Not buying another Kindle

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Amazon’s decision to cut off pre-2013 Kindles from the Kindle Store and new registrations is prompting renewed scrutiny of DRM-heavy e-reading ecosystems. Commenters note that while the hardware often lasts a decade or more, software-enforced obsolescence effectively bricks devices and locks users out of books they thought they owned. Many describe migrating to Kobo, Boox, or fully offline workflows with Calibre and DRM‑free EPUBs, arguing that long-term access to one’s library now depends on avoiding platform lock‑in rather than on any specific device.

Kindle deprecation and its consequences

  • Amazon is cutting off pre‑2013 Kindles from the Kindle Store and new registrations; a factory reset after the cutoff can make them unusable beyond a “paperweight” reader for already‑downloaded books.
  • Some posters say this is effectively bricking good hardware and will push many devices into landfill; others note the devices were supported ~13+ years and see that as reasonable.
  • There is confusion over what still works: all agree store downloads will stop, but claims conflict on whether USB transfer requires being logged in and whether that will also be blocked.

Workarounds: sideloading and jailbreaking

  • Many users already keep Kindles in airplane mode and sideload via USB, often through Calibre; they report little impact from Amazon’s changes.
  • Jailbreaking older Kindles to install KOReader or other software is reported as relatively straightforward and can extend functionality (e.g., Tailscale, custom readers).
  • Some stress that jailbreaking is now effectively required to keep using older devices fully.

DRM, ownership, and trust

  • Strong criticism of DRM and cloud dependence: people feel this demonstrates they never truly “owned” Kindle books and that services can revoke or strand purchases.
  • Others counter that most major ecosystems (including Kobo) have similar DRM constraints driven by publishers.
  • Several recommend de‑DRM tools and maintaining a personal, DRM‑free EPUB library (often managed in Calibre), sometimes sourced from shadow libraries.

Alternative devices and ecosystems

  • Kobo is the most cited alternative: native EPUB support, easy USB sideloading, long firmware support history, and OverDrive integration. Some report rock‑solid behavior; others complain about random page turns, sync issues, and OverDrive glitches.
  • Android‑based e‑ink (Boox, PocketBook, xteink, reMarkable) is praised for flexibility (Libby, Kindle app, general Android apps) but criticized for weaker battery life, phoning home, or GPL compliance issues.
  • PocketBook and Kobo can be used entirely offline as mass‑storage devices, which some value highly.

Reading experience, UX, and formats

  • Many like Kindle hardware (especially Oasis, page‑turn buttons, battery life, and text rendering) but dislike the ad‑heavy home screen, slow UI, weak library management, and Amazon’s proprietary formats.
  • Several argue Kindle typography and format handling are outdated versus what modern EPUB renderers could do.
  • Some abandon e‑readers for phones/tablets or return to physical books, citing DRM fatigue, UX problems, or repeated obsolescence.