Kindle Help

[rileyroosmom]

Thinking of buying one for my son for his high school graduation.
Can anyone recommend which one I was hoping not to spend $189 for the 3G one. Do I really need the 3G? The one for $139 sounds good although the $114 sounds great!!

Any advice? I'm confused!!

Thanks

 

[GinnyEmma]

My dad talked me into the $189 one, and I don't need 3G. I love my kindle though.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Get him the $114 Kindle... one of the special offers on that particular Kindle will feature the Lighted Kindle Cover for 1/2 price. Total deal!

 

[Fyrefly]

The 3G question depends on when you will use it and for what.

Do you have a Wi-Fi network at home you can connect to? Will he likely be buying all of his books at home or do you see him buying them through the Kindle itself while on the go? If you don't have a home network, he will need the 3G to get books. But if you're going to buy all your books at home and/or at places with public Wi-Fi, you might not need it.

I don't have a smartphone or any other internet-ready mobile device. The 3G Kindle has a web browser in it. It is simple and black and white and you can't do anything like Youtube on it, but I can look up things on Wikipedia, use Google Maps, check my email when I'm out, etc. If he won't want that, or already has a smartphone or something, that isn't a plus either.

The $114 Kindle is ad-supported. As far as I can tell, it has ads in the place of the screensavers which isn't annoying I assume since nobody ever looks at the screensavers, but I'm not sure how the ads at the bottom of the page affect reading. You may want to check some of the other threads about the $114 Kindle to see if the ads are annoying or not.

The 3G was the best choice for me mainly because of the free internet, and also because I travel and it's nice to be able to get what I want any time. But it may or may not be the best choice for your son.

Congrats on his graduation, thought!

 

[Kies99]

http://www.woot.com/

Has the 2nd Generation 3G Kindle for $89 + $5 shipping today.

 

[scard192]

I got the $114 Kindle a few weeks ago. No WiFi at home so when I buy books I click to "transfer using PC", plug the Kindle into the computer and transfer them; it's very easy. The ads are at the bottom of the screen when you turn the Kindle on, but not when you are reading a book.

 

[rileyroosmom]

Thanks for the responses. Now I'm really confused!
The Woot deal is interesting. Concerned about it being refurbished and the fact it's white. Anyone ever deal with Woot before?

 

[Fyrefly]

Woot is a reputable site. I've bought plenty of t-shirts from their shirt division and never had a problem.

You may want to read over the discussion happening about the Kindle 2 here: http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=4489365

I know nothing about how a refurbished product works for warranty, support, etc. but maybe they are discussing it there. If anything there is a lot of Kindle 2 vs. Kindle 3 talk going on you could maybe learn from.

At any rate you will, unfortunately, need to decide if you want the Kindle 2 today. The deal is 1 day only and I think you need to buy before midnight PST, but I would go EST just to be sure.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The Kindle 3 has AMAZING screen resolution v. the Kindle 2, which is still good. I have a white Kindle2 that I love, but I love the Kindle3 more.

Amazon has amazing customer service. While Woot is certainly reputable, I would buy directly from Amazon. Also, no shipping costs with Amazon.

Thanks for the responses. Now I'm really confused!
The Woot deal is interesting. Concerned about it being refurbished and the fact it's white. Anyone ever deal with Woot before?

 

[GinnyEmma]

I bought mine at best buy, and wish I had purchased from amazon. No problems but I worry about it.

If he is heading to college he shouldn't have an issue with wifi.

 

[Cotton's Parrot]

Just keep in mind that at $189 for the Kindle 3G, that's all you ever pay. You don't need to pay a monthly fee for the 3G service. Amazon pays it. I bought a Kindle for convenience. It's not convenient to me if I have to sync it via a computer all the time, or always try to find WiFi. I would never own one without 3G.

Whatever you do, don't buy a 2nd generation refurbished unit when for $25 more you can get a brand new 3rd generation, even if it is ad supported. I'd rather have to put up with a few ads on a new one than get the old model that's been used and refurbed.

 

[phorsenuf]

I kept going back and forth between getting 3G or not. I finally decided against it and I'm glad I saved myself the 50 bucks. Once I got it, I just set the wi-fi up to my house connection and whenever I want to download my books I'm all set. If I happen to go away (and don't load my Kindle up beforehand) then it's not hard to find a wi-fi connection. Pretty much most hotels, coffee shops, etc have them. And in the off chance I still can't connect that way, I can tether my phone (which has 3G) to my laptop and then to my Kindle. Probably could tether right to my Kindle, haven't tried.
It's no big deal to sync or connect or anything else. No different then loading an Ipod from a computer (if you decide to tether).

 

[RitaE]

Thanks for the responses. Now I'm really confused!
The Woot deal is interesting. Concerned about it being refurbished and the fact it's white. Anyone ever deal with Woot before?

Well actually, Amazon owns Woot so I wouldn't be concerned about them being unreliable or anything. The question is just whether or not you want the older model Kindle.

Right now most of the people I talk to are going into the $139 WiFi Kindle 3. I like having the 3G myself but it isn't a must have. I do most of my shopping via computer and since I download to computer and put my books into Calibre (a library management program), the 3G is hardly ever even turned on with my Kindle 3.

The ad supported Kindle isn't a bad deal but personally I'd rather pay $25 more and not see them.

I still have my old Kindle 2 and I use it often. The Kindle 3 does have a much better screen though.

 

[Kycha]

If I happen to go away (and don't load my Kindle up beforehand) then it's not hard to find a wi-fi connection. Pretty much most hotels, coffee shops, etc have them.

Plus, libraries, McDonald's and a lot of other fast food joints as well.

 

[rileyroosmom]

Thanks everyone. I think I've decided on the $139 one. Don't see the need for the 3G and if he does, well he can upgrade it himself!!!
Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I bought my 10 year old daughter the $114 one. Don't even notice the ads (they are not in the books, just the screen saver and homepage) and the special offers are great. I really hope the next one will be the lighted cover; my daughter really wants to take it out of the house but I won't let her until we have a cover on it.

 

[puffkin]

I personally think the 3G is a waste of money. I have the $139 Wifi one and love it.