Amazon Kindle discussion
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New kindle and already a regret
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♥Meagan♥
(new)
May 25, 2011 05:09PM
Why? I find I rarely use my 3G, but my house has wireless, so it may be different for you.
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Diane wrote: "I bought the Kindle with wi-fi about a month ago, and I do love it. But I wish I spent the extra money for 3G."
I have the Wi-Fi version as well, so I kind of understand what you mean. I don't have wireless at home, so I have to rely on places like Starbucks to do anything "online" with my Kindle. Then again, it might keep me from spending my paycheck on books lol ;-)
I have the Wi-Fi version as well, so I kind of understand what you mean. I don't have wireless at home, so I have to rely on places like Starbucks to do anything "online" with my Kindle. Then again, it might keep me from spending my paycheck on books lol ;-)
I don't have wireless at home, either, so I'm glad I purchased the 3G version. I didn't want to have to go to a Starbucks or someplace where they have Wi-Fi anytime I wanted to search the store, buy a book, etc. I don't regret at all spending the extra $$$ for the 3G.
I use the 3G at school all the time to get on facebook and I'm always telling teachers I am reading lol.
Mod
You said you bought it "about a month ago". If you bought it on Amazon..."
You might be able to email Amazon and ask if you can exchange it for the 3G version and just pay the difference. Amazon's customer service is usually pretty good at helping customers out.
You may be able to sell it also and get the 3G version. Also Amazon have the 3G on sale for $164.00.
Keep in mind the $164 one is the 3G with ads. The 3G without ads is $189.
I regret not purchasing the 3G version too, I bought mine back in January, I'm still delighted by my little toy though. ;-)
I'm still debating on which Kindle to get :) I see the DX version is huge. I think I might want smaller though.But yeah, 3G will be a definite for me.
I'm perfectly happy with wifi, I do all my buying at home anyway
I could probably get by without 3G. I'm not much of a traveler, and am usually near a wifi point. But still, would rather have it and not need it. :)
I have wifi at home too so very simple book shopping. I quite often look on the laptop prior to choosing anyway.
I have the wifi at home also. I purchase my books with my laptop and leave wifi turned off until I am ready to add them to Kindle (saves battery life that way). If I get books from other places they are just emailed to my kindle also, so very rarely do I even use the USB cord.I love my kindle, I think it was the best Christmas gift I have ever received.
Is that like a best practice thing? Leave wireless off until you want to download something? How long does the battery last either way?
I do the same thing as Margaret with my kindle. I have never used the USB cord.
I keep wifi turned off read about 2 hours on a work day and loads more at the weekend and my charge lasts about 4 wks.Do the books automatically appear on your kindle when you turn on wifi? That would save me time as I choose then select on kindle and repeat.
Colberto wrote: "I use the 3G at school all the time to get on facebook and I'm always telling teachers I am reading lol."You can get on Fb using your kindle????
Helen wrote: "I keep wifi turned off read about 2 hours on a work day and loads more at the weekend and my charge lasts about 4 wks.Do the books automatically appear on your kindle when you turn on wifi? Tha..."
Yes, the books that you purchase download when you turn on wifi.
I also have just the wifi and it suits me fine. I have no need for 3G, since I buy books at home. Anyway, I have so many "to-be-read" books that I may never get through them! :)
I have about 28 on kindle and I'm down to 129 DTB so I feel I'm doing marvelously. I used to stop counting at 200 and would have loads more uncounted.
I am completely happy with the wifi K3. I have home wifi, and availability of numerous free wifi hotspots in my area (Panera, Burger King, Starbucks), as well as hotspots accessible by subscribers to one of the local cable companies (which I am). Now, I do admit I wouldn't mind Bluetooth tethering to my cell phone (my Palm T|X did that), but it's not a critical issue.
One of the things I've always wondered about WiFi v. 3G is the issue of security. In the world of computers (desktop and laptop) there are a lot of warnings about using public, unsecured WiFi. Why isn't that an issue with Kindle? And is 3G more secure? I just don't know, but I'm concerned.
Heidi wrote: You can get on Fb using your kindle????"Heidi, with your kindle wireless on, click on menu, then on the pop up menu scroll down to where it says "experimental" and click on that. In the experimental section click to "launch browser".
You should find bookmarks for facebook, twitter, yahoo, google, wikipedia, amazon (of course) and others. Yes, kindles have web browsers!
The bottom line is, if you have wi-fi at home or in a convenient nearby place (i.e. Starbucks, the library, school, etc.) then the wi-fi option may be the best. I have wi-fi at home but I find I rarely buy books directly to my Kindle; sometimes I put third-party books on through my USB cord.
I just spent the extra money when I bought mine because I didn't know that wireless meant that you could connect it to a home network so I thought I needed 3G. I honestly turn my wifi/3G on once a week to tweet that I finished a book and to rate it. Usually when I rate the book anything I need to download will do it then.
I use mine on the train a lot - I tend to leave the wi-fi on unless the battery is low when I turn it off till I finish reading and then flick it onbriefly to sync my "last-read" page! But I quite like the short stories so I use the 3G on the train to download the next one - and the next one - and the next one, etc!Also when I went on hols it was great for checking my email as the tariff for surfing on my phone abroad was extortionate! Bonus!
JAC
On Dark Shores: The Lady
Ha you guys have me considering Wifi only model now :)
Heidi, just take note that the web browser function on Kindle is not something you would want to use very much, and certainly not for any length of time. Everything is very tiny, you can zoom in but then you can only see a small part of the page. I use it only if I'm desperate!!
I don't think I would ever use it, but was just surprised you could browse the web on it. I'm new to it. My cousins daughter just got a kindle and she was asking if she could get on the web so thats really why I asked.
I thought you could only browse the web on the 3g version?
No, that capability is part of the wifi version (I just checked). I don't use it because I don't find it terribly useful.
I have an android phone and can browse in full color ... not much call for black and white browsing, IMHO.
(My wifi is usually turned off. I only turn it on when I want to buy books from amazon, which, I admit, is fairly often. And to get the software updates, but I'm pretty impatient about such things and usually download them through the computer.
I have so many books in my TBR that I could easily go for weeks without turning the wifi on. I was the same way with the K1 ... I kept whispernet off most of the time and only turned it on to get new books.
Betsy wrote: "One of the things I've always wondered about WiFi v. 3G is the issue of security. In the world of computers (desktop and laptop) there are a lot of warnings about using public, unsecured WiFi. Wh..."It's only really a concern if you're inputting passwords, bank information, etc. that could be stolen. The Kindle has your password and information stored, so there's nothing to be stolen when you're buying Kindle books (at least that's how I understand it). I hope no one is doing any banking on their Kindle!
I don't think I would be happy without the 3G. I have had a 2nd generation kindle for over 2 years. I keep the 3G on which does drain the battery (and my battery is showing its age 8-10 hours of reading per charge). The 3G guarentees me that everything will sync so that if I pull out my Droid or laptop 8 can pick up where I left off. I read so many places outside of my home wifi network that the 3G makes everything easier.
Ok I have the Deluxe with the wi-fi and I have over 207 books on it mostly free. I have the notepad and games. On my way to Disney last month my son and I even used it on the plane to play games on it. I usually only turn my wi-fi on to download books at home then turn it off since it saves the battery charge. However while on vacation at the Disney Animal Kingdom Resort they charge $15 a day for wi-fi. So I decided not to pay that to use my laptop, however my Kindle went through and I was able to access my email, email people back and read off the internet. Not sure how this was possible but it was. I am very happy with my wi-fi version since you can send tons of books and download them later. Sometimes I don't download for days and they are still in limbo but as soon as I turn it on and sync they all come onto my Kindle.
I buy most of my devices with wifi only (ie. no 3G). If you have a smart phone with a data plan you can set the phone up to easily turn into a wifi hotspot. Whenever I need to sync my Kindle and I am not around wifi, I do this. Works great for my iPad and my Kindle.
Mod
Not all phones will do this. And a lot of the companies are starting to charge you an extra fee for this capability. I know Sprint would charge me an extra $30 a month to activate this feature on my phone.
True marketing genius would be provide the device free, lock out all other content vendors and computer to device transfers, and only be able to buy content from the device provider. The real money is in the content, not the hardware.
Stormhawk, that's a lot like what MS did to gain marketshare over Word Perfect, isn't it? It sure worked for them.
I have the Kindle Wi Fi and I really love it. I have Wi Fi at home and I can get Wi Fi at starbucks and at the local library. I buy most of my books via Wi Fi and occasionally sideload third party books.
I can't say I'm missing having 3G but I only ever read my Kindle at home (I use my phone anywhere else) and I have Wi-Fi. The only time it has been a downside was while I was waiting for my internet provider to activate the line when I moved into my current place.
I live in Switzerland and wifi is not ever-present here. Love my 3G Kindle.
Theres something to be said for sitting on the beach, in an airport, or on a roadtrip and being able to download a new book right then and there. I love the 3G feature and though i have WiFi in my house, I find I use the 3G more often. I dont like planning ahead when it comes to choosing a book. I like to see what I'm in the mood for when the time comes to start something new and WiFi isnt always available during my whims.
Can all kindles browse facebook? I'm soon getting the kindle for 114.00.
All 3rd gen Kindles have web browsers. I don't know how well it would browse Facebook, though, what with the slowness and the lack of color.
My only problem with the Kindle and I am sure I will learn to deal with this (a problem I think for any e-reader) is that I like to go back and check on something from a previous page and although I can page back, I have no idea how long it will take me to page back and how many pages. Because there are so few words on a page, I know it would be a lot. I am glad I downloaded many books so I don't have to worry about not having something on my Kindle. I have so much to choose from that I actually went into my Amazon Library and deleted some. But they are still in the Archives on the Kindle. Have to go back to the manual to find the directions. But I's rather read the book than the Directions. Right now my arm is in so much pain so it is especially helpful to have the Kindle.
I like starting with a cover and to do this I open a new book then have to backpage til I reach it! I also like rechecking things that I sort of recall but it is too hard on a kindle!
Helen wrote: "I like starting with a cover and to do this I open a new book then have to backpage til I reach it! I also like rechecking things that I sort of recall but it is too hard on a kindle!"Helen - to get to the cover hit Menu, select Go To, tab over to Cover, then enter
Addie I didn't see cover as one of my choices. I go to the beginning of the book and then back page. Maybe I just missed it.
I have a question. I bought the Kindle w/special offers, but there are no ads on it. I thought there were supposed to be? And what kind of ads are supposed to be on it anyway?
The "ad" is the screen saver when your Kindle sleeps and then at the bottom of your home page you will find a small banner that is an ad. I think the menu button is where you find the "special offers" which explains the offers regarding the ads. So far there have only been four ads showing up on mine. I understand from others that they offer specials from Amazon itself too, like specials on Kindle covers, gift cards for Kindle books, etc. I haven't seen any of those "practical" offers yet. But have had mine less than a week.
I read the Kindle manual right away, and it's been immensely useful, even as a reference.The bookmark function is helpful for marking important pages. So is the Search function. These cover most problem instances, in my experience. You can also underline/highlight passages and make annotations. The Kindle gives you a lot of options; you just have to know how to use them.
