How long will old Kindle E-Ink devices remain viable?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The K1, K2, KDX, & KDXG are all unable to connect via WiFi. They could be dead if Amazon has turned off the cell service or 3G becomes dead.

I did try the Kindle Store with my Touch and it doesn't work.

The Kindle DXG (international) has 2G-GSM as well as 3G. The SIM account is still working for ebooks sent to my DXG because the EDGE service on GSM is still working (used even for brand new Smart Meters etc). Though only mobi. The K3/Keyboard 3rd gen/graphite 6" came out slightly earlier but later got azw3 FW (2017?). The DXG was poor from release being mostly updated screen and modem module compared to the DX, so is really 2nd gen with a 3rd gen screen. Not enough RAM for azw3.

The 3G seems to be gone, though some other providers may still have it. The GSM-EDGE was a later enhancement that speeded up GSM from 14.4k/28.8k to a 245k more reliable than 3G. The later versions of 3G only faster than GSM because of 5MHz channels vs 0.2MHz channels. The 3G was always a poor system with bad cell breathing and less than 50% capacity when multiple users connect because it uses the old CDMA system used in USA 2G, simply expanded.

[Quoth]

The Kindle store was disabled for many older Kindles that still accept WiFi "Whispernet" ebook download.

It's always been a better idea to use a Web browser rather than apps or gadgets for internet purchases.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

That's because you're not fussy.

I am. I have a specific set of preferences about formatting and want all my ebooks to follow it. The same font size, line height, margins, text indents, no spaces between paragraphs, no huge white space around chapter headings and so on. I also hate fiddling with the settings on my ereaders every time I open a new ebook and so my ebooks all have uniform font size/margins/line height.

I know the majority of ebook readers don't care about such things and probably don't even notice them. Some of us do, though (I'm not the only MR member who edits the css and formatting of their ebooks). To each their own.

Add me to the list of people who edit almost all ebooks before sending them to my ereaders. As with @Sirtel, I have a very specific and likely boring look to my ebooks.

Books that mix indented paragraphs with a wide space between paragraphs get indented only. Books that use spacing around a chapter header that have it taking up half a page that could be better used for text. Books that force line heights lose them. Do you really need to have an ebook look like a double spaced school essay? Forced left/right margins on body text are removed (likely not as big a deal for Kindle users since the minimum margins on Kindles are so wide). Ebooks that embed and force a body font have that removed—life is too short to read in Times New Roman.

Or consider the number of ebooks that use dropcaps—one recent example used a 5rem (5 times basic body text size) glyph in a cursive script font. The modern version of the illuminated initials from a medieval manuscripts but without the beauty.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Add me to the list of people who edit almost all ebooks before sending them to my ereaders.

Add me to the list. Although I basically do a conversion to get the look I want. And edit metadata/tags to get collections, series, and subtitle.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by John F

Add me to the list. Although I basically do a conversion to get the look I want. And edit metadata/tags to get collections, series, and subtitle.

I do some bulk changes via conversion too, but I also edit the css directly. And of course ditto for collections/series/subtitle information. I didn't bother with them when I used Kindles, as it would have been a slow, manual process, but with Kobos it's automatic, so no extra work involved.

[Deskisamess]

I still have the 2nd gen Paperwhite registered. I play Active Content games on it sometimes.

[7hir7een]

The minute they stop supporting them, is the moment I stop buying books from them

[zje]

Sorry if this is a duplicate, something weird happened to my previous quick reply post.

I have a 2013 7th Gen Kindle Paper White that is registered and is still able to purchase books. I recently switched back to it because my Fire 8 HD was just too harsh on my eyes.

I'm not to picky about the books. I do edit all the metadata and make epub, azw3, and mobi copies of the books, a hang over when more people in the house would read the books on a variety of devices, embedded fonts are no good, I like Bookerly, too much time reading on Kindles I suppose. Then each chapter has to start on a new page, and I despise a text background forced to white since I like to read white on black, it's really annoying when it is forced in random spots. And font size changes that don't make sense. I have stopped reading a book just to edit it and then continue.

[Timboli]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

That's because you're not fussy.

I am. I have a specific set of preferences about formatting and want all my ebooks to follow it. The same font size, line height, margins, text indents, no spaces between paragraphs, no huge white space around chapter headings and so on. I also hate fiddling with the settings on my ereaders every time I open a new ebook and so my ebooks all have uniform font size/margins/line height.

I know the majority of ebook readers don't care about such things and probably don't even notice them. Some of us do, though (I'm not the only MR member who edits the css and formatting of their ebooks). To each their own.

Fair enough I guess, and as you say, each to their own.

I'm certainly fussy enough about other aspects, hence why I have created a few complimentary programs for calibre, to tweak metadata etc just how I like. And I've certainly taken a few ebooks apart using Sigil, due to some issue that irks or annoys. And I've also replaced the default covers of many ebooks, that weren't what they were showing on the web page when I bought them, or I just don't like them because they have bad TV show covers etc. I've even developed software to deal with missing covers on many of my Kobo ebooks.

[Sirtel]

Why would you need another software for missing covers? It's easy enough to insert a cover in calibre and sideload the book.

[Timboli]

On my Kobo device, covers go missing all the time, to many of my ebooks, and I have found no obvious reason why. I also have the scenario, where many of my side loaded ebooks display the wrong size cover.

I'm not about to use calibre to replace them each time. In fact, I never use calibre to get ebooks onto my devices. I used to do that years ago, but got turned off it, especially as I don't keep a copy of all my ebooks in the calibre libraries of this PC.

It's easy enough to side load onto a Kobo device, without needing an app to do so.

Remember, I download all my Kobo purchases via Wifi to my device.

I could go into a big long story about issues with my Kobo device. Lets just say, that after following all the reputed solutions, and resetting and wiping, I only ever get a temporary fix, that usually fails within a month or two. So I have given up. I should wipe my Kobo and side load everything, but I haven't got that desperate yet.

The last time I wiped all my ebooks and reset the device, I declared never again. Copying back several hundred ebooks, of which a sizable portion are side loaded ones, is no fun. I especially dislike having to manually set the read status.

What appears to happen, is two things.
(1) When ebooks get added to my device, the folders for the cover images don't get created properly in many instances, and so when Wifi is turned off the images disappear.
(2) After a month or so of use, syncing via Wifi stops working. That means to download my latest purchase, I have to pretend I want to read it now or I get stuck in perpetual pending.

My program works out what the correct numbers are for the folders for the cover images. It also assists with copying a correct size cover image (and color version where some are black & white) for my side loaded ebooks that have a cover issue.

My program means I am in control. It's as simple as that really.

P.S. I like calibre, but I use it in a very specific manner, which doesn't include being a device assistant.

[Sirtel]

Strange. I've never had those issues with 3 different Kobo models. Of course I sideload and manage everything on my Kobos with calibre and wifi is always off. I've found that this works best. No missing covers, metadata is maintained automatically (including collections and series grouping), reading status is backed up automatically too and can be restored to the device with one click if needed. No syncing issues (as I never sync). In short, pure bliss.

YMMV, as always.

[cvkemp]

I am a avid reader and I trade my Kindle PW in every other generation. Now that I have the latest PWSE I may change from my normal plan as this PW is proving to be an excellent choice. I can't find anything lacking about this Kindle.

[Timboli]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Strange. I've never had those issues with 3 different Kobo models. Of course I sideload and manage everything on my Kobos with calibre and wifi is always off. I've found that this works best. No missing covers, metadata is maintained automatically (including collections and series grouping), reading status is backed up automatically too and can be restored to the device with one click if needed. No syncing issues (as I never sync). In short, pure bliss.

YMMV, as always.

Well as they say, each to their own.

As far as I'm concerned, I paid for that Wifi aspect of my device, and so I intend to use it. It is the most convenient way for me after all ... certainly the quickest, to get my ebooks on to it.

I might feel differently if I bought far less than I do, but I buy a lot.

I don't know if there is just an issue with my particular device, but I have used Repair a number of times, also done the same with Reset. Everything was okay for the first 18 months, but since then being able to sync fails around a month or so after the last fix.

I've given up on fixes now, after long negotiations with Kobo support trying to fix the problem(s).

I may eventually just resort to side loading everything, but I aren't at that point yet.

When you do a full wipe (Reset), then you lose everything if you haven't been able to sync the read statuses.

Right now, I am hoping that Kobo bring out a color 10" E-Ink device. That will be my second Kobo device, and leave me free to start doing various things with the older one.

[issybird]

My Kobo Aura One last synced in July 2021. It is annoying. I did the factory reset once and ditto, it worked for a while and then didn’t, so now I live with it. It continues to download and install firmware updates; it adds new purchases to my library and yes, I have to click “Read Now” for the books to download, but that’s good enough when the alternative is buying a new device. The main thing that’s broken beyond repair is that it won’t interact with Libby, which means I either have to download and sideload or borrow for Kindle.

I have older Kobos that still sync readily.