Help choose which Kindle to buy 3G or Wifi?

[bicker]

Agreed. The whole "expensive" argument is ridiculous anyway. Is anybody buying a Kindle to save money? Face it - it's a luxury item.

By that logic, books are a luxury item. So far, every title I've purchased for my Kindle has cost less than the paper copy I would have both otherwise.

For me, it's all about convenience, instant gratification and storage space. ... Having said that, I'm playing the game of "saving" enough from the Special Offers to justify the cost.

Precisely. While we may or may not have bought a Kindle to save money, that doesn't mean it is any more of a luxury item than books, themselves.

 

[luvmy3]

Why the snarky comment, luvmy3? Wireless delivery of newspapers and blogs daily is one of the great features of the Kindle. If you don't have wifi and want to download something daily, getting the 3G model would make sense. No need to treat those who use their Kindles for more than book-length reading as though they were doing something exotic and/or unnatural.

Well it wasn't meant to be snarky, it was meant to be funny (did you notice the ). The poster implied some of us were "missing something" and we aren't. I use my Kindle for books, therefore I have no need to have constant access of a network to download periodicals. I'm not missing anything, I realize that people do need it for various reasons, but not all of us do, and I assume that most of the others who answered Wi-Fi was their choice know that as well. 3G is a nice convenience, but for me and many others it isn't a necessity (by our own choice).

ETA To avoid any other confusion in the future, I use this one when I'm being snarky.

 

[AllisonK]

I also think many of us just have other platforms to read things like newspapers, magazines, email, web browsing etc (smartphones, laptops/netbooks/tablets, desktops, etc) that we really don't want or need the extra functionality. It is so much nicer and easier to pull up that type of stuff on my iphone or netbook that I would never consider using my Kindle for that. Just like I could never imagine reading a full lenght book on my laptop/iphone. The appeal to a lot of us is to use the Kindle as a dedicated ereader which is wifi is fine for many of us.

Plus, if you are like me, I tend to get distracted if I have too many features so I like to just read on my Kindle.

This. My dad and I both have Kindles (he's had his about 2 months or so and I've had mine since Tuesday) and he said to me last night, "Do you have any music on your Kindle yet?" Why would I need that? If I want to listen to music while reading I can plug my headphones into my iPhone or my iPod and do just that. (And usually I don't like listening to music while reading anyway - but if I'm on a plane or something where there's a lot of background noise, definitely - and he asked me this while he was using his Kindle and his iPod at the same time.... )

 

[Kycha]

Here is the US coverage map. You'll note that the Kindle connects even in areas without 3G. If you live in an area without any cell coverage at all... I can see why you'd need a lot of books!



http://client0.cellmaps.com/viewer.html?cov=1

Thanks. I've seen the map. And that is kind of my point. Many times I've seen people rave about how with a 3G/Edge capable device you can get internet access everywhere. Which is just not the case. I happen to live in an area that has very limited cell phone coverage and nonexistent 3G coverage. And I only travel a couple times a year. So buying a 3g Kindle would be a waste of money for me. And probably a lot of other people. So, my suggestion to anyone that is considering purchasing a 3G device, check the area of coverage to make sure you have coverage where you need it.

 

[MrsPete]

The ads aren't really annoying - they take the place of those awful screen savers and then are small banner ads at the bottom of the Home screen. Once you select a book, you don't see any ads while you are reading.

The ads would annoy me. I'd absolutely pay $25 not to see them.

No, we aren't missing it, some of us just use our ereaders just to read books *gasp* Oh, and I do enjoy the games too.

I want my Kindle JUST for books too. The important point is that before making this rather large purchase, the consumer should look into all the options and make the best choice for his or her needs.

Similarly, I don't like to be read to, so I don't value the Kindle's ability to read out loud. Doesn't mean someone else won't consider that a major selling point.

I totally agree with you here!!! Saving money was the last thing I hoped to get from my Kindle. For me, it's all about convenience, instant gratification and storage space.

If it were really about saving money, you'd just use the public library or borrow from friends. There are more free ways to read a book and more free books to be read than anyone could accomplish in several lifetimes.

Having said that, I'm playing the game of "saving" enough from the Special Offers to justify the cost. But, of course, I know that really I am spending money to pay less for something I might not have bought anyway. If I were on a book budget, I wouldn't have done that.

No need for me to say anything -- this is exactly what I would've said. Books are available for less, and I have spent more money on books since I bought my Kindle.

BUT that's beside the point: Once I've decided to buy a certain item, I want to get the best price /right features for that item. So the question of whether to buy the Special offers or the 3G is a consideration for the Kindle buyer.

 

[Cotton's Parrot]

By that logic, books are a luxury item. So far, every title I've purchased for my Kindle has cost less than the paper copy I would have both otherwise.

Except your logic fails to take into consideration that you had to buy a $114 - $189 device on which to read those reduced cost electronic copies. So aren't they, in fact, costing you more per purchase up until the point you've purchased enough electronic books across which to spread the startup cost and break even? You don't need any device to read a physical book.

 

[bicker]

No, it doesn't actually fail to take that into consideration... it does take that into consideration.

 

[ToodlesRN]

Plus, if you are like me, I tend to get distracted if I have too many features so I like to just read on my Kindle.

This is so me right here, more reasons for me to go with the wifi I get distracted enough with my Iphone.

 

[luvmy3]

I want my Kindle JUST for books too. The important point is that before making this rather large purchase, the consumer should look into all the options and make the best choice for his or her needs.

Similarly, I don't like to be read to, so I don't value the Kindle's ability to read out loud. Doesn't mean someone else won't consider that a major selling point.

Yes, which is why I told the OP that it will really depend on her, and her habits and if she feels the 3G is worth it for her.
(The post you quoted was a direct response to another pp, and what they said, it was not advice to the OP or anyone else.)

To add a little more to the mix, B&N just released a new nook with a touch screen. It doesn't have 3G but maybe the touch screen is something she would rather have over the Kindle's keys.

 

[girli565]

Now that there's a special offers 3G verison I will be buying that one. I travel a lot to places that don't provide wifi (like WDW) and would like to be able to check my email and browse without a wifi connection. I do have an iPhone but the tiny screen kills my eyes when I read.

 

[nowellsl]

Now that there's a special offers 3G verison I will be buying that one. I travel a lot to places that don't provide wifi (like WDW) and would like to be able to check my email and browse without a wifi connection. I do have an iPhone but the tiny screen kills my eyes when I read.

Exactly why I bought it, except I don't have an iPhone If I did I'm sure it would kill my eyes as well....

 

[kaytieeldr]

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 have the 3G version because, well, ExPirateShopGirl made me I haven't needed that feature - yet - but it's nice to have it. No Wi-fi at work, for example (not that I'll ever get through all the books I have now...

 

[girli565]

Exactly why I bought it, except I don't have an iPhone If I did I'm sure it would kill my eyes as well....

I read on it at night in bed and after an hour my eyes are burning.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Except your logic fails to take into consideration that you had to buy a $114 - $189 device on which to read those reduced cost electronic copies. So aren't they, in fact, costing you more per purchase up until the point you've purchased enough electronic books across which to spread the startup cost and break even? You don't need any device to read a physical book.

Well, first, I have close to 150 books on my Kindle right now, and I haven't spent more than $25. Plus, all my Amazon purchases beginning with the Kindle have been paid with gift cards - so technically none of this has cost me anything . And except for the federal budget, they're all books I want to read.

Second, if I want to read a book right away, I have to go to a store. Fortunately, Barnes & Noble and Borders are free-standing. I hate the mall. Or I can just log into my Amazon account and have the book on my Kindle in under a minute, or even order it right from the Kindle (I think?).

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I see a lot of people saying they read on their iPhones. Can't do it, personally. Sure I can read my emails or use an app... but to sit and read a novel? Shoot me... lol

Now that there's a special offers 3G verison I will be buying that one. I travel a lot to places that don't provide wifi (like WDW) and would like to be able to check my email and browse without a wifi connection. I do have an iPhone but the tiny screen kills my eyes when I read.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

We need to go have another drink together! Too bad the Adventurer's Club is closed! With our 3G Kindles... we can drink and read anywhere!

I have the 3G version because, well, ExPirateShopGirl made me I haven't needed that feature - yet - but it's nice to have it. No Wi-fi at work, for example (not that I'll ever get through all the books I have now...

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm really irritated with the timing of the new 3G Special Offers Kindle - I bought the wifi only April 11 so I am out of the 30 day return window. I'd have bought the 3G one if that had been an option.

 

[gbp02]

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

I agree with this here.

But I don't think the $60 dollar lighted case is worth it. The kindle is much lighter and easier to hold out of the case.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I have an Oberon case for my Kindle- she is very well dressed.

Another reason ereaders are so great is that you don't have to deal with books cluttering your space. Great for travel too. It makes me laugh when I read that people hate ereaders because they like the smell of "real" books. I have gotten library books that stink of cigarette smoke and in one case, BO. Give me a Kindle anyday over that.

 

[DVCLiz]

I have an Oberon case for my Kindle- she is very well dressed.

Another reason ereaders are so great is that you don't have to deal with books cluttering your space. Great for travel too. It makes me laugh when I read that people hate ereaders because they like the smell of "real" books. I have gotten library books that stink of cigarette smoke and in one case, BO. Give me a Kindle anyday over that.

The smell of a real book is paper, glue, chemicals off put by their manufacturing processes, and occasionally mold. Not to mention the odors you brought up!

I love ereaders- love everything about them. I haven't bought a hardback book in almost 3 years.