I need a Kindle Education, please. :) Versions--pricing?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was hoping to buy my husband a Kindle for Christmas with my spending money. But I don't know anything about it. I had caught a thread that mentioned that they were coming out with a new one, but I am unsure I would be able to afford that one. I was hoping to spend less than $150.

Then of course--my husband is a "the latest and greatest" kind of guy--so I don't know what he'd be missing from the newer version if I bought a less costly earlier version.

Can anyone shed some light?

Is there a difference in the ones they sell from Walmart as opposed to directly from Amazon?

Thanks!

 

[GoldieLocks5]

I have last year's new version- which is the regular e-ink one, and I love it.

The 2 new versions vary a little... the regular e-ink one is touch screen.... so it will still look like paper (not back lit) but you can control it with touching the screen and not buttons (like last year's version has).

The other is more like a tablet - it's backlit- so it's like reading a computer screen. Some people don't mind this- but i can't stand it.... which is why I'll only ever use an e-ink reader for reading books.

You'd need to know if he wanted a back lit or e-ink... that's the biggest preference with e-readers that you need to match up with.

 

[luvthemouse71]

There's also a $79, non-touchscreen one that came out 9/28.

It has 5 buttons on it and is very light and portable.

 

[Jamie25UGA]

You can definitely get even the newest kindle for under $150. As for which one to pick, there are a couple of things to consider.

-touch screen or no
-wi-fi only or 3G and wi-fi
-one with physical keyboard buttons (this one isn't the newest model)
-special offers or no (without going into a huge thing about the special offers, getting one with the offers makes the kindle cheaper, and there's the possibility to save more money down the line using the offers off of the kindle...you do not see ads when you're reading and they are easy to ignore)

So it'll come down to what he likes/needs. Would he prefer a touch screen? Do you travel a lot and he finishes books quickly making it so you think having 3G access to the bookstore will come in handy...or will wi-fi be enough?

 

[SwirlyGirly]

The new Kindle that is the most basic at $79 is an amazing bargain and will pay for itself w/ the purchase of just a few books. However, to get a Kindle at $79, you must agree to let your screensaver be ads instead of art. I accidentally did this at xmas for my daughter's Kindle, but we found the ads to me very unassuming and easily ignorable. They only come up when the Kindle is in sleep mode.

 

[Sandy321]

If you go to Amazon.com - drop down menu, click Kindle store - then that page in the bar a choice is "discussions"

I have learned quite a bit from the rabid posters there - but I'll tell you the main favorite is "FREE BOOKS" daily posted by "Happy Reader Joyce. The other consistent thread is Price Dropped books - amazing prices (99 cent books - to $3.99 etc)

I found out you can register an account and start "buying" books before the kindle arrives!

The ad Kindle is the best bargain - I know the $79 kindle has a 4 way, no keyboard, I dont use the keyboard much, but I still think its worth it - I think the $79 would be for younger students/kids - my 14 yr dd however uses her keyboard, so it would be a debate for us!

anyway - the ad kindle, the ads are only visible when you are not reading your kindle - and if you get a case for it - you barely notice them - the ads that people are jumping on is buying amazon gift cards (one card you got $50 if you bought the deal - so many are reporting the ads have paid for their kindle)

I think the bigger question is wi-fi + 3G or wi-fi only - now you can borrow books from your library (through overdrive.com - you can go to overdrive, put in your zip code and see what's available, I believe you need wi fi to access that - but you can download to your computer, then upload to your kindle)

The $199 color Fire which was just introduced - on the discussion boards there is some great comparisons, to see if its a fit for your needs - I think I'll save it for later - I like my Kindle e-ink!

The other board I get great information, and help is kindleboards.com - their tips tricks and troubleshooting forum has saved me many a time!!

 

[NCRedding]

Thanks for posting this thread and for all the responses. I'm interested in a Kindle, and this helps make my shopping and comparisons easier.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There are now several different Kindle options. Why not go to Amazon and check them all out? They have all the information you will need about each one.

 

[laughinplace199]

If you go to Amazon.com - drop down menu, click Kindle store - then that page in the bar a choice is "discussions"

I have learned quite a bit from the rabid posters there - but I'll tell you the main favorite is "FREE BOOKS" daily posted by "Happy Reader Joyce. The other consistent thread is Price Dropped books - amazing prices (99 cent books - to $3.99 etc)

I found out you can register an account and start "buying" books before the kindle arrives!

The ad Kindle is the best bargain - I know the $79 kindle has a 4 way, no keyboard, I dont use the keyboard much, but I still think its worth it - I think the $79 would be for younger students/kids - my 14 yr dd however uses her keyboard, so it would be a debate for us!

anyway - the ad kindle, the ads are only visible when you are not reading your kindle - and if you get a case for it - you barely notice them - the ads that people are jumping on is buying amazon gift cards (one card you got $50 if you bought the deal - so many are reporting the ads have paid for their kindle)

I think the bigger question is wi-fi + 3G or wi-fi only - now you can borrow books from your library (through overdrive.com - you can go to overdrive, put in your zip code and see what's available, I believe you need wi fi to access that - but you can download to your computer, then upload to your kindle)

The $199 color Fire which was just introduced - on the discussion boards there is some great comparisons, to see if its a fit for your needs - I think I'll save it for later - I like my Kindle e-ink!

The other board I get great information, and help is kindleboards.com - their tips tricks and troubleshooting forum has saved me many a time!!

What exactly does one use the keyboard for? (Please pardon my ignorance - I know nothing about Kindles, but I think I want to get DD12 one for Xmas).

 

[figment3258]

Love this thread thinking about getting dd who will be 9 one for Christmas. She is nit a big reader bu hoping this would get he more interested. Also thinking of one for mil I read some where you can ever borrow ebooks from your library? Has anyone done this?

 

[Hoosier37]

I have had my Kindle 2i for two years now - I paid $259 for it and felt it was a great bargain. My husband got a Kindle 3 (now called "Kindle Keyboard") for Father's Day this past June and it cost $114. His is the special offers edition, which means he has ads instead of regular screen savers.

If I were you, I'd go with either the $79 Kindle, or the $99 Kindle Touch. Wifi only with ads - the ads don't pop up while reading and really aren't a big deal. If you want 3G service it usually adds $50 to the price and honestly isn't worth it IMHO.

And yes, you can borrow books from your library if they are set up for it. Even my small town library is, so yours may be. Ask them if they have OverDrive. It is very simple to borrow library ebooks and you can do it from home.

Amazon customer service is top-notch and their selection is amazing. I have never regretted buying my Kindle. I would love to upgrade to a Kindle Touch or even the $79 Kindle (the display is better than my K2i) but I am getting the Kindle Fire tablet .

One benefit to the $79 Kindle or the Kindle Keyboard model is that they are currently available. The others are supposed to ship at the end of November but you never know. As far as using the keyboard, it is pretty rare and honestly I doubt I would miss having it. You can search books with it, or look up words in the online dictionary. You could also use it to access the experimental web browser, but I've heard rumors that newer Kindles no longer have the browser.

 

[Sandy321]

Kindle Keyboard - DD uses it for games (mindsweeper is one) as well as shortcuts, she also buys her books with her kindle, so uses the keyboard in her "search" function. I tend to go to the website and search on my computer to buy books (again so many many freebies - I couldnt do that in a search - but she's very comfortable using the kindle for searching for books) She also uses the keyboard to make notes in what she is reading - again, its a feature she uses not me - and she doesnt use it on all her readings - but sometimes if she has a character analysis, or plot point - she uses the kindle for her notes.

here's a link to the list: (keyboard shortcuts)
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Amazon_Kindle_Keyboard_Shortcuts

know that mobileread.com is also a great tech resource for the kindle

I have wifi and I got my mom wifi +3G because she travels...

I know I spent a lot of time trying to decide between a Nook and a Kindle, and I read kindleboards.com to see what features were best for us -

Then I also went through online and read the Kindle users guide, before the kindle came - as did DD, it might be why she uses the keyboard more than I do!

I will also add another great program we use with our kindle books is calibre - it is a way for us to manage our books - and if we get books from other places than Amazon - calibre will convert them into the kindle language (for instance smashword.com you can get books - I knit and can get free knitting books from knitting daily - I put them on my computer, then transfer them into Calibre. DD is working on Harry Potter Fan fiction - so she makes her own documents - then transfers to calibre - then with the usb port you connect your kindle to your computer and calibre takes care of it - it also organizes our collections much better!)

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php
Kindleboards - lots of information, message board

http://calibre-ebook.com/

 

[laughinplace199]

Kindle Keyboard - DD uses it for games (mindsweeper is one) as well as shortcuts, she also buys her books with her kindle, so uses the keyboard in her "search" function. I tend to go to the website and search on my computer to buy books (again so many many freebies - I couldnt do that in a search - but she's very comfortable using the kindle for searching for books) She also uses the keyboard to make notes in what she is reading - again, its a feature she uses not me - and she doesnt use it on all her readings - but sometimes if she has a character analysis, or plot point - she uses the kindle for her notes.

here's a link to the list: (keyboard shortcuts)
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Amazon_Kindle_Keyboard_Shortcuts

know that mobileread.com is also a great tech resource for the kindle

I have wifi and I got my mom wifi +3G because she travels...

I know I spent a lot of time trying to decide between a Nook and a Kindle, and I read kindleboards.com to see what features were best for us -

Then I also went through online and read the Kindle users guide, before the kindle came - as did DD, it might be why she uses the keyboard more than I do!

I will also add another great program we use with our kindle books is calibre - it is a way for us to manage our books - and if we get books from other places than Amazon - calibre will convert them into the kindle language (for instance smashword.com you can get books - I knit and can get free knitting books from knitting daily - I put them on my computer, then transfer them into Calibre. DD is working on Harry Potter Fan fiction - so she makes her own documents - then transfers to calibre - then with the usb port you connect your kindle to your computer and calibre takes care of it - it also organizes our collections much better!)

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php
Kindleboards - lots of information, message board

http://calibre-ebook.com/

Thank you for this info! I think my DD would probably like the version with the keyboard too.

 

[Sandy321]

to use the library feature you need to go to

http://www.overdrive.com/#2

put in your zip code and see if your library participates. You 'check' out a book for 2 weeks - if you finish early, you should return the ebook so others waiting can get to it - however, I've read that you have to do something to return it through your Amazon account (get to know "manage my kindle" We buy gift certificates to keep in our amazon accounts - my mom, my dd, and I are all on one account - we don't keep all the books that each other has purchased - even the freebies - but we have access to them - this can be confusing, and again, you can do a search at kindleboards.com to see how others work this)

otherwise, after 2 weeks the book will magically be returned, and off your kindle. I haven't used this - I have so many books on my kindle right now, and there's nothing I'm wanting to read -

 

[Sandy321]

covers for kindle -

I'll have to add after reading at kindle boards.com (accessories) My mom, my dd and I all fell in love with the leather Oberon covers! Simply delightful to read our kindle while holding the beautiful work of art in leather!

Also, dd kindle screen "cracked" it is a piece of glass - a computer screen, encased in plastic, so the crack doesn't look like glass cracked - but at the kindle boards.com tips tricks and troubleshooting - it was confirmed -

well, I called kindle Customer Service and they replaced it - I just had to return the broken kindle with the label they provided - when I told them that DD was packing for her Leadership Lab camp experience, and was "needing' her kindle - they overnighted it - I expected to pay the extra shipping - (I gave them my credit card #) but nope - it arrived the next day - a SATURDAY! (she left on a Monday, at 7am) They took the CC# in case you don't return the broken kindle they charge you for the one they ship out.

My mom's kindle wasn't charging or keeping a charge - DD and I charge our kindles maybe once very 3 or 4 weeks - mom was doing it every night! and I noticed a black "dot" on her screen - again, called Kindle CS and they replaced it!
(and I did check and do a search for the battery problem at kindle boards tips tricks and troubleshooting)

Kindleboards.com also has a lot of great information about using calibre too

 

[Sandy321]

checked my photo bucket account for pictures

cracked screen

the image is often referred as "dead authors" that is your "sleep screen" it is better for the kindle to let it sleep, as opposed to turning it off - to reset the kindle you do turn it "off" My mom had been turning hers off all the time - not sure if that was a problem or not. On the ad kindle - you see ads, not the "dead authors"

The purse I "had" to have to keep the kindle in!

dd kindle case

 

[MrsPete]

I was hoping to buy my husband a Kindle for Christmas with my spending money. But I don't know anything about it. I had caught a thread that mentioned that they were coming out with a new one, but I am unsure I would be able to afford that one. I was hoping to spend less than $150.

Then of course--my husband is a "the latest and greatest" kind of guy--so I don't know what he'd be missing from the newer version if I bought a less costly earlier version.

Can anyone shed some light?

Is there a difference in the ones they sell from Walmart as opposed to directly from Amazon?

Thanks!

I think the first and foremost question is, What do you envision him doing with this new toy? If he will just read with it, I'd lean towards the mid-priced Kindles (I do like the keyboard on mine). On the other hand, if you think he'll want 'net access, consider the new Fire.

Definitely budget for a cover right away. The cracked screens shown on this thread are evidence that you need to protect your investment. I also love the Oberon covers, but I personally like holding a "naked Kindle"; I keep mine in a pouch-type case.

And, as someone else pointed out, you can start "buying" free books now so he'll have a collection from the very beginning.

 

[Sandy321]

Fire - is a lot like the Nook Color apparently - no camera, no SD port.

Its a 7" screen - IPad is a 9.5" screen

Kindle has eink - very easy on the eye
Fire (nook color and iPad) use the back lit screen

So like others have said - what will you use it for? I debated on that $199 Fire - it looks cool, but how will I use it? for games? Movies? but the screen is only 7"

I still buy paperback books - when they are cheap - goodwill, library sales, but I love my Kindle - I love traveling with the kindle, I love reading on the Kindle - dd so much more so than I thought she would! My mom is getting adapted, but she prefers audio books - and the kindle doesn't remember where you left off if you fall asleep to an audio book....

And again, for covers - there are choices on Amazon, as well as etsy, many homemade choices (I really liked the poster at kindle boards that made a cover using a plastic folder - one used a mail bubble envelope!) DD also likes reading her kindle "naked" but for travel, she keeps it in her cover... I just keep mine in the cover as I throw it in my purse every day -

We just splurged on the leather Oberon covers for Christmas, birthday presents.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There are now several different Kindle options. Why not go to Amazon and check them all out? They have all the information you will need about each one.

Me and technology don't get along. So I have to ask questions.
And typically--when my husband asks for a gadget, he has to tell me exactly what to get. I would like to surprise him, which means I cannot ask him any questions.


This is just for him to have an electronic book. It isn't to replace other gadgetry. At least that isn't MY intent for this.

I don't even know the difference between 3G and wi-fi. I think 3G means you don't require wi-fi, right? What would that capability be used for anyway?

Is the Fire like an IPad? I had considered iPad, but wasn't sure on its price and thought the eReader alone would be a better fit.

Our library has signs up that they are ready for the Kindle. How does the borrow/return work? Is it set up so that they are only licensed for so many people reading one book?

He really loves reading and loves the sci-fi-fantasy books. And they take up soooo much room.

I will definitely get a cover. One last question--are their gift cards for books? (Kind of like iTunes gift cards?)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks to everyone else who offered tips/suggestions/thoughts.

What exactly does one use the keyboard for? (Please pardon my ignorance - I know nothing about Kindles, but I think I want to get DD12 one for Xmas).

My question as well. TIA!