Has anyone tried rooting the Kindle Paperwhite? I just bought one and I have firmware version 5.6.1. The internet tells me that is is unrootable. Has anyone on here given it a shot? I would like to root it so that it can read other eBook formats.

5/27/2015 3:35:52 PM

It might be easier to just convert to .mobi or whatever the relevant format is. Calibre has been good to me.

5/27/2015 5:30:03 PM

^

5/27/2015 6:08:16 PM

I got Calibre. It is pretty cool. I'm still a bit sad that there is no root method available. I hate how Amazon has so much control over a device that I own.

5/27/2015 10:18:59 PM

But you bought it anyway.

5/28/2015 12:44:04 AM

my next e-reader will be a kobo glo HD or kobo aura H2O...i actually really like my first-gen nook glowlight, though i haven't utilized its being rooted like i thought i would

5/28/2015 6:27:12 AM

I used to use Calibre but seriously if you need to convert books or run other formats you're probably stealing books. I subscribe to Kindle Unlimited and if a book's not on there I pay for it. Sure you can make the argument if you want to open certain free books or other documents but I highly doubt that's most of you.

5/28/2015 4:26:53 PM

amazon sells the device at a loss purely to have control over it and what you consume on it. you didn't think they were a charity did you?

5/28/2015 4:35:30 PM

That's exactly my point. You're getting a cheap device because they expect you to buy their books. I do. Most of the books I read are between $6-8 or on Kindle Unlimited. I feel like $10-16/month (depending on if I buy a non-unlimited book) is worth the 40-50 hours a month I get out of reading. $10 for 40 hours is a quarter an hour. I'd say that's pretty cheap entertainment.

5/28/2015 4:39:18 PM

Quote :

"if you need to convert books or run other formats you're probably stealing books"

nope

i buy books wherever they're cheapest (or frequently get "free book of the day" type stuff)...and if they don't come in epub format, they get converted (this includes getting them from amazon and then "stealing" them from my phone so i can use them on my nook)

we can get into how inferior azw/mobi is, if you want, but it wouldn't be much of an argument...even amazon has realized how retarded their proprietary formats are (since KF8 is essentially epub with a mobi included for legacy devices)...amazon maintains a proprietary format for the sole purpose of keeping you locked into their devices

my nook was less than a kindle, works just fine, and doesn't keep me locked into their ecosystem...so i spend less on books and get more out of them...i'd rather spend $5 for 40 hours of reading than $10 for the same

it's an argument i've made before, but you're never going to convince me that paying more for less is in my best interests

[Edited on May 29, 2015 at 8:28 AM. Reason : .]

5/29/2015 8:26:32 AM

no one is suggesting you spend more for less. the suggestion is that you spend more on a device that does what you want that's ecosystem agnostic. finding one as good as a kindle will not be easy or cheap for the reasons outlined above.

5/29/2015 10:05:26 PM

Quote :

"i'd rather spend $5 for 40 hours of reading than $10 for the same"

I don't mind paying $5-6 for a book from an author I really appreciate. Nor do I mind paying $9.99/month for all the rest of the books I read. If you can find them for $2.50 than more power to you. The Kindle Paper White and Voyager are the best devices on the market hands down and their ecosystem is the best out there.

I can easily log onto Amazon, read reviews, read a sample, then with one click have it sent to my device(s). I don't have to hunt for deals or get "free books of the day". I'm also an adult and time is money and spending an extra $5 on convenience is something I have zero problem doing.

If you're truly not pirating books and penny pinching $5-8 a month because you'd rather get cheaper books on another inferior device then that's none of my business. All I'm saying is I enjoy Kindle devices and Amazon makes it really easy to find, read reviews, sample and purchase books. I haven't found another service out there that's like it.

5/30/2015 9:50:27 PM

^ i think it's funny that you equate doing absolutely nothing and saving money to be "penny pinching"...it's not like i'm spending hours each week searching for the cheapest version of a book out there

and, hey, if you think the paperwhite is greatest thing since sliced bread, it is undoubtedly within your rights as an adult to believe so...i find the fact that the kobo has a screen that's just as good, is waterproof, more rugged, and supports just about every format without requiring conversion to be appealing...they also have a decent ecosystem, but since i don't find it necessary to download a new book every couple of hours, i don't find it especially onerous

again, to each their own...you like limitations and paying more money, i prefer the opposite

[Edited on June 1, 2015 at 12:38 PM. Reason : actually, IIRC the paperwhite is 12:1 contrast ratio, vs kobo's 10:1]

6/1/2015 12:36:29 PM

The Kobo Aura H20 is $179. A bit pricey compared to the normal Kindle Paperwhite at $119 just for being water proof.

To your point about paying more money the device is cheaper and I'm getting the majority of my books unlimited with Kindle unlimited so it's quite possible the cheaper route is with a Kindle and Amazon depending on how much you read.

I just looked up the last 10 books I've read and the prices are identical between Amazon and Kobo. Therefore at $9.99/month I would be saving money going with Amazon over Kobo for the most part.

So I'm saving money on both the device and books...not sure how that equates to me spending more. Again I don't hunt for deals or get "free books of the day". I'm usually very targeted on which books I want to read based upon word of month or reviews so the 1-2 books I buy a month would average out to over $10/month which is why unlimited is great (except for the occasional book I find that isn't on there).

6/1/2015 1:19:19 PM

Quote :

"So I'm saving money on both the device and books."

that's my point...it works great for you given your self-imposed limitations

you clearly prefer to "rent" the majority of your books in an inferior, proprietary format (i know you're not arguing otherwise on this point) and have no desire for your device to be more durable or rugged

as you've pointed out, we're adults and we have money...i have no problem with the way you choose to spend yours, but as an educated, tech-savvy adult with money, i prefer to own my books and read them on a more durable and rugged device that doesn't mandate the use of inferior formats in a closed ecosystem

to each their own, that's what's great about america

also, the glo HD is only $130 and is more in line with the kindle voyage (which is $200 for the model with advertising)...so $10 more than the bottom-end paperwhite with those retarded "special offers" nets you a better screen, 2x the storage, and microSD slot...oh, and it's not locked into amazon

[Edited on June 1, 2015 at 2:51 PM. Reason : .]

6/1/2015 2:39:54 PM

Again for someone who likes to pick their books based upon popularity, word of mouth, and reviews and not based upon what's cheap or free then yes it's cheaper for me to "rent" my books. Also 95% of the books I read I probably won't read again.

As for durability I think it's a moot point. Both the paperwhite and voyage are quite durable and lightweight. I haven't played with any of the Kobo models but every review I read puts Kindle hardware in 1st place so there's not really a huge argument there.

I'm not saying one's better than the other I'm saying I've stuck with Amazon because it's great and the last time I looked into other services they were no where near as fluid as Amazon's. Nor did they have as robust a library.

Your other points are kind of silly. The screen resolutions are the same, storage is a moot point, and I could care less about a microSD slot. Many of the reviews I've read put the Voyage as having the best screen with the adaptive brightness feature.

I mean don't take my word for it. Literally every review always puts Kindles at the top of the list for e-readers.

http://www.cnet.com/topics/ereaders/best-e-book-readers/
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/tablets/3476612/7-best-ereaders-2015-uk-may/
http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/22/7434175/best-e-reader-you-can-buy

I respect your opinion and I'm not saying you're wrong but you are in the minority.

[Edited on June 1, 2015 at 3:17 PM. Reason : s]

6/1/2015 3:01:16 PM

again, to each their own...you're happy locked into your limited ecosystem and i'm glad i'm not

i respect your right to have an opinion and be happy in your choices...i don't respect your narrow point of view, though, as there are clearly people who have different needs than you do and it seems strange for you to write off those needs and wants as invalid simply because you can't understand them (if you did understand them, you'd agree that the paperwhite simply is not the "best" e-reader)

amazon and the paperwhite is like apple and the ipod...they are undoubtedly good products and services for people who find comfort in being told what they want, but thank goodness there are others of us out there with ambition and imagination who want to do more with our money, time, and gadgets

[Edited on June 1, 2015 at 3:24 PM. Reason : .]

6/1/2015 3:17:49 PM

It's not my point of view. I'm simply saying I've stuck with Amazon because I like their hardware, the number of features, and their library. I'm not saying your view is wrong I'm simply saying the general public and reviewers all prefer Amazon Kindle's. There's no argument there. That's not my opinion.

Also "limited ecosystem" makes no sense. Amazon has the largest selection of books, the most features, and the most fluid of sample, review and purchase systems out there. The Kobo ecosystem is way more limited and that's what all the reviews say as well.

Also relating ambition and imagination to an e-book reader and being able to put multiple formats on it is kind of silly. My ambition and imagination go towards many things but how I read a digital book is not really one of them.

My experience is better, easier, and more robust than yours is. Sometimes people like to make things over complicated because they think it's cool and innovative when in reality you're just sitting at home torrenting epub books so you can read them for free on your Kindle knock off device.

--also it sounds like you don't even own a Kobo device...

---give me 2 examples of books you've read in the last 2 months and where you got them and what they cost.

[Edited on June 1, 2015 at 3:41 PM. Reason : s]

6/1/2015 3:29:03 PM