Kindle Paperwhite for Dummies (33 page)

If you put a small magnet in the corner of any cover with a front pocket (such as the one from Oberon), the cover will wake up your Kindle Paperwhite automatically when you open it and put it in sleep mode when closed.

Sleeves and envelopes for naked reading

Do you prefer to read your Kindle Paperwhite without the encumbrance of a cover? If so, consider a sleeve or an envelope rather than a cover for protection.

If you’re crafty, consider making your own sleeve! You can buy a pattern to make a Kindle sleeve from Birdiful Stitches. You can find details at
www.etsy.com/listing/55622726/padded-e-reader-sleeve-sewing-pattern
.

Sleeves are usually tight-fitting and may not have a zipper, snap, or other sort of closure device. They protect the Kindle when you aren’t reading it — period. They don’t have a place to attach a reading light or store the charger. On the plus side, sleeves are small and don’t add a lot of bulk to your device. A Kindle Paperwhite in a sleeve can easily slip into a purse, messenger bag, or briefcase.

A variation on a sleeve is the less form-fitting envelope. Timbuk2 makes a nylon envelope with a fold-over flap secured with a Velcro closure. The envelope, which you can purchase through Amazon, has high user ratings for its attractiveness and secure protection.

As shown in Figure 8-4, BoxWave (
www.boxwave.com
) has taken the word
envelope
literally with its Manila Leather Envelope, which looks like an envelope you’d receive in interoffice mail, right down to the red string closure.

Zip into a jacket!

Many Kindle Paperwhite users choose a jacket for protection and convenience.
Jackets
are typically made of fabric, such as canvas or microfiber, and secure the device inside, usually by corner tabs. In addition, jackets have a zipper closure, which provides more security than a cover. Some jackets have extra features, such as a front pocket or a place to store the USB cable.

Figure 8-4:
BoxWave’s product looks like an interoffice envelope!

Jackets provide all-in-one security in a convenient, lightweight package. You can find a wide variety of jackets in the Kindle Store at Amazon. While on your computer, from the Search drop-down list, choose Kindle Store, type
accessories jackets
on the search bar, and click Go.

For $40, you can design your own jacket at M-Edge (
www.medgestore.com
) using your own artwork or photographs.

Adding a Final Protective Layer

Many people don’t consider their accessorizing complete until they add a bag or case to their Kindle Paperwhite’s wardrobe. Bags range in size from petite — essentially a sleeve — to larger models that allow you to easily tote your Kindle, cover, charging cable, portable light, and whatever else you might have on hand. Unlike sleeves and jackets, bags and cases usually have a strap, such as a wristlet or a shoulder strap. You can also find fanny packs for your Kindle Paperwhite. Bags and cases are usually padded, adding one more layer of protection for the Kindle Paperwhite screen.

The popular Borsa Bella bags (
www.borsabella.com
) come in a variety of fabrics and sizes. The owner, Melissa Wisen, can even add a monogram to your bag!

Putting On the Finishing Touches

So far, we’ve described accessories that you put your Kindle Paperwhite in or accessories that go on your Kindle Paperwhite. In this section, we talk about external accessories: reading lights, styli, chargers, and more. Once again, you have plenty of options to choose from!

Portable reading lights

Unlike previous models of Kindles, the e-ink screen on the Kindle Paperwhite has a built-in integrated light, so an external light source is not required for reading. However, a portable reading light continues to be a popular accessory even for the Paperwhite. The variety of portable reading lights has boomed in recent years. If you opt to buy a light, the following suggestions will help you select the best one for your reading needs.

Rechargeable versus battery operated

A reading light needs a power source. Rechargeable lights tend to be lighter and more expensive than lights that use batteries.

You can use rechargeable batteries in a battery-operated light, but you still have to contend with the added weight.

When checking out battery-operated lights, determine what type of battery is required. AA or AAA batteries cost less but weigh more than more specialized disk batteries.

No matter what sort of battery your light uses, always keep a spare set on hand.

Lights for specific covers

A few lights on the market are designed to work with specific covers, such as the e-Luminator Touch Booklight from M-Edge (
www.medge.com
). This light is compatible with all current M-Edge covers for the Kindle Paperwhite. Note that earlier versions of the e-Luminator Booklight, designed for the second-generation Kindle, are too big for the current cover designs. Be careful when shopping and make sure to check the fine print.

A stylus for the touchscreen

One new accessory option for Kindle Paperwhite owners is a stylus for the touchscreen. Figure 8-5 shows a stylus alongside two other useful accessories, an adapter plug and a USB cable (described in the next section).

Why use a stylus? Some people prefer the more precise tip to tap the screen and menu options. A stylus can also keep the screen cleaner — no need to worry about dirt and oils on your fingers getting on the screen. If you’re searching for a stylus, look for one that is designed to be used with a capacitive screen.

Figure 8-5:
A stylus, an adapter plug, and a USB cable.

BoxWave (
www.boxwave.com
) makes a small bullet-style stylus with an attachment to hang on a keychain as well as a combo stylus with a ballpoint pen on one end and capacitive foam at the other. Amazon also sells a number of different styli at a variety of price points. Just search for
Kindle stylus
in the Kindle Store.

Styli that work on the Kindle Fire (or other tablets) will work just fine on the Kindle Paperwhite.