Kindle-Love it? Hate it? Like something else?

[mjkacmom]

I have the kindle 3g touch and love it. It doesn't get smudged like my phone, or my dds' fires. It's easier to read on than the fire, but the fire can do so much more. I have a netbook, a smartphone, access to 2 fires, so I didn't feel the need to get the fire for myself.

 

[marie1203]

I have the kindle keyboard 3G and love it I would not like the kindle fire for reading I love the kindle screen it doesn't tire my eyes.

 

[Ephany]

DH and I have 3g Kindle Keyboards, DD has a Kindle Touch and I have a Kindle Fire. I personally hate the Touch, but my daughter loves it. If you want to read, get an e-ink device. If you want to play with apps, surf the web and watch movies, get the Fire. Warning, the Fire is NOT good to read outside. The glare is too much and it's really hard to see the screen. I've taken mine to the park once and really regretted it; every time since I've gone back to my Kindle Keyboard. I love my Fire, but for reading at beach, nothing compares to my Kindle Keyboard. Also, I can't read my Fire one-handed like my Keyboard, so it's harder for me to curl up with it (although that may be a personal preference thing).

 

[girli565]

I have the $79 kindle, my husband bought it for me for my birthday. I adore it, I love that I can read in the sun, not worry about glare, and it's so small compared to giant paperback books.

i don't mind the lack of a keyboard, I really only use it when I'm searching for books.

I will be buying a Kindle Fire when the new one is released (whenever that is lol), we want a tablet to take on trips and not have to lug around our laptops. I already have an iPhone so getting an iPad isn't necessary. We want something that has flash capabilities and very user friendly, the kindle fire fits that bill for us.

 

[MrsPete]

No vote, just information 'cause I don't see a clear-cut answer to your question:

If you want to read books, the Kindle Touch or the Kindle Keyboard are your best choices. Their screen is far superior to anything else in the industry (and it's not just me saying that; it's also Consumer Reports). It's like reading a paper book; you don't get the computer eye strain if you're an hours-and-hours reader. You can also read it in sunlight without a glare. And the battery life is weeks rather than hours.

The Nook is essentially the same as the Kindle . . . except that the screen isn't quite as good, and Barnes and Noble isn't as financially secure as Amazon -- better to buy from someone who's sure to be there in the future.

The Fire is kind of like an Ipad Lite. It's a more versitile item in that in addition to books, it has internet access and the ability to play movies . . . but with those new abilities come some serious drawbacks: The battery lasts only hours, so you'd better be close to an outlet at all times. The screen is useless in sunlight. And, yes, as you mentioned, the storage is very limited; renting movies is do-able, but building a collection in this machine is questionable.

You didn't ask about the Ipad. Yes, its' 2.5 Xs the cost of the Fire, but it has a great deal more storage, speed, and computing ability. However, it does suffer from some of the Fire's issues: Glare in sunlight, low battery life being the ones that bother me most. Also, something that no one else has mentioned is that compared to the Kindle, the Ipad is HEAVY! When I got mine, I thought that I'd move all my Kindle books over and have a "one stop" machine -- nope; being a lie-on-my-back-reader, the Ipad gets heavy, whereas the Kindle weighs essentially nothing. I love having email NOW and the quick internet access, but between the two I use my Kindle much, much more.


My advice: Determine exactly what you want your new toy to do for you, then decide which one you want. Are movies and internet essential? Then you have two options, one more expensive than the other. Do you really just want books? Then don't pay for more than you need.

 

[Forevryoung]

I got an ipad. Through that I can use both kindle and nook. I only use kindle. I prefer to use it on my ipad and when they came out with the latest addition there was no need to "upgrade" because I basically had that. The one thing I did like about the nook, when I had it, was being able to use it in their store. Sounds silly, but that was my escape some days when DH get off work. Go to Barnes and Noble, grab a coffee and read.

I love my Kindle over my Ipad. I've had my Kindle for over a year and think it's the greatest thing ever (I read ALOT). I've had my Ipad for a month. It's a cool toy but I would NEVER bring it all the places I bring my Kindle (gym, beach, pool...)

My kindle fits in my medium size purse, my Ipad doesn't. The Kindle is $100 to replace (keyboard/wifi) while the Ipad is $500. The Ipad just isn't as comfortable to read with (I prefer the side buttons in bed) due to the backlighting and the weight. The kindle is lighter and can easily be read with one hand.

My Iphone easily "replaced" my ipod touch (unless I'm just listening to music, then I grab my Ipod). My Ipad will never replace my Kindle although I enjoy having both of them.

 

[cats mom]

Looks like you've got lots of good information and opinions.

You probably already know this, but I thought I'd make a quick comment on 3G.

If you go with the touch, 3G service is only available when connecting to the Kindle store and wikipedia. For anything else you need to use a wi fi network.

If you go with the keyboard, 3G service is available for anything. Granted, the browser is really clunky and I wouldn't want to depend on it for all my internet activity, but I think it's a nice feature to have.

 

[Sheaboys]

I have the Kindle WiFi only. I love it! I use it at the beach, outside sitting in the sun, in the car, in bed, everywhere! I have a hardcover for it, with the light on it. When the WiFi is off the battery life is about a month, and I read for a few hours a day on it.

I bought my MIL the same one, but with the free advertisements.

We also have 3 Fire's (older 3 boys do), they love them. They read on them, play games, surf the web (well dh does), and have hardcovers as well. I am not sure if I would like reading with it in the sun though. Although Dh adjusts the backlight on it and thinks it would be just fine.

With mine, my mil and kids, we all share books, as they are all on my Amazon Prime account. I see what the kids are doing, apps downloaded for free, and sharebooks between all 5 kindles.

 

[limace]

We have Kindles and an iPad. If what you want is a tablet, to do web, multimedia, etc, I'd spend the money on the iPad. However, if you mainly want to read books, I'd get the regular old Kindle. The eInk is fabulous-you don't want to try and read on a tablet outside.

 

[2dogmom]

I have the Kindle touch 3G because I wanted something for reading and something my kids wouldn't want to use (they still want to use it). I love it. I find the touch so easy to use when I'm at the gym reading and working out. I haven't noticed any smudging or fingerprints.

 

[ready123go]

I'm checking in and I really appreciate all the great answers, info and insights. Thanks everyone!

 

[Pakey]

We own 2 kindle Touch 3Gs and 2 kindle Keyboard 3Gs. We actually prefer the Keyboard over the Touch; easier to use.

 

[AshleeH]

I've had the Sony Reader, Kindle, and Kindle Fire.

Sony Reader: Worst of the bunch. It used to be okay when I first got it (back when it was the new Reader) but they made you do mandatory updates on it and some of the updates made it so unbearable to use that my DH bought be the Kindle because I was so miserable with it.

Kindle: It's great. If you're wanting to use it strictly to read and do nothing else, this is the choice for you! However, if you're wanting more of a small iPad:

Kindle Fire: I really do love it. I don't use it as much for the excess perks, but I like all the features it has and it's perfect to throw in my bag and take on vacations. I love the ease of being anywhere and being able to buy a book and have it wirelessly delivered. The only drawback is that the battery life is nowhere near as long as the actual Kindle - it lasts about 8 hours when wi-fi is on. It's no big deal to turn it off (three taps on the screen - one to open the tools, one to open Wi-fi and one to turn it off) is all it takes, but remembering to do that after I've been using it has used up more battery than anticipated. No big deal for me, but it might be to other people.

 

[ready123go]

bump

 

[dawnhaze]

I love my mom's Kindle Touch, but I've used the Fire several times and not especially liked it. It doesn't do enough well enough to satisfy me as a tablet, and it doesn't have the e-ink screen that makes a dedicated e-reader such a good device. I've never used the Kindle with the keyboard but if you think you'll need to do typing notes in your books regularly or something like that, it's probably worth it.

If you primarily want a reading device, get a Kindle for sure. But if you want a tablet, look into an iPad 2 (the new one isn't enough of an upgrade for most people) or one of the Galaxy Tabs. Most of the other tablets out there right now are sub-par.

Personally, I don't buy single-use electronic devices. If it can't do more than one thing well, it isn't for me. But not everyone feels that way.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'm looking at options right now...I voted 'nook' b/c it looks like I can put an sd card in it,and expand what I have, also I can download kindle app onto it,and read through there too....I like the extra options. Whereas it looks like the Kindle options is just...kindle. SO I think I'm going to ask DH for this for my upcoming anniversary gift. (ssshhh,surprise!)

 

[Meshell2002]

No vote, just information 'cause I don't see a clear-cut answer to your question:

If you want to read books, the Kindle Touch or the Kindle Keyboard are your best choices. Their screen is far superior to anything else in the industry (and it's not just me saying that; it's also Consumer Reports). It's like reading a paper book; you don't get the computer eye strain if you're an hours-and-hours reader. You can also read it in sunlight without a glare. And the battery life is weeks rather than hours.

The Nook is essentially the same as the Kindle . . . except that the screen isn't quite as good, and Barnes and Noble isn't as financially secure as Amazon -- better to buy from someone who's sure to be there in the future.

The Fire is kind of like an Ipad Lite. It's a more versitile item in that in addition to books, it has internet access and the ability to play movies . . . but with those new abilities come some serious drawbacks: The battery lasts only hours, so you'd better be close to an outlet at all times. The screen is useless in sunlight. And, yes, as you mentioned, the storage is very limited; renting movies is do-able, but building a collection in this machine is questionable.

You didn't ask about the Ipad. Yes, its' 2.5 Xs the cost of the Fire, but it has a great deal more storage, speed, and computing ability. However, it does suffer from some of the Fire's issues: Glare in sunlight, low battery life being the ones that bother me most. Also, something that no one else has mentioned is that compared to the Kindle, the Ipad is HEAVY! When I got mine, I thought that I'd move all my Kindle books over and have a "one stop" machine -- nope; being a lie-on-my-back-reader, the Ipad gets heavy, whereas the Kindle weighs essentially nothing. I love having email NOW and the quick internet access, but between the two I use my Kindle much, much more.


My advice: Determine exactly what you want your new toy to do for you, then decide which one you want. Are movies and internet essential? Then you have two options, one more expensive than the other. Do you really just want books? Then don't pay for more than you need.

I have a Fire and love it, but I knew when I bought it it was for indoor use. My sister is the marathon reader and likes her regular Kindle....she reads mostly outdoors at the pool & the beach...her kids are older and she doesn't have to watch them as closely, since mine are little I knew there was no way I would be reading at the pool.

I may expand my Kindle collection to an eink screen in a couple of years, but I wanted a starter tablet and reader....and for the price it works for me for now.

When you decide just think about how you imagine yourself using and for what purpose. and enjoy

 

[nunzia]

I think I read somewhere about the storage capabilities on the Fire and they seem kinda small if you want movies, tons of apps, etc. Anyone know how to remove things from the device when done with them? I have a couple apps I don't want and although I'd like to download a movie for travelling, I sure would want to get rid of it when I got home.

 

[ksloane]

Looks like you've got lots of good information and opinions.

You probably already know this, but I thought I'd make a quick comment on 3G.

If you go with the touch, 3G service is only available when connecting to the Kindle store and wikipedia. For anything else you need to use a wi fi network.

If you go with the keyboard, 3G service is available for anything. Granted, the browser is really clunky and I wouldn't want to depend on it for all my internet activity, but I think it's a nice feature to have.

This was the main point I was going to make. Everyone has sufficiently commented on the difference in an ereader and a tablet (glare screen, eink, etc).

I also agree that I'd go with Amazon over B&N for future security as well.

I had to replace mine this year though and went with another Keyboard 3G over the touch 3G for the actual 3G service. It's clunky and slow and ugly, but you can use the Keyboard 3G for actual internet browsing if you need to. For example, in Panama I did not want to pay for a plan on a phone or Ipad that would work in Panama, but I did sit pool side each day and check my email for important ones at least so I wouldn't be too far behind on something.

I think the "real 3G" service on the keyboard makes it the Kindle to have.

If you end up with multiple kindles in the family, I also recommend setting them up in one account. I have a group of family and friends that we all have them registered under one account so that when one buys a book, we all have it. I love seeing random books pop up as available on my Kindle.

 

[beccasmom]

We have 2 Kindle 3-3Gs, a Kindle Touch wifi and a Kindle Fire. The K3 is my personal favorite, probably because it was my first Kindle and I take it everywhere. The 3G is very convenient. I do not really use the keyboard except to shop/search in the Kindle store; I don't use the browser at all.

I also enjoy the Touch because I like touch technology. It is just a tad less convenient without the 3G, but I can use my iPhone as a hotspot if the urge to buy another book becomes urgent while on the road! It is a bit smaller than the K3 and therefore easier to hold while reading in bed. They both have the same easy-to-read screens.

The Fire is great for movies and games. Not so much for reading, IMHO, due to the backlit screen, but that's a personal preference. I prefer my iPad for mail and web browsing. I find the Fire a bit too limiting for those tasks.