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on July 21, 2015
I've been a LONG time Amazon customer, but this is the first time I've written a review so needless to say, I feel very strongly about this.
I was one of the customers that pre-ordered this new Kindle Paperwhite. I've wanted a Kindle for years and this NEW Kindle looked great! I used the free shipping but it was delivered very quickly after its official release. However, as soon as I received it, I noticed a line of dead pixels right in the center of the screen (Note pic #1). I online chatted with Danyielle who was incredibly helpful! She suggested that I return the old one and buy a new one to guaranteed a new model (instead of a possible refurb). She even upgraded my new Kindle for a free 2-day shipping. I was pleased. Product defects happen but at least Amazon's customer service is top notch!
Then comes the 2nd Kindle... (see pic #2) As soon as I received it, I noticed very uneven lighting throughout the screen and some light leaks at the bottom of the screen (where light comes in) which created spots of shadow throughout the bottom of the screen. I even compared it to my first Kindle (with the dead line of pixels) and confirmed the lighting was definitely uneven on this 2nd Kindle. I look at screens every day for a living so it might be easier for me to notice these things than others. I was very bummed. I went online and requested a refund. And I ordered a 3rd Kindle, because I really want a Kindle!
Then comes the 3rd Kindle yesterday...(see pic #3) It's definitely not a charm. There's a significant amount of dust and unrecognizable particles under the screen..I've read other reviewers talk about this but it's pretty shocking to see it for myself. The 3rd Kindle has already been dropped off at UPS to be returned.
Now Amazon's customer service is incredible and deserves a 5-star rating. But I am not sure this product is up to par. Kindle is an incredible product and makes reading so much more enjoyable. But who wants to stare at the screen for hours when all you can notice is dead pixels, or dark shadows, or unknown particles under the screen. I am not sure if Amazon was trying to make a deadline so this product was prematurely released. I've never owned a Kindle so I can't compare it to previous models. I'd REALLY like to own a Kindle - but I am scared to order a fourth one that's defective again. As easy as Amazon makes the return process, it's still a huge inconvenience. I am also losing confidence that a fourth one would have a proper screen for a brand new product. This has been incredibly disappointing.
I was one of the customers that pre-ordered this new Kindle Paperwhite. I've wanted a Kindle for years and this NEW Kindle looked great! I used the free shipping but it was delivered very quickly after its official release. However, as soon as I received it, I noticed a line of dead pixels right in the center of the screen (Note pic #1). I online chatted with Danyielle who was incredibly helpful! She suggested that I return the old one and buy a new one to guaranteed a new model (instead of a possible refurb). She even upgraded my new Kindle for a free 2-day shipping. I was pleased. Product defects happen but at least Amazon's customer service is top notch!
Then comes the 2nd Kindle... (see pic #2) As soon as I received it, I noticed very uneven lighting throughout the screen and some light leaks at the bottom of the screen (where light comes in) which created spots of shadow throughout the bottom of the screen. I even compared it to my first Kindle (with the dead line of pixels) and confirmed the lighting was definitely uneven on this 2nd Kindle. I look at screens every day for a living so it might be easier for me to notice these things than others. I was very bummed. I went online and requested a refund. And I ordered a 3rd Kindle, because I really want a Kindle!
Then comes the 3rd Kindle yesterday...(see pic #3) It's definitely not a charm. There's a significant amount of dust and unrecognizable particles under the screen..I've read other reviewers talk about this but it's pretty shocking to see it for myself. The 3rd Kindle has already been dropped off at UPS to be returned.
Now Amazon's customer service is incredible and deserves a 5-star rating. But I am not sure this product is up to par. Kindle is an incredible product and makes reading so much more enjoyable. But who wants to stare at the screen for hours when all you can notice is dead pixels, or dark shadows, or unknown particles under the screen. I am not sure if Amazon was trying to make a deadline so this product was prematurely released. I've never owned a Kindle so I can't compare it to previous models. I'd REALLY like to own a Kindle - but I am scared to order a fourth one that's defective again. As easy as Amazon makes the return process, it's still a huge inconvenience. I am also losing confidence that a fourth one would have a proper screen for a brand new product. This has been incredibly disappointing.
on January 4, 2016
I broke my beloved kindle that I had for 4-5 years. So fear naught, I ordered the newest one.
Let's start off with the good points...
The lighted screen is really a plus. You can vary the light to meet your current conditions.
Touching a word and having a dictionary and wikipedia pop up is very nice.
The increased screen resolution was exceptionally nice.
And now for the downside(s):
The older kindle had a rough, almost rubberized case. It didn't slip, you had a good grip on the thing and didn't worry about it slipping through your fingers and on to the floor. This new one has a polished, hard-plastic case, read that it slips in my old fingers.
When it slips, you grab hold of it. When you grab hold of it, especially on the sides, it blindly launches your reading page into oblivion. You then get to find back where you left off. Very annoying.
Touching a word to get the dictionary, as I mentioned, is great. Except when it selects the whole sentence. That defeats the whole idea behind the dictionary as now you've highlighted that sentence. Annoying but something I can live with. Still, you would think that someone would have a better way to deal with this.
The web page for this goes into great detail about the features. In true marketing fashion, they don't tell you they've left out anything audio. No more text to speech, no more playing audio books. After looking at other kindle models, that's been gone for a while.
The first two problems, while a major annoyance, I can live with. Losing two important features, that was the show stopper.
So now I had to make a decision. Keep this thing and live with it or plunk down and buy the tablet. If I wanted a tablet, I would buy the tablet. So in order to get the audio features, I now have to take the charging stuff with me and Mr. Tablet has to constantly be friends with Mr. Charger. The whole idea behind a Kindle was the screen and the long battery life. I neither want nor need all the crap that goes with a tablet, but that's the only way I'm going to play an Audible audio book....
I just can't justify the cost of this thing without the features I want. Who takes features OUT of a product with newer models?
Hence I returned it and I'll try the stinking tablet. If, as i suspect, I can't stand that either, have no idea where/what I'm going to do.
Thanks Amazon.
Let's start off with the good points...
The lighted screen is really a plus. You can vary the light to meet your current conditions.
Touching a word and having a dictionary and wikipedia pop up is very nice.
The increased screen resolution was exceptionally nice.
And now for the downside(s):
The older kindle had a rough, almost rubberized case. It didn't slip, you had a good grip on the thing and didn't worry about it slipping through your fingers and on to the floor. This new one has a polished, hard-plastic case, read that it slips in my old fingers.
When it slips, you grab hold of it. When you grab hold of it, especially on the sides, it blindly launches your reading page into oblivion. You then get to find back where you left off. Very annoying.
Touching a word to get the dictionary, as I mentioned, is great. Except when it selects the whole sentence. That defeats the whole idea behind the dictionary as now you've highlighted that sentence. Annoying but something I can live with. Still, you would think that someone would have a better way to deal with this.
The web page for this goes into great detail about the features. In true marketing fashion, they don't tell you they've left out anything audio. No more text to speech, no more playing audio books. After looking at other kindle models, that's been gone for a while.
The first two problems, while a major annoyance, I can live with. Losing two important features, that was the show stopper.
So now I had to make a decision. Keep this thing and live with it or plunk down and buy the tablet. If I wanted a tablet, I would buy the tablet. So in order to get the audio features, I now have to take the charging stuff with me and Mr. Tablet has to constantly be friends with Mr. Charger. The whole idea behind a Kindle was the screen and the long battery life. I neither want nor need all the crap that goes with a tablet, but that's the only way I'm going to play an Audible audio book....
I just can't justify the cost of this thing without the features I want. Who takes features OUT of a product with newer models?
Hence I returned it and I'll try the stinking tablet. If, as i suspect, I can't stand that either, have no idea where/what I'm going to do.
Thanks Amazon.
on July 3, 2015
The is not a worthy upgrade... Uneven, and even dimmer lighting, no noticeable difference in text clarity or sharpness! As a matter of fact, at full brightness, last years version looks brighter and crisper, where the new unit looks dull, with blotchy and uneven lighting! I am so not impressed!
Even with the new font, there is NO noticeable improvement! The only thing that has been supposedly upgraded on this unit, this one has 4GBs of storage, compared to last years 2GBs! Otherwise, this unit is an actual downgrade compared to last years model!
Just look at a comparison of the two units and decide for yourself!
Which one do you think looks brighter, crisper, more evenly lit... ???
Even with the new font, there is NO noticeable improvement! The only thing that has been supposedly upgraded on this unit, this one has 4GBs of storage, compared to last years 2GBs! Otherwise, this unit is an actual downgrade compared to last years model!
Just look at a comparison of the two units and decide for yourself!
Which one do you think looks brighter, crisper, more evenly lit... ???
on March 19, 2016
Amazon has lost a long-time Kindle fan. In fact, I own several versions going all the way back to the one of the first Kindles offered! I had liked them so much that I had given them as gifts, as well. I literally have 100s of e-books I have read plus more than 100 I have yet to read. Also, Kindle e-books are at least 80% of my Amazon purchases. Whatever happened to "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"?? I absolutely HATE the "new and improved" features"!!
Why?
1) Navigation is NOT easier, except maybe a small part of the bit on top. I've found myself going in circles on the homepage and beyond looking for my books I suppose I'll get it figured out eventually. (It seems to still be okay only if I leave it on the book I'm reading when it sleeps.)
2) The homepage includes recommendations for new books. While I understand that Amazon does not call this feature "ads", it most certainly is. If I wanted this feature, I would have turned it on like I used to be able to do on my earlier versions.
3) I can't get all of my "collections" feature to work. It seems to be hit and miss. One of my favorite collections shows zero books in it on my list. For some reason when I try to move a book to it will show 51 books are in it the collection which wasn't even close to being accurate Then when I try to move a book to it, it flips back to showing zero and the book I tried to move isn't in it. I have tried several times. This used to be my favorite feature as I literally have 100s of e-books.
4) More than once, the most "recently read" book has up somewhere back in the listing. This is not from opening another book. I've tested it. And it isn't just being bumped below the more recently opened books. I've tried that, too. The book I had opened most recently ended up several pages back in my listings.
5) I don't judge my books by the cover, so I don't want to see them on my homepage. I want to go back to the list version. I'm still trying to figure out how to change it. Of course, changing it to only the cover version, gives Amazon the space to plug in their "non-ad" recommendations.
6) The Kindle Fire changes are almost just as bad.
7) The new Paperwhite and Fire Kindle books updated to the new version automatically and without any trouble. The other Kindles I have, did not switch over and I have not been able to get them to switch even when I followed Amazon's instructions.
I do need to mention that the type size and font, and page formatting are the same as before on the Paperwhite. I like being able to make the changes as needed. I also like the x-ray and vocabulary builder features. Unfortunately, they are not enough to balance out the recent changes.
Why?
1) Navigation is NOT easier, except maybe a small part of the bit on top. I've found myself going in circles on the homepage and beyond looking for my books I suppose I'll get it figured out eventually. (It seems to still be okay only if I leave it on the book I'm reading when it sleeps.)
2) The homepage includes recommendations for new books. While I understand that Amazon does not call this feature "ads", it most certainly is. If I wanted this feature, I would have turned it on like I used to be able to do on my earlier versions.
3) I can't get all of my "collections" feature to work. It seems to be hit and miss. One of my favorite collections shows zero books in it on my list. For some reason when I try to move a book to it will show 51 books are in it the collection which wasn't even close to being accurate Then when I try to move a book to it, it flips back to showing zero and the book I tried to move isn't in it. I have tried several times. This used to be my favorite feature as I literally have 100s of e-books.
4) More than once, the most "recently read" book has up somewhere back in the listing. This is not from opening another book. I've tested it. And it isn't just being bumped below the more recently opened books. I've tried that, too. The book I had opened most recently ended up several pages back in my listings.
5) I don't judge my books by the cover, so I don't want to see them on my homepage. I want to go back to the list version. I'm still trying to figure out how to change it. Of course, changing it to only the cover version, gives Amazon the space to plug in their "non-ad" recommendations.
6) The Kindle Fire changes are almost just as bad.
7) The new Paperwhite and Fire Kindle books updated to the new version automatically and without any trouble. The other Kindles I have, did not switch over and I have not been able to get them to switch even when I followed Amazon's instructions.
I do need to mention that the type size and font, and page formatting are the same as before on the Paperwhite. I like being able to make the changes as needed. I also like the x-ray and vocabulary builder features. Unfortunately, they are not enough to balance out the recent changes.
on December 30, 2016
I"ve had this Kindle for a while and I've finally had it.
There's an extremely slow touch response on this model. There's quite a bit of latency between touching the screen and the action happening.
Navigation is super wonky and confusing. Combine this with the latency and it can be a long frustrating while before you get what you're looking for.
Not to mention the fact that it connects to Wifi intermittently, constantly connecting and disconnecting. Which isn't really a problem unless I want to BUY A BOOK!
Customer service says it's my network. It's not my network because all my other 2.4Ghz devices do not have any issues connecting and staying connected.
Oh and it'll be connected one minute and then tell me my password is incorrect the next minute.
If by some miracle is does connect to the Wifi, it will be in the middle of the night in order to do an update and then the device will turn on and the light will wake you right up from a deep sleep. As far as I can tell, there is no way to schedule a window of time to install updates. Facepalm
There's an extremely slow touch response on this model. There's quite a bit of latency between touching the screen and the action happening.
Navigation is super wonky and confusing. Combine this with the latency and it can be a long frustrating while before you get what you're looking for.
Not to mention the fact that it connects to Wifi intermittently, constantly connecting and disconnecting. Which isn't really a problem unless I want to BUY A BOOK!
Customer service says it's my network. It's not my network because all my other 2.4Ghz devices do not have any issues connecting and staying connected.
Oh and it'll be connected one minute and then tell me my password is incorrect the next minute.
If by some miracle is does connect to the Wifi, it will be in the middle of the night in order to do an update and then the device will turn on and the light will wake you right up from a deep sleep. As far as I can tell, there is no way to schedule a window of time to install updates. Facepalm
VINE VOICEon January 2, 2017
The hardware MAY be a fine thing but the software is (fill in a string of 10-30 unprintable words here). Gold-plated pain in my rump. I loved the software on the Kindle Touch. I loved the idea of the Paperwhite - reading in bed in the dark - a dream f my childhood. Let down badly - functional COLLECTIONS were gone. Now on this "NEW AND IMPROVED" Paperwhite is even worse. You CAN have collections of sort If and ONLY if you do it on heir cloud. I don't want to depend on a cloud. I want to be 4,000 miles from anywhere and carry all my books - IN COLLECTIONS with me. Not every book or document on my Kindle is from Amazon - therefore it can not be in a collection. From somewhere it shoved the titles of everything it could find onto the new Kindle - not the actual document just menu listings and about 50 of them are things I've never heard of. They don't go away. Books that are on there - I know I put them there and read them can't be found now. I'm buying a NOOK from Barnes & Noble and a KOBO. Amazon had a great idea with the Kindle, the Kindle Touch and then they messed with it. There was no reason to take away collections from the software just to add a reading light. I'm so angry with this new kindle that even if they waved a magic wand and it suddenly did everything it should, I have been so frustrated and angry since it got it that I will never forget or forgive. They have lost my trust. I had to buy a new kindle since the solder on the power connector by which the kindle is charged and load by USB has come loose. I wanted a replacement in in hand before I disassembled the other one to attempt solder repair -- it seems to be a COMMON PROBLEM. Designed to break.
on September 4, 2016
Ordered my 2nd paperwhite in the white color, which I really like. Also love the paperwhite. However, after receiving 3 (original and 2 replacements), I sent them all back. There is an uneven gray shadow at the bottom of the screen on every single one of them and every one is a different shade altogether, ranging from bluish to tanish.
I had the same problem with my first paperwhite (2nd version) and finally got one I could live with.
Since the paperwhite has been around for 4 (?) years, I would expect that would have ironed out these screen issue problems. Don't they had any quality control? You can bet that Jeff Bezos doesn't have any shading on his screen!
I checked the reviews on the voyage and people are having problems with screen shading on those as well.
Hope my current paperwhite lasts a long time so I don't have to go through this again.
I had the same problem with my first paperwhite (2nd version) and finally got one I could live with.
Since the paperwhite has been around for 4 (?) years, I would expect that would have ironed out these screen issue problems. Don't they had any quality control? You can bet that Jeff Bezos doesn't have any shading on his screen!
I checked the reviews on the voyage and people are having problems with screen shading on those as well.
Hope my current paperwhite lasts a long time so I don't have to go through this again.
on July 25, 2016
I think I may have a defective device. The screen change lags and flashes black every time it changes a screen or page. This happened from the moment I turned it on out of the box. Also, the bottom row back lighting is darker than the rest of the screen. It looks like there is dust stuck under the screen and 1 pixel is not filled in. It feels as though I may have been shipped a refurbished device rather than new. I did the software update thinking that was the issue but it did not fix it.
Update- I called Tech support and after a series of tests, he went and grabbed a kindle paperwhite to test on his end. He said that they all flash the entire screen with black contrast everytime you press a button/change a screen. He AGREED with me that this is annoying and even seemed shocked that this happens and hasn't been fixed by amazon yet.
I watched the video-ad of the kindle paperwhite and nowhere in the video while they are pressing buttons and changing screen did I see a flash of contrast (background changing from white to black) across the entire screen nor any lag. Therefore, I am assuming it was an isse that arose with one of the updates that is causing this.
Update- I called Tech support and after a series of tests, he went and grabbed a kindle paperwhite to test on his end. He said that they all flash the entire screen with black contrast everytime you press a button/change a screen. He AGREED with me that this is annoying and even seemed shocked that this happens and hasn't been fixed by amazon yet.
I watched the video-ad of the kindle paperwhite and nowhere in the video while they are pressing buttons and changing screen did I see a flash of contrast (background changing from white to black) across the entire screen nor any lag. Therefore, I am assuming it was an isse that arose with one of the updates that is causing this.
on October 26, 2016
I received this as a gift from my brother October 2015. A few months ago, I would have given it a 5 star rating. Now, I wish I could give it zero stars.
I use my kindle a few times a week at night before bed. Unfortunately, a few days ago, I opened it up to find a flaw on the screen. I've attached photos below.
Now, when I first saw this flaw, I was shocked. Because 1) I have a case/sleeve/cover on my Kindle that keeps the screen of the Kindle from exposure when not be read. 2) I keep the Kindle on my nightstand at all times. In fact, the night before I discovered the flaw, I used my Kindle and it was fine. 3) The flaw is undetectable by touch. Which means that it is underneath the screen. I could not have caused trauma to the screen without damaging the outer most layer.
If the flaw was minor, I wouldn't really care. But the flaw allows the backlight of the screen to shine through. This is particularly annoying as I use my Kindle at night.
When I alerted my brother of this issue, he happily told me that he had purchased an extended warranty.....until we found out that this extended warranty began on the day of purchase...? The "extended" warranty is now expired and even before that, useless as it works in conjunction with the base warranty that comes with purchasing a Kindle.
I use my kindle a few times a week at night before bed. Unfortunately, a few days ago, I opened it up to find a flaw on the screen. I've attached photos below.
Now, when I first saw this flaw, I was shocked. Because 1) I have a case/sleeve/cover on my Kindle that keeps the screen of the Kindle from exposure when not be read. 2) I keep the Kindle on my nightstand at all times. In fact, the night before I discovered the flaw, I used my Kindle and it was fine. 3) The flaw is undetectable by touch. Which means that it is underneath the screen. I could not have caused trauma to the screen without damaging the outer most layer.
If the flaw was minor, I wouldn't really care. But the flaw allows the backlight of the screen to shine through. This is particularly annoying as I use my Kindle at night.
When I alerted my brother of this issue, he happily told me that he had purchased an extended warranty.....until we found out that this extended warranty began on the day of purchase...? The "extended" warranty is now expired and even before that, useless as it works in conjunction with the base warranty that comes with purchasing a Kindle.
on January 3, 2016
This Kindle arrived in Chinese. After one hour on the telephone with people in another country, it's still not fixed!
I repeatedly asked to speak with someone in America and my request was refused. They kept asking me what the
messages were on the Kindle. How would I know? It's in CHINESE!!
Amazon used to have good customer service. This is the worst ever and makes me question whether or not to continue
with them. There are other e-readers. I'm looking for made and serviced in AMERICA!! I've never been so frustrated!
I repeatedly asked to speak with someone in America and my request was refused. They kept asking me what the
messages were on the Kindle. How would I know? It's in CHINESE!!
Amazon used to have good customer service. This is the worst ever and makes me question whether or not to continue
with them. There are other e-readers. I'm looking for made and serviced in AMERICA!! I've never been so frustrated!
