Kindle Paperwhite for Dummies (31 page)

The skin can be removed easily for repositioning while you’re applying it but becomes semi-permanent after it’s on for a few hours
.
That is, the skin, especially the corners, stays well adhered to the Kindle Paperwhite. If you decide to change the skin, you can pull it off easily after you work an edge free, but it’s likely to stretch out of shape. Although some people have been able to reuse a skin after an initial application, plan on using it only once.

Some people have had success reshaping a skin that has been removed from a Kindle Paperwhite using a hair dryer on the warm setting.

The following are some advantages of a vinyl skin:

Decoration:
For a small investment of approximately $9–$30, you can change the look of your Kindle Paperwhite as the spirit moves you.

Free of dirt and finger smudges:
If the skin gets dirty, you can easily take it off and replace it. Cleaning the Kindle Paperwhite case is a little trickier because you don’t want cleaning solution to accidentally seep into the screen around the bezel.

A number of skin manufacturers exist, and many sell their products on Amazon. The following are three of the most popular retailers of vinyl skins with designs for the Kindle Paperwhite:

DecalGirl (
www.decalgirl.com
):
One of the first out of the gate with skins for the original Kindle, released in 2007, DecalGirl sells its skins on Amazon and on its website. Choose from hundreds of designs in a matte or shiny finish or design your own for a reasonable price.

GelaSkins (
www.gelaskins.com
):
Another popular manufacturer with skins sold through Amazon and its website, GelaSkins features one-of-a-kind designs from up-and-coming as well as established artists. The company also allows you to use your own photos or art to create custom skins.

iStyles (
www.istyles.com
):
Based in Singapore, this company creates vinyl skins for many devices. You can pay in U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds, or Singapore dollars and have your skin shipped worldwide. Skin prices are comparable to those of U.S. manufacturers and shipping costs are reasonable.

Skins aren’t just for the Kindle family of e-readers. All the manufacturers listed here make skins for a variety of devices, including laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles.

Screen protectors

Screen protectors
are just what the name implies — a plastic covering for the screen to keep it safe from scratches and smudges. Users have mixed opinions regarding whether they’re necessary. On one hand, the screen is the most delicate part of the Kindle Paperwhite, and although you can wipe off a smudge, a scratch is permanent. A screen protector can be an inexpensive way to provide a layer of security for your device. On the other hand, screen protectors can be tough to apply and can obscure the screen, making reading more difficult. Because the Kindle Paperwhite is all about reading, having something that may interfere with that isn’t a bonus.

Keep in mind that the Kindle Paperwhite is a touchscreen device. You do need to put your fingers on the screen to turn the page, look up words in the dictionary, or buy e-books from the Kindle Store. The screen will get dirty. Plus, you may splash milk on it while eating a bowl of cereal or sneeze on it. We leave the decision of whether the screen protector is necessary up to you.

The following manufacturers offer screen protectors:

BoxWave (
www.boxwave.com
):
This company offers two screen protectors, one with an anti-glare feature and a second with crystal-clear viewing. They also offer the Screen Puff, an ultrapuffy screen wiper, available in seven colors — you can coordinate with your cover and skin!

BodyGuardz (
www.bodyguardz.com
):
Like BoxWave, this manufacturer makes anti-glare and classic clear screen protectors, but they also make a carbon-fiber skin that applies to the front and the back of the device. In addition, they sell a clear vinyl combination skin/screen protector that covers the entire body of the Kindle Paperwhite.

M-Edge (
www.medgestore.com
):
Visit this manufacturer for a two-pack of screen protectors, plus a cleaning cloth.

When searching for screen protectors, make sure to specify the Kindle Paperwhite or a 6-inch screen device. Screen protectors for the Kindle Touch will fit the Kindle Paperwhite because they both have 6-inch screens. However, protectors for earlier versions of the Kindle will not fit the Kindle Paperwhite screen.