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I’m a Kindle fan.

While many are moving toward tablet devices that do multiple things, I’m stuck on the Kindle. Happily stuck. When it comes to e-Reading, the Kindle beats the iPad hands down.

After using the Kindle Keyboard for a year, I decided to upgrade to the new Kindle Paperwhite. The videos on the product page made it look like an innovative step forward with its built-in lighting designed to enable enhanced readability. I wondered whether or not the Paperwhite would live up to the hype.

I’ve been reading on the Kindle Paperwhite for more than a month now. Here are my thoughts:

1. The Backlighting

The big promise of the Kindle Paperwhite is its revolutionary approach to backlighting. Amazon wants to maintain the “easy-on-the-eyes” reading experience.

I think they’ve succeeded in keeping the Paperwhite easy on the eyes. I use the backlight during my bus ride early in the morning before the sun is up.

That said, I’m not sure the Paperwhite is as revolutionary as the ads make it out to be. For example, I am still puzzled why the brightest setting exists at all. If you are reading your Kindle on the beach in bright sunlight, turning the back light on or off doesn’t make any difference. It doesn’t make the text crisper nor the background whiter. (Nor does it really help with the glare.) So, to conserve battery power, when I’m in a room with good lighting, I usually turn off the backlight and let it function just like a regular Kindle.

2. The Battery

Here’s where this Kindle is truly a step up. I can’t believe how long I can use this thing without charging it! When it didn’t come with a charger that plugs into the wall, I was disappointed, thinking I would need to purchase one. No worries. My old Kindle charger works just fine. But I’ve so little use for a charger that I understand why it’s unnecessary. You can read for weeks on a single charge.

3. The Form

This is a light product. Adding a leather cover is important, not only to protect the Kindle, but also to give it a little more weight. By itself, the Kindle is so light you can’t tell if it’s in your bag or not. I’m impressed by the sleek design, the basic functions, and the high quality of accessories.

Conclusion

The Kindle Paperwhite isn’t as revolutionary as the buzz made it out to be, but it is certainly the best Kindle on the market. If you’re looking to get a Kindle this Christmas, I suggest the Paperwhite. It is definitely a step up from the previous iterations.

If you’re considering an upgrade, I’d say it’s worth it if you find yourself in situations where you need to read in the dark. Otherwise, if you’re satisfied with your current Kindle, I’d say “stick with it.” I’m glad I made the move, but I’m not so enthusiastic about it that I’d try to convince everyone else to make the move too.

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