Pros
Great display in all light conditions, good value for money,
competitive bookstore, ecosystem that's hard to beat
Cons
Not a huge change from the 2012 model, could be higher
resolution
The new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is the latest eBook reader
to capture the essence of the Kindle in its best form to date.
When it comes to eBook readers, the Kindle has captured the
imagination of the public. So much so that we're hearing Kindle used as a
generic term for all such reading devices, rather like when iPad is - wrongly -
used to describe all tablets, or Hoover to describe all vacuum cleaners.
Out in public Kindle is the product that's seen en mass. On
that commute we can't recall regularly seeing a Kobo or Sony Reader on the
train. But it's not popular for popular's sake. And while the new Amazon Kindle
Paperwhite doesn't appear to change a huge amount from the 2012 version, the
2013 update reinforces its position as the best Kindle ever. Here's why.
Design
The 2013 Paperwhite's design matches the previous iteration
of the same model from the previous year, with only some minor cosmetic changes
in a slight change of style to the Amazon logo on the back.
The black casing has a tactile feel that makes it easy to
hold without the worry of covering it in fingerprints, unlike some of the
glossier rivals, although the smear of suncream after an afternoon lounging by
the pool - that dream holiday that the UK winter just doesn't offer right now -
is perhaps unavoidable.
The Paperwhite is built of plastic yet feels solid and we
like the contoured detailing around the bottom Micro-USB and power button: it
looks and feels like a good quality device. The 6-inch screen sits within the
device's 169 x 117 x 9.1mm outlay, complete with ample bezel so there's somewhere
for your thumb to grip when holding the device.
The Wi-Fi only version weighs 206g, or opt for the 3G
version and add an extra nine grams to the weight, totalling 215g. That size
and weight combination makes it ideal for holding one-handed and the weight
should be comfortable for all to hold when reading.
Paperwhite display: Light and dark
What makes Paperwhite different is its illuminated display
so you can read in both light and dark conditions. Although it's not alone in
providing such a
