What Enhancements Should the Next Kindle PW Have?

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Kobo firmware.

...and Amazon screens on Kobo hardware. Isn't that what you meant to add?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

...and Amazon screens on Kobo hardware. Isn't that what you meant to add?

Nope. I mean ditch the Amazon firmware for Kobo firmware.

[Solo1959]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

You only have to tap about ½" from the left edge to page forward, you don't have to swipe. I have small hands and can do that easily while holding the Paperwhite in my left hand.

Yes, I know this works, but for me it's not the BEST option.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Nope. I mean ditch the Amazon firmware for Kobo firmware.

Sounds good. I'll toss them all in the trash now. Oh, wait! One is stuck in Customs due to the virus issue. What should I do, Jon?

[Fat Abe]

The biggest enhancement the Oasis should have come with is a lower price. Just to get one in 7 days requires ordering a bundle priced at $319.97 (with leather case, charger, 32 GB, etc.). Lack of epub compatibility at this price is also annoying. I like the buttons for page turning, but the amount of space devoted to the buttons and whatever lies underneath is criminal. Why can't they learn from Apple? Final concern is reliability, which I have to say is not one of Amazon's strengths.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Sounds good. I'll toss them all in the trash now. Oh, wait! One is stuck in Customs due to the virus issue. What should I do, Jon?

Wait for it to arrive and then refuse to accept it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Fat Abe

The biggest enhancement the Oasis should have come with is a lower price. Just to get one in 7 days requires ordering a bundle priced at $319.97 (with leather case, charger, 32 GB, etc.). Lack of epub compatibility at this price is also annoying. I like the buttons for page turning, but the amount of space devoted to the buttons and whatever lies underneath is criminal. Why can't they learn from Apple? Final concern is reliability, which I have to say is not one of Amazon's strengths.

So buy a Kobo Forma which has a similar design and it does support ePub.

[Richwood]

Originally Posted by Fat Abe

The biggest enhancement the Oasis should have come with is a lower price. Just to get one in 7 days requires ordering a bundle priced at $319.97 (with leather case, charger, 32 GB, etc.). Lack of epub compatibility at this price is also annoying. I like the buttons for page turning, but the amount of space devoted to the buttons and whatever lies underneath is criminal. Why can't they learn from Apple? Final concern is reliability, which I have to say is not one of Amazon's strengths.

Off subject but I got my Oasis during the Black Friday period sale and got the Gen 10 32 GB Oasis version with WiFi and cellular communications for $80 off the normal price, $270 + Tax. I agree though that the high end Kindle readers have not been cheap which is why I bought my Gen 4 PW as a so called refurbished version. $160 for the maxed out version, 32 GB, WiFi and cellular and no ads rather than $250. Received unit looks unused.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Wait for it to arrive and then refuse to accept it.

Awwwkkk!

[Richwood]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So buy a Kobo Forma which has a similar design and it does support ePub.

Amazon Kindles support Epub files too indirectly (not documented by Amazon). Change the file extension to .PNG and email it to your Kindle device as an attachment with "convert" in the email title and the file will be converted to Kindle format and delivered to your device. Sender email address must be in your Amazon approved sender email list. I have used this method without a problem. BTW I have both the Kobo Forma and Aura One 32 GB too. I also have Sony and B&N readers so I think my Epub reading capability is well covered.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Richwood

Amazon Kindles support Epub files too indirectly (not documented by Amazon). Change the file extension to .PNG and email it to your Kindle device as an attachment with "convert" in the email title and the file will be converted to Kindle format and delivered to your device. Sender email address must be in your Amazon approved sender email list. I have used this method without a problem. BTW I have both the Kobo Forma and Aura One 32 GB too. I also have Sony and B&N readers so I think my Epub reading capability is well covered.

That's a really good idea to convert ePub to Mobi. NOT!

[Paperbackstash]

Keep the waterproofing but go back to the clarity/crispness of the PW3 or Voyage when it comes to the screen.

I don't mind buttons but would like them to be incorporated in a way where they are a choice but don't necessarily hog real estate or make the device larger/awkward shaped.

I'd like the color adjusting feature.

Better processing speed, it's still too slow.

Keep the power button on the bottom or the side (the current Fire has on the top and I hate that).

More customizable software. (Ex: Customizable screen savers, able to create collections with more ease and speed (processor), customize the home menu with options, perhaps series sorting of some kind.

[Solo1959]

Originally Posted by Paperbackstash

Keep the power button on the bottom or the side (the current Fire has on the top and I hate that).

The button on the bottom isn't a great idea. My Oasis has that. When I read, I keep the page turn buttons on the left. The power button is always turning off my device. It needs to either be recessed or moved to the side.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Solo1959

The button on the bottom isn't a great idea. My Oasis has that. When I read, I keep the page turn buttons on the left. The power button is always turning off my device. It needs to either be recessed or moved to the side.

The power button on the Oasis is one of the reasons I read on my Voyage more often than I read on my Oasis.

[NullNix]

Originally Posted by Fat Abe

I like the buttons for page turning, but the amount of space devoted to the buttons and whatever lies underneath is criminal.

You mean the bezel on one side? For me, it's just right: big enough that my thumb fits over it to sit on top of the topmost button without obscuring the screen. Asymmetry is definitely the right thing to do here, for a device like the Oasis intended for one-handed usage.

They can make the side bezel whatever size they like, but they obviously can't shrink what lies beneath too much, since what lies in the "spine" beneath is 100% of the Kindle's non-screen electronics, including battery. (However, as the Oasis 2 and 3 show, the spine beneath need not be the same width as the bezel above.)