The Kindle Oasis was announced today. I had thought I might get one if it cost less than ¥1,500, but now it seems I could not afford it even if I sold myself.

Here is a short post to give prospective Kindle buyers a few reference points.

My first Kindle was a Paperwhite 2. I had actually wanted one since the DXG days, but Kindle had not entered China then, and I had no money in my pocket.

The Paperwhite 2 did not have the uneven lighting and crooked screens that plagued many first-generation units—at least, I did not notice any. Its main drawback was the 212 PPI: if you used a font size similar to a printed book, you had to stick to sans-serif fonts. Of course, if you have risen above such petty compulsions, it should be no problem.

Later, when the Voyage had just come out, I switched to it.

For me, the Voyage's main advantage was its 300 PPI... If you claim to offer the feel of a printed book but cannot even manage the printing industry's basic 300 PPI, how can you show your face? Amazon's products do hold their value well: even after I had used it for almost a year and a half, the price had not dropped, which made me feel much better... (I know how pathetic that sounds :P)

When the Paperwhite 3 came out, my former roommate @阎峻 bought one. Apart from its 300 PPI screen, it was very similar to the Paperwhite 2. That reduced the Voyage's distinguishing features to just its flush screen and pressure-sensitive page turns, which did not feel worth the extra ¥500-plus.

So when I saw the Oasis a few days ago, I did not feel there was anything revolutionary about it. As someone hopelessly clumsy, how could I leave an E-Ink screen without a protective cover? I therefore could not see its lighter, thinner design improving the experience all that much. A ¥900 premium over the Voyage really is rather expensive.

I once caught a glimpse of the New Kindle at the electronics market. At 167 PPI, it seemed suitable only for the farsighted...?

So I think that if you have already decided to buy a Kindle, the Pw3 is the best choice. Of course, if you are seriously obsessive and cannot stand dust in the gaps around the screen, or you like using your gadgets naked and refuse to put them in protective covers, then consider the Voyage and Oasis.