Opinions on the new kindle ‘Oasis’ will differ according to how you use your ereader. If you are a casual reader, you might find you are happy to remain with your Kindle Paperwhite for a while longer when realising the benefits versus the price tag of the Oasis, which is one of the first things you notice that has changed a lot. But is it worth the €289.99 price tag?
Another big change that you will instantly notice is the shape…and it’s a strange one! Although it takes some getting used to at first, it has to be said that it is a very cleverly thought out bit of technology. The device has an unusual rectangular bulge at one end, which is designed to act as a grip, sit in the palm of your hand and off set the balance of the superfine 3.5mm reading slab so that it feels virtually weightless in your hand.
The rectangular bulge is where the processor and battery are contained but making things smaller comes at a cost, – which is reflected in the Oasis’s battery life which only lasts 2 weeks instead of the usual 6 for Kindle devices. So to make up for it, Amazon have designed a magnetic snap on battery cover which not only extends battery life for another 7 weeks but also squares up the shape of the device to a nice neat rectangle. Thankfully, it’s included in the price!
Weighing in at just 4.6 ounces, Oasis is definitely a lighter reading experience. Facilitating one-handed reading features such as the physical page turning buttons, which can easily be controlled by your thumb. The display’s orientation also flips according to if it’s in your left or your right hand thanks to the inbuilt accelerometer so you can swing the Oasis the other way if you are left handed (or you get a tired hand).
The Oasis screen is a 300ppi display, which means that it’s a crystal clear reading experience with no stress on your eyes, similar to the Paperwhite, although there is another marked improvement…by moving the backlight to the side rather than at the top edge of the screen, Amazon have managed to brighten their e-ink display screen by 60%, which really makes a big difference when reading.
A Kindle rep has stated that the new Kindle Oasis, which sits at the top of the Kindle hierarchy, is the next step towards Amazon’s future vision of an ereader. They visualise the future ereader as a device that acts like a piece of paper.
If you invest serious time in reading and in Amazon’s book content, then you would definitely benefit from the new Kindle Oasis. Amazon have delivered on a product that has seriously improved ease of reading and comfort in the design.
As nice as the Oasis is, you have to ask if for you it’s worth it?
