home Magazine What is a Kindle? Best Kindle: Which Reader Should You Buy? Where to look for books in .MOBI format

What is a Kindle? Best Kindle: Which Reader Should You Buy? Where to look for books in .MOBI format

For many, Amazon needs no introduction. The company was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, and a year later a website of the same name was launched, which initially sold only books. Since 1998, the online store began to increase the range of products sold, among which players, films, video games, furniture, clothing and toys began to appear. On this moment The company has almost 200 thousand employees and is one of the largest multimedia giants, whose net income exceeds $2 billion per year.

The first device that was released by the company under its own brand was an e-reader. The device was called Kindle and was released in 2007 at a price of $399. The first batch sold out in just 6 hours and was a resounding success. The reader was innovative in its own way; at the bottom of the case there was a keyboard for entering text and searching for books in the file manager, and on the side faces there were mechanical buttons for turning pages. Initially, the device was sold only in the United States, but this did not stop it from gaining popularity around the world, because starting from the second generation it began to be sold everywhere.

Company `s logo

When these readers appeared on the CIS market, there were some problems; initially the ability to download files not from the company’s services was blocked, but over time it disappeared. Therefore, now you can safely download books in Russian for Amazon Kindle. Next we will consider 5 best models e-books from Amazon Kindle c a short review each of them.

Kindle Paperwhite 2015

The company has several lines of e-readers for different price categories: Kindle, Paperwhite and Voyage. Paperwhite belongs to the mid-price category and is the best-selling and most popular among other representatives. At the moment, the company can be called the undisputed leader among manufacturers of reading devices.

Kindle Paperwhite 2015

Amazon's pricing policy is visible at first glance, namely from the box, made in matte black shades. If you compare it with a budget e-reader model, the design is much less attractive. In general, the equipment is not extensive and the buyer will be waiting for a micro-USB cable and quick guide user. No covers, which are a common addition from other manufacturers.

If we talk about the design of the device itself, there is not a single mechanical button on the case; all control is carried out using the touch screen. The company did not cut off the free edges, which is why it is convenient to hold the device from absolutely any side, which frees you from problems with accidentally pressing the display or mechanical buttons. All the necessary elements are now located on the bottom of the case, including a small power button, an indicator and a charging connector. The body is made of matte plastic to minimize fingerprints left on the surface; there are also no complaints about the assembly, since the device is completely intact.

Characteristics:

Control: via touch screen
Backlight: yes
Wi-Fi: yes

The reader has an E-Ink Carta display, which, compared to its predecessor Pearl, has a more contrasting display and is superior in several respects. The screen resolution, as well as the pixel density per inch, is admirable, since the resolution is 1448x1072 with a density of 300. This result is undoubtedly the best on the market and the only one who can compete with it is a direct competitor in the form of PocketBook or Sony.

The company claims that the device can work on a single charge for a week, but in practice due to the enlarged display this result much less.

Amazon Kindle 8

This model is rightfully called the best among budget e-readers. This is a simple e-book without unnecessary features, which is perfect for a person who wants to enjoy comfortable reading. This decision is also reflected in the price of the product; compared to the more advanced version, the budget line can be purchased for about 5,500 rubles. The package will include a charging cable and a user manual. If necessary, the cover or case can be purchased separately; fortunately, this is a popular model, so this will not be difficult.

Reader in two colors

Characteristics

Control: by touch
Backlight: no
Wi-Fi: yes

The characteristics of the device stand out among its competitors; under the cover of the device there is 512 megabytes of RAM, which is a good indicator for the money, especially for people who plan to open heavy forms, for example, PDF.

The internal memory is 4 gigabytes, this size is enough to store several thousand books without illustrations. The screen resolution, although small, has a high pixel density; the E-Ink Pearl display, although not considered innovative, is inferior new version Carta, but it produces an excellent picture. In offline mode, the ereader definitely lasts more than a week, although Amazon says the device can last about 20 days on a single charge if desired.

Kindle Oasis

The company has an expensive Voyage line, which was sold at fairly high prices and belonged to the “elite” series, but recently, Amazon decided to go further and launched a new Oasis line. These devices belong to the premium class and they are not afraid to sell them at the price of full-fledged tablets for Android based or iOS, which is a rather strange decision, but they also have their customers.

Characteristics:

Control: using sensor and mechanical buttons
Backlight: yes
Wi-Fi: yes

The body is made of pleasant and high-quality matte plastic, while it is completely intact and has no gaps or backlashes. Three of the four edges are narrow and act as frames for the screen; the right edge is noticeably thicker, so the user is initially offered a right-handed grip without being given a choice. This solution is extremely inconvenient for those people who are used to holding the reader with both hands. Mechanical buttons for turning pages are located in the same place. Finishing the topic, assembling the reader - it has waterproof protection according to IPx8 standards, so now it is possible to read books even in the pool.

As befits a premium class, there are no problems with performance. It has 512 megabytes of RAM and, depending on the option purchased, 8 or 32 gigabytes of internal memory. It also comes with the ability to listen to audiobooks, but with one big “but”, the device has neither speakers nor a headphone jack, so listening is only possible using a Bluetooth headset. The screen diagonal is 7 inches and has a resolution of 1680x1264 with a density of 300 pixels per inch. And of course, the very last thing the manufacturer offers is to purchase a special case with an additional battery to increase the duration of use; the price of such a pleasure will be equal to $20.

Amazon Kindle Keyboard 3G

Kindle Keyboard 3G

This device appeared six months after the DX model, which will be discussed later, and it turned out to be more successful and refined than its predecessor. There are several reasons for this. The reader had two release versions with and without a Wi-Fi module, which already diluted pricing policy and gave the opportunity to choose. The design is made in dark colors, the body is made of plastic, at the bottom there is a keyboard and a joystick for controlling the device. On the right side there are buttons for turning pages, which are large in size, making them as convenient as possible for turning pages from any position.

Characteristics:

Control: using joystick, mechanical buttons and keyboard
Backlight: no
Wi-Fi: can be purchased with or without a module

The screen resolution is 800 by 600 pixels, which is a good combination for a 6-inch display and allows you to display excellent images and clear fonts. Manufacturers promise a month of battery life, which in general, given such characteristics, is quite achievable and realistic. Of the 4 gigabytes, only 3 are available to the user, but this is enough for several thousand e-books.

Kindle DX

This model at one time was one of the most popular on the CIS market, since in 2009 the company first began producing its readers on international market, and in 2010 Amazon launched the Kindle DX. Despite all its popularity, the reader was bought more because of the brand than because of the quality, since it turned out to be unfinished at the beginning of sales, and available services, for the average person, the inhabitants were rather superfluous, since they were paid and English-speaking.

Characteristics:

Control: using keyboard, joystick and buttons
Backlight: no
Wi-Fi: no

The body is nice, made of matte plastic, there are mechanical control keys and a joystick on the side, and a keyboard is located at the bottom of the screen for easy searching and quick creation of notes while reading. On the bottom edge there are two speakers and a micro-USB connector for charging and transferring files. Unlike its newer counterpart, this model added a headphone jack, which turned the reader into a full-fledged player for listening to audiobooks.

As for the screen, it is almost 10 inches diagonally, and the resolution is 1200x824 pixels with a density of 150 ppi. With such a screen and 3G turned on, the battery charge will last for about a week of use, in case of autonomous operation - up to two weeks. The internal memory is 4 gigabytes of which only 3.3 gigabytes are available. The weight of the device is not light and is almost half a kilogram, which is why, during prolonged use, your hands quickly get tired. For the first time, Amazon made the interface for the Kindle Keyboard entirely in Russian.

Welcome to the Kindle e-reader store featuring the best devices for reading, period. Amazon has a wide assortment of e-readers, starting at $79.99 for Kindle, $119.99 for Kindle Paperwhite, and $199.99 for Kindle Voyage. By design, Kindle e-readers are purpose-built for reading and create a sanctuary so you can lose yourself in a book. Kindle doesn’t distract you with interruptions like social media, emails, and text messages.

Unlike reflective tablet and smartphone screens, Kindle touchscreens read like paper—no screen glare, even in bright sunlight. Kindle won"t leave you tethered to an outlet-a single charge lasts weeks, not hours. Lighter than a paperback, comfortably hold Kindle in one hand for those times when you can't put the book down. Read over a million e- book titles with a subscription to Kindle Unlimited or choose from millions of e-books at the lowest prices—over a million titles less than $2.99.

Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Voyage have a 300 ppi high-resolution screen for crisp, laser quality text. Unlike back-lit tablets that shine in your eyes, Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Voyage guide light toward the surface of the display with a built-in front light—so you can read comfortably in any setting for hours without eyestrain.

Kindle Voyage is our thinnest Kindle ever, with an adaptive front light that provides ideal brightness, day or night, and reimagined page turns with PagePress, which enables you to turn the page without lifting a finger.

Kindle for Kids Bundle includes the latest Kindle without sponsored screensavers, a kid-friendly cover in several colorful choices, and a 2-year extended warranty with accident protection provided by SquareTrade.

If you are looking for an e-book reader, modern market Not too many choices. Amazon dominates the e-reader market with its Kindle products, and we've rounded up the best e-readers available on the market right now.

Some Kindles have risen to the top thanks to a combination of smooth performance, stunning screens and attractive prices.

Others have gone downhill because they are slowed down by cumbersome interfaces, high cost and disappointing screens. So we've put together a ranking of the best Kindle and e-readers in general for you to choose from. best device for reading books.

AmazonKindleOasis

Most premium Kindle in series.

pros: Innovative Design | Excellent display;
Minuses: The most expensive Kindle | Only in leather case;

The Oasis ranks as the most expensive option in the Kidle range, above the Kindle Paperwhite and Voyage. At nearly five times the price of a standard Kindle, it requires some splurge... but it's worth it.

If you are looking for the most comfortable e-reader on the market, this is the best option for you. An all-new design, incredibly thin, makes using the e-reader with one hand easier than ever.

You also get a leather battery case included with the Oasis, giving the Kindle the best battery life among e-readers. It can work for up to eight weeks.

The Oasis will cost you a little more than all the other e-readers on our list - but if it's a device you use every day to devour tomes of wisdom one after another, why not spend a little more?

Why should you buy a Kindle Oasis? Because the hybrid tablet and e-reader offers best experience reading experience you'll find, offering the best screen and design for the money.

Read: .

Reading V luxurious format .

pros: Brilliant screen | Sleek design;
Minuses: Expensive;

The Kindle Voyage was once at the top of this ranking, but it has been surpassed by another Amazon e-reader, the Kindle Oasis.

At the time of release, it essentially offered an improved version of the Kindle Paperwhite, with the same interface and features, but also a better screen with a pixel density of 300 PPI. Now the Paperwhite offers the same screen, so it's hard to justify spending on the Kindle Voyage, while the Oasis has a completely new, beautiful design.

It boasts uniform backlighting, a light sensor, and PagePress buttons that let you navigate through books without lifting your finger.

It also sports a slim 7.6mm silhouette, making it the most forward-looking Kindle of them all. It is also worth noting that all of these strengths are taxed at a high price, the average price tag of an e-book in Russia is 12,000 rubles. Like other Kindles, the Voyage doesn't offer a slot for , but it's still one of the most premium e-readers on the market.

If you read a lot and, most importantly, have some extra money, this is an obvious choice.

Why should you buy Kindle Voyage? If you're looking for a premium Kindle experience but aren't willing to spend the money on the Oasis, go with the Voyage.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

When it all comes down to the screen.

pros: Sharp screen | Improved typography;
Minuses: Soft design | Some functions are missing;

The latest version of the Kindle Paperwhite is the best we've ever seen in the e-reader market, with a beautiful 6-inch HD display that can offer 300 pixels per inch density and 4GB of memory that will allow you to store up to a thousand books on one device.

The Kindle Paperwhite is much closer to a dedicated device, designed to get the job done while offering all the benefits of an e-reader. You have access to a huge library Amazon books, you'll even be able to use Kindle unlimited access with your Paperwhite.

The reading tablet offers a built-in backlight, so you won't have to suffer from screen glare, even when reading in bright sunlight. Battery is not as good as on the device latest version, since it only lasts six weeks, but it's still good time for reading e-books.

Why should you buy a Kindle Paperwhite? If you're looking for one of the best screens on an e-reader and want to be able to read in bright sunlight, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is your choice.

Amazon Kindle (2016)

Simple digital reading at its best.

pros: Available | Improved design;
Minuses: No backlight | The screen could have been better;

The Amazon Kindle, or the all-new Kindle as Amazon calls it, is the company's basic and most affordable e-reader, costing just 5,000 rubles.

The e-reader is different from the previous model, which means you get an adequate (but not backlit) touch screen, long time Battery operation and plenty of space for electronic library, along with an intuitive interface to help you navigate through the books.

Improvements are made in the design - the 2016 model is thinner and lighter than the one that came before, so even though you could carry an entire library with you, you shouldn't feel its weight.

Amazon also offers a productivity boost for the latest Kindle model (2016). And while the ereader doesn't compete with Oasis, Voyage or even Paperwhite in this department, for 5,000 rubles you can't ask for more.

Why should you buy Kindle (2016)? If you want to save on backlighting and high-resolution screens compared to expensive Kindles, this is your choice.

Finally, Kindles have come to an end, there is another option that is not made by Amazon. Since Nook is not available everywhere in Russia, Kobo remains as an alternative to Kindle.

Kobo Aura H2O

Reading in the bath has never been easier.

pros: Waterproof | Battery life;
Minuses: Performance Disadvantages | Slow PDF;

It seems surprising that we had to wait so long for a water- and dust-resistant e-reader, since the sauna, pool, and beach are quite popular places for reading, and Kobo is finally delivering a solution with the Aura H2O.

That's not all there is to it, the bright LED-backlit E-Ink display, which only refreshes after six pages flipped, ensures you get a familiar-to-use book, long battery life and a MicroSD card slot.

Unfortunately, the book is not perfect, as it suffers from performance issues that leave a feeling of sluggishness, especially when viewing PDFs.

There's also no 3G option, while the price of the device puts it on the same shelf as Amazon's high-end devices. However, as a waterproof e-reader, it's a great choice that will allow you to read in close proximity to water.

Why should you buy Aura H2O? If you're not an Amazon fan, or just want to be able to read by the water, the Kobo Aura H2O is a great choice.

This. MOBI and I understand that it is for different models and versions of ereaders. But I read 4, which means I write about it (but 5 is just black :) and they charge extra money for it, hehe).

Pick up a Kindle

And now we already have such a book in our hands. Now I will tell you how to find books, how to download and how to read. Here below will be the first and easiest way to start reading. I will consider more advanced methods in the future...

For reference, Kindle supports the following eBook formats: AZW .AZW1 .TXT .MOBI .PRC .PDF

These e-books should be downloaded to the internal memory of the Kindle, in a directory (folder) documents . I hope you understand that this can be done after you connect the book using USB—microUSB cable to your computer.

I hope copying the file is easy for you.

Be sure to remove it “programmatically” (unmount) before physically disconnecting the book.

To download books, connect the Kindle cable to your computer

Where to look for book formats. MOBI?

Flibusta - an independent library resource. As in any library, please maintain cleanliness, order and tranquility. Good people read and work here.
Link https://flibusta.net
Alternative entrance to the site:

Class: middle segment
Form factor: monoblock
Case materials: matte plastic with soft-touch coating
Storage memory: 4 GB, no memory card slot
Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n), microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, 3G (optional)
Screen: 6’’, capacitive, E-Ink Carta, 16 shades of gray, 1440x1080 pixels
Battery: non-removable, battery life up to six weeks
Dimensions: 169 x 117 x 9.1 mm
Weight: 205 grams
Price: 9,000-12,000 rubles or $120+delivery

Introduction

Personally, I’m a big fan of the Paperwhite line from Amazon; my acquaintance with the company’s products began with these books, and they (first the first and then the second generation) became constant companions in the subway and on the road. Thin and light, with excellent pressure recognition touch screen, backlight, reasonable price and very convenient own shell.

I not only enjoyed using these books, but also bought them as gifts for my friends and even my mother, since I knew for sure that the Paperwhite had all the necessary functions on the top level. Perhaps the only thing these readers lacked was a higher resolution (although in 2013 there were a lot of 1024x758 pixels) and Russian language, but in the new version of 2015, both appeared.

Equipment

Amazon's e-readers come with very limited packaging. In addition to the book itself and documentation, only a USB-microUSB cable was put in the box.

Appearance, materials, control elements, assembly

Partially appearance The e-reader has not undergone significant changes compared to previous generations. The same black matte plastic with a soft-touch coating and the same power button, indicator light and microUSB port on the bottom. The only thing that has changed is the material of the power button, it is now glossy (in the video review I made a mistake when I said that the microUSB and the button had swapped places, I apologize for this reservation). Unfortunately, using soft-touch has a negative effect on the book becoming dirty; dust particles constantly cling to it, even if you have just wiped it.

In addition, the Amazon logo in the new version is no longer glossy. That's all the changes in appearance.

In fact, this design continuity has another advantage: all the cases you bought for last year's Paperwhite will fit perfectly into the 2015 model.

Dimensions

As I wrote above, visually the Paperwhite 2015 is not much different from its previous generation, and the same applies to the dimensions of the book.

On the other hand, users also have nothing much to complain about: the book is thin, light, it is convenient to hold it for a long time with one or two hands, and it is quite compact; its weight is practically not felt in a backpack or bag.

Although, of course, Amazon is not the leader here in terms of dimensions, pay attention to the dimensions of the Pocketbook Ultra 650 from the table, they are noticeably smaller, especially the weight.

Screen

To be honest, I was almost excited to open the packaging of the new Kindle Paperwhite, imagining how wonderful the text would look on its display with high resolution. And so, I turn on the book, leaf through the pages, go through the menu and... I see absolutely no difference between the screens of the Paperwhite 2015 and 2013 (unfortunately, I did not have the 2014 book in my hands).

Compared to Kindle Paperwhite 2013

Just for fun, I let a colleague compare the displays of both readers without telling him which book was which. After a long comparison, he also could not notice the difference in the displays. We are now talking about medium-sized text.

What all eight font sizes look like

If you read books in very small print, then in this case you will still see an improvement, the letters will be a little clearer on the Paperwhite 2015, but the difference is not as dramatic as I expected.

Note the letter “e”, this is a photograph of screens using minimal fonts. If you look closely, you'll notice that it's a little sharper on the Paperwhite 2015 (left).

This is a very important note, especially for owners of Paperwhite 2012/2013/2014: if you were planning to update your book this year, then I do not recommend doing this, you will be disappointed by the difference in displays.

On the left is Paperwhite 2015, on the right is 2013

However, if you haven't owned a Kindle Paperwhite before, you'll definitely like the screen: no glare, a nice, slightly rough fingerprint-resistant screen protector, and a backlight for reading in dimly lit areas. I've read dozens of books on the Paperwhite and I can safely say that you will feel the difference between the backlit E-Ink and a regular tablet display (iPad Air, for example) the first time you read it. If when reading from a tablet your eyes get tired after just a couple of hours, then you can comfortably read from an e-book for six hours straight.

Functionality

I'll start with the good: Amazon finally has official support for the Russian language. Now you can search for individual words in Russian text, use the Russian keyboard and the English-Russian dictionary.

You can upload books to the reader in one of three ways:

Using a cable, connecting your Kindle to your computer
By sending a book using the Send-to-Kindle app. By the way, Send-to-Kindle extensions are available for the most popular browsers, so you can send interesting article straight to your Paperwhite
By sending a book to your email in the kindle.com domain, it will automatically arrive on your device within 5-10 seconds (you can send several books at once).

Kindle can support the following book formats: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, DOCX. As you can see, there is no FB2 or ePub here. However, do not rush to get upset, all the leading online libraries and stores with legal content have been posting books on MOBI for a long time. For example, I buy books on Litres, where you can immediately download the purchased book from MOBI and immediately send it to your reading room.

The reader can synchronize the position in the book with the Kindle application, available for Android, iOS, OS X, Windows Phone and desktop Windows. This is very convenient for those who usually read on Kindle, but sometimes want to switch to a tablet or smartphone on the go if they left the e-reader at home.

The book can work with dictionaries; English-Russian and Russian-English from ABBYY LINGVO are already stored in its memory. To view the translation of a word, you just need to hold your finger on it. A Wikipedia search is also available, and all this in one pop-up window!

The reader also has its own browser, but it is still in “experimental” status, so don’t expect much from it. On the other hand, in order to go to the page and read something, its capabilities are enough.

In terms of text settings, Amazon is traditionally sparse, with only six fonts available, three sizes for margins and between lines, and eight font sizes. Of course, now some fan of e-readers like Cool Reader will wrinkle their nose, but let's be honest, the average reader has enough text customization options.

Autonomous operation

Amazon doesn't provide battery capacity for the Paperwhite 2015, but says it can last up to six weeks on a single charge. It is clear that checking these figures is quite problematic, but judging by past generations of Paperwhite, the book will work quite well for a month in reading mode for one or two hours. It's important to understand that a lot depends on how strong the backlight you use.

How to buy?

Currently, you have three guaranteed ways to purchase the Kindle Paperwhite 2015.

Buy an e-reader from a reseller in Russia, the average price in this case will be 10,000-11,000 rubles for the version with advertising.
Order a book through an intermediary in the USA, for example, Banderolka or Shipito. I used this method, the delivery fee was $25.
Order it directly through Amazon, yes, they now deliver their books to Russia, delivery will cost you only $20.

Do not be afraid to order this book through intermediaries or directly from the USA. Delivery in both cases is 7-10 days, and you save about 3,000-4,000 rubles.

Conclusion

If you order a book from the USA, its cost will be 8,000-8,500 rubles with delivery; when purchasing from us, the price varies from 10,000 to 12,000 rubles. Personally, I would recommend ordering directly through Amazon, don’t be afraid, you will have the package in a week, at the same time you will understand what it’s like to order from Western online stores.

I repeat once again: if you are the owner of one of the previous generations of Paperwhite, then changing your book to the 2015 version is definitely not worth it, despite the attractiveness of the increased display resolution.

But if you are just planning to buy yourself e-book and are ready to spend about 9,000 rubles on it, then Paperwhite 2015 is one of best options: fast, convenient, functional, with an excellent display and Russian language support.

Among the competitors, two models stand out in particular:

Onyx Boox T76ML Cleopatra. This ereader is very similar to the Paperwhite in terms of characteristics, except that the display is slightly larger and it comes with a case. However, Cleopatra retails for 14,000 rubles, which is almost twice as expensive if you order a Kindle on Amazon.

PocketBook 840. High resolution book from Pocketbook. It also has a larger screen diagonal. Allow me to quote the conclusion of Artem Lutfullin:

Among the advantages, I would like to note the “omnivorous” nature of the book (any format is accepted without conversion and unnecessary steps), excellent operating time (the book can last more than ten days in reading mode for 3-4 hours a day), as well as the presence of pleasant additional functions such as an audio player, Wi-Fi and the ability to download books via Dropbox. The downsides are the noticeable weight and overall rough shape (the book looks harsh, I would say, not as elegant and neat as the PocketBook 626, for example, and even more so the 650), as well as the screen - from a display with such a resolution you expect incredible clarity of fonts, here there are problems with certain font sizes, and in general, the display contrast could be better. But this is just my subjective impression. The disadvantages of the PocketBook 840 are offset by comfortable work with books in PDF format. I recommend paying attention to this device primarily for those who read literature in PDF.

At the same time, I note that now the 840 costs an average of 17,000 rubles!

As you can see, in terms of price-performance ratio, Paperwhite 2015 has no direct competitors; the two books described above are too expensive. In general, I definitely recommend the reader to everyone who is not yet familiar with Amazon products, and owners of previous generations of Paperwhite should hold off on purchasing.

Oh yes, there is also the Kindle Voyage, which has a similar display. But this book is about 4,000 rubles more expensive if you order it from the USA, and 8,000-9,000 rubles more if you buy it from us. And among the significant advantages, only a slightly better display can be highlighted, but, as my comparison of Paperwhites of different generations showed, you most likely will not notice this difference, but the saved 4,000-9,000 rubles will definitely come in handy!