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Original poster

To Kindle or not to Kindle?

63 replies

Wishiwasmycat · 17/09/2023 18:45

Late to the e-reader party. Is the 2023 version worth the extra money or is the older version good anyway?

OP posts:
LordEmsworth · 17/09/2023 18:53

All Kindles are greta. Backlit means it is so easy to read anywhere, including in bed. Mine is from 2018 I think and great, possibly newer ones are even better but I am more than happy with mine.

Ignore people who say, but books are nicer... it's not either or, you can have a Kindle and still spend a fortune in Waterstones 😁. But if you're going on holiday and you're a fast reader, a kindle is a game changer...

Coffeepot72 · 17/09/2023 18:54

I got the kindle paper white signature recently, I love it. My previous kindle was bought in 2003, and there’s no comparison

concernedalot · 17/09/2023 18:56

I'd just buy the older version if you've never had a kindle before. I've had mine a fair few years, it probably isn't all bells and whistles but it suits me. I only read it in bed at night. decide if you like kindling to start with - then upgrade in a couple of years or so if you think you'll use it enough. Most of the older versions you can pick up for 40 or 50 quid or less and it'll be more than adequate for a first time user

DRS1970 · 17/09/2023 18:56

I would say invest in an android tablet instead. Kindles are bloated with Amazon stuff, and won't let you put anything much else on there. At least with the tablet you can use it to do plenty of non Amazon related activities too.

HauntingSecrets · 17/09/2023 18:58

I have an old one with no backlight, about 2011 and it’s still great! Keep thinking I should upgrade but it just works!

Ghastisflabbered · 17/09/2023 19:00

I’ve had kindles pretty much since they came out and wouldn’t be without one, it’s one of the few items of tech I own that is an automatic repurchase the second they break.

My latest version is a basic 6” backlit kindle from Amazon for £85.00 earlier this year and it is perfect for what I use it for, super light and excellent battery.

I still read paperbacks though - generally on holiday as theres something about curling up with a paperback either in a cosy armchair or on a sun bed that can’t be replicated by a kindle.

Edited to add: don’t buy a fire, they fail miserably at being both a tablet and an e-reader. I’ve had two and they’re clunky, slow and last about 12-18 months if you’re a daily reader.

Abeli · 17/09/2023 19:02

I disagree with the suggestion of a tablet instead unless you are looking at a kindle fire. Kindle fires are awful IMO, neither a proper e reader nor a proper tablet.
Kindle e readers are a completely different reading experience, they are designed for reading nothing else. They are easy on the eyes because of the screen. For years I still read paper books as well but now I ignore the tbr pile on the bookcase because it's so much nicer reading a kindle.

I have an original button kindle but the most recent one I have is a paperwhite. I don't feel the need for the top of the range one.

Redglitter · 17/09/2023 19:04

DRS1970 · 17/09/2023 18:56

I would say invest in an android tablet instead. Kindles are bloated with Amazon stuff, and won't let you put anything much else on there. At least with the tablet you can use it to do plenty of non Amazon related activities too.

OP is talking about a Kindle e-reader though not a tablet.

PinkFootstool · 17/09/2023 19:06

Don't buy a tablet if you want to use it at night, on a beach or anywhere that lighting is important. The gentle back light is my favourite part.

Any edition will do tbh. I'm on my 3rd in 12yrs and wouldn't be apart from it. I read a huge amount, and it's saved me a huge amount of packing for travel!!

maximist · 17/09/2023 19:06

I have a paperwhite, which is great, but I hardly ever use it - I just read books on my phone instead. I've setup a reading focus which mutes most alerts whilst I'm reading so I don't get distracted.

RampantIvy · 17/09/2023 19:07

DRS1970 · 17/09/2023 18:56

I would say invest in an android tablet instead. Kindles are bloated with Amazon stuff, and won't let you put anything much else on there. At least with the tablet you can use it to do plenty of non Amazon related activities too.

Ignore this advice. I think @DRS1970 is confusing the Kindle Fire with the Kindle Paperwhite, and there is no comparison.

The Paperwhite is an eReader - ie for reading books only. It isn't a tablet.
The advantages over a book or tablet far outweigh anything else.

  1. You can have hundreds of books on one small device
  2. The battery lasts a lot longer than that of a tablet
  3. You can read at night while your partner sleeps without disturbing them
  4. An eReader is much easier to hold to read than a book, especially at night when you are lying down
  5. You can adjust the brightness
  6. You can adjust the font size if you need reading glasses, thus negating the need for them
  7. You can read it in bright sunlight.
caringcarer · 17/09/2023 19:12

Get a paper white and back lit. As your eyes get older like mine, you can simply make the font bigger. On holiday I download 3 or 4 books before I go.

User3735 · 17/09/2023 19:14

I have a Kindle and a Kobo. I prefer the Kobo because it has USB C charging and you can borrow books for free from the library, and you can't with a Kindle. But I still use the Kindle because it's easy to email E-pubs to, so I can get free books that way too, but not as easily found.

Pushkinini · 17/09/2023 19:17

I only have the basic Kindle and it's perfect for holiday reading when baggage weight limits are an issue. I can easily read 3 or 4 books in a week on holiday and taking actual books uses up a lot of my luggage allowance.

I had the original keyboard one with no backlight and only upgraded to this one a couple of years ago. They do last.

KrisAkabusi · 17/09/2023 19:29

I used to have two different versions of the kindle. Now I don't bother and just use my phone.

tiredofthenoise · 17/09/2023 19:34

The Paperwhite / backlit one is great. As others have said, adjustable brightness and front size are so useful. The battery lasts, it's lightweight, and you can store so many books on it. I rarely read any other way, these days.

wineymummy · 17/09/2023 19:38

I have had a number of kindles over the years and like others, wouldn't be without one.... however I'm now using a Fire so I can use Libby and Borrowbox for library books. The reading experience isn't quite as nice but free books definitely make up for it. OP if you can wait until Black Friday they will all be significantly reduced.

Againstmachine · 17/09/2023 19:38

People who suggest a tablet forn understand what a reader is it's more akin to reading a book rather than a computer screen.

Original poster
Wishiwasmycat · 17/09/2023 19:39

Thanks so much everyone! I’m sold! I had the humiliation of having to repack my suitcase or face extra charges recently and the memory of the pile of 4 paperbacks along with my smalls before a queue of hundreds still wakes me up at night!
I love books but I am a fast reader and on holiday is the only time I get to really indulge.

i think I’m going to go for the 2022 version, as like people have suggested, I don’t know any better.

thanks all for your advice xx

OP posts:
JustKen · 17/09/2023 19:43

I have a KOBO which is fine but reminds me a lot of the older Kindles IYSWIM. The reason I got one was I quit Amazon over their employment practices (both in the UK & abroad) so obvs I couldn't have a Kindle. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I buy my physical books from World of Books or actual bookshops now.

E-readers are good for carrying the latter Cormoran Strike novels or Andrew Marr's A History of The World.---- Much lighter and easier to fit in my bag.

Madcats · 17/09/2023 19:44

A different perspective:

I think I bought a Kindle Paper-white about 5-7 years ago. I use it at night or outside in the sun.

I also upgraded my Kindle Fire about 4 years ago during one of their Black Friday sales. I ignore the adverts (which just seem to appear on the front screen). With a bit of Googling I was able to download Borrowbox and Cloudlibrary apps to download (audio)ebooks and magazines from my library. I prefer it for cookery/travel books.

Abeli · 17/09/2023 21:44

@User3735 kindles now have usb C.
As others have said you can't get library books on a kindle but I hate reading on a phone or tablet.
I do have an old kobo as well which I use for library books. It's awful and clunky though, much prefer the kindle.

Lincslady53 · 17/09/2023 21:55

I'm on holiday now, just finished a book bought another immediately on my kindle. They are brilliant. The battery lasts for ages on a full charge, you can read the screen easily in bright sunlight, they are lightweight. Unlike tablets they last for years without needing to upgrade. They are are one job bit of tech and they do that job brilliantly. You can download free samples of any book to see if you want to buy. They are not particularly expensive. Love mine, and wouldn't go back to books unless the internet collapsed.

Purplebunnie · 17/09/2023 22:03

DRS1970 · 17/09/2023 18:56

I would say invest in an android tablet instead. Kindles are bloated with Amazon stuff, and won't let you put anything much else on there. At least with the tablet you can use it to do plenty of non Amazon related activities too.

I second this. I have also downloaded library app (Libby) to the android tablet and read books and magazines for free

Jellycatspyjamas · 17/09/2023 22:08

I have an ancient kindle, it must be at least 10 years old - no backlight. It’s the oldest piece of kit I own and I still use it daily. It’s great for storing a huge number of books, the battery lasts for over a week, it’s lightweight. I keep thinking I’ll treat myself to an upgrade but it works perfectly so can’t see the point.