This is the new Kindle Paperwhite 4

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I think the price is very good. It’s a bottom end e-reader with very good specs. Nothing “expensive” about it.

"bottom-end" "with very good specs" - sorry to be repetitive, but this also to me sounds like the definition of "bottom-end" in this case is purely size - it's small, ergo it's bottom end. That seems strange to me.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

While you can't do a Google search, you can search Wikipedia (or within the book, or within the entire library) on a Kindle as well.

Yup, just the Google search I miss. Wikipedia on its own isn't always enough. I use search within the book a lot in both, but don't think I've ever had a need to use Kindle's search within the entire library feature.

Originally Posted by lkmiller

don't think I've ever had a need to use Kindle's search within the entire library feature.

I have, and I'm sure I'll miss it now I've left the Amazon. For Wodehouse, Pratchett, Allingham, Ngaio Marsh and others when I know I've seen a particular word or phrase in ONE of the books but can't remember WHICH, the Kindle feature was invaluable

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by stuartjmz

"bottom-end" "with very good specs" - sorry to be repetitive, but this also to me sounds like the definition of "bottom-end" in this case is purely size - it's small, ergo it's bottom end. That seems strange to me.

Yeah, true "bottom-end" (properly, entry-level) ereaders are, like the Basic Kindle, purely reflective, SVGA, without backlight or maybe touch.

The Paperwhite line is really a mid-range reader, following the classic marketing rules of Good--better--best.

On the Kindle side this is easily seen as (Basic) Kindle--Paperwhite--Oasis.
On the Kobo side it's Clara--Aura--Forma.
Pocketbook it's Basic, Lux, Touch, etc.

What might be confusing people is that Kobo's "entry level" Clara is configured like a Paperwhite as their sales volumes can't really support a true entry level reader like Amazon's, Pocketbook, and most of the european vendors. Instead, their strategy is to offer added features at higher prices and defining their midrange and premium models by size. It's a good approach for smaller vendors...
...with the downside that they are effectively surrendering the true entry level, which impacts their bookstore and publisher appeal.

(shrug)

Kobo has bigger competitive issues than a lack of a US$50 reader for newcomers and gifting.
Mainstream visibility and partner reliability among them.

On the Kindle side this is easily seen as (Basic) Kindle--Paperwhite--Oasis.
On the Kobo side it's Clara--Aura--Forma.

I'm never going to buy this formula, because it's still basically a straight line of size that says, bigger is better, and biggest is, ipso facto, best. I think of it more as covering different marketing niches. Try sticking an 8-inch reader in your pocket. For me, if readers offer similar features and differ only in screen size, then they are of equivalent quality, just in different categories.

[s4nder]

Tiny screen, massive bezels, no night light. Kobo is running circles around them.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by stuartjmz

I'm never going to buy this formula, because it's still basically a straight line of size that says, bigger is better, and biggest is, ipso facto, best. I think of it more as covering different marketing niches. Try sticking an 8-inch reader in your pocket. For me, if readers offer similar features and differ only in screen size, then they are of equivalent quality, just in different categories.

Different strokes for different folks.
But the marketers always dream of nudging folks to more expensive models and for some people bigger = better.

(I had a co-worker who bought his cars by the ton. Proudly.
When they stopped building full size read drive cars, he went for the biggest SUV around. )

[John F]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Yeah, true "bottom-end" (properly, entry-level) ereaders are, like the Basic Kindle, purely reflective, SVGA, without backlight or maybe touch.

The Paperwhite line is really a mid-range reader, following the classic marketing rules of Good--better--best.

On the Kindle side this is easily seen as (Basic) Kindle--Paperwhite--Oasis.
On the Kobo side it's Clara--Aura--Forma.
Pocketbook it's Basic, Lux, Touch, etc.

What might be confusing people is that Kobo's "entry level" Clara is configured like a Paperwhite as their sales volumes can't really support a true entry level reader like Amazon's, Pocketbook, and most of the european vendors. Instead, their strategy is to offer added features at higher prices and defining their midrange and premium models by size. It's a good approach for smaller vendors...
...with the downside that they are effectively surrendering the true entry level, which impacts their bookstore and publisher appeal.

(shrug)

Kobo has bigger competitive issues than a lack of a US$50 reader for newcomers and gifting.
Mainstream visibility and partner reliability among them.

Isn't Kobo's entry level reader the Kobo Aura (2nd ed)?

It should be Aura, Clara, Aura One, Forma.

Or are you saying that the Aura and Clara are so close in price that no one would consider purchasing the Aura and just purchase the Clara?

At Walmart (U.S.), the Prices for the Kobos are: $100, $130 (out of stock), $254, and $279

For Amazon (U.S.) the Kindle prices (with special offers, wifi only): $80, $130, $269

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Kindle Store has quite a number of dictionaries that you can purchase that function as lookup and translation dictionaries, if the ones that come with Kindle seem insufficient. I don’t think that is an option with either Nook or Kobo ecosystems.

Kobo has three pages of free installable dictionaries. By default, my Kobo set for English has English, German-English, Spanish-English, French-English, Italian-English and Portuguese-English. If you want more there are pages and pages of English-whatever dictionaries you can add with the touch of a button.

[John F]

I forgot the Kobo H2O2 for $180.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Yeah, not disputing whether it's a better dictionary -- just that I don't notice myself.

I agree with you completely. Just, since I was talking to a Kindle user unfamiliar with Kobo, I wanted to be clear. If Kobo started using the OED today, it wouldn't impact me as I rarely use the dictionary. But to others, maybe it matters a great deal.

I was saying this may very well be because on Kobo you can do a Google search (or search Wikipedia, or search within the book) for the highlighted word(s) if the dictionary entry leaves you wanting to know more. And I miss that when I'm reading on my Kindle.

That's good to know. I didn't know Kindle couldn't do a Google search.

I'm realizing that on my reader I rarely use most features. There's stuff you guys talk about on here (Wikipedia and Google search, highlighting and notes, etc) that I wouldn't miss if it was taken away.

We all use our readers for the same purpose, but we sure manage to use them in different ways.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by kcladyz

why so many threads on the same topic?

Kindle is the 800 pound gorilla in the e-reader market. A new Kindle is going to generate a lot of conversation.

And as a Kobo user who is unlikely to move to Kindle, I have to say good on Amazon. The new Paperwhite looks like a very nice upgrade in my opinion. They've managed to make the Paperwhite almost as nice as the Voyage (nicer in some ways: double the storage, waterproofing and Bluetooth) for a much cheaper price.

[mathil]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

What might be confusing people is that Kobo's "entry level" Clara is configured like a Paperwhite as their sales volumes can't really support a true entry level reader like Amazon's, Pocketbook, and most of the european vendors. Instead, their strategy is to offer added features at higher prices and defining their midrange and premium models by size. It's a good approach for smaller vendors...

Sorry, are there any numbers available about this? How is Kobo a "small vendor" and who sells more ereaders than Kobo in Europe, with the exception of Amazon? I'm genuinely confused.
Either way, Kobo used to produce entry level ereaders until not long ago. My bet is that they simply decided that diversifying their offer based on screen size would make them more competitive with Amazon than trying to compete on a device-to-device basis. Amazon were forced to adapt not long ago, so I assume that must have worked.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Kobo has three pages of free installable dictionaries. By default, my Kobo set for English has English, German-English, Spanish-English, French-English, Italian-English and Portuguese-English. If you want more there are pages and pages of English-whatever dictionaries you can add with the touch of a button.

... plus there's a dedicated Kobo thread with links to various custom dictionaries built by MR members.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by s4nder

Tiny screen, massive bezels, no night light. Kobo is running circles around them.

A six inch screen is tiny? That's the standard size for all e-reader companies. They might make different sizes as well, but their bread and butter readers are six inch. Lots of people (myself included) don't want a larger screen.

I don't understand the knee-jerk antipathy to bezels. You have to be able to hold the thing.