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Amazon have rendered my kindle useless

(91 Posts)
Luckygirl3 Thu 09-Apr-26 16:25:52

I (and many thousands of others) have received an email basically telling me that my kindle will no longer be useable as amazon has withdrawn the technical means of downloading books onto it, either directly or via computer amazon book purchase.

They have basically made it obsolete and stopped it performing the function for which it was bought in the first place.

I am surprised that they can legally do this - it is not because it has become technically impossible. They just want you to fork out for a more modern one.

Anyone else in the same boat? Any retired lawyers out there who might have some ideas about this?

Grantanow Wed 15-Apr-26 09:04:20

I find a tablet is a good alternative to a Kindle. I gave up using a Kindle quite some time ago.

Allira Tue 14-Apr-26 23:14:11

I don't like being read to.
Probably not since I was about 5 and started to read.

Oreo Tue 14-Apr-26 22:52:46

I wouldn’t be without my Kindle, if yours is really old then it’s worth updating it.

Floradora9 Tue 14-Apr-26 21:46:10

In case people do not know this if you have an alexa device you can ask her to read you one of your kindle books . You can just ask her to read your book and give the title or go to the Alexa app and choose which one you want . This means a 99p book can keep you amused to hours . I listen to a book every night when I go to bed and ask Alexa to set a sleep time for 30 minutes . She then switches off after 30 mins but if I waken in the night snd cannot sleep I do the same with a lesser time frame. I choose books like travel books and biographies which do not matter if you fall asleep and miss a bit . You can ask her to go back and name the amount of time you want. I find it a real boon.

Floradora9 Tue 14-Apr-26 21:36:43

Kitty55

I believe if you have a kindle you can download library book's onto them. . It might be worth looking into. I love my kindle and so far it’s not too old but when it is I will replace it with another. I bought mine at the beginning of covid and would have been lost without it.

I use Libby for books from the library and you cannot download them to a kindle .
I have two kindles which DH uses now as I prefer to read books on my I-Pad. Kindles are good for reading in bright sunlight though.

melp1 Tue 14-Apr-26 19:48:36

I use borrowbox app on my tablet & download ebooks from my local library for free.

appletree21 Tue 14-Apr-26 13:29:33

Aveline

I've checked my device. It's an 11th generation Paperwhite so is OK. If it was declared obsolete I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. It's a vital part of my life.

My Paperwhite is 11th generation too so okay for now,and I have another kindle too as a backup. Goodness knows what I would do without them!!

Doodledog Sun 12-Apr-26 21:45:55

WithNobsOnIt

Tells you everything you need to know about Amazon and their Megalomaniac Boss.
Jeff Bezos.

The oldest kindles are nearly 20 years old. Do you really think companies have an obligation to support items forever? There will be few of them left, so it won’t be cost effective. Also, they still work - you can read anything you have on them.

glammagran Sun 12-Apr-26 12:12:12

I recently upgraded myeperwhite kindle for the 7” version. A large choice of font sizes. I am unable to read books any longer as I can’t read even with prescription glasses. My kindle is a life saver.

Allira Sun 12-Apr-26 10:30:20

Well, I charged my old one, downloaded some new books on to it, read about three pages and the battery is flat!!

Happylady2025 Sun 12-Apr-26 10:19:23

I have an old kindle which is now so slow I am replacing it for a basic kindle which is about £75 to take on holiday. I read a lot and day to day I use the kindle app on a samsung tablet which is super fast.

WithNobsOnIt Sat 11-Apr-26 18:18:48

Tells you everything you need to know about Amazon and their Megalomaniac Boss.
Jeff Bezos.

Mollygo Sat 11-Apr-26 12:43:50

Menopauselbitch
Can you read it in sunlight?

Yes, even if you’re wearing sunglasses.

Menopauselbitch Sat 11-Apr-26 11:31:48

Barbadosbelle

.

I gave up on my Kindle after a very short time as I didn't like the very small pages and how pages would turn at the slightest movement. I found a grateful new home for it.

Since I've bought my books on my Amazon ipad app which sends them immediately to my ipad. The page sizes are just like a 'normal size paperback' and so it reinforces the feeling of 'reading a good book'.

I've built up quite a library and love the weekly email offers based on my preferences that Amazon send me. I've bought some great Michael Connolly and John Grisham Kindle editions for 99p to £1:99.

I would never go back to the Kindle.

Can you read it in sunlight?

Menopauselbitch Sat 11-Apr-26 11:29:30

Yes, this is what I do.

Mollygo Sat 11-Apr-26 10:57:23

Thisismyname1953

I bought a new kindle not long ago . I use them every day and they tend to become sluggish after a while . I bought my first one in April 2011 and am now on number 7 .
I have over 1500 books downloaded onto it and I could possibly start at the beginning of and read them all again. I have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited and read 10 to 20 books a month from there . I don’t smoke or drink so I do not begrudge a single penny that it is costing me .

That could be me writing that Thisismyname1953.
My PaperWhite is from 2018. Before that I had a keyboard kindle from 2010. It didn’t die, I just wanted one that had Bluetooth.
When I took out a Kindle Unlimited subscription I did wonder if it would be worth it, but I read a lot of books per month and can share the subscription with DH too.
Some KU books include an audio version for free.
I also use Borrowbox from the library for books and audio books.

Allira Sat 11-Apr-26 10:31:06

Thank you DrWatson, downloaded for future reference 🙂

DrWatson Sat 11-Apr-26 02:46:18

For EVERYONE with an affected Kindle, as Hithere says, DO NOT DESPAIR. I Googled 'solution re obsolete kindle' and got lots of answers.
PC Mag has a COMPREHENSIVE article, on this unfortunately chunky link >>> www.pcmag.com/news/dont-toss-your-old-kindle-yet-heres-how-to-keep-it-alive-after-may-2026

2507C0 Fri 10-Apr-26 23:52:00

Similar happened with Portal. I used to be able to use zoom on it but that facility was withdrawn so now it's basically a device that FaceTimes and it's pointless. Such a waste of money.

Thisismyname1953 Fri 10-Apr-26 20:43:59

I bought a new kindle not long ago . I use them every day and they tend to become sluggish after a while . I bought my first one in April 2011 and am now on number 7 .
I have over 1500 books downloaded onto it and I could possibly start at the beginning of and read them all again. I have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited and read 10 to 20 books a month from there . I don’t smoke or drink so I do not begrudge a single penny that it is costing me .

Hithere Fri 10-Apr-26 18:22:32

Barnes and nobles too

Authors have their own websites too

ViceVersa Fri 10-Apr-26 17:59:49

AuntieE

Is Amazon really the only provider of e-books in English?

I am asking because I don't know, never read e-books, preferring the old fashioned kind, and don't care greatly for Amazon either.

No, there are others - Kobo is probably the best known after the Kindle, but there's Onyx Book too and some other less well known ones.

JamesandJon33 Fri 10-Apr-26 17:10:38

I have a kindle fire which is around 15 years old. I haven’t had anything from Amazon…yet

AuntieE Fri 10-Apr-26 17:08:43

Is Amazon really the only provider of e-books in English?

I am asking because I don't know, never read e-books, preferring the old fashioned kind, and don't care greatly for Amazon either.

Mojack26 Fri 10-Apr-26 17:06:15

It's older ones. Treat yourself to a new one 20% off cist you £49