The next-generation Kindle Paperwhite is now available for preorder on Amazon, and you're probably wondering if you should stick with last year's version (my personal favorite ereader) or upgrade to the new sixth-generation Paperwhite. Amazon's latest backlit, black-and-white ereader ships Sept. 30 ($119 with special offers/WiFi and $139 without offers/WiFi, and $189 for a free 3G data version) — but is it worth it?
The hardware is mostly the same with some improvements to the display (higher resolution and contrast), internal specs (25 percent faster processor), and light (developed to reduce eyestrain). The software, on the other hand, received the bulk of the upgrades. Integration of recent Amazon acquisition Goodreads, vocabulary building, and a superuseful page skimmer are just a few of the new features in this next Paperwhite that bring the best parts of physical books into an electronic reader.
Amazon also announced a killer deal for Kindle users who've purchased physical hard copies of books in the past. Matchbook, which launches in October, offers readers the ebook version of an already-purchased physical title for a reduced price. In the gallery, see the details from the new program and screenshots of the Paperwhite's smarter software, then let us know if you think it's worth the upgrade.
