Since our Kindle Paperwhite was delivered, I've downloaded dozens of free books that would cost more in printed form than the device. I'm reading classical works of literature that I wouldn't previously have looked at in a traditional book shop or library, and technical & management references & tutorials that I would have found too expensive or inconvenient to find in print.
As a father and occasional commuter; the Kindle Paperwhite enables me to reclaim moments that would otherwise be lost between responsibilities or waiting for public transport. The Paperwhite is robust, compact and quick to wake, returning immediately to the point where I adjourned my reading and keeping my place in many books at the same time.
Book downloads are almost instantaneous via WiFi over our cable internet connection with Virgin Media, and the screen is fantastic: I'm currently reading the HMRC's “The VAT Guide”, a 214-page A4 document at one page per screen at 41% scale on a display measuring 90mm × 122mm; yet I have no trouble reading the text:
it's more comfortable for me to read this document on my Amazon Kindle Paperwhite than on our 23-inch 1080p LCD computer screen! Landscape viewing mode (full page width at 58% scale) is useful when reading PDF documents with smaller print. Touch-screen functionality like text highlighting or page marking works just as well with PDF documents as with Kindle e-books.
The improved high-resolution e-ink screen gives less eye-strain than any other display technology; which means less headaches, less time off work, better concentration and less visits to the optician in later life. Being able to read PDF documents, books and simple web pages on a portable device means you can move while reading from the usual sitting position one might maintain at a desktop computer; reducing the risk of other occupational health problems. Anyone who works with computers should consider this an investment in their health!
Some owners of earlier versions of the Amazon Kindle have complained that the new device doesn't have an earphone jack, stereo speakers, mp3 codecs or the text-to-speech feature. I don't personally find this to be a problem because if I want to play mp3 files I can use my mobile telephone or computer, and if I ever want to listen to e-books at home, I can load the Amazon “Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin” application on my computer. The Paperwhite has 2GB of internal flash memory; reduced from 4GB in other recent Kindle devices, but even with about 250 books and PDF documents I’ve only used about 1GB of memory so far. In my opinion, the only design flaw in this excellent product is the omission of an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the brightness of the new built-in light.
Despite great demand and long delivery lead-times, Amazon is selling the Paperwhite at cost-price! Obviously, Amazon expects to make enough money on e-book sales to make the overall business proposition viable. I'm beginning to feel that's a smart move on their part, and that they might be making their money back from their investment in my purchase before long…
To purchase a Kindle Paperwhite, visit: