Got the Kindle Oasis

[littlefoot59]

It's too bad that your Voyage is plagued by a strong gradient. Mine is at the low end. Mostly I don't notice it at all. But the Oasis is plagued by the same problem, too. And the gradient of the Oasis is much more noticeable because it goes from left to right instead of from top to bottom. Therefore you notice the gradient during reading all the time. My Voyage gradient is only visible at the very bottom of the screen. It never overlaps with the text.
Too bad that you can't exchange your Voyage. If you get one with an evenly lit screen it's a fantastic reader - IMO the best KIndle you can get right now.

[littlefoot59]

After having switched from the Paperwhite 2 to the Voyage I can't imagine to go back to a Paperwhite. The lighter and sleeker design of the Voyage is noticeable, the self regulating brightness feature is a great asset and - while not ideal - the page-press sensors are somewhat practical, although mechanical buttons would be much better. The gold standard for me is still the Kindle Keyboard: while it is larger and a bit heavier than the Paperwhite, it's a joy to hold it and the page-turn buttons are perfectly located. From the Kindles without light I like the Kindle Keyboard best. I would prefer it over the new basic model. It has also lovely screensavers. I wish we could load our own screensavers without a jailbreak. Oh well, since we all have auto-sleep cases these days we hardly see the screensavers anymore anyway

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by NullNix

Yes. I got one following an incident in which I learned that aerospace-quality material engineering wossname does not protect the thing from being run over, cover and all. There is no cover with the replacement: the guarantee does not cover it, only the device itself.

How odd. The case comes with and is an integral part of the e-reader more than other readers because the main battery is in the case. Seems kinda cheap not to replace it in the warranty.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by littlefoot59

My wishes for a future Kindle: A reader very much like the Voyage but with real mechanical page turners, and additionally to the selfregulating brightness feature I'd like to see a selfregulating bluelight filter - which other high end readers already

Physical page-turn buttons and the self-regulating light would make the Voyage more similar to the Oasis, and Amazon need to differentiate the products. So, I doubt they'll do it.

[littlefoot59]

Pajamaman, you're probably right. I don't think we will see a version of the Voyage with real page-turn buttons. I just meant to say that a Voyage with real page-turn buttons and a blue-light filter in addition to the auto-brightness feature would be my idea of a perfect Kindle. I have not the foggiest idea why the Oasis doesn't have the auto-brightness feature of the Voyage anymore. If it is adjusted according to personal preferences it works really well for many people. I certainly don't want to do without it anymore. I have adjusted it just so that my Kindle never seems to glow and looks more like real paper. This way there's never a cloudiness or a visible color gradient. Those who can't get into it, can simply turn it off. It certainly helped me to reduce my recharge frequency. I learned that one needs less and not more light when reading in dark conditions. It's better for the eyes and the battery - which would make this feature very useful for the Oasis, too.
According to your logic, pajamaman: maybe Amazon wanted to retain one distinguishing feature for the Voyage and it comes down to salesmanship and marketing. Or did they make a survey and found that most Voyage users don't really care for the auto-brightness? If that's so, it would surprise me because most Voyage users I've communicated with, liked it a lot, and many readers who switched from the Voyage to the Oasis, miss that specific feature, even if they are overall very pleased with the Oasis.

[Pajamaman]

All Amazon's devices are the same size and I think the same resolution. As such, they need to create different distinguishing features. I agree it's strange that the top-end device lacks features of the lower-end model. I think Amazon have pushed themselves into a corner by having a range of devices that is so similar to each other, and have been forced to do strange things.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

All Amazon's devices are the same size and I think the same resolution. As such, they need to create different distinguishing features. I agree it's strange that the top-end device lacks features of the lower-end model. I think Amazon have pushed themselves into a corner by having a range of devices that is so similar to each other, and have been forced to do strange things.

No. They do not all have the same resolution.
The Basic Kindle is 167. The other 3 are 300.
Also the lights are all different as are the way they handle. The only similarities are the size of the screen and the glare free screen.
Took 2 clicks on Amazon to compare all 4.

[littlefoot59]

While the Paperwhite 3, the Voyage and the Oasis have the same screen size, the same resolution and nowadays the same software, they are indeed very different and instantly reckognizeable devices. Looking at their respective screens produces the same reading experience - although most users agree that the Voyage has the sharpest screen. But the difference becomes obvious when you handle the devices. The Voyage feels definitely sleeker and lighter than the Paperwhite, the page turning can be done differently if you wish to use the page-press sensors, and it doesn't have a sunken screen any more. And the Oasis is design-wise altogether in it's own league as far as handling is concerned. So, what unique feature has each device? IMO you get a super Kindle for a fairly reasonable prize if you decide to go for the Paperwhite 3. Even my Paperwhite 2, which is still in a very good condition after more than three years of intensive use and traveling, sold within hours at ebay when I put it up for sale. The Voyage was the perfect upgrade for me - mainly because of the sleeker and lighter shape and the different illumination system, which produces a crisper screen. The page-press sensors are somewhat useful but aren't a subsitute for mechanical page-turn buttons. But the auto-brightness feature is unique in the kindle-verse. And the Oasis' shape and handling is different from all other e-readers.The mechanical page-turn buttons are great. If you dig this shape and the solution with the mostly external battery, then you have a great to handle device which also makes a great fashion statement
So, I don't think that Amazon made a mistake at all with it's three high end readers. They differ considerably in very important points - shape, size, illumination system, handling and prize tag. Therefore they have appeal for different customer groups. There are even a lot of reasons for owning all three of them: the Paperwhite 3 is for those who just want to have a great reader with light and a touchscreen but who rather want to invest their money in books and not so much the gadget. It's also a reader you might give the kids in the family. The Voyage is indeed great for travelling and as a carry-on reader because it's lighter and smaller, offers a choice of different page-turning systems, and the auto-brightness is especially useful when you move around a lot and the illumination changes constantly. And while people definitely carry it around, IMO the Oasis is most practical at home, when you don't have to worry about recharging and keeping track of the cover. You can use the device freely without it's cover in order to enjoy the unique ergonomics. Interestingly the Oasis in it's cover is also not the most practical shape for fitting it into my smaller bags. While it is shorter than the Voyage and the Paperwhite, it's also broader (almost square), and in it's cover it's also thicker than the other Kindles. So, if I should ever have the desire to own one, I would mostly use it at home. I would be tempted if they will offer a model with auto-brightness and blue-light filter.
As we have discussed above, it's a bit of a mystery why the Oasis doesn't have auto-brightness like the Voyage. Maybe, it's really a marketing thing. As I have tried to analyse, there are good reasons for owning all three devices And the basic and cheapest Kindle - now with a touch screen but still without light - offers a low-budget option for those who want to spend as little money as possible for the Kindle itself or who just want an inexpensive reader for going to the beach, where you certainly won't need illumination. It will be very interesting for Kindle users into which direction Amazon will move in the future. I can see more models with real page-turn buttons in the future. And I'm sure that a self-regulating blue-light filter will come eventually, since some other e-readers offer that feature already. I have installed a blue-light and brightness regulator app on my Samsung tab and it's a revelation. I love it! When you switch it off after having gotten used to it, the glaring blue light really hits you squarely, and it's a very unpleasant experience. The blue-light problem isn't nearly as pressing with front-illuminated e-readers because they emanate only a small percentage of light in comparison with computer screens, laptops or tablets. And the Voyage's auto-brightness feature gradually reduces the brightness in darker condition at night. But a blue-light regulator definitely creates a more cosy and relaxing reading experience at night. Right now I mighg try to experiment with blue-light filtering glasses, when reading in bed.
So, Amazon definitely has room to work on the illumination of their devices. Especially since most complaints concern the uneven and for some people distracting lightning of the screen. So far I was lucky and my Paperwhite 2 and my Voyage are as good as it gets (the Oasis which I tested was less perfect but at least for me tolerable). It shows that it is definitely possible to produce a good front light Kindle. And since neither the Paperwhite nor the Voyage or the Oasis are cheap, customer are entitled to get a good device. I can imagine that it must be very frustrating to exchange devices constantly. It would be interesting to know how high the percentage of exchanges because of uneven illumination really is. The problem is of course that unsatisfied customers tend to be far more vocal than satisfied customers. Also, optics and illumination is processed differently by each individual.. Some are more sensitive and register faults where others see near-perfection. Others see slight faults initially but don't notice it anymore after a very short while. My hunch: the majority of customers are probably content with the illumination of their Kindles and for Amazon it would be more expensive to set up tighter quality control than exchange and liberally replace the devices for those who complain.
Except for my antique first e-reader (the Sony PRS-505) I've only used Kindles. As far as I know the quality problem only cropped up when the first illuminated e-reader (the Paperwhite 1) was introduced. Looking back, I think Amazon made a terrible mistake when they named the model "Paperwhite", since it conjured expectations which simply couldn't and still can't be met. Even my Voyage with a very even and crisp screen is never "paperwhite". Question: Are other front illuminated e-readers also plagued by uneven light and/or this quality lottery? Or is this Amazon-specific? I couldn't get a clear impression by searching the net, but the at least the quality lottery seems to be mostly Amazon-specific. Or are Amazon customers pickier for some reason?

[badgoodDeb]

Amazon is about to open (or has just opened) an Amazon physical bookstore in Chicago. While I am extremely unlikely to go into Chicago just to check -- would the Oasis be on display at their physical book stores? I haven't found any store which has them in stock to look at.

[Hollow Man]

The Oasis was on display at the Pop-Up Store here in Connecticut.

-HM

[TimeEffect]

Originally Posted by littlefoot59

So, Amazon definitely has room to work on the illumination of their devices. Especially since most complaints concern the uneven and for some people distracting lightning of the screen. So far I was lucky and my Paperwhite 2 and my Voyage are as good as it gets (the Oasis which I tested was less perfect but at least for me tolerable). It shows that it is definitely possible to produce a good front light Kindle. And since neither the Paperwhite nor the Voyage or the Oasis are cheap, customer are entitled to get a good device. I can imagine that it must be very frustrating to exchange devices constantly. It would be interesting to know how high the percentage of exchanges because of uneven illumination really is. The problem is of course that unsatisfied customers tend to be far more vocal than satisfied customers. Also, optics and illumination is processed differently by each individual.. Some are more sensitive and register faults where others see near-perfection. Others see slight faults initially but don't notice it anymore after a very short while. My hunch: the majority of customers are probably content with the illumination of their Kindles and for Amazon it would be more expensive to set up tighter quality control than exchange and liberally replace the devices for those who complain.

May I please ask, do you have pics of your voyage's lighting?

I want to see what "as good as it gets" means, as Id like to see how your gradient looks.

I exchanged mine, and the gradient is still noticeably there, but I think Im going to have to just get used to it.

From what I hear, Oasis is even worse as far as the gradient goes. Im just curious to see the range of the gradient, as I want to know if mine is on the low end or high end of the spectrum

[littlefoot59]

TimeEffect, I will try to produce a good picture of the screen, although I think it's difficult to get one which looks like the real experience.
The gradient was definitely worse on the screen of the Oasis which I tested. It was also more annoying because it went from left to right instead of from top to bottom. Therefore I noticed it more during reading.Since I aöways use the autobright feature of the Voyage I read with reduced brightness and the screen looks more like paper and glows a lot less. Besides saving battery power there's another advantage: the color gradient isn't visible at all.
Edit: since I post from my Samsung tablet I can'topen more than one window. How can I attach a picture?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by littlefoot59

Edit: since I post from my Samsung tablet I can'topen more than one window. How can I attach a picture?

Edit your post, then click the "Manage Attachments" button in the control area below the message editor.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Edit your post, then click the "Manage Attachments" button in the control area below the message editor.

When you edit your post, be sure that you get the "advanced editor", if you don't, then click the "go advanced" button below the edit box.

Only the "advanced editor" has the "manage attachments" panel.
And you have to select it, either by making it your default editor in your CP or by clicking the button below the text box.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by knc1

When you edit your post, be sure that you get the "advanced editor", if you don't, then click the "go advanced" button below the edit box.

Only the "advanced editor" has the "manage attachments" panel.
And you have to select it, either by making it your default editor in your CP or by clicking the button below the text box.

You automatically get the advanced editor when you edit a post, but, as you say, when you initially write the post, you may need to click the "Go Advanced" button to see it.