Which E-Reader in 2022? Kindle Paperwhite or Oasis ?

[nelsonic]

"Coding for a living is learning for a living."

~ Paul Robinson

As a programmer, I read at least one PDF eBook per month.
I mostly read on my Laptop or iPad ... It's really not a great UX, LCD screen is tiring.
I'm thinking of getting a new gen Kindle specifically for reading the eBooks that are not available as Print e.g: "MEAP" (Manning Early Access Program) and Pragmatic Press (Phoenix/Elixir/Elm) books.

Sync PFD (non amazon) books between kindle and desktop app:
https://medium.com/@wolfgangbremer/sync-non-amazon-books-across-kindle-devices-and-apps-b2084d7bb49e

Amazon Kindle Lineup 2019 Comparison - Paperwhite vs Oasis vs Basic

https://youtu.be/Xy4fnjhGcc4

Kindle Oasis (2019) vs Paperwhite vs Basic | eReader Comparison

https://youtu.be/2CIMWksiw1w

Kindle Oasis 3 (2019) Review

https://youtu.be/SU1Eq4a-FWM
Highlights: screen is much better on the eyes. Better backlight and premium (not plastic) feel.
Down side: worse battery life and more expensive.

2019 Kindle Oasis 3 Full Review (The eBook Reader)

https://youtu.be/pfS6a2TreFo

Amazon Kindle Oasis (2019) | Ultimate eReader? (Tech Spurt)

https://youtu.be/G3klcIAv6d8

Things I particularly like are the ability to easily export text highlights & notes
and the ability to scan through the book quickly to find something.

4G LTE is useful for web browsing in countries where I don't have 3G/4G Roaming through 3

After watching this video on the using the Web Browser on Kindle Oasis (v2):

https://youtu.be/OEWW9mpKoOg
I'm convinced that the 4G LTE when travelling is probably not as useful as I once thought.
I don't think I'm going to use GitHub or the @dwyl App on the kindle.

Kindle Paperwhite is £159.99 Waterproof 32 GB Wi-Fi https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07741S7XP

Kindle Oasis | Warm light | Waterproof 32 GB Wi-Fi https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L5GK1KY

Briefly considered alternatives: Kobo?

Amazon Kindle Oasis 3 vs Kobo Forma Comparison

https://youtu.be/1_sKLKjSMPI

Kobo Forma 8" (much bigger) screen with 300 PPI 1440 × 1920 resolution Waterproof 8GB
https://uk.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-forma?variant=16669111615603

Sadly, the reviews online say that the Kobo "freezes" when reading PDFs and backlight is very blue. 🔵

That rules it out for me because I intend to use it in the evenings to read my course material
when I want to be reducing my blue light exposure.

I bought a Kindle Paperwhite in 2015: nelsonic/nelsonic.github.io#86 (four years ago)
but sadly the battery died ... 😞
Could attempt to replace it https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Kindle+Paperwhite+3+(7th+Generation)+Battery+Replacement/61550 ... 🤔 💭

Next

Going to wait for Black Friday 29 November to see if price is cheaper. 📆

[nelsonic]

The Brack Friday Bunduru for the Kindle Oasis is £50 off
https://www.amazon.co.uk/amazon-kindle-oasis-8-gb-adjustable-warm-light-waterproof-graphite/dp/B07L5GDTYY

The discounted price £179.99 for the 8GB model and £209.99 for 32GB. Price difference £30

The percentage discount is less for the 32GB model (19%) £50 on £259.99 RRP.

I feel that the 32GB would be a good idea if we plan to load up the Kindle with Audible Audiobooks and allow people @home to borrow it to listen/read while they are in the house ...
But I think I prefer to listen to Audiobooks on my Phone which I always have with me. 💭

To be clear: I feel that £180 is a lot of money for a "single function device" with no upgradability.
My logic/reasoning for buying a purpose-made reading device is to read more.

Almost all books are similarly priced on Kindle and Paper Back, e.g: "How to not die" £6.99 vs. £7.19
https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Not-Die-Discover-scientifically/dp/1509852506

There is evidence to suggest that retention is lower for eReaders than for paper for the same content:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/19/readers-absorb-less-kindles-paper-study-plot-ereader-digitisation

But ultimately, the reason I feel this is a good investment is, as I described above, I already read at least 5 eBooks (currently PDF) per year usually on my Mac and I find that it's quite "slow" and I can be prone to distraction.

https://www.t3.com/reviews/amazon-kindle-oasis-2019-review

My Hypothesis is that I will be able to read the content I'm already having to read (Elixir, Elm, Phoenix, etc. eBooks and other digital-only content) in less time with fewer distractions and in "bed" in the evening which is otherwise iPad (iPlayer i.e. wasted!) time.

Going to get the 8GB Model because I don't think I need more storage for the number of ebooks I expect to read in the next 5 years (the useful life of the device)
@iteles any thoughts on where I should get it sent? e.g: Champs house or London Office?
(113-115 Fonthill Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3HH ...?)

[iteles]

Champs House.

[nelsonic]

2 years later, I can say that buying the Kindle Oasis was a good investment. ✅
I've used it to read a decent number of books and crucially been able to recover "dead" time that I wouldn't normally have spent reading e.g. when I'm in a dark room with our son (while he's napping) having a light on would wake him.
I've read a decent amount on my iPhone using the Kindle App too. But the Kindle Oasis is a much better UX.

I've still read more paper books and definitely still prefer them, but I don't feel like I have anywhere near as much time to read paper books anymore ... ⏳ I find myself reaching for the Oasis or Kindle App a lot!

A couple of weeks ago Amazon released the "All New" Kindle Paperwhite with 6.8" display:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08N36XNTT

It's basically 95% of the Oasis (which has a 7" screen) for 60% of the cost.
Warm lighting, waterproof, same resolution, etc. the Paperwhite even has USB C charging! 🎉

I'd say if I was getting a kindle in 2021 I'd go for this one. 💭
The reviews for the new Paperwhite are glowing!

(obvs you're still locked-in to Amazon's walled garden ... but I've already come to terms with that)

[nelsonic]

2022 Update!

We recently purchased a Kindle Paperwhite Kids: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08P53LCW7

It's the smart way of buying a Kindle PaperWhite because (a) it's cheaper and (b) it includes the cover/case!!
By default there are content restrictions (no filth) but these can easily be removed if you want that kind of content.

The 2021 PaperWhite feels much faster (more responsive UI) than our 2019 Oasis!
Amazon haven't released a new Oasis since 2019: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle#Kindle_Oasis_(third_iteration)
(even though the devices supposedly have the same 1 GHz NXP i.MX7D processor, the PaperWhite feels faster)