Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

E readers

43 replies

ineedsun · 15/12/2020 07:05

I'm changing job soon and hope that this means I will work the actual hours that I'm contracted to as opposed to averaging 12 hour days most days.

So with all the time I have back I'd like to start reading again, but whilst I prefer paper books I don't like the waste.

So what are people's preferences for e-readers. Looking at the reviews the kindle paper white seems to come out top. Do people who have one like it? Do you think they'll be on sale after Christmas?

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 15/12/2020 07:08

Kindle Paperwhite without a doubt. I can read in bed at night without waking DH, and can read outside in the summer as there is no glare.

You can adjust the brightness and the font size. I wouldn't be without mine.

Original poster
ineedsun · 15/12/2020 07:19

Thank you, that's really good to know. Especially the reading outdoors bit!

OP posts:
Azerothi · 15/12/2020 07:40

Absolutely second the Kindle Paperwhite. I take mine everywhere and wouldn't be without it.

birdseedpie · 15/12/2020 07:45

I like the kindle paper white but I have noticed that after 2 years the battery life suddenly becomes appalling. It's happened with three kindles now and has just this last couple of days happened with mine, from 100% to 20%in a day.,

madasamarchhare · 15/12/2020 08:09

I agree with the above, kindle paper white every time. Lovely to read in bed or in a hotel room (I wish!!!) without disturbing anyone else. Can have a pile of books ready to read without carrying a heavy stash around with me.

I do miss the feel of a lovely new book though and I do buy the occasional paperback to get my ‘fix’. But then I always realise how much more convenient and comfortable the kindle is.

BarbaraofSeville · 15/12/2020 08:10

I have a very old Kindle Paperwhite (7/8 years? one of the first ones that came out) and don't have any problems with the battery, it lasts for days if I read a lot, or weeks otherwise. I keep the wifi off unless downloading a book and have the light setting always on 6, so it looks unlit in daylight and I can still read at night.

If/when it breaks I'll either be getting one of the cheapest basic kindles, which are also now lit in a similar way, or the Paperwhite if I can get a good deal on it, as I've heard many people say the reading experience is more or less the same, but the latter is waterproof so good for bath, beach, spa etc.

As for deals, it seems less of a 'after Christmas sale' thing and more when Amazon is doing a deal, its Black Friday, or somewhere like Argos or Currys is doing a general 'spend £100 and get £10 off' sort of deal.

Ginfordinner · 15/12/2020 08:14

I have a very old Kindle Paperwhite (7/8 years? one of the first ones that came out) and don't have any problems with the battery, it lasts for days if I read a lot, or weeks otherwise.

Mine is several years old and lasts for ages as well. I think if you have something with lots of bells and whistles the more battery it uses.

birdseedpie · 15/12/2020 08:15

I keep the WiFi off on mine but the light is on most of the night as I fall asleep reading plus I don't have a light in my bedroom so need the kindle light.

wildraisins · 15/12/2020 08:19

The original kindle now is brilliant. Paperwhite is a bit of a pointless upgrade in my opinion. You can adjust brightness and change font size etc on the regular kindle and it's a lovely nifty little device. The only difference with the paperwhite is it's a slightly higher resolution but it literally makes barely any difference for everyday reading - not worth the extra money.

LooseMooseHoose · 15/12/2020 08:23

I prefer kobo. I'm not locked into only buying ebooks from Amazon that way and also use it to borrow books from my local library for free.

My current kobo is 8 years old and still going strong (and still supported with software updates). I almost want it to die because I'm jealous of my DP's shiny new one that he got last Christmas.

slothbyday · 15/12/2020 08:25

I moved from kindle to kobo about a year ago and wouldn't go back - the ability to use library books makes so much cheaper in the long run

Ginfordinner · 15/12/2020 08:27

@wildraisins

The original kindle now is brilliant. Paperwhite is a bit of a pointless upgrade in my opinion. You can adjust brightness and change font size etc on the regular kindle and it's a lovely nifty little device. The only difference with the paperwhite is it's a slightly higher resolution but it literally makes barely any difference for everyday reading - not worth the extra money.
The original Kindle wasn't backlit though, so you can't read it in the dark without the light on. I used to have one but upgraded to my Paperwhite which is about 7 years old now.

Birdseedpie it makes an excellent torch at night doesn't it.

Jerble · 15/12/2020 08:37

I love my Kindle Paperwhite - perfect for reading in bed without the page-turning or bedside light disturbing DH. My DD has my original Kindle and has asked for a Paperwhite for Christmas.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 15/12/2020 09:26

Kindle Paperwhite. No contest!

OhCormoranAllYeFaithful · 15/12/2020 09:39

I love my paper white - wouldn’t be without it

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 15/12/2020 09:54

My kindle is one of the old ones

I was just saying to dh yesterday how upset I’ll be when it dies

I bought two of the newer kindles a few years ago...they were absolutely pants, dreadful storage and battery capability, never used them

I might research the paper white following this thread though

E readers
barberousbarbara · 15/12/2020 10:09

I love my Kobo. Mine is an old Aura, about 5 years old, and still works brilliantly. The variety of formats it can display makes much easier and accessible than a Kindle. I can borrow from the local library or from any open access source.

TooManyDogsandChildren · 15/12/2020 10:19

Kindle paper white too. If you leave the wifi off unless you want to download something I find the battery lasts longer between charges though the battery life is decent anyway.

I love mine so much that I bought a new backup one when Amazon had a sale on them and it is sitting in the drawer just in case :)

Perfect for my crap eyesight now I am older.

birdseedpie · 15/12/2020 10:22

but the latter is waterproof so good for bath, beach, spa etc.

I can confirm that it is indeed waterproof. Bath foam and hot bath water proof too.

RedRec · 15/12/2020 10:42

Absolutely Kindle Paperwhite.
I had a bog standard Kindle years ago but gave up on it as could not see it properly in most lights.
The backlighting of the Paperwhite (and other features) makes it absolutely perfect.

BarbaraofSeville · 15/12/2020 10:47

@RedRec

Absolutely Kindle Paperwhite. I had a bog standard Kindle years ago but gave up on it as could not see it properly in most lights. The backlighting of the Paperwhite (and other features) makes it absolutely perfect.
Are people saying this sort of thing aware that currently, even the cheapest £50 ish kindle now has a light that means you can read it in darkness?

If buying new, the main advantage of the more expensive £100 ish kindle paperwhite is that it's waterproof. Otherwise, they're both very similar, except the more expensive one has more memory, but they both hold hundreds of books.

Ginfordinner · 15/12/2020 11:08

Probably not @BarbaraofSeville. My Paperwhite is several years old and hasn't needed replacing. I didn't know that the new basic ones were back-lit.

I know now Grin

SpaceOp · 15/12/2020 11:12

Yes, I've also got an old Kindle Paperwhite (although not as old as some - I think mine's about 5 years) and I love it. I've never understood why some people are so resistant to Kindles or other e-reader.

On the Kobo - can you read Amazon books on it? I would definitely be willing to consider one for the flexibility (my Paperwhite has a couple of small screen issues so it's definitely going to need to be replaced soon) but realistically, I'm Amazon all the way so need something that can ALSO read Amazon.

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 15/12/2020 11:18

I don’t personally care about back lighting but my kindle holds thousands of books, the new crap not paperwhite one that i bought holds about 50

Whats the point of that...stupid machine

Ginfordinner · 15/12/2020 11:25

I like to read in bed when DH is asleep so a back light is essential for me.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.