Kindle 3G question

mrsmav

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Feb 6, 2010
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Is the $189 kindle 3G worth is (as opposed to the $139 wi-fi kindle)? What can you do with the 3G besides download books?
 
Is the $189 kindle 3G worth is (as opposed to the $139 wi-fi kindle)? What can you do with the 3G besides download books?
You can check/send email and do some limited web browsing. The web browser is experimental and quirky at best. Extremely slow. Dont expect anything like you would have with an ipad that has a data plan. Its not meant to be a substitute for your smartphones web browser. But it works just fine for buying books, magazines and newspapers from amazon when your nowhere near a wifi hotspot.
 
I just got the Wi-Fi version this week. The main selling point for the 3G from what I can gather is the ability to get books in a Wi-Fi-less location. I have Wi-Fi at home so I didn't see myself buying many books while on the run. I decided to use the $50 difference on books. I may regret my choice later, but from playing around with the Kindle this week, I'm pretty happy with my choice.

I really like the text to speech function. I can also download my audiobooks from Audible.com to it. You can also download MP3s to play, which I found really cool!

My Kindle has browsing abilities also. But it is super slow. Just good for checking latest news and weather, etc...but hardly something to use as a real browser.
 
Ultimately it's really just for downloading books. If I were to buy it again now, I'd get the 3G version because that's what i have (with a K2). It's just convenient. I like being able to get books whenever and wherever including on vacation and not having to worry about being in a wifi hot spot or having a computer I can download through :)

Having said that, priorities are different for us all. If it's not convenient for you, don't worry about needing it :) I'm sure if you get the wifi version that's the one you'll be used to, so it won't feel like you're missing out or anything :)
 

I have the k2 with the 3g. If I bought a new one, I think I would just get the wi-fi and save money. I have wi-fi in my house, and soooooooooo many places have free wi-fi these days. My MIL is buying one, and I told her she should get the 3g, because they do not have wi-fi at home, so if you have it at home, I would save the money.
 
We do have wi-fi at home so that was what I was thinking - just get the wi-fi with no 3G.

I am using my Swagbucks for this so I want to make sure I get the most bang for these free bucks. :)

Thanks everyone!
 
please dont bother with the 3g -_- i bought it, wasnt worth it at all....im returning my kindle and getting the ipod touch 4g my friend has it and it has a book app which isnt too bad considering the small screen but the front camera is a nice handy addition for when u get bored :P
 
please dont bother with the 3g -_- i bought it, wasnt worth it at all....im returning my kindle and getting the ipod touch 4g my friend has it and it has a book app which isnt too bad considering the small screen but the front camera is a nice handy addition for when u get bored :P

I have the kindle app on my ipod. I use that now to read books. I don't mind the small screen but when I read for extended periods of time the back lighting does bother me a little.
 
I just got the Wi-Fi version this week. The main selling point for the 3G from what I can gather is the ability to get books in a Wi-Fi-less location. I have Wi-Fi at home so I didn't see myself buying many books while on the run. I decided to use the $50 difference on books. I may regret my choice later, but from playing around with the Kindle this week, I'm pretty happy with my choice.

I really like the text to speech function. I can also download my audiobooks from Audible.com to it. You can also download MP3s to play, which I found really cool!

My Kindle has browsing abilities also. But it is super slow. Just good for checking latest news and weather, etc...but hardly something to use as a real browser.

So you can play audiobooks on the kindle? Can you play them on the nook?

Maggie
 
Yes, you can play audio books on the Nook. You can also read epub files, that means I can download and borrow the latest bestsellers, via my library's website. The ability to read epub format is a great plus, the Kindle did not have that feature a few months ago. That is why I chose the Nook.

I bought the wifi version, I have wifi at home and at our FL house, so I just load up my Nook and go. The salesman told me that with 3G I can buy a book and download it from a cornfield in Iowa. That just wasn't in my plans :dance3:
 
I have the 3G Kindle because I bought one for my birthday right before all the markdowns. :P If I had it to do over, I'd probably still get it because I like not having to rely on wi-fi or hooking it up to my pc to get a book. It's also easy to check my email or look up minor facts on the go.

In addition to the books that amazon sells, there are also quite a few sites with ebooks in the kindle format that are in the public domain (which means they're free!).
 
I love hte 3G version. I have bought books everywhere! Cancelled flights, lots of extra time int eh airport, on vacation when a new one pre-ordered comes out.

For me, would never go to the wifi version. But if you don't travel for work theni can see it

Loving the kindle :love:
 
I wish I had not spent the extra money on the 3G. I got the K3 as soon as it came out, then 3 weeks ago we got smart phones free through hubbies work (long story) and so I have no need to use the internet on the kindle... one point. The other is that it is terribly slow. Mine freezes up most times when I try to get online with it and it's just so slow that even if it is working it is painful to use! I so wish I had saved the $$$$!
 
I think I'm going to make good use of the 3G over time. I'm hoping that the web browser gets a little more robust. I want to be able to use it to check email online.
 
With the wi-fi version, do you just download a book to your computer, then transfer from the computer to your Kindle?

I am thinking of getting one for my daughter for Christmas & just wondering which one would be best for her.
 
With the WiFi version a book can download directly to your Kindle if there is a WiFi connection available .... like a home router or at McDonalds etc. In those cases the process is exactly the same as purchasing via 3G, only your Kindle is connected to Amazon via the WiFi connection rather than the 3G (ie cell tower) connections.

If there isn't a WiFi connection available then you can purchase via computer, download the book to your computer, and then sideload it over to the Kindle via the USB cable (like you would an iPOD).
 












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