Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Review: The Single-Task Gadget of Our Times

Paradoxically, E-book reader sales are soaring as consumers seek technology offering respite from social media and artificial intelligence hype. It’s even better in color.

Excerpt: "It may not sound like terribly exciting technology. But I couldn’t resist trying one.

That’s because e-book readers are suddenly trending. Amid the hype surrounding artificial intelligence and discourse about smartphone addiction, e-readers are flying off the shelves.

Last year, sales of Kindles were the highest in over a decade. People seem to be looking for a respite from the noisy chatbots and brain-rotting social media memes polluting the web.

The popularity of the Kindle is also part of a quiet resurgence happening with our personal tech. Lots of consumers, especially young people who grew up with smartphones, are turning to minimalist tech like wired earbuds, retro music players and “dumbphones” without traditional screens. A lack of features has become a feature in itself, and the Kindle is a rare example of an old-school technology that continues to be upgraded with modern features.

I tested the Kindle Colorsoft for about a week and found it to be a worthwhile upgrade from a black-and-white e-reader. There are downsides to adding color — the battery life is shorter, for one. But the addition of color enhances the reading experience, especially for comics and books that include photography."