Kindle Paperwhite vs Kindle Fire HD 6

[kellia]

My mom finally said she wants something to read books on and thought she wanted a Kindle Paperwhite after she saw one in the store. But, then she was saying she might like something like that for surfing the web, checking email, etc. I am not sure that she'd like reading on a tablet due to the glare. I was looking at Amazon and they have the Kindle Fire HD 6 for $99. Any reviews on those? Are they hard on the eyes? On either of those, can you get the app to download books from the library?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Darcy03231]

I have the Kindle Fire HD and the Paperwhite. I bought the paperwhite because I hated reading on the Fire. Since I got the paperwhite I haven't even picked up the Fire (almost a year now). I'm thinking of giving the Fire to my niece as I'm sure she'll use it and right now it's just a paperweight for me.

Also, when we went to Jamaica with friends I had the paperwhite while my friend had the Fire. I felt like we were the commercial. I was reading without any issues at all and she kept trying to find a spot where she could read without any glare.

 

[wvjules]

IF the primary purpose is reading...the paperwhite. If the primary purpose is email and websurfing, then the fire.

FYI, there is a refurbished PW on sale at Amazon today. It's only $79.

I have a Kindle Touch and a Fire and only use the Fire for websurfing, email, games, etc. I hate reading on it. I take my touch every where I go.

 

[kellia]

Thanks for the reviews! I was going to get her the PW because I saw they were $79, but then saw the fires were only $99. We got a Fire a few years ago and I didn't care for it, but I was wondering if they'd changed. I doubt my mom will use many apps! Paperwhite it is!

 

[busy mom]

Where are you finding the refurbed Paperwhite on Amazon? I can't seem to locate.......

 

[msmama]

May be too late. I have a paper white that I LOVE! However, when it came time to get my mom a reader I got her a Nook as I didn't want her calling me all the time when she couldn't figure something out. With the Nook,the fine folks at Barnes and noble can deal with her electronic incompetence, lol.

As for downloading library books on the Paperwhite I use my computer to go to my library's website. They use overdrive. Then the books are "auto-delivered wirelessly." I'm not exactly sure if I can do it directly from the Paperwhite.

 

[puffkin]

I would go with the paperwhite if she is going to be reading a lot. I have an older Kindle keyboard that I use a lot for reading as there is no glare. My DS got a Kindle Fire last year that I actually just sold last month. We all hated it. It was extremely glitchy, hard to navigate, and we didn't like the apps. I use my phone and ipad for websurfing/email and my kindle for reading. Works for us

 

[Zentra]

I have both the paperwhite and the Fire HD. For reading i'd definitely go with the paperwhite. It is better on the eyes. I tend to get headaches after reading on the Fire. The Fire is good as a tablet and for movies and entertainment.

 

[JoeA]

I'll jump in and say what everyone else seems to be saying...

I am a freg flyer and love the PW for reading on planes; in fact, I wouldn't ever consider anything else. We bought mom and MiL the Fire and they love them for surfing, email, checking weather, etc and only occasionally use for an e-reader.

Ditto on the sun! We were in HI a few years ago and I had no problem reading while hanging out at the pool, and my wife had a terrible time on her iPad (similar to the Fire).

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I would get her both if you can afford it, then she has the best of both worlds. The sad thing is the cost of both (even with the PW at full price) is almost $100 cheaper than my first Kindle (second generation).