My beloved Kindle is dying

[MrsPete]

I have a Kindle 2, which I have loved well. However, after about four years of heavy use, it's just about worn out. A couple things are starting "to slip", but what I really can't live with is that the battery just doesn't hold a charge any longer -- a full charge only lasts me 1.5 days now. I can't see buying a new battery for an old Kindle. Anyway, my birthday's coming up in a few months, and I'm going to start dropping hints . . . but with several new choices, which one do I want?

Main features I personally value in my current Kindle:
Ability to categorize books into my own folders.
Ability to change font size.
Long battery life.
Large storage size.
Love the dictionary feature.
And I like the screen size of my current Kindle.
And this is huge: The no-glare-in-the-sun-screen. Oh, how I love that -- I do not like that I can't read my ipad by the pool.

Things about which I do not care:
I have an ipad, so I don't need another machine for movies, music, internet.
I read lots of books, not many magazines; thus, color doesn't matter to me.
I am very visual, and I dislike being read to (don't care about audio books).


Once I get a new Kindle, how much effort is it going to take to move my existing 600+ books from my old Kindle?
Will my folders transfer, or will I have to recreate them?
I have a little docking station, which I keep in the bay window in my bedroom. Is a new Kindle going to fit the same charger?

What should I choose? When I got my existing Kindle, it was the only game in town. No choices necessary.
Thanks in advance!

 

[AnninIowa]

I feel your pain as I fear my Kindle may be dying. It has been acting up as of late. Subsribing to see what advice you get ad I may need it myself soon!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Well...

Let's start with what you don't want. You don't want a Kindle Fire since it does not use e-ink and you already have an iPad.

Which you want will probably depend upon the answers to these questions:

Do you want a touch screen?
Do you want the 3G service?
Do you care what size it is?
Do you have a preference regarding the ads?
Do you want a keyboard?

I have the Kindle 3G keyboard with ads and like it. It has a keyboard which makes it easier to enter information and search for things. I also like to prop it on my stomach or chest while I'm laying down to read and I don't have to hold up the weight of it. The keyboard raises it up a little so it is at a good viewing height.

As far as I know, you will need to recreate your folders on the next device since I don't think there is a way to transfer them. Getting the content transferred is easy though. You just set up the new device and pull everything you want out of your archives.

 

[HeatherAnn23]

Call Amazon first! My beloved Kindle 2 got a crack in the screen last October. When I called them hoping to pay for a repair (I knew it was long out of warrantee) they told me that they do not offer that service. However, they do take back your Kindle and upgrade you for a fee. They offered me a working version of the Kindle 2 for $30 or the newest version of the Kindle keyboard for $60. I chose the newest version because the e-ink is much crisper now. About a week or so later Amazon announced the new kindles and price drops. I called them back, and they credited my account $30. They don't include chargers or anything but the kindle, but it's a great deal for loyal customers. All of your books will be in the archives, and you can put them on the new kindle as you wish. Love my Kindle, and Amazon has always take are of me!

 

[usnuzuloose]

Me, I have the 3g with wifi, I would not trade it for the fire myself. I would continue with what I had. I love the screen, no glare for reading outside. But thats my OP.

 

[erincon23]

Have you tried contacting someplace like Batteries Plus to see if you could just get a new battery, if that's the biggest problem you're facing? I can get a new battery for my cell phone from them for $30.

 

[Ephany]

DH has a Kindle Keyboard with special offers, DD has a Touch with s/o, and I have a Kindle Keyboard 3G without s/o and a Fire. You definitely don't want a Fire. I use mine mainly for school/entertainment, but when I read I want my real Kindle. The Fire is too heavy for me and the glare drives me nuts, plus you can't import your collections to it.

Personally I don't like the Touch. DD's is rather finicky and I find it frustrating to use. I've also noticed that she and my DH tend to use a stylus when using it; I guess to help with the finicky issue. I also find that I miss having a physical keyboard although I know that doesn't matter for some. The special offers used to rock, but for the last few months it's not been worth it (IMO). I'm thinking before I move DD's to her own account, I'm going to pay the fee to upgrade it and remove the special offers. DH doesn't mind them, but they seem to be more advertisements than the savings deals they were initially.

I do love having the 3G. I know it costs more, but we're frequently in areas with no wifi and DH and I read a lot. Also, I've used it more than once when I needed to find an address or check my email (very much appreciated when we were in the Bahamas). I also love it when I finish a book and can order the next one right then.

As for collections, you can import them from your old Kindle to your new kindle. When you click on 'Archived Items' on the last page, after it brings up your menu, the top option should be 'Add Other Device Collections'. Select the kindle you're transferring the collections from (don't deregister your old kindle until you've done this) that'll bring your old collections to your new Kindle. However, AFAIK you do have to send the books to your kindle manually. I find it easiest to do from the 'Manage Your Kindle' page, but you can do it from the archived items section also. We've noticed that if you do more than 10 or so at once, it slows the kindle way down and you'll probably want to have the kindle plugged in while it receives all of the books. You can also start sending books to your new Kindle (if purchased from Amazon) before it arrives, but it may slow it down while it initially downloads.

Target and other retailers carry them in stores so you can go and look at them to get a feel for what you like best. Battery life on all 3 of ours is really good. I tend to leave my wireless off and I think it's been about 3 weeks since I last charged it and there's still plenty left on the indicator. DD's Touch isn't as good, but it's still better than our K2s were.

 

[MrsPete]

I feel your pain as I fear my Kindle may be dying. It has been acting up as of late. Subsribing to see what advice you get ad I may need it myself soon!

I'd be interested to know what yours is doing. Mine sometimes won't turn off (though it'll always go into sleep mode). It frequently "loses its place" and reverts back to the first page of the book. And the toggle switch is cracked (I see that this detail has been improved on the newer models, and it's more of a rocker-switch now). Oh, and about a month ago I "lost" all my folders -- suddenly, for no reason that I can see, I had no folders, just 600+ books.

Well...

Let's start with what you don't want. You don't want a Kindle Fire since it does not use e-ink and you already have an iPad.

Which you want will probably depend upon the answers to these questions:

Do you want a touch screen?
Do you want the 3G service?
Do you care what size it is?
Do you have a preference regarding the ads?
Do you want a keyboard?

I have the Kindle 3G keyboard with ads and like it. It has a keyboard which makes it easier to enter information and search for things. I also like to prop it on my stomach or chest while I'm laying down to read and I don't have to hold up the weight of it. The keyboard raises it up a little so it is at a good viewing height.

As far as I know, you will need to recreate your folders on the next device since I don't think there is a way to transfer them. Getting the content transferred is easy though. You just set up the new device and pull everything you want out of your archives.

I agree that the Fire is out. Although everyone seems to love it, it doesn't seem right for my needs.

I'm not dead-set against a touch screen, but I don't particularly love them -- sorry for the pun, but they can be touchy -- and they do have a shorter lifespan than traditional screens.

As for dimensions, I like the size of my current Kindle, and as long as the screen stays the same size, I'm fine. I think the same way you do about the keyboard: I like to read lying on my back in bed, and the keyboard is hidden by the covers. If the words went all the way to the bottom of the page, would I mind? Or would I just readjust the covers?

Call Amazon first! My beloved Kindle 2 got a crack in the screen last October. When I called them hoping to pay for a repair (I knew it was long out of warrantee) they told me that they do not offer that service. However, they do take back your Kindle and upgrade you for a fee. They offered me a working version of the Kindle 2 for $30 or the newest version of the Kindle keyboard for $60. I chose the newest version because the e-ink is much crisper now. About a week or so later Amazon announced the new kindles and price drops. I called them back, and they credited my account $30. They don't include chargers or anything but the kindle, but it's a great deal for loyal customers. All of your books will be in the archives, and you can put them on the new kindle as you wish. Love my Kindle, and Amazon has always take are of me!

I don't know. I've had it for four years, and it's had heavy use. I don't think I can, in all good conscience, ask them to replace it when the truth is that we've worn it out. On the other hand, I do spend a ton of money with Amazon. I am a good customer.

Me, I have the 3g with wifi, I would not trade it for the fire myself. I would continue with what I had. I love the screen, no glare for reading outside. But thats my OP.

No, I have no interest in the Fire either. But since I can download books essentially everywhere, I'm not seeing what the 3G service'll get me. A couple times while traveling I've been unable to download books -- once on a train, but 30 minutes later we must've been in a better location because I did have service. I'm not sure that's worth adding 50% to the cost of the item.

Have you tried contacting someplace like Batteries Plus to see if you could just get a new battery, if that's the biggest problem you're facing? I can get a new battery for my cell phone from them for $30.

No, I haven't really considered that. The battery is the worst problem, but I can't quite justify paying 1/3 the cost of a new Kindle for a battery . . . because then I'd have a nice new battery in a worn out Kindle.

DH has a Kindle Keyboard with special offers, DD has a Touch with s/o, and I have a Kindle Keyboard 3G without s/o and a Fire. You definitely don't want a Fire. I use mine mainly for school/entertainment, but when I read I want my real Kindle. The Fire is too heavy for me and the glare drives me nuts, plus you can't import your collections to it.

Personally I don't like the Touch. DD's is rather finicky and I find it frustrating to use. I've also noticed that she and my DH tend to use a stylus when using it; I guess to help with the finicky issue. I also find that I miss having a physical keyboard although I know that doesn't matter for some. The special offers used to rock, but for the last few months it's not been worth it (IMO). I'm thinking before I move DD's to her own account, I'm going to pay the fee to upgrade it and remove the special offers. DH doesn't mind them, but they seem to be more advertisements than the savings deals they were initially.

I do love having the 3G. I know it costs more, but we're frequently in areas with no wifi and DH and I read a lot. Also, I've used it more than once when I needed to find an address or check my email (very much appreciated when we were in the Bahamas). I also love it when I finish a book and can order the next one right then.

As for collections, you can import them from your old Kindle to your new kindle. When you click on 'Archived Items' on the last page, after it brings up your menu, the top option should be 'Add Other Device Collections'. Select the kindle you're transferring the collections from (don't deregister your old kindle until you've done this) that'll bring your old collections to your new Kindle. However, AFAIK you do have to send the books to your kindle manually. I find it easiest to do from the 'Manage Your Kindle' page, but you can do it from the archived items section also. We've noticed that if you do more than 10 or so at once, it slows the kindle way down and you'll probably want to have the kindle plugged in while it receives all of the books. You can also start sending books to your new Kindle (if purchased from Amazon) before it arrives, but it may slow it down while it initially downloads.

Target and other retailers carry them in stores so you can go and look at them to get a feel for what you like best. Battery life on all 3 of ours is really good. I tend to leave my wireless off and I think it's been about 3 weeks since I last charged it and there's still plenty left on the indicator. DD's Touch isn't as good, but it's still better than our K2s were.

I think I'm about convinced to go with the Keyboard rather than the Touch screen. I definitely don't want to have to use a stylus.

Thanks to all for your help!

 

[i*heart*minniemouse]

I am a Sony girl...love my new Sony TS-1. I had a Sony previously but it did not have the ability to turn the page by swiping the screen....so I got the TS-1 for Christmas when they did a price reduction to $99. I was able to return my old reader (nothing wrong with it) for a $50 credit to make the net price $49.
Could not beat that price anywhere for a quality product.
I can categorize my books into collections on the laptop and sync with the e reader or my android phone(and the hubby's new Sony tablet). I find it easy to do even though I can download directly to the new reader.
I also like the true ink color vs. the table or Ipad.
There is a slot for a card on the reader also. I have an SD card from the old reader so I just 'store' them all there, so I will always have the books I have purchased on some form of media.
The most important part of my decision was getting the e-reader in RED!! My favorite color and I just love the way it looks!!
Good luck with your decision.

 

[rhonda_2003]

I have the Kindle 3G with the keyboard at the bottom and I love it! Mine just suddenly died. Would reset itself and then die again..... I called Amazon and they send me a new one, just like the one I had for $85. Not too bad.

 

[luvthemouse71]

You could do the $79 Kindle. It is wifi only and does not have a touchscreen. It's smaller, but still big enough for reading. It's $79 with Special Offers and I think $109 for the offer free version.

 

[KKB]

And I borrowed my daughter's that she got last year for Xmas (same as the $79 one you get now) and now I HATE the old one...the newer one is quicker to open up & I am less likely to hit the back/next buttons.
easy decision, get the $79 one.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I'd be interested to know what yours is doing. Mine sometimes won't turn off (though it'll always go into sleep mode). It frequently "loses its place" and reverts back to the first page of the book. And the toggle switch is cracked (I see that this detail has been improved on the newer models, and it's more of a rocker-switch now). Oh, and about a month ago I "lost" all my folders -- suddenly, for no reason that I can see, I had no folders, just 600+ books. I agree that the Fire is out. Although everyone seems to love it, it doesn't seem right for my needs.

I'm not dead-set against a touch screen, but I don't particularly love them -- sorry for the pun, but they can be touchy -- and they do have a shorter lifespan than traditional screens.

As for dimensions, I like the size of my current Kindle, and as long as the screen stays the same size, I'm fine. I think the same way you do about the keyboard: I like to read lying on my back in bed, and the keyboard is hidden by the covers. If the words went all the way to the bottom of the page, would I mind? Or would I just readjust the covers? I don't know. I've had it for four years, and it's had heavy use. I don't think I can, in all good conscience, ask them to replace it when the truth is that we've worn it out. On the other hand, I do spend a ton of money with Amazon. I am a good customer.
No, I have no interest in the Fire either. But since I can download books essentially everywhere, I'm not seeing what the 3G service'll get me. A couple times while traveling I've been unable to download books -- once on a train, but 30 minutes later we must've been in a better location because I did have service. I'm not sure that's worth adding 50% to the cost of the item. No, I haven't really considered that. The battery is the worst problem, but I can't quite justify paying 1/3 the cost of a new Kindle for a battery . . . because then I'd have a nice new battery in a worn out Kindle. I think I'm about convinced to go with the Keyboard rather than the Touch screen. I definitely don't want to have to use a stylus.

Thanks to all for your help!

Bolding above mine My Kindle does this as well. I thought maybe it was due to the book cover. Not sure why I would think that just what my mind brew up as the cause. My book cover has a book lamp on it, incidently that is acting up as well. It has to be in the proper position or it doesn't light. I do love my kindle and I haven't paid for a book yet since I download all of them for free. There are some that are in a series that I would be interested in reading I just havin't gotten around to buying them yet.

 

[MrsPete]

The most important part of my decision was getting the e-reader in RED!! My favorite color and I just love the way it looks!!
Good luck with your decision.

I'm usually a red girl, but my dear old Kindle is purple. It's a sticker from DecalGirl.com, and I love it about as much as I love my Kindle. I tried to copy-and-paste a picture into this thread, but I couldn't do it. Google DecalGirl Arabian Nights Kindle, and you'll see what it looks like.

To put in a plug for them: I bought this sticker when the Kindle was new, so it's about four years old, and it has held up beyond my expectations. It was not easy to get the sticker on (has to be placed just so around those tiny keys), but it's still in perfect condition: It doesn't peel up around the edges or anything. My Kindle decal was the first I ever bought, but since then I've purchased several others for various other electronics, and they've all held up well. For my daughters, I feel like their things are a little more secure against theft if they're stickered and unique. I will say that my daughter's laptop lid decal was a bear to trim and stick, though it looks fantastic, and she likes it almost as much as the laptop itself.

I have the Kindle 3G with the keyboard at the bottom and I love it! Mine just suddenly died. Would reset itself and then die again..... I called Amazon and they send me a new one, just like the one I had for $85. Not too bad.

Bummer. How long did you own the Kindle before it behaved this way? I'm definitely leaning towards the Kindle keyboard now, so if yours went South after only a short time, I'll be concerned.

Personally, I'm really not disappointed in my old one dying. I mean, four years isn't a bad lifespan. Not for something that I've used almost every single day, something I've dragged to the gym frequently, something that my two girls have borrowed constantly. Mine gave solid service. We just wore it out.

You could do the $79 Kindle. It is wifi only and does not have a touchscreen. It's smaller, but still big enough for reading. It's $79 with Special Offers and I think $109 for the offer free version.

Nah, that one doesn't seem to be "quite enough". I definitely want a keyboard of some type. I'm not really concerned about the cost of the Kindle -- for the use it'll get in my house, the cost is insignificant. After all, my current Kindle was purchased back when they were more than $300; this one'll be a bargain. I just want to make the right choice.

And I borrowed my daughter's that she got last year for Xmas (same as the $79 one you get now) and now I HATE the old one...the newer one is quicker to open up & I am less likely to hit the back/next buttons.
easy decision, get the $79 one.

I was definitely expecting the new one to be "new and improved". Very exciting to hear this!

Bolding above mine My Kindle does this as well. I thought maybe it was due to the book cover. Not sure why I would think that just what my mind brew up as the cause. My book cover has a book lamp on it, incidently that is acting up as well. It has to be in the proper position or it doesn't light. I do love my kindle and I haven't paid for a book yet since I download all of them for free. There are some that are in a series that I would be interested in reading I just havin't gotten around to buying them yet.

No, I can't support that theory because I don't have a cover. I read mine "naked" and keep it in a slipcover. So no cover could interfere with my Kindle's workings.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The battery on my Kindle 2 (several years old) also occasionally stops holding a charge. Have you tried this fix - resetting the device?

How to reset your Kindle when it won’t charge

1. Slide the power button and hold it for 30 sec.

2. Release and wait for 20 sec until the screen begins to flash.

3. As soon as it does, plug in the power and keep it connected for 2 hours.

 

[HeatherAnn23]

. I've had it for four years, and it's had heavy use. I don't think I can, in all good conscience, ask them to replace it when the truth is that we've worn it out. On the other hand, I do spend a ton of money with Amazon. I am a good [\QUOTE]

Honestly you should just give them a call. It isn't pulling a fast one, you have to send your Kindle back to them to refurb. When you have a working Kindle they are making money off of your downloads ( if you're anything like me!). Wen I called it was with the intention of paying for a repair, they will let you know what you can honestly do about your kindle. Unless you want to keep your old one, it can be a great deal.