Tablet for Reading

[mel]

I've been asked what I want for Christmas from DH, and the only thing I can think of is a Kindle for reading. I've rekindled a love for reading as a form of self care, and have either been buying or borrowing physical books. I think I want to try the Kindle so there isn't so many books laying around my house any more.

Which version of the Kindle do you recommend? Or if you don't recommend a Kindle, please tell me which tablet you do recommend? 

[tacokick]

I love the Kindle Oasis but I know a lot of people like the Paperwhite.

I don’t like reading on any other kind of tablet.

[marvine]

I love my Kindle Paperwhite.

[definitelyO]

I use my ipad for reading.

[cmeon]

We love paperwhites here, my kids have their own, too.

[bears]

I love my kindlewhite. I mostly get books from the library and it is an absolute delight.

[fortnightlily]

I have an old Kindle Paperwhite and it's still going strong. The only thing I wish was that it was waterproof like the newer ones. I love it. If I were reading things with a lot of pictures or diagrams that need color I'd probably read those on a fuller featured tablet, but I mostly read novels.

[picksthemusic]

Paperwhite is great. I didn't think I'd use it as much as I actually do. I get so much more reading done on that than with actual books.

[brooke77]

Kindle paperwhite. Love it!

[lilac05]

Kindle Paperwhite.

I looked at the Oasis, and I was really tempted, but the Paperwhite did what I needed to do and I didn’t *need* the Oasis features. (But if you’re asking for a gift from someone who has no budget, the Oasis looks really nice!)

[hermione]

I will chime in and say Amazon hates libraries and makes it very difficult to read library eBooks on their devices.

[litskispeciality]

I like the latest version of Kindle Fire so that I can stream shows or use the internet if time allows. Found one on Black Friday for under $50. I agree though the e-book collection, while vast, is limited to what Amazon wants or requires to upgrade to another subscription beyond Amazon Prime (general). Found a lot of Kindle Prime books not to be the greatest literature/hit or miss if you will.

There's also a Kindle app which I have on my phone. I got recs here to use it when I wait in line or various other down time like waiting for an apt. It's helped increase my reading, and doesn't cost anything

[shauni27]

paperwhite. I have an old version that is a little clunky, but I think the newer ones are great.

[smock]

Absolutely love my Paperwhite and read every day! Definitely check out Libby for library books; it links to your local library and works seamlessly for me.

[tacokick]

Dec 6, 2023 11:52:38 GMT -5 hermione said:

I will chime in and say Amazon hates libraries and makes it very difficult to read library eBooks on their devices.

How? I read over 300 library books on my kindle this year. Does your system not have Overdrive/Libby?

[IndiaInk]

I have the Kindle Oasis and I LOVE it. I only use it about 50% of the time and read hard copy books the rest of the time, but I always take the Oasis with me on vacation because it’s so small. And I never would have thought I’d use the waterproof feature but I love that I can read in the bath or hanging out in the pool on vacation.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I'm an avid reader and I highly prefer my Paperwhite to actual books. I've never seen an Oasis in person, so I forget why I chose the Paperwhite over that when I upgraded after my last kindle died (and it was one of those things that the day it died, I had to order one that day and then was in agony until it got here type thing), but I've been happy with it. I literally use it every day and bring it with me everywhere I go. I also don't have issues using it with my library system, find Libby easier to navigate when the book is available to download with that.

[orangello]

Dec 6, 2023 11:52:38 GMT -5 hermione said:

I will chime in and say Amazon hates libraries and makes it very difficult to read library eBooks on their devices.

Yeah, this isn’t always the case. I download tons of books from my library and have zero issues.

[hermione]

Dec 6, 2023 12:12:22 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Dec 6, 2023 11:52:38 GMT -5 hermione said:

I will chime in and say Amazon hates libraries and makes it very difficult to read library eBooks on their devices.

How? I read over 300 library books on my kindle this year. Does your system not have Overdrive/Libby?

Yes, we do. This year, Amazon removed the Libby app from its store and many models of Kindle require workarounds that are difficult to navigate for many people.

[tacokick]

Dec 6, 2023 11:46:33 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Kindle Paperwhite.

I looked at the Oasis, and I was really tempted, but the Paperwhite did what I needed to do and I didn’t *need* the Oasis features. (But if you’re asking for a gift from someone who has no budget, the Oasis looks really nice!)

I will say the Oasis does go on sale for 50-60% off pretty regularly which brings it pretty close to the Paperwhite cost. Not sure if there will be a sale before Christmas though!

[tacokick]

Dec 6, 2023 12:27:19 GMT -5 hermione said:

Dec 6, 2023 12:12:22 GMT -5 tacokick said:

How? I read over 300 library books on my kindle this year. Does your system not have Overdrive/Libby?

Yes, we do. This year, Amazon removed the Libby app from its store and many models of Kindle require workarounds that are difficult to navigate for many people.

Which Kindle models require a Libby app? The Fire tablet? The Paperwhite, Oasis, Kids, etc don’t use apps.

[cmeon]

Dec 6, 2023 12:27:19 GMT -5 hermione said:

Dec 6, 2023 12:12:22 GMT -5 tacokick said:

How? I read over 300 library books on my kindle this year. Does your system not have Overdrive/Libby?

Yes, we do. This year, Amazon removed the Libby app from its store and many models of Kindle require workarounds that are difficult to navigate for many people.

The libby (LOL lobby) app is still in the Amazon store. Like all tech, some apps may not work on older devices, so maybe that's what you mean?

ETA: Epub is a different story (if that's what you meant). I still don't think it's all that hard to get them onto our kindle fire, but I admit that I'm way more tech adept than most people.

[litskispeciality]

I read a lot of library e-books on my Kindle fire or the Kindle app. I find the selection of actual Kindle e-books vs. I forget the other program with more options now that my library moved from Overdrive to Libby. I prefer the look of Kindle e-books when possible, probably just because that's what I started on...and "it doesn't count" toward your reading streak unless it's Kindle (brand loyalty.)

[marvine]

I basically only read library books and haven't had any issues using my kindle on them. (Sometimes I buy cheap kindle books, but 95% of my reading is books from the library).

[mich1]

Add me to the Paperwhite fan club. I am now on my second one after my first one refused to charge.

[beerlover]

Our library uses Cloudlibrary for ebooks which is not compatible with Kindle Paperwhite or the Kindle app. Thus, I cannot borrow any ebooks. It sucks. They used to use Overdrive.

I log into my brother's library instead which uses Overdrive.

[marvine]

Anyone who lives in PA can get a free library card at the Free Library of Philadelphia and they offer eBooks.
catalog.freelibrary.org/MyResearch/register

[cuadrado]

I also have the paperwhite.

I prefer a physical copy of a book but the kindle is convenient for traveling and checking e-books out from the Library (I use Libby for that). 

Go down the rabbit hole on TikTok of how to decorate your Kindle case! 

[sdlaura]

Dec 6, 2023 14:32:05 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

I also have the paperwhite.

I prefer a physical copy of a book but the kindle is convenient for traveling and checking e-books out from the Library (I use Libby for that). 

This exactly

[wildrice]

Dec 6, 2023 12:27:19 GMT -5 hermione said:

Dec 6, 2023 12:12:22 GMT -5 tacokick said:

How? I read over 300 library books on my kindle this year. Does your system not have Overdrive/Libby?

Yes, we do. This year, Amazon removed the Libby app from its store and many models of Kindle require workarounds that are difficult to navigate for many people.

I've never had a Libby app on my Kindle. It's on my phone, and the phone links it to my Amazon account so that all I have to do is connect to wifi and it shows up on my Kindle. It's magical. If you don't have a smart phone or aren't able to grasp the concept (as I imagine many older or less savvy patrons may be) I can see it being confusing, but it's super easy for the rest of us.

It does not work well with e-pub books but out of the hundreds of books that I've read on my Kindle, there have been maybe 5 that I've tried to check out and found that they are e-pub. I buy maybe 2-3 books a year, the rest are all library books.

I love my paperwhite. It's a few years old so I can't comment on the newer versions, but I've had multiple Kindles over the last 12-13 years and loved them all.  It's truly one of my favorite innovations.