Kindle Oasis in Test: worthwhile update? – Computer Week

A smartphone or tablet can now almost everything that people need. At least if one is exposed to direct sunlight. And even if the smart devices have significantly in recent years in terms of energy efficiency -. Power users are generally not fail to hang their equipment at least once per day to the power outlet

This is exactly also the reason why many people have not only tablet and smartphone, but also an e-book reader in your pocket. Their matt E-Ink display remains readable even in direct sunlight and is an ideal companion for the beach holiday or the lake. Even better: These things consume little energy. pass With many e-reader enthusiasts between charges weeks. Try the yet again with an iPhone. With the new Kindle Oasis Amazon will put the bar at the e-book readers goes a little higher. Whether that works, we’ll tell you the detailed test

One more thing first:. The Kindle Oasis is anything but a bargain. Nearly 290 euros will cost the base variant. Our test model also had the optional 3G connection on board, what drives the (retail) price to just 350 euros. For that amount you would get for example, an iPad Mini 2 with 32GB of storage. At first glance, it is therefore probably hard to convince the customers, instead of a multi-functional tablets prefer to buy an e-book reader that has only one function basically.

Kindle Oasis (left) vs. Paperwhite (right): In the test we tell you if an update is worth on Amazon’s latest e-reader
Photo:. Séamus Bellamy

Kindle Oasis in test: Better than Paperwhite

The first thing you will notice longtime Kindle users at Oasis, is its size. With dimensions of 143 mm x 122 mm x 3.4 mm and weighing 133 grams, the Oasis – much like Amazon promises – the date thinnest and lightest Kindle. Like its predecessor, something weightier Voyage and Paperwhite has to offer a six-inch display with 300 PPI and the Kindle Oasis. If the backlight of the Oasis, no difference to any current Paperwhite model must first be noted. This changes fundamentally when one switches on the backlight: Ten LED lamps provide uniform backlighting and leave the Paperwhite, with its somewhat puny LED Quartet look pretty old

This does not mean that there is a. torment would read on the Paperwhite: the display of the latest Amazon e-book reader is simply better. but the low weight and the sublime backlight come at a price: The Kindle battery Oasis shows in the test – compared to the energy donors of the predecessor – a significantly poorer stamina. With the same energy with which a Paperwhite by keeping potentially for months, the Oasis eReader average runs about two weeks – depending on usage

The supplied, leather battery cover is docked magnetically.
Photo: Séamus Bellamy

to give a little more battery power to the Oasis, Amazon has also housed a battery into the (included) Leather charging sleeve. The protective cover provides the internal battery with a new juice once it is docked magnetically. According to Amazon, the newest Kindle eBook readers need thanks to its battery duo only eight weeks into the wall outlet. This only works if you read every day not more than 30 minutes and always keep the backlight on the back burner. In the test, we used the Kindle Oasis a few hours per day. After a month he had already been at the outlet

The body of the Kindle Oasis is – due to the Andockmäglichkeit for charging cover – asymmetrically shaped. Where the cover is mounted, the housing is slightly thicker, because here is also located the internal battery of the Amazon e-book reader. If you’re wondering why you prefer to integrate with Amazon a housing collar, than to put on a uniform, flat surface: Simply because you can. And because the Oasis thanks said bead is quite excellent to use with just one hand. The ergonomics is also thought: If you hold the Oasis with one hand, your thumb rests naturally on the wide side of the display. Here, then, would be the perfect place for the keys flip – and precisely because they are also

In terms of ergonomics there on Kindle Oasis nothing wrong.
Photo: Séamus Bellamy

All of these points make the Amazon Kindle Oasis to a lightweight e-reader, which is easy to operate with one hand. Thanks to an integrated accelerometer of Oasis is actually suitable for both right and left handed: Turn that thing I just – done. The function of the keys for turning is also reversed in this case. Oh yes: If you find mechanical keys repulsive, you can use the Oasis also easy to operate via touch

Thanks to its design is Amazon’s latest E-Reader Oasis also operate with one hand – an accelerometer ensures that handers happy
Photo:. Séamus Bellamy

Paperwhite successor Oasis: The disadvantages

Where there is light, there is shadow: Of course, also has the latest Amazon eReader some things “in itself”, which we can not goutieren. Thus, the operating system displays compared to the Kindle previous generations absolutely unchanged. With internal memory and RAM, there are only marginal improvements: The former is now 4 GB, the latter has been doubled from 512 MB to 1 GB. In the test of the Kindle Oasis but still no significant improvement in performance was observed

Test Conclusion: buy Kindle Oasis – Yes or no

If you still have only the very best piece of hardware.? want and the price plays no role, then you are with the Kindle Oasis more than happy. The Oasis is a great, comfortable and well thought eBook readers and Amazon has one of the world’s largest e-libraries. The Kindle Oasis is according to Amazon in Germany from August 18 available.

If the price but plays a role, you should prefer to see the previous Kindle Paperwhite. The has similar capabilities to Oasis, but is significantly less expensive.

1. Always with you
   All ebook reader are similar in size and fit in (almost) any pocket.” / li>
2. Top-model Kindle Voyage
   Six inches have established themselves as screen size with Ebook readers. Amazon remains at its flagship Kindle Voyage for 189 Euro at this level.
3. Universal tool Calibre
   Calibre can (almost) everything when it comes to converting and organizing Ebooks goes. Only with DRM-protected content, the program has to fit.
4. Amazon family library
   Unlike in the US German Amazon customers can not impart purchased eBooks to friends, the common use only works on the “family library”.
5. Kobo aura H2O
   the Kobo aura H2O is an excellent reader ebooks, the price of 170 Euro is similarly high the Kindle Voyage.
6. X-Ray with information
   The Amazon comfort function “X-Ray” find additional information on relevant content, people or places a book.
7. Tolino vision 2
   Around 120 euros will cost the waterproof Ebook reader Tolino vision 2 German Tolino bookstore alliance.
8. alternatives to Paperwhite 3
   the Kindle Voyage (left with the sensor keys flip) the Top-Reader Amazon, right to compare the Tolino’s vision. 2
9. Ebooks in library loan
   the website Onleihe.net lists nationwide the libraries with the possibility of online lending of ebooks on -. with Amazon readers, but does not the eLibrary

This article is based on a contribution from our US sister publication macworld.com.