ridiculous.
Not because it is "an opinion" but because it is a blanket statement. The only blanket statement which is generally correct is "My situation is not the same as that of everyone else.".

Read above about more people breaking naked Readers and you'll see it is not ridiculous.