Amazon Kindle discussion
Device Related
>
New & Clueless
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Erin
(new)
May 09, 2011 08:54AM
I would like to purchase a kindle for a gift. Which one? There is the special that is $114 but has ads on it? Not sure that is worth it, what are people's reactions to that? Then there is Wi Fi and 3G. The recipient travels out of the country which is why I thought it would be a good idea. But she has her laptop and blackberry so does she need a kindle with wi fi and 3 G as well? Your advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
reply
|
flag
I have the wifi only, I figure that if I ever have a book downloading emergency away from home I can run into a Starbucks or Burger King (or apparently, the cafe in my supermarket!) And you can always download to the computer and transfer files with the USB.I have not had personal experience of the ad-supported version, but they're not supposed to be that obtrusive. I think there are some folks over at kindleboards.com who have gotten the ad-supported Kindle, but I haven't been keeping up with their reports.
Erin, I have written 2 responses to you and then got an error when I tried to send, maybe 3rd time's the charm. Anyway, I have heard that people who travel a lot prefer to have the 3G so they can download books anywhere or any time they want to. I personally have the WiFi only but I spend most of my time at home, so it's good for me. Like Stormhawk said, there are so many places now that have WiFi, it's not like she/he would be totally out of luck.The Kindle with ads has had mixed responses. Lots of people have said no way, they don't want ads on their Kindle, but then I've read reviews from people who bought one and they like it. There is a small banner on the Home page of the Kindle with an advertisement on it, then when the Kindle goes to sleep, the image is an ad. There are no ads inside books, no ads interrupt your reading at any time. Some people have said that some of the ads/offers are pretty good, for instance a $20 Amazon gift card for $10, but then you also have to put up with ads like from Chrysler or Oil of Olay too :)
It's a hard decision to make for someone else. But IMO the only time a person needs 3G is if they are totally away from any WiFi connection and they just HAVE to download a book. I have over 400 books on my Kindle, I can't imagine ever being in dire need of something to read.
I'd go for wifi becasue you can always find a starbucks to download in. As for ads, I'd rather not on principle. You know your recipient better than us in regards to ads. By the way, aren't you generous!
In Europe, it is not as easy to find places with WiFi connections. So if one travels a lot, G3 is good. I have G3 and I really appreciate it. Living in Europe, I do not have access to WiFi all over the place. There is still a huge difference between the US and Europe. Just a word of warning.
Thank you so much for your responses, appreciate all of them
In the U.K. you can get free Wi-Fi in a lot of places, including Starbucks although you do need to have a Starbucks card registered on their website (you can get one, put £5 on it, use it a couple of times and then never bother recharging it).
I have a Kindle 3 (Wi-fi+3G), and just to put in my 2 cents.. I think you could look at the 3G this way:1. You get a lifetime (at least until Amazon changes) of free 3G service for a one time price difference of $50.
2. There is a lot more you can do with a Kindle than just read books. I subscribe to blogs and read them using the Kindle web browser. I check email, check the weather, etc. Is it incredibly great web browser? No, and the average person probably has a better one on their smartphone, but it works and is handy for when I don't have something else with me. I suggest you check out the Free Kindle Books & Tips blog (fkbt.wordpress.com) for more things you can do with your Kindle.
Anyway, it's something to consider when trying to decide which model to purchase.
Erin wrote: "The recipient travels out of the country which is why I thought it would be a good idea. But she has her laptop and blackberry so does she need a kindle with wi fi and 3 G as well?"I have a 3G. I live in Ireland. I don't have wifi at home (I buy the best Macs and run them into the ground - my current one was the last one before standard wifi, and it's still going strong) but even shops have wifi. Except for trying the novelty, I've never run the 3G because it runs the battery down pretty fast and is anyway too slow and awkward.
Someone who travels with a Kindle and a laptop will probably also have a USB cable, and can use that for downloading from the laptop.
Kindle's 3G is just about useless unless you have lots of time and lots of patience, exactly what you don't have when you have a schedule to keep.
I don't understand why anyone with a computer and a phone, both capable of being read on, should want to carry a Kindle as well.
Krista wrote: "I have a Kindle 3 (Wi-fi+3G), and just to put in my 2 cents.. I think you could look at the 3G this way:..."I recently took a trip to the Oregon coast and was so glad to have 3G. The town was too small for free wifi and the hotel charged for it. My kindle did a lot of roaming (or whatever its called with kindle) and I got my preordered book and blogs on time. Just to throw in MY two cents.
Andre Jute wrote: "Erin wrote: "The recipient travels out of the country which is why I thought it would be a good idea. But she has her laptop and blackberry so does she need a kindle with wi fi and 3 G as well?"I..."
Why don't you buy one of those USB dongles which kind of 'add' wi-fi to your Mac? I have one that I use on an ancient PowerBook G4...
Miss P. wrote: "Why don't you buy one of those USB dongles which kind of 'add' wi-fi to your Mac? I have one that I use on an ancient PowerBook G4... "No need for it, don't use anything that requires synchronization.
just to update..... I purchased the WIFi Kindle without ads -- she is thrilled, thanks for the help
A happy ending, are you going to have one too?
Thanks for letting us know, Erin. I'm sure the recipient IS thrilled, what a great gift!
I may have to break down and buy one for myself -- I love to hold books in my hand but I can see the appeal now as well.... thanks again for your help
Get a cover for it, then it feels just like a book! In fact sometimes I reach for my pencil and think I want to underline something. I think it is a book! A book with nice big font and a built in dictionary and I love sampling books befor you buy them.
