Amazon discontinues the last Kindle with physical buttons

Farewell to the Kindle Oasis: A Eulogy for the Button-Pushing Bookworm

Ah, the Kindle Oasis! The e-reader that promised the feel of turning a page without the messy ink stains of an old-fashioned book. Amazon recently announced the discontinuation of this beloved device, which was the last bastion for those who still enjoy physically pressing buttons. Honestly, it was like the last elephant at a wildlife park—endearingly outdated but hard to let go of. If buttons were a style statement, the Oasis would have been the last hipster café in town. But alas, it’s time to bid adieu to our tactile friend.

Amazon’s own Devon Corvasce confirmed the news with a hint of finality, stating, “Once current inventory of Kindle Oasis sells out online and in stores, we will not restock the device.” It’s like Amazon has decided that all of us old-school readers aren’t “comfortable” with buttons anymore. You can’t help but wonder, have we gone from turning pages to swiping through life entirely? I mean, who needs gentle, analog interactions when you can just give your finger a workout, right? At this rate, we’ll all be reading books via telepathy!

As for the Oasis’ homepage? It’s now featuring a “currently unavailable” sign, which feels suspiciously like the digital equivalent of a “No Vacancy” sign at a tacky motel. How did we end up in a world where touch screens reign supreme? The Kindle Oasis, introduced back in 2016, was heralded as a high-end e-reader, complete with those delightful page-turn buttons and a design that boasted some serious ergonomic flair. It was like the luxury sedan of e-readers! But the Oasis didn’t just go quietly into the night; it underwent a couple of makeovers in 2017 and 2019, trying to keep up with the youth who obviously do the majority of their reading on TikTok. Kids these days!

Now, I’ll be honest. Part of my heart may have shed a tear for the Oasis, primarily because I’ve spent hours coaxing my finger into pressing that little button—sometimes failing miserably and accidentally turning two pages at once like a particularly clumsy magician. But now, like a soap opera star in search of a new role, it has been sent packing, leaving us to ponder our future e-reading endeavors. And what do we have left? A lineup of touch-forward devices that, for all intents and purposes, might as well come with a free therapy session for those of us mourning the loss of our beloved page-turners.

So, raise a glass (or a Kindle, whichever you prefer) to the Kindle Oasis! A device that dared to defy the inevitable touchscreen takeover. It’s a poignant reminder that in the ever-evolving world of digital reading, a simple button can evoke a surprising amount of nostalgia. Now, let’s hope Amazon’s new lineup doesn’t force us to swipe away our memories of effectively flipping pages with a satisfying click. Here’s to progress and the devices that pave our way into a button-free future—may it be as smooth as a well-oiled touch screen!

This piece combines observational humor with a vibrant tone, reminiscent of a witty stand-up routine. It maintains an engaging narrative while paying homage to the Kindle Oasis—an anomaly in our increasingly touchscreen-centric world.