Paperwhite 3 First Impressions

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is it due to the screen size and/or weight of the H2O? if that's the case, you can get all the typesetting/options of the H2O in a smaller lighter Reader with the Glo HD.

That's part of it yes and i've already looked at the Kobo Glo HD but the main
reason is the Amazon eco system. I have a kindle fire and read on that as well (including text to speech) plus i email books to Amazon and they are available on all my apps and devices. I use whisper sync to keep my progress in check.

I like my Kobo and the font options it offers, but the ease of use of the Amazon devices and the overall package make Kobo a second choice for me.

[duydangle]

Originally Posted by Globbo

I just got mine today. This is my first kindle and my first ereader with a backlight so my old classic nook is no comparison. At around anything less than 20 on the brightness setting I can see that slight variation in brightness along the bottom. It's noticeable but just barely and only bothers me at the bottom of a page for the last few sentences. Still, it's annoying and I wonder if it's like that with all of the new ones still or just mine and I should send it in to be replaced?

You should ask for a replacement, but try it in a few weeks cause first batch is always worse than latter batches and may be you can get used to it.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by duydangle

You should ask for a replacement, but try it in a few weeks cause first batch is always worse than latter batches and may be you can get used to it.

There's no point in asking for a replacement. Faint "shadow cones" at the bottom of the screen are entirely normal in the PW.

[LeJon]

Originally Posted by Globbo

I just got mine today. This is my first kindle and my first ereader with a backlight so my old classic nook is no comparison. At around anything less than 20 on the brightness setting I can see that slight variation in brightness along the bottom. It's noticeable but just barely and only bothers me at the bottom of a page for the last few sentences. Still, it's annoying and I wonder if it's like that with all of the new ones still or just mine and I should send it in to be replaced?

Uneven/Blotchy/Shadowy screen etc. are all common issues for frontlit eink no matter which brand or model you get. Some more noticeable than others.

If your lucky, you get a perfect screen if not, you can expect to exchange more than 3 times and still get a non perfect screen.

[patrickt]

If you're considering an ereader, please ignore the predictions that you will need to exchange your device more than three times. I've had six Kindle devices and never had to exchange one once. Oh, I read the posts by the guy who said he got nine exchanges in two weeks as he sought an "acceptable" screen. But then, I have a friend who sleeps in a park because everywhere he tries to live people are cooking pork and the fumes will make him burst into flames and die.

Take the risk. Kindles are a great way to read.

[LeJon]

Some people eyes might not be able to tell the difference between an uneven screen and a perfect screen. If your one of them, most likely you will be satisfied with your first ereader no matter what you choose.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I wonder if perhaps the glass screen of the Voyage provides better contrast (ie is more transparent) than the plastic screen of the PW? Certainly my Voyage appears to me to have excellent contrast.

I recall a user / reviewer commenting on this about the Voyage, probably compared to the PW2. He / She stated the text "floated" over the screen (in a good way). I've only held the two together under store conditions, and I didn't notice much difference, if any, but it was a brief comparison in one environment. But I presume the difference to be subtle, as it is with all with screens since the advent of pearl.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by terendel

I tried. It didn't. I tried both sideloading through Calibre and using Send to Kindle

Many thanks.

Tell me, did you test the new type-setting options on books that 1) came pre-installed with your review PW3, or 2) your own Amazon-purchased material that you downloaded to the PW3 via your account?

I presume its #2, but just checking.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It seems like coming soon in the description of the PW3 meant coming soon after the release of the PW3. Originally I thought it meant coming soon just like the PW3 was coming soon. Amazon really needs to clarify this. I can see many people not reading that or thinking the same being bothers/annoyed/pissed/unhappy thinking that the PW3's new typesetting is broken or that they have to wait for a new firmware.

My opinion is that Amazon should have waited until the typesetting was ready before releasing the PW3.

If it isn't released with the PW3, it will update not long after. Terendel has it in his review model, so it appears to be all but ready. Have PW3s even gone on sale yet? In any case, the update will come as long as we're not hit by an asteroid.

I am more interested to know if the new type-setting options will work in non-Amazon content. Apparently not. I don't know if it's intentional but I expect the limitation--real, intentional or otherwise--can eventually be circumvented.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Personally I am still hoping for an updated Voyage I don't see how they can keep the price difference between the new PW3 and the Voyage without something new.

Absolutely. Something must change, IMO. Particularly judging by the many requirements I see for 3G functionality, it's high cost on a Voyage and it's lower cost on a PW3 undercutting Voyage sales.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by LeJon

Uneven/Blotchy/Shadowy screen etc. are all common issues for frontlit eink no matter which brand or model you get. Some more noticeable than others.

If your lucky, you get a perfect screen if not, you can expect to exchange more than 3 times and still get a non perfect screen.

I had a Glo HD and the front-light and screen was perfect but for the cones at the bottom that only seriously affected the last line. No blotchiness or uneveness, so the user shouldn't expect those things.

I wished the Glo HD light had gone a little lower, but that would probably lead to blotchiness, and people would have complained. A PW2 goes lower and at its lowest settings there was blotchiness / uneveness but that was because the light goes so low.

Hmm, I've kinda contradicted myself, but I think I've made my point.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by Globbo

I just got mine today. This is my first kindle and my first ereader with a backlight so my old classic nook is no comparison. At around anything less than 20 on the brightness setting I can see that slight variation in brightness along the bottom. It's noticeable but just barely and only bothers me at the bottom of a page for the last few sentences. Still, it's annoying and I wonder if it's like that with all of the new ones still or just mine and I should send it in to be replaced?

Post some pics. Cones at the bottom are normal, but it's impossible to say if your cones are abnormal without pics.

[jmmcg9]

I received my new PW3 on Tuesday. So far I am extremely pleased. The improved resolution is great for my old tired eyes. Also, the light seems to be more uniform than the PW1 it replaced. (I recall all of the complaints on color variation and uniformity on the PW1. I never found any issues on my PW1, but side by side I can detect a difference). Page turns also seem to be faster on the new PW1, but I am wondering if the number of books loaded on the device has any impact. My old PW1 was really full.

[HarryT]

No, the number of books won't make a difference. The PW3 is a lot faster. You'll find that it'll index books much more quickly than your PW1.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by LeJon

Uneven/Blotchy/Shadowy screen etc. are all common issues for frontlit eink no matter which brand or model you get. Some more noticeable than others.

If your lucky, you get a perfect screen if not, you can expect to exchange more than 3 times and still get a non perfect screen.

I have to disagree. Uneven/blotchy/Shadowy screens are not the norm for eInk screens. My H2O's screen is none of those. I've seen a PW3 recently that did have the shadows at bottom, but the screen was not uneven and not blotchy.