Help choose which Kindle to buy 3G or Wifi?

[ToodlesRN]

Know there is alot of Kindle threads going around, but none are answering any specfic questions I have.

A little about me:

We have wireless network in our home
Plan on taking this with me on trips, will plan on having all my books downloaded before we go. But there may be a time that I see a good read and want to buy it while traveling.


I really don't know if I need a 3G or Wifi only (this is where I am getting stuck). Since Im on budget I plan on getting the Kindle with ads. so my 2 choices are the

3G Kindle with ads for $164
wifi kindle with ads for $114

Also I thought I heard there is a built in light in the Kindle? I can't seem to find an answer for that. Or is it the Kindle cover that has the light?

Thanks!

 

[luvmy3]

Know there is alot of Kindle threads going around, but none are answering any specfic questions I have.

A little about me:

We have wireless network in our home
Plan on taking this with me on trips, will plan on having all my books downloaded before we go. But there may be a time that I see a good read and want to buy it while traveling.


I really don't know if I need a 3G or Wifi only (this is where I am getting stuck). Since Im on budget I plan on getting the Kindle with ads. so my 2 choices are the

3G Kindle with ads for $164
wifi kindle with ads for $114

Also I thought I heard there is a built in light in the Kindle? I can't seem to find an answer for that. Or is it the Kindle cover that has the light?

Thanks!

The Kindle does not have a built in light, but there is a cover that does.
I just got a Kindle with Wi-Fi only. I upgraded from a Sony which didn't have Wi-Fi at all so I have been used to having to have what I want to read on the device before traveling. I also download alot of free books, so there is always something ready to be read.
For me the 3G isn't worth the added expense because I don't tend to shop for books on impulse. If I did see something I really wanted, I would just wait till I got home to download it, or do it when I was in a free wi-fi spot.
It is really going to depend on your habits and if you feel its worth $50 to have it. Either way, I'm sure you will love your Kindle

 

[labdogs42]

I have a WiFi kindle and I can't imagine needing 3G. I usualy load mine up before I go anywhere and a lot of places have wifi now anyway (e.g Starbucks, McDonalds, etc). I'd use the extra money toward books!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I wouldn't buy an e-reader without 3G. Yes, wifi only sounds GREAT in theory... until you actually need to connect anywhere other than home or work. You can also check your email without having to bring along a pc, smartphone or iPad. All over the world. For free. You can also email (or have someone email) books or documents directly to your Kindle. My DD happens to be in Israel at the moment. She uses her Kindle 3G to get and receive mail, update her FB status, as well as read . I save her travel documents in PDF format here and email them directly to her Kindle so she has them available when she checks in to her next hotel or needs her next boarding pass or security document. It costs me 15 cents to email her Kindle a book or a document if she is not connected to wifi and using only 3G.

Know there is alot of Kindle threads going around, but none are answering any specfic questions I have.

A little about me:

We have wireless network in our home
Plan on taking this with me on trips, will plan on having all my books downloaded before we go. But there may be a time that I see a good read and want to buy it while traveling.


I really don't know if I need a 3G or Wifi only (this is where I am getting stuck). Since Im on budget I plan on getting the Kindle with ads. so my 2 choices are the

3G Kindle with ads for $164
wifi kindle with ads for $114

Also I thought I heard there is a built in light in the Kindle? I can't seem to find an answer for that. Or is it the Kindle cover that has the light?

Thanks!

 

[Cotton's Parrot]

I wouldn't buy an e-reader without 3G. Yes, wifi only sounds GREAT in theory... until you actually need to connect anywhere other than home or work.

Agree 100%!!! Yes, WiFi sounds great -- unless you don't go places that have free WiFi. I rarely, if ever, go to fast food places like Mickey D's or Starbucks. None of the airports I use have free WiFi. None of the hotels I've stayed in had free WiFi. When I'm camping out in the middle of a state park in Wisconsin and I want my daily Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel delivered, I don't want to have to drive into town and search for free WiFi. The 3G option is great for how and where I use my Kindle. I love that I can download books, magazines, newspapers anywhere, any time without a computer, without WiFi. And the best things is, you pay the premium once. No wireless contracts, no monthly 3G charge. Pay it once and you're set for the life of the device. If you get 3G, I guarantee you'll find places to use it.

 

[RitaE]

As you can see I think it largely depends on how you are going to use your Kindle. If you travel a bunch and want your books on the fly, I think 3G is worth the price. If you mostly buy from home and then you can probably do well with just the WiFi.

I also use my 3G frequently. I have about 800 books on my Kindle 3 and I'm still always finding something to download. But if I was on a stricter budget, I'd certainly be happy enough with just the WiFi.

 

[phorsenuf]

I went back and forth and decided against the 3G. I just didn't see the need for the added expense. I have never traveled where there wasn't free wi-fi (besides Disney). Every hotel and every airport I've ever been in has it.
I have 3G on my phone and I can tether it to my laptop and access the internet that way if I absolutely need to. Haven't tried yet to see if I can tether my phone to the Kindle to access the internet.
I can't imagine though being in a place where I absolutely positively have to have a book that second.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

3G is for those places you CAN'T imagine. Honestly, we use the connectivity as much for communicating as we do downloading books. Times we've downloaded books through 3G include long roadtrips taking a child to/from college so the other child could complete a book report. Once we were visiting family and planned to get a book from the Barnes & Noble down the street because the younger DD had to read it for AP Lit. One time I'd finished reading a book in a series early and my trip home was delayed by weather and the Airline's wifi for employees was down so I bought the next book in the series and made the delay much more tolerable.

Also, if you purchase the 3G with special offers, you'll reduce your total cost pretty quickly through the discounts.


ETA: And the only way you can connect your Kindle to your phone is if your phone can operate as a wifi hotspot.

I can't imagine though being in a place where I absolutely positively have to have a book that second.

 

[Forevryoung]

I have a kindle with wifi. It was a gift so it wasn't a quite a choice. I obviously could have exchanged it and paid more for the 3G model.

In 6 months time, I have never had a situation where I would have even LIKED to have the 3G. I always have *something* to read on there that would pass the time in an "emergency" and I usually have my next "can't wait to read" book loaded and ready to go.

When I'm traveling, I make sure I have my next 3-4 books ready just in case. Depending on the trip, I'll put more (beach vacation=a book a day).

However, I also have a blackberry to check email/surf the web if needed in most other circumstances (I know that wouldn't work overseas)

 

[Lumiere Lover]

I love my wifi. I don't have any regrets. The light comes with a specific Kindle cover. I got the cover without the light, and that I am regretting. You can purchase lighs for Kindle to clip on, and that I will probably do.

 

[nowellsl]

Agree 100%!!! Yes, WiFi sounds great -- unless you don't go places that have free WiFi. I rarely, if ever, go to fast food places like Mickey D's or Starbucks. None of the airports I use have free WiFi. None of the hotels I've stayed in had free WiFi. When I'm camping out in the middle of a state park in Wisconsin and I want my daily Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel delivered, I don't want to have to drive into town and search for free WiFi. The 3G option is great for how and where I use my Kindle. I love that I can download books, magazines, newspapers anywhere, any time without a computer, without WiFi. And the best things is, you pay the premium once. No wireless contracts, no monthly 3G charge. Pay it once and you're set for the life of the device. If you get 3G, I guarantee you'll find places to use it.

So, I'm not really sure how they work but you're saying you can get on the internet anywhere and it doesn't cost anything other than the initial purchase?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

That's exactly what he or she is saying.

So, I'm not really sure how they work but you're saying you can get on the internet anywhere and it doesn't cost anything other than the initial purchase?

 

[nowellsl]

That's exactly what he or she is saying.

Wow, I might have to look into that! Beats lugging a laptop and paying for internet at a hotel just to check my email!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

3g is worth it to me, because I do download books on the fly. It's only $50 more anyway.

 

[AllisonK]

I got my Kindle yesterday and went with the WiFi only option. I don't see myself ever needing to buy a book ASAP and I already have quite a few options on there. If I ever do need a book in an instant, I have my iPhone with my Kindle app.

 

[manning]

So, I'm not really sure how they work but you're saying you can get on the internet anywhere and it doesn't cost anything other than the initial purchase?

Don't know how kindle works but with a Nook you pay more for the 3g model. There is not any extra charge to use the 3g to buy books. That is the only way you can use the 3g with the Nook, to buy books.

 

[ericamcl]

I have a 3g kindle and LOVE It -my sister has a nook, and, while it's neat, it's sometimes hard to read because of the glare, etc.

 

[pezheadmeg]

Subbing because I was considering the new Google Tablet only because of the 3g.

Now I'm seriously thinking that the Kindle with 3g would be a better choice. What exactly can the 3g network access? Is it similar to what I can get on my Blackberry browser? Or is it more like what I can get on the I-touch with the at home wi-fi?

 

[MrsPete]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned:

The less expensive model's battery lasts longer between charges. (Don't take my word for it -- check the website.) For me, battery power's more important than the ability to make a book purchase anytime, anywhere.

Once you have your Kindle for a while, you'll find that you'll build up a huge backlog of books -- you won't be able to turn down those free books! So although you might not be able to purchase that new best seller while riding a train through who knows where, you'll have something new to read.

What I wouldn't buy: The one with the ads. That'd be annoying, and the price difference is small.

 

[MrsPete]

Wow, I might have to look into that! Beats lugging a laptop and paying for internet at a hotel just to check my email!!

Keep in mind that it's not going to be nearly as fast as your laptop.