If you’re an avid fan of Kindles or have a passing interest in e-readers, you’ve likely heard the news — the Kindle Oasis is dead. Amazon’s last e-reader with a premium build and page turn buttons is no more. But more importantly, there’s no replacement planned. Predictably, enthusiasts, including me, are up in arms. Amazon needs to bring back the Kindle Oasis, and here’s why.
For the love of reading
There are a few things dear to any hard-core reading enthusiast. Immersion, the lack of things that get in the way of immersion, and the quality of what you are reading. In the case of physical books, I’d say that comes down to the writing, additions like finicky cover jackets, and if you’re picky like me, the quality of paper used. In the e-reader or tablet world, things are slightly different. While a good book does the bulk of the heavy lifting when it comes to immersion, physical page-turn buttons and a lack of over-sensitive touchscreens amplify that experience. Finally, a sturdily-built, premium e-book reader solidifies that experience. As it stands, Amazon’s latest crop of e-ink readers fails on at least two of those metrics.