Amazon Shipping Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader
Amazon is now shipping the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader to consumers who pre-purchased the device.
Amazon said on Monday that it is now shipping both versions of the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader. The company says they're the most advanced e-reader ever built, offering 62-percent more pixels, a 25-percent higher contrast, and a patented built-in front light. The design is even sleeker and slimmer than previous Kindle models.
"Kindle Paperwhite is the most advanced e-reader ever created and the Kindle we always wanted to build," said Jay Marine, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. "Pre-orders have far exceeded our expectations and we’re excited to start shipping Kindle Paperwhite to customers today."
The Kindle Paperwhite actually arrives in four flavors: two Wi-Fi only versions ($119 with Special Offers, $139 without), and two Wi-Fi + 3G versions ($179 with Special Offers, $199 without). The 3G models allow owners to download books at any time and wherever there's network coverage thanks to Amazon's free 3G service – no annual contracts or monthly fees included. Wi-Fi only models can download books and content for free using AT&T hotspots across the nation.
The Kindle Paperwhite's screen features three components: a 0.5-mm Light Guide, the capacitive touch screen layer, and the Paperwhite display itself. "We worked on Kindle Paperwhite for over two years to perfect the uniformity of the built-in light, flattening out a fiber optic cable into a sheet, and nanoimprinting to ensure perfectly even distribution of light," Amazon states on the product page. "Our design uses nanoscale optical diffractive patterns to enable tight control over the direction of the light."
The Kindle Paperwhite also features new "hand-tuned" fonts in six styles and eight adjustable sizes. The battery promises up to 8 weeks on one charge even with the unique light on. Even more, a new Time to Read feature uses your reading speed to let you know when you'll finish your chapter, and X-Ray allows readers to explore the "bones of the book."
To get a Kindle Paperwhite e-reader, order the Wi-Fi model here, and the Wi-Fi + 3G model here. Consumers waiting for these devices to hit store shelves at Target and Walmart will be waiting for a long time, as both outlets are no longer offering Kindle devices.
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house70 ... and still no external SD card support.Reply
I have a 4+ GB books collection that I can not put on this, because it's only 2GB.
DRM paranoia getting in the way of a (otherwise) perfect device. -
phate I know I always need to have 4GB of books on my device all at once. Who knows when I'll need the entire library of congress in my backpocket.Reply
/sarcasm -
DSpider And still no ePub support. No, thank you!Reply
Stubborn candy-a** Amazon POS. Learn2openstandards! -
commandersozo house70... and still no external SD card support. I have a 4+ GB books collection that I can not put on this, because it's only 2GB. DRM paranoia getting in the way of a (otherwise) perfect device.Dem torrents...Reply -
I'd LOVE to get this. I use my Sony reader daily, but Amazon's new screen look so much better, and I have no doubt it is a better device technically.Reply
But, can't afford to be vendor locked in. Open format or nothing. drm penalizes the good guys. As an honest buyer, demand an honest product, not one which burdens you by refusing to work on other devices. -
quotas47 I technically preordered. I placed my order on the 28th...Reply
When they mean they're shipping preorders, I'm guessing they meant before that by some margin. Any idea what the official cutoff for the preorders were stated to be? -
freggo phateI know I always need to have 4GB of books on my device all at once. Who knows when I'll need the entire library of congress in my backpocket./sarcasmReply
"640 books is enough for anyone" :-)
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assasin32 I've seen a older kindle in person I will admit I like the screen and the way the text pops out. Just wish all my school books were on the kindle store or something instead of them doing their each half ass ebooks websites and apps which are so full of drm and restrictions it's useless. I can tell you I wouldn't mind ditching 20+lbs of books for a kindle, i do it in a heartbeat if I could.Reply