An Amazon.com press release put out on Wednesday touts the new Oasis e-reader as the thinnest and lightest Kindle e-reader ever. It also points out that the device's dual-battery charging system provides the longest life of any item in the Kindle family. There are other product attributes that Amazon claims will make the Oasis an e-reader with a level of quality above all others.
"To lean back and read for hours, you need a sanctuary from distraction," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder and CEO, in a statement. "We want Kindle to disappear, and Kindle Oasis is the next big step in that mission. It's the most advanced Kindle we've ever built — thin and ultra-lightweight, it gets out of the way so you can lose yourself in the author's world."
Inhabiting the sanctuary that Mr. Bezos refers will cost Amazon customers $289.99 for the base device and $359 for a 3G version. Those numbers are decidedly higher than Amazon's other e-readers that run from $79.99 for the base Kindle to $199.99 for the Kindle Voyage.
While reviews of the Oasis support the view that it is top of the line as promised, many do not see the value in spending the extra money to buy it. A review on Mashable by Christina Warren points out that the screen technology and resolution are no better on the Oasis than other Kindle models. Ms. Warren also points out that "tablets not named iPad (even Amazon's tablets) do not sell for $290."
Another review on The Verge, explains that the goal of the design team behind Oasis was to make using it "more of a paper-like instead of tech experience." The Oasis also comes with a leather cover to further emulate print books. This approach, according to the reviewer Sam Byford, is akin to the use of cork in wine bottles. Cork costs more than screwcaps and, in the end, doesn't do a better job keeping wine fresh.