Reinventing the Book
The subtle improvements of Amazon's Kindle e-reader
Recently, I received the wonderful gift of a new Kindle e-reader. More specifically, it was the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.
My Old Kindle
I had my previous Kindle for a long time. It was one of the basic Paperwhite editions and it was starting to show its age. There were a few specific issues with it.
First, I managed to scratch the screen ever so slightly. I've had a couple of past-generation Kindle's and they all manage to get minor blemishes on the screen. It's never anything to really get in the way of the reading process. but it's just enough to be noticeable and annoying. I think my screen issues always stemmed from packing the Kindle in a backpack and accidentally scraping it against something inside the pack or putting unnecessary pressure on the screen resulting in a crack.
Aside from the aesthetic issues, my old Kindle was just getting plain slow. I never felt like an e-reader needed all that powerful of a processor. Minimal memory should also get the job done. But my old Paperwhite was often getting hung up whenever I was trying to download a new book. The experimental web browser (which was never that great) was now totally unusable. I even had trouble loading up the Kindle Store. You'd think that Amazon would make sure that their devices were easily able to connect to the store to make purchases, but that was not the case for me. Scrolling through lists of potential new titles caused the device to hiccup to the point of just exiting the store and going back to the main menu. It was incredibly frustrating.
My New Kindle
So let's talk about the new Paperwhite Signature. How does it improve upon my previous Kindle?
Well, first off, it just seems a lot smoother when going through menus and flipping pages. I know that isn't a scientific explanation but it's likely due to an upgraded processor and more memory. Amazon doesn't like to get into technical specs with their devices since it's more about the experience, but there is a new software experience on-board that makes it a pleasure to use.
And the screen is wonderful to look at as well. It comes with a higher resolution display that also has a very handy light-sensing feature that can adjust the brightness automatically to match your surroundings. It's perfect for when you turn off the lights and want a very dim experience when reading at night. In addition to that, there is a new warmer setting that makes the screen a little less harsh on the eyes when you're getting ready to sleep. It's much more pleasant than looking at a more blue-hued device before bed.
The battery life has always been amazing on Kindles, so not much improvement was needed there, but they claim it can last up to ten weeks without a charge which is plenty. But to make things much easier, the new Kindle Paperwhite can be charged by both a USB-C connection or through a standard Qi wireless charger. For years, my old Kindle has been the only device that was still using a micro-USB charging cable. I'm so sick of using that old system and am very glad that the Kindle has upgraded to the much more modern charging standard.
And the wireless charging is great for a device like this but the size of the Kindle could make for an awkward fit on your existing Qi chargers. Sure, Amazon will sell you a new charger designed specifically for the Kindle, but ideally you could just throw it on the same charging puck you use for your phone, earbuds, watch, or other device. Most of the wireless chargers in our house can be a little finicky when it comes to a larger device. You may need to scoot it around a little bit until it sits properly on the charging coil.
Aside from battery life, the new Paperwhite adds waterproofing that was previously only available on the more expensive (but arguably less practical) Kindle Oasis model. I find waterproofing and resistance to be nice but not all that essential for most devices. But I love reading a kindle at the beach or by the side of the pool. Now that I know it can withstand a drop, I'm more likely to read while fully immersed in the water.
The last few things that I appreciate here are mostly cosmetic but noteworthy. I love the color options on the Kindle. For too many years, you were only able to buy a black device. That kept the price down and gave the decision a level of simplicity. But you almost became forced to buy a colorful case or put stickers on it or something to jazz it up. Especially if you had multiple Kindles in your house they could get confusing. I can't tell you how many times I accidentally picked up my wife's Kindle that looked exactly like mine and was confused when I started reading a book I wasn't familiar with.
The new Paperwhite signature comes in black of course, but there is also an Agave Green and (my choice) Denim Blue. It's a nice touch for aesthetics, but it also has an amazing rubberized hand feel. Despite the great feel, they also offer some compelling cloth (and cork!) cases that work wonderfully. I have the grey fabric case that offers a magnetic front cover that automatically puts your device to sleep and wakes it upon opening. You can even fold back the front cover and it stays open with the magnet to offer easy one-handed reading. The cover is actually so convincing and reminiscent of a really book that I've found myself attempting to flip actual paper pages only to remember that I had to tap the screen to advance. It's an odd feeling but extremely satisfying. Holding the cover open mimics the feeling of starting a new hardcover book and I love it.
Conclusion
So overall, I'm very pleased with the upgraded Kindle reading experience. It's hard to think of another digital device that gets updated so infrequently as the e-reader. I was aware that there were new models of the Kindle, but I never felt compelled to upgrade. The old version worked fine for my needs, even if the screen had some scratches. But I give Amazon credit for making subtle tweaks and iterations of its most popular product. They don't make you feel like you need to replace a Kindle every year or two like you might with a phone. But they're making products that improve one of the most basic daily human forms of entertainment. It's hard to really improve on the book, but Amazon should be commended for what they've done with the Kindle line.
Anyone else still using a very old Kindle? It may be time to upgrade.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
Hey! Could you use some help establishing healthy habits? Do you have a big project or new business that you want to get off the ground but could use some advice? Maybe you could benefit from hiring me as your coach. If you’re interested, read more about my coaching services here, or go ahead and book some time on my calendar to discuss further.
Iterate is free today. But if you enjoyed this post, you should let me know that this writing is valuable by pledging a future subscription. You won't be charged unless I enable payments at some point in the future. Think of it like an IOU in a tip jar.