The new Kindle Paperwhite has all the class of the top models but at a decent price
Kindle Paperwhite
£120
Friends often like to tell me how they prefer the feel of a paper-and-ink book to the soulless efficiency of an ebook reader – but I just look at them and think: ‘You can get books for a pound on this, what are you talking about?’
Obviously, in order to get books for a pound you have to read terrible drivel (or read only the first books of trilogies, which tend to be discounted to get you hooked). But I’m Scottish, so this sort of stinginess comes naturally to me.
For the past couple of years, the new Kindle devices have been ultra-slim, alarmingly expensive devices, built to be read ostentatiously while relaxing beside hotel pools.
The new ‘Paperwhite’ is a mid-range reading machine that offers the features of the posh ones (it’s waterproof, and you can listen to audio books on it)
I always thought this was slightly odd, given that I use my Kindle to conceal the fact that I’m reading absolute tripe, not to show off.
This year’s new Kindle is a much more down-to-earth device: a mid-range reading machine that offers the features of the posh ones (it’s waterproof, and you can listen to audio books on it).
It’s not ultra-slim but it sits very comfortably in a coat pocket, and the ‘Paperwhite’ screen is discreetly backlit for low-light reading without searing your eyeballs.
The audio book feature is now genuinely great, as some publishers offer a discounted audio book if you buy the ebook, and you can flip between the two as you read.
The cheapo, £60 Kindle is perfectly good, of course, but this model adds a touch of class – and by stealing the best features of the pricey ones, it still feels like a bargain.