I need your help. I have had multiple brands of ereaders over the years. My latest ereaders are an 11-year old Kobo Aura and a Kindle Paperwhite purchased in 2018. These devices are old and it shows.
My Kobo no longer holds a charge on the battery and is having some refresh issues so its basically sat in the bottom of a drawer for about a year or so now. The Kindle is so old that it does not have the dark mode option and cannot be updated to add it which is annoying if I want to read at night.
For the last few months, I’ve been trying to decide if I should buy a new ereader and, if so, which brand I should purchase. I have been researching options from Kindle, Kobo, Onyx Boox and a few others. My goal is to read books and I check ebooks out from our library so I really want Libby support. The release of the new Kindle Colorsoft has thrown a little wrench into my research as I wait for reviews and comparisons to be posted online. So, I thought I’d throw it out to you, my lovely readers, do you use an ereader? If so, which brand/model? I could really use some recommendations. I’m leaning away from Kindle (for the most part) but I haven’t ruled it out. Let me know your thoughts!
Link of the Week:
Ooh, a Color Kindle Is Finally Here (via Kottke.org)
Now, on to the links!
Pens:
- Measuring How Far Pens Write: Writing Distance Test Pattern (via Unsharpen)
- Do I Really Hate Rollerballs? Revisiting This Question for the Umpteenth Time (via The Gentleman Stationer)
- How to select the right fountain pen nib: tips for beginners (via Rediscover Analog)
Ink:
- Vinta Inks Blue Blood Dugong Bughaw 1521 Ink Review (The Pen Addict)
- Diamine Fireside Snug Ink Review: Excellent Fall Ink + Halloween Ink (via Pen Chalet)
- Ink Battle: Bungubox, Robert Oster, Sailor, and Sailor (via Rachel’s Reflections)
- Ink Review #834: Taccia Ukiyo-E Hiroshige Asahanada (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
- Ink Review #2648: Kobe Lampwork Museum Maroon (via Mountain of Ink)
- Ink Review #2647: Ferris Wheel Press Blushing Mushroom (via Mountain of Ink)
- Ink Swatch Wednesday: Robert Oster Grey Seas (via CJs Wunderkammer)
Pencils:
- What Is In Your Perfect Pencil Kit? (via The Pen Addict)
- Identifying as a Pencil Pusher (via Line Variation)
- Staedtler’s sugar cane / corn / olive eraser (via Bleistift)
Planners, Notebooks & Paper:
- Endless Storyboard Pocket Notebook Review (via BLAKE’S BROADCAST)
- Guest post series – ‘Filohax’ No. 15 – Paul (via Philofaxy)
- Midori Hibino (via Wonder Pens)
- Letter Writing Again (via Wonder Pens)
- # Halloween writing prompts for adults (via The Pen Company Blog)
- My 2025 Techo Kaigi: A Mostly Fond Farewell to Hobonichi (via The Gentleman Stationer)
- A dip inside my commonplace diary (via Austin Kleon)
- Southworth air mail stationery (via The Typewriter Revolution blog)
- Paper Matters to the Ink (via Chronicles of a Fountain Pen)
- A Hobonichi Haul and My 2025 Planner Plans (via Inky Imaginings)
Art & Creativity:
- Switching to an A4 sketchbook – and why! (via Liz Steel)
- Travel Sketching: a quest for the right amount of tools (via Apple-Pine)
- FAQ: What do I do when my sketch is still wet… (via Liz Steel)
- REVIEW: Tonic Watercolor Core Mixing Set from St. Louis Art Supply (via Doodlewash)
- The Lost Art of Cyanotype, Found Again (via Messy Nessy Chici)
Other Interesting Things:
- Artist Immortalizes Iconic Junk Food in Still Life Oil Paintings (via My Modern Met)
- IKEA appoints ‘grumpy gran’ as the face of its new gaming range (via Creative Boom)
- Five Things To Look Forward to at the 2025 World Expo Japan Pavilion (via Spoon & Tamago)
- Oblation Papers & Press Shop Visit (via The Pen Addict)
- NaNoWri…No. (via The Pen Addict)
- How to curate your vinyl collection (via Rediscover Analog)
Oh, one last thing! I know I’ve told you about our Patreon but have you checked out our shop lately? We even have an Etsy shop for our international readers. We have lots of new products like stickers, exclusive Rickshaw bags and cases, washi tape and so much more! Your support helps keep us going. So, thank you for reading this and supporting our site!
Kindle Paperwhite is my one and only. I’ve been a Kindle user since Kindle version 3 and I have never regretted it. I don’t think any of the others offer the features that Kindle has.
I am tempted by the color version but I only read books on mine so I think it would be a waste.
The bigger screen and ability to change the temperature of the white light and longer battery life of the 12th generation Kindle is tempting but I’ll wait and see if they offer one with more memory.
With trade in and 20% off the price of the non color Paperwhite would be just right, the color would be a little harder to swallow.
I’ve used Kindles for many years and have been happy with them and with the selection of books from Amazon. I have an extensive library of Kindle books and don’t want to change brands. I upgraded to a new Paperwhite Signature last week, from an old Oasis. Much faster page turns, MUCH better battery life and a crisper font are the big things I noticed. Plus no ads, though you can always get rid of them. I didn’t think the color Kindle was worth it because it’s mainly window dressing, the battery life is much less than a black and white reader, and the text is not as crisp. If I want color I will look at a book on the Kindle app on my iPad. That works great for cookbooks with lots of photos.
I have a basic kindle at the moment, the most recent version. It now comes with a backlight, so I didn’t need the extra cost of a paperwhite. It’s small and light. I’m not interested in a color kindle; the kindle app on my iPad is a better way to read anything with photos and drawings.
there’s a rumor that bookshop (dot) org is developing an ereader which would be wonderful! Unfortunately, no idea about the timeline or the specs.
Well dang it… now I’m interested. I used a iPad for years.. then switched to Kindle.. I’ve had 3. I’m currently using the Paperwhite. I think the only thing I’d really want to change is the size of the screen, and the ability to find awesome books.
I had a couple of Kindles many years ago and realized that it’s silly to have both a Kindle and a tablet that can do the exact same thing and so much more, so I stopped using a separate tool that is basically a less capable tablet and switched to using the Kindle app on my full function tablet. I also use the Kindle app on my desktop. And on my phone. It can be anywhere you want it to be and it all syncs up.
I read on my phone using the Kindle app or the Overdrive app for library books. I read on my lunch break or during any down time when I’m out of the house, and don’t want the hassle of having to carry yet another device. My husband does the same, except that he switches to reading on his tablet when we’re at home whereas I just continue on my phone. It’s only a touch narrower than a trade paperback and I find it quite comfortable to read on.
I have a Kindle Paperwhite and I love it. I’ve had it for almost 2 1/2 years. I had a very early version of a Kindle before this one. I’ve never used any other brand of ereader, so I can’t compare it to anything other than my iPad. If I want color, I would use my iPad, but I prefer reading on my kindle. Good luck on your research.