To buy a cheap kindle for MIL to save £60?

[LongLiveTheChief]

It's my MIL's birthday at the start of December and then obviously Christmas a few weeks later.

DH and I have discussed buying her a kindle as she's taken a bit of a recent interest in reading but struggles with the rusting of the book (she had very bad skin on her hands) and also having the light on seems to keep my FIL awake.

We looked at the paperwhite which is backlit, perfect, but it's over £100. That's £50 for birthday and same for Christmas as it would be a joint present but this is still more than we would spend on people. I suggested buying the cheaper kindle, without the backlight, and buying a clip on little battery powered LED light instead?

We have a baby due in January and also having our bathroom gutted at the same time so we're frantically trying to save for other things at the moment.

AIBU, as I am the one that would buy the present anyways, to just go ahead? DH said I'm missing the point of the present as on its own, you can't read the cheaper kindle in the dark!

Help me with some more justifiable reasons other than the cost! Xx

I solely use ereaders because of arthritic hands, and because I now find books hard to hold, have had several. I would not consider one without a backlight: to be honest, if anyone gave me one without a light, it would sit, unused, in a drawer. Additionally, I have tried those external lights on books and found them to be more trouble that they're worth.

I read 4/5 books per week, so carry my ereader everywhere with me, (weighs about 155 gms) but unfortunately have broken two in the last few months (fumbling as I stood up, and dropping them onto tiles). Because it was my fault, I presumed they weren't covered by warranty so ended up looking on eBay and found refurbished ones that look brand new, and are in new packaging, and cost about 55% of the new ones. Some people might have trouble giving a used product, albeit one that looks new, as a gift, but if i was receiving it I would sooner have a used, backlit one.

So consider eBay (Gumtree seems to have some as well- just not convenient for me). I use Kobo readers because I prefer the ePub format, and I think they are slightly cheaper than kindle.

The paperwhite is down to 79.99 on Amazon right now.

Do a bit of research as you can get other cheaper ones that have a back light

The amazon fire has one and I just googled them - about 59£

www.tesco.com/direct/amazon-fire-7-7-tablet-16gb-wifi-magenta/562-6305.prd?skuId=562-6305&pageLevel=sku&sc_cmp=ppc_sh--sh--tesco-_-562-6305&gclid=CNyB4KKxudACFQ5mGwodfQcAhA&gclsrc=aw.ds

OP, Kindle Paperwhite is in the Amazon Black Friday sale at £79!!

Oops, x-posted - didn't read page 2.

If it's for reading in bed definitely go for the paperwhite. I had an older kindle with a case that had a light, the paperwhite is infinitely better and the light is much softer so less likely to annoy another person.

Go for a refurbished paperwhite over a brand new basic kindle, by the time you've added the price of a light there wont be much difference.

Argos £80 now.

I feel compelled to reply to this thread to point out that the Paperwhite is front lit, not backlit. Backlit screens cause eye strain like tablets and phones do.
As you were.

I wouldn't buy a fire for reading. If she wants to go outside and maybe read in the garden, not going to happen.
Buying a clip on light doesn't really work either. I have an old e-reader, and of course doesn't come with a light. I bought a clip on and the light glares on the screen, it's really hard to explain but it's not nice and gives me eye strain. Hence I also have a fire.
The Fire is also heavier than the e-reader and paper white .

The Warehouse deals are generally open-box and pre-owned. They still come with full guarantees. Sometimes in original boxes, other times a plain box but with logo's on. I've had loads of stuff from there over the years. I tend to check there first before going onto the main site.

And yes if you know a student, ask them to order for you to get the discount.