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Kindle Paperwhite


I have always been allergic to buying specialized electronic devices that do only one thing, such as the Kindle, the iPod, and fitness trackers. Why buy these when technology evolves so fast that a multi-purpose device such as the phone or a smart watch can eventually do the same thing, but with the convenience of updates that fix bugs and add functionality? So, I was shocked when this weekend I made an impulse buy and got the newest Kindle Paperwhite—a special purpose device for reading eBooks.

I was walking past the Amazon store in the mall and saw that the newest Kindle Paperwhites were marked down by $40 for the holidays. The device looked good in the display, so I went in to look at it closely.

The Paperwhite is small and light, with a 6” screen that is backlit and waterproof.  The text was crisp and readable, and in the ambient light, it felt like I am reading a printed book. I was sold and bought it on the spot.

At home I have struggled to put it down. The books are easy to download on Wi-Fi, and in ambient light the reading experience is easy on the eyes, and pleasurable despite the page flashing with every turn. I have used it for an hour for the last 5 days and the charge is still holding up, which would make it ideal for short trips without charging.

My only wish is for a bigger screen Paperwhite, that I can use for technical books and papers. Perhaps that’s my next year’s impulse buy.

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Comments

  1. Kirk TrueDecember 25, 2018 at 9:57 AM

    I agree -- I wish Amazon offered a Kindle with a significantly larger screen to make reading tech/math books enjoyable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Abe TahaDecember 27, 2018 at 5:42 PM

      Sometime ago they used to sell the DX, with a decent screen size for technical books, but it seems they stopped investing in it. Perhaps there is not a large enough market for this kind of reader.

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