- Kindle owners are frustrated with Amazon’s decision to end support for older models
- Users say they should not need to update if devices work normally
- Downloading is still an option, but Amazon could stop this solution.
It’s official, Amazon will stop supporting a wide range of older Kindle models starting May 20, and to say the least, it has shaken up many avid e-book readers.
Since online users shared that they received an email detailing the change, it generated a lot of comments and reactions, particularly on Reddit, none of which seem to welcome Amazon’s decision to stop providing support. If your pre-2012 Kindle hasn’t let you down yet, I’m afraid the time for an upgrade might come sooner than you think, but you’re not alone in this boat.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it
As mentioned, all Kindle models released in 2012 and earlier will no longer be supported. This means that you will still be able to read content that is already downloaded to your device, but you will not be able to purchase or download new books after May 20 of this year.
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The reaction speaks for itself, and a large majority of these users are quite pressed about it, especially since it will affect devices that are still widely used today, notably the Kindle 3, Kindle 4, and the first-generation Kindle Paperwhite. If there are so many users who are satisfied with the performance of these older devices, why is it necessary to end support?
Some are convinced it’s a classic Amazon money-grab scheme, with one user asking, “Why replace something as simple as this that still works?”
Most Kindle users in the Reddit thread have collectively reached an agreement; If it’s not broken, don’t fix it (or finish it in this case). For most users, the simplicity of a Kindle is what has kept them stuck with older models rather than upgrading to Amazon’s more advanced and therefore more expensive models. It is simply because advanced features are not a big need for those who just want a device to read books.
Unlike devices like phones, computers, and tablets that require new hardware iterations to keep up with evolving software and security updates, e-readers serve a singular, iconic purpose: reading. “It’s a text reader, that’s all, there’s no need to turn it into a non-money brick,” one user shared, while another commented “if the device isn’t broken and can still be used, and all the features we want and/or need are on the devices we already own, then we shouldn’t have to upgrade.”
However, despite this, there appears to be a silver lining. Yes, you won’t be able to purchase or download new books on affected devices, but this won’t stop users from downloading books from sites other than Amazon as a workaround.
A popular way to download books on a Kindle is by sending files and EPUBs to your Kindle email, which will then appear in your device’s library. One user on the Reddit thread revealed that they charge books on their Kindle “with a cable and (my) laptop,” but even then, the burning question—how long will this trick continue to work on May 20—is still on everyone’s lips. Will sideloading be Amazon’s next goal?
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