Summary
- I use devices until they stop working; I won’t upgrade just for new features.
- My decade-old Fire 7 still reads, streams, and browses fine; longevity matters.
- Silk browser, multitasking, and apps keep my old Kindle useful every day.
“Out with the old and in with the new,” has never been a mantra that I follow. I’m going to work with my devices until I can’t any longer. I’ve only bought a new phone because the screen got smashed, and I’ve only upgraded my laptop after the GPU stopped working. I like to run my devices into the ground.
Call me old-fashioned, but I like to get the full value out of things. I’m absolutely the kind of person who eats leftovers for days after making a big meal — I just can’t stand to see anything go to waste. The same mindset applies to my devices. If I can squeeze a little more use out of them, I will. To me, it just makes sense. Even if something doesn’t have the latest features or cutting-edge tech, as long as it still serves its purpose, I’m going to keep using it.
There’s a reason I still have a dumb TV in my office. I just threw in a Roku Streaming Stick and kept on churning. The same goes for my Kindle. I have a Kindle that I’ve had for nearly a decade now. I haven’t even thought about buying a new Kindle since then. I can still do everything I want with my Kindle as I did when I first purchased it.
I can still read books perfectly well
Having an older model hasn’t limited me in the least bit
I own a Fire 7 tablet that I purchased in 2016. I still use the Amazon Kindle case that was suggested at the time of purchase (it’s no longer available on Amazon).
For the purpose of using a Kindle to read, I haven’t had an issue with mine. I’ve been able to access the Kindle bookstore since I got it and download books to it without issue. Is the background as good as some of the newer Kindle Paperwhite options where it’s easier to read outside? Almost definitely. Does that affect me immensely? Not at all.
I have read outside on my back patio plenty of times. It is a little harder when it’s bright out, so I just move under the umbrella. The same goes when I’m reading on a beach — I don’t love roasting in the sun anyway. I do realize this is all going to focus on my personal preferences about how I use my device, but it’s important nonetheless to highlight how well the Kindle Fire 7 has held up for so long.
I’m can still highlight text in the book and store notes for myself to come back to. I can also make the tablet read the text out loud. This makes for another easy way to avoid having to read when it’s too bright — I’ll plug in some headphones and just have it read to me or open up an audiobook in Audible.
I can still shop online or surf the web
I still have the Silk browser
The Silk browser is only available on Amazon’s app-based devices. It isn’t available on the Kindle, though — only the tablets. But the app’s software still works very well, as I’m able to log on and use the Internet to my full advantage. I know I can download the Amazon app, but I like to see it in a wider view in the browser. Plus, I do get ads on my lock screen, providing me with some interesting things to check out even before I unlock my device (sometimes the ads are actually interesting!)
The Kindle Fire 7 also lets you open multiple apps at once, with a simple, dedicated button that shows all your open apps so you can easily cycle through, close, or reopen them. It’s similar to using tabs in a browser or multitasking on other app-based devices. I can have several windows or tabs open and switch between them pretty easily, and the button layout on the fully touchscreen Fire 7 is straightforward: there’s a back button, a home button, and the multitasking button. Navigating between apps takes just a few quick swipes.
I can stream my shows anywhere I want
It’s so easy to bring it around with you
The 7 in the Fire 7 means that this display is 7″ diagonally. That may seem small, but it’s honestly just fine for bringing your content with you. Not only do I have a browser and books, but the streaming content works perfectly well. I have Netflix, Prime Video, and HBO Max downloaded onto my Fire 7 and have been able to use them all whenever I want.
It’s not a high definition tablet, but the standard definition of 1024 x 600 pixels delivers a clear screen that’s easy to look at, is bright in dark areas, and allows me to read subtitles without issue.
I can sit back in a chair, on a plane, or in the car (from the passenger seat) and either hook up to Wi-Fi or watch downloaded shows and movies. The tablet weighs less than 10 ounces, so it’s not a burden to hold or carry. It fits easily in pretty much any bag I own, too. We have a family iPad as well, but this is much simpler to carry around. While the battery life doesn’t last as long as it used to, it can still get me multiple hours of streaming before I need to charge again, which makes it worth it to me.
I’m not saying this is something that everyone should do. If you want to buy new products and have the latest tech, you should! But there is something to be said about technology that lasts. Amazon has done a good job of creating devices that can last a while. I’m sure I will upgrade to a newer Kindle someday because I do enjoy reading on it. But I still haven’t circled that day on my calendar.
