Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle - 16GB Agave Green, No Lockscreen Ads with Merlot Leather Cover & Power Adapter | Perfect for Reading, Travel & Gifts

We bought two of these Kindle Paperwhite readers to replace two older ones we purchased the summer of 2014. The old ones are still working, and were passed to family members wanting to experience e-readers. In the six months we have been using the new ones we still enjoy reading with them. Following is what has been improved since 2014-1- the screens are slightly larger, and the illuminated portion is not framed by the plastic frame...it is more like an iPad, so dust and crumbs don't accumulte in the crevices.2- the screens are more responsive than the older ones.3- you can adjust the color temperature of the screen from bright white to a softer more yellow tone if you like.4- the basic memory has been upgraded to 8G, which is a lot of books if you ever decide to go "off the grid" and take your book collection with you. I downloaded every Stephen King book I own (a LOT) on the old Kindle and it barely put a dent in the storage.5- the software is more evolved than the older version, and doesn't require monthly reboots. We haven't had to do a reboot with the new ones in six months.6- the Wi-fi version connects seamlessly with our router, and allows quick searches of terms or references via the internet.7- the new Kindle will display basic pictures as viewable items. The maps from "The Lord of the Rings" appeared as small smudges on the older version. This is a huge improvement.The new Kindle has certain things I don't like-1- the basic controls for brightness, font, font size, brightness, and boldness are hidden under general headings that are not intuitive, requiring dedicated searches to adjust the display.2- the Library setting has been 'unimproved' and forces you to have pictures of book covers along with titles. This uses a lot of space and crowds the pages when you are simply searching for a title or author. You can make the book covers smaller, but the 2014 version was far superior.3- the new Kindle came with an active setting that caused other readers' highlighted sections to appear in books I had just purchased. Call me old-fashioned, but if I want a section highlighted, I'll do it myself. That's the purpose of reading a book rather than CliffsNotes. This can be turned off.Things I don't care about-1- the ad-Supported lockscreen. I was too cheap to pay extra to avoid book ads when I swiped to unlock the Paperwhite because the tenth of a second it took to drag my thumb across a 4" screen didn't really put me off. However, I've come to realize that most of the ads are now showing genres reflective of what my wife and I read, and are actually beneficial to finding new books by authors we like. But I don't think I'm gonna change my mind about the text controls.The paperwhite is the closest thing to reading a physical book without needing two hands to hold it. The screen mimics the size of a paperback, and allows you to read it in direct sunlight or a darkened room. The battery will usually last me for a couple of weeks dedicated reading before needing a recharge, the white screen will not keep you awake, and you can carry your entire library if you're hiking the Appalachian Trail (and have a USB-c compatible power supply).