Amazon Basic Kindle Review – Choosing Basic Over Advanced Kindles

Amazon Basic Kindle
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What We LikeAmazon-kindle-basic-review

  • Small and light with the same great E Ink display and size (6 inch)
  • Very affordable
  • Access to Amazon’s vast selection of e-books

What We Don’t Like

  • Virtual keyboard is poor for note taking
  • No AC adapter included
  • No self-illumination like Paperwhite
  • No X-Ray

 

Why would you choose the basic Kindle over other models?

The basic Kindle, also called Kindle 5, will woo many book lovers with an improved display, price drop and great design.

We’ll look now in more detail at why this base model is still a favorite e-reader despite lacking a touch screen.

If you are familiar with Kindle 4 (2011), you’ll find this model has lots in common with it.

 

Why Users Love Amazon Basic Kindle

Display kindle-2012-feature-notes

E Ink is much easier to read than even the most advanced LCD or LED displays, especially for long session reading.

Though Sony’s Librie EBR-1000EP was the first e-book reader to incorporate E Ink display in 2004, it was not so popular until Amazon Kindle championed E Ink displays in late 2007.

Kindle 5 uses E Ink Pearl display technology, the second generation of Electronic Ink. Pixel density is 167 PPI (pixels per inch). This is not as sharp as Kindle Paperwhite with its 212 PPI.

Nevertheless, Amazon has improved the contrast with Kindle 5. Custom fonts further enhance your reading experience. Letters look crisper, clearer and more natural.

According to Amazon, the Kindle (2012) display turns pages at least 15% quicker with fewer flashes. With previous E Ink e-readers, you noticed ghosting of previous pages when turning. Now, ghosting is almost non-existent.

E Ink displays consume a tiny amount of power. Your Kindle will work for weeks without charging.  You’d be lucky to get 7 or 8 hours from the LCD display of a tablet or smartphone.

Most importantly, there is no glare with E Ink display. You can even read in direct sunlight fuss-free. There is almost zero eye strain. This is great for lengthy reading sessions.

Design

Kindle 5 is available in silver gray or black.

This basic Kindle is the smallest and lightest model. It weighs just 5.98 oz (170 gram) and measures 6.5″ x 4.5″ x 0.34″. It’s extremely comfortable to hold even for a long spell.

The lack of touch screen has its drawbacks but it’s arguably more user-friendly. You can place your fingers on the screen without the worry of accidentally turning pages like with Kindle Paperwhite.

Page turning buttons are found on both sides.

The 5-way controller is responsive and easy to use.

The Unbeatable Amazon Ecosystemkindle2012-features

Kindle is not the only e-reader with E Ink. It’s the market leader because it’s a great device. Also, it’s the gateway to a huge selection of media on the Amazon ecosystem.

Amazon offers nearly 2 Million e-book titles and more than 180,000 exclusives.

If you are an Amazon Prime Member, you can borrow a book each month free with no due date. There are over 200,000 titles to choose from.

What else?

You can exchange books with other Kindle users. You can also read a sample chapter before buying if you’re undecided. You can even borrow Kindle books from your public library.

There are free Kindle Apps for every major smartphone, computer and tablet. Amazon’s Whispersync technology automatically saves and synchronizes your position. Notes, bookmarks and highlights are also preserved across all devices with Kindle Apps.

You can easily send any web pages to your Kindle or devices with Kindle Apps. Just use the Send To Kindle plug-in.

Things We Don’t Like

The Kindle 5 display will not self-illuminate in the dark like Kindle Paperwhite. Use a reading light instead.

The absence of touch screen can be a nuisance. It’s tough to take notes or navigate extensively with the 5-way controller.

You’ll need to buy an AC adapter separately unless you have a spare or can charge through your laptop. A USB cable is included.

There’s no X-Ray feature like with Paperwhite or Keyboard. This serves up preloaded information about certain people, places, fictional characters, themes or ideas.

Overall Verdict

If you don’t take notes while reading and don’t mind going without a touch screen or self-illuminating display, this model is ideal.

For anyone just starting out with e-readers, there’s no better way to get going without spending a fortune.

Check it out today!

Price: $79.99

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6 thoughts on “Amazon Basic Kindle Review – Choosing Basic Over Advanced Kindles”

  1. I love my Kindle. Been using it for many years and am very happy. One thing that bothers me is that if I run across something that is underlined meaning – to me – that I should be able to point the cursor to it and select it and be taken to the explanation of it on the web but all I get is a message about security. Obviously the wifi works since I download books all the time. I’m not opposed to upgrading to a newer Kindle if necessary. I’m not a gamer and I don’t intend to stream shows.
    Any ideas?

    Reply

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