Amazon Kindle – the digital reading device
What is Amazon Kindle? Kindle is a so-called e-book reader. The device is linked to your Amazon account. Through the Amazon Store, you have access to millions of e-books and audiobooks. With a Prime subscription, many can even be read for free.
What devices are there?
What do the individual devices offer? Amazon Kindle is the base model with the fewest features and offers the lowest resolution with 167 ppi. Prices start at 79.99 euros with advertising and 89.99 euros without advertising.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite offers a higher resolution and better illumination than the regular Kindle. Here, prices range between 119.99 and 139.99 euros.
Amazon Kindle Oasis is the premium model and offers you many additional features such as adjustable color temperature, the ability to adjust the page orientation, or intelligent light sensors. The price for the device starts at 229.99 euros.
What is the difference to a tablet? E-book readers like the Kindle rely on E-Ink. This is a special display technology used in such readers and differs from a conventional LCD display of a smartphone.
- E-Ink usually does not display colors and has a slower refresh rate. This is better for reading than for gaming or movies.
- E-Ink has no sunlight reflections.
- The technology is cheaper than an LCD device.
- E-Ink uses significantly less energy.
These devices are particularly well suited for e-books, as these devices have been specifically designed for that purpose. If you want to use the device not only for reading books but also for surfing the web, gaming, or watching movies, a tablet with an LCD screen is the better choice in the long run.
| Kindle | Kindle Paperwhite | Kindle Oasis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base price (with advertising) | 89.99 (79.99) euros | 139.99 (119.99) euros | 229.99 euros |
| Resolution | 6 inches (15 cm) 167 ppi | 6 inches (15 cm) 300 ppi | 7 inches (17 cm) 300 ppi |
| Illumination | 4 LEDs | 5 LEDs | 25 LEDs |
| Size | 160 x 113 x 8.7 mm | 167 x 116 x 14 mm | 159 x 141 x 3.4 mm |
Advantages and disadvantages of Amazon Kindle
These are the advantages: Thanks to the E-Ink display used, texts and books look really good on the device. The battery life is very long, and the device is also lighter at around 230 grams than regular tablets.
With Amazon’s app store, you theoretically have access to millions of e-books that you can read. Many classics are now available digitally for free. Also, for those who travel a lot, a Kindle has many advantages.
These are the disadvantages: The format used by Amazon’s Kindle readers is incompatible with the Epub format, which Tolino, Pocketbook, and all other providers use. If you have purchased Epub books, these will not work.
Another disadvantage is that Kindle devices cannot officially display PDF or Word files. PDF files are converted, but there is no proper support.
Additionally, EU users have some restrictions: While Kindle owners in the USA can surf the internet with a simple browser, a Euro-Kindle can only shop at Amazon.
A Kindle device is also not a real replacement for a normal tablet.
For whom is Amazon’s Kindle worth it?
- Many digitized classics are free.
- For avid readers.
- People with small apartments who do not have space for many books.
- People who travel a lot and do not want to carry heavy books.
For whom is it not worth it?
- if you do not read books or read very few.
- those who only read certain authors who may not offer e-books.
- those who want to read colored and interactive e-books, like comics. Here, a tablet is the better choice.
- E-book readers are not a substitute for a proper tablet. If you are looking for a multi-functional device, you should opt for a tablet.
- 1
- 2
