Kindle Paperwhite 2015: A quick look at the pros and cons

Amazon’s new Kindle Paperwhite arrived in India at Rs 10,999 for the Wi-Fi only version and Rs 13,999 for the 3G + Wi-Fi variant. Compared to the **previous generation** , it now comes with significant changes with a display resolution similar to that found in its flagship Kindle Voyage priced at Rs 16,499. The only edge the Kindle Voyage has over the new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2015 is the adaptive front-light, a screen flush with the bezels and separate page-turning touch buttons on the side. So, is the Paperwhite 2015 a better buy than the Voyage or does it still have flaws that make it short of competing with the Voyage? Let’s find out with a quick look at the pros and cons. Pros The new Kindle Paperwhite offers a sharper display with richer reading experience at 1,448 x 1,072 and 300 pixels per inch compared to its predecessor that is still available at Rs 8,999. Moreover, it is at par with the more expensive Voyager, at least on paper. The device is extremely light even with its 6-inch display. The look and feel is plush and comfortable. The new Paperwhite comes with additional RAM (1GHz processor with 512MB RAM, instead of the 256MB found in its predecessor) that reduces page turn time and e-ink ghosting cycles. Along with increased RAM, it also gets access to Amazon’s superlative ebook store. [caption id=“attachment_217581” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Goodreads connectivity was introduced last year[/caption] “Text is crisper and graphics - though still monochrome - look much better; it also works well with Amazon’s homegrown Bookerly font, designed both to be more easily read like a traditional printed book, and to improve how the letters themselves coexist,” said SlashGear. There’s FreeTime, a feature allowing you to create profiles for kids and also set reading goals for them. It tracks accomplishments, awards achievements, and also encourages better reading habits. You also get the option to lock out Kindle Store, Goodreads, Wikipedia and so on from kids. Another highlight is the new feature called typesetting engine and a new font, Bookerly. The new typesetting engine has been introduced to bring traditional layout practices like large drop caps at the beginning of chapters, proper spacing between words and also new hyphenation to create paragraphs with consistent lines. “This year’s Paperwhite is the first Kindle to get the new “Bookerly” typeface (others will get it via software update soon), which is a sleeker, more spacious alternative to the default “Caecilia.” Oh, and when you first fire up the Paperwhite, it asks you if you want to turn on Word Wise, a feature that displays brief definitions above potentially tricky words. It’s a neat little thing that comes in handy if you’re trying to pick up English or plan on giving the Kindle to a kid, but it throws your line-spacing preferences out of whack,” writes Engadget. The 4GB internal storage should suffice as there is no external memory slot. However, the free cloud storage will ensure additional space and you can carry your e-books everywhere. Cons Design-wise, the device has nothing new to offer with quite limited tweaks that can go easily unnoticed. " I’m still a little miffed that Amazon didn’t enlarge the power button and slap it onto the back of the reader like it did with the Voyage. Instead, you’ve got to grope around for a tiny nub on the Paperwhite’s bottom edge, which gets old surprisingly quickly," explains Engadget. “It’s worth pointing out that the 3G-enabled version of the Paperwhite comes with a crippled 3G connection though it comes with unlimited access without the user incurring extra monthly charges. Over 3G networks, it only allows access to the Kindle store. You won’t be able to browse the web or access Goodreads without connecting to WiFi,” points out The Times of India. Those who are looking for audiobook support will be disappointed. The device doesn’t support headphone jack. The Voyage still seems to offer a brighter display and comes with adaptive backlight, which is missing in the new Paperwhite. The Kindle line-up is yet to go waterproof, and the 2015 model doesn’t show any sign of such a change. The addition of waterproof capabilities would mean you will be able to take the device on the beach or a pool without the worry of damaging it. This also means, it will be able to handle some water intrusion during monsoons. Bottom line The Kindle Paperwhite 2015 gets most of the best from the Voyage, which is already struggling to justify its high price tag. On the other hand, it is significantly better than its predecessor. This makes it a good buy and it would be right to skip the last generation device and also not opt for the higher-end Voyage unless you are completely into advanced digital reading.