Not Worth the $200 Premium →

Still, those upgrades don't feel worth $290 for a device that doesn't perform its sole function any better than one more than half the price. In that context, the Oasis is meant to be the first desirable e-reader, marketed with its visual and tactile appeal instead of with its functional role in our lives. It’s appealing to customers who want a digital reading experience to feel more like a holding a well-crafted book and are willing to pay a premium for it.

My thoughts exactly. Looking at the reviews, the Kindle Voyage has half the amount of reviews of the Paperwhite and a quarter of the Paperwhite and Basic combined. Maybe I'll just add my own little "spine" invoking plate to my current Kindle for that "Oasis" feel.

The NEW Kindle Paperwhite is the One to Buy! →

I spent much of the past week repeatedly forgetting that I was supposed to evaluate the Paperwhite as a gadget. Whether I was reading Paula Hawkins’ “The Girl on the Train” while sitting by the pool or lying in bed with the lights off, the hardware simply disappeared, leaving me alone with the words on the page.

Most of the technology that enables that is in the new 6-inch E Ink touchscreen, which now has the same high-resolution 300 pixels per inch as Amazon’s elite $200 Kindle Voyage.

This is what reading on a device should be. And at $119 with special offers count me in!

An E-Reader That I Use

I get a lot of questions on what tablet I use / prefer (iPad Mini) and if I still carry an e-reader when I travel.  I do and I'll tell you why. To put it simply, my daughter has taken over my Mini.  Some other quick thoughts are that the Kindle Paperwhite is lighter than the Mini 95 grams, the front light is amazing, the resolution is crisp, and lets not forget about the amazing ecosystem than Amazon has established.

I've never enjoyed reading on the iPad unless it's a news article or a magazine through Flipboard.  I also end up getting distracted by all the applications that are on the iOS ecosystem.  When I want to read a book and dive into it, I'm still in enamored by my Kindle.  In fact, my wife prefers it too!

Kindle Paperwhite is...

When Amazon first debuted the new Kindle Paperwhite, I wasn't so sure about the name. Silly I know, but at $119, there's not too much to complain about except for the lack of audio out for text to speech and the reduced size of available memory (4GB down to 2GB). Nonetheless, even Barnes and Nobles had to lower the price of their lighted black and white e-reader. It's just that good. Not to mention the amazing ecosystem especially their Lending Llibrary available to those that subscribe to Amazon Prime.

When it comes down to it, Amazon at least has the naming scheme down; Kindle Paperwhite vs. Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight. TKO Amazon!

Here are a couple of grabs from reviews posted throughout the blog circuit.

It's the stealth bomber version of the Kindle you know. - Gizmodo

I found myself turning on the light regularly, at various levels of brightness, not just at night. It just makes the Kindle that much more usable and convenient: On a dim subway or in a badly lit room, you can read comfortably. - GigaOM

Joshua Topolsky posted a thorough review on The Verge. Here are a few quotes I came away with.

The device is incredibly comfortable in hand.

It may be the most comfortable e-reader I've ever used.

In my opinion, it's one of the best E Ink displays on the market, and might possibly be the best thanks to that new lighting.

And here's CNN on the Paperwhite:

Kindle Paperwhite is king of e-readers

The one thing I won't be doing on it though is reading comic books. I'm eagerly waiting for mine being delivered this morning and will have an unboxing and review of my own later this week!

A Kindle I want to Touch

On the heels of Nokia & Microsoft's event, not the mention the Motorola event that followed the same afternoon, Jeff Bezos and his team unveiled an onslaught of brand new Kindle devices.  Ranging from the updated $69 K5 to the high-end LTE 4G 8.9" Kindle FIre HD, Amazon has spread their net wide across the already Kindle dominated ecosystem. I have been an avid fan of the Kindle ecosystem starting with the 3G Kindle Keyboard then purchasing a $79 K4 for myself.  Great devices all around with one thing lacking; a light.  The $99 Kindle Touch was initially on my wish list but due to poor reviews which mention a raised border and a slow response, I found that the twenty dollars wasn't worth it. Since then, I've enjoyed the Kindle 4 since its introduction and have bought it for some friends!

With the introduction of four new Kindle platforms and two sub offerings, I am confident that the Paperwhite WiFi with ads will be the clear winner priced at an amazing $119.  I'll have a review once it comes in as well as an unboxing.

For now, the Paperwhite is touting a higher resolution and contrast, an 8 week battery life and finally, a built-in patented backlight. I can't wait! Also, if you click on the image or my link for the Kindle Paperwhite, it will help support my site. Thanks!

Remember to pre-order one now before September 15 if you live in California because that's when the tax-free ride disappears!

The only tablet is the iPad

One of the biggest insights into today's tablet market can be read in this fine article by Slate's Farhad Manjoo.

It’s been two years since Apple’s tablet went on sale. Rivals have released dozens of alternatives, but the iPad still represents more than 60 percent of market share. Worse, the rest of the market is dominated by two devices that are being sold at a loss—Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble’s Nook.

Simply put, if you think about what people use as their MP3 players today and the last ten years combined, does anyone think of anything else besides an iPod?

Read it in entirety here: The iPad Is Unbeatable