Questions about Kindle

[mrudman]

Ok, I thought I had it all figured out that I was going to get a Nook for my mom for Christmas. But now after watching a comparison video that somebody had posted on here, plus researching what the differences are between the 2, I'm leaning more toward the Kindle.

Not being able to download books from our library is a major downer, but the options that the Kindle does offer (that I can see), outweigh that.

My questions though is for anyone who is knowledgable about all the different models of Kindles, can you help me out.. as far as 1st gen, 2nd gen, dx, etc.. confused on what came when, and what has changed between each model. Which ones offer Wi-Fi, and which ones offer 3G? Do the 3G ones offer Wi-Fi as well?

Trying to figure out whether my mom would need a 3G version or not... she does love to check her e-mails frequently, so would she be able to do that on the Kindle?

Also, besides reading books, what other options is the Kindle able to do? I've seen some basic games, such as solitaire, etc.. anything else I'm missing?

Thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

Ok, I thought I had it all figured out that I was going to get a Nook for my mom for Christmas. But now after watching a comparison video that somebody had posted on here, plus researching what the differences are between the 2, I'm leaning more toward the Kindle.

Not being able to download books from our library is a major downer, but the options that the Kindle does offer (that I can see), outweigh that.

My questions though is for anyone who is knowledgable about all the different models of Kindles, can you help me out.. as far as 1st gen, 2nd gen, dx, etc.. confused on what came when, and what has changed between each model. Which ones offer Wi-Fi, and which ones offer 3G? Do the 3G ones offer Wi-Fi as well?

Trying to figure out whether my mom would need a 3G version or not... she does love to check her e-mails frequently, so would she be able to do that on the Kindle?

Also, besides reading books, what other options is the Kindle able to do? I've seen some basic games, such as solitaire, etc.. anything else I'm missing?

Thanks!

First generation came out, followed by second gen then the dx and finally the current generation. First and second generations have comparable screen quality with changes to the layout of the buttons and better page changes when reading. Neither has 3g. The dx is larger, heavier and was the first to have a 3g option. The current generation is smaller than the first and second generations but has the same size screen. Its battery life is better. It can have 3g capability if you want to pay more for it. The screen contrast is also better on the current generation than on any of the previous incarnations. Wi fi is standard on both the dx and current generation.
The kindle is not like a smart phone and should not be expected to substitute for one. The screen is black and gray. The browser is experimental only. Its slow and does not load every website the way you would expect. You can check email on it if you have a wi fi connection or if you bought a 3g version. But it is cumbersome and clumsy. Typing responses is excruciatingly slow b/c the keypad is not designed like a qwerty keyboard. Its works in a pinch but its not something I would do with any regularity.
The games are okay but not anything to get excited about. Again, the screen is black and gray. There is no true mouse, just a cursor with an up/down left/right toggle switch or key.
The kindle can play mp3 files but you cant choose the order in which they play. And the sound quality from the speakers is not anything to write home about.
But I love it for the ebook features that it has and that was my reason for buying it. My ipod touch pretty much fulfills all the other needs.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Things I do on my Kindle:

I keep PDF copies of documents I need frequently, especially when I travel. Much easier to access a page on the Kindle than firing up the laptop or bringing a lot of paper with me. I have travel folders for my most recent 5 or 6 trips and documents related thereto in each. VERY handy.

I have recipe folders. They contain cookbooks and PDF copies of favorite recipes so I can use them in the kitchen AND pull them up in the market to shop for ingredients. Again. Very handy.

I use OneNote at the office and home and use cloud computing but when I know I will be away from a computer for some time I convert important note pages to PDF and email them to my Kindle. Each Kindle has its own email address so even if you don't have your connecter cable with you... not a problem.

And yes... I read a LOT on my Kindle. Books, work documents, newspapers. I don't subscribe to any newspapers but I love to get the latest edition of the paper from whichever city I happen to be in. I also download library books from a couple of libraries where I am a member. One doesn't need a Kindle nor a Nook nor any e-reader to do that. The Overdrive software resides on your PC and you can read it there or transfer it to an e-reader. Frankly, the libraries have very limited selections of books and when you find a popular book, the waitlist can number into the forties and fifties or higher. Until they buy more licenses, it's not an ideal option, especially with more and more e-reader owners. I put library books on our Sony e-reader and (after converting) the Kindle.

I love the ability to organize my reading material into folders. What good is the ability to have 3500 books on a device and no way to categorize them for easy retrieval?

 

[jrmasm]

First generation came out, followed by second gen then the dx and finally the current generation. First and second generations have comparable screen quality with changes to the layout of the buttons and better page changes when reading. Neither has 3g. The dx is larger, heavier and was the first to have a 3g option. The current generation is smaller than the first and second generations but has the same size screen. Its battery life is better. It can have 3g capability if you want to pay more for it. The screen contrast is also better on the current generation than on any of the previous incarnations. Wi fi is standard on both the dx and current generation.
The kindle is not like a smart phone and should not be expected to substitute for one. The screen is black and gray. The browser is experimental only. Its slow and does not load every website the way you would expect. You can check email on it if you have a wi fi connection or if you bought a 3g version. But it is cumbersome and clumsy. Typing responses is excruciatingly slow b/c the keypad is not designed like a qwerty keyboard. Its works in a pinch but its not something I would do with any regularity.
The games are okay but not anything to get excited about. Again, the screen is black and gray. There is no true mouse, just a cursor with an up/down left/right toggle switch or key.
The kindle can play mp3 files but you cant choose the order in which they play. And the sound quality from the speakers is not anything to write home about.
But I love it for the ebook features that it has and that was my reason for buying it. My ipod touch pretty much fulfills all the other needs.

Bolded is not true. I cannot speak about Gen1 or DX but Gen2 was sold with 3G and Wifi. The option came for only Wifi with Gen3.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Actually... Gen 2 was 3G only, no wifi. But the 3G is free and it works all over the world! Woo!

 

[jrmasm]

Actually... Gen 2 was 3G only, no wifi. But the 3G is free and it works all over the world! Woo!

My bad. I knew it had 3G.

 

[mrudman]

Thanks for the replies!

So as I'm looking on Amazon, they list a Wi-Fi version ($139), a Wi-Fi+3G ($189) version, and the DX version ($379) under the comparisons. Would the first 2 be the latest generation ones? And there was a generation before that one?

Also, what am I seeing Kindle 2 and Kindle 3 on Ebay? What generation are those?

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks for the replies!

So as I'm looking on Amazon, they list a Wi-Fi version ($139), a Wi-Fi+3G ($189) version, and the DX version ($379) under the comparisons. Would the first 2 be the latest generation ones? And there was a generation before that one?

Also, what am I seeing Kindle 2 and Kindle 3 on Ebay? What generation are those?

The current version is the kindle 3 (also called the k3). The second generation is the kindle 2 (or k2). The ones that you see being sold on amazon for $139 and $189 are the k3 version.

 

[mrudman]

Thanks!

 

[webprinter]

I downloaded some free word games and Solitaire onto my kindle. You just have to watch a little closer without the colors but you can still play easily. To me, the hardest part is playing with the four way button instead of a mouse. However, I just got mine and downloaded the games a couple days ago, so I am assuming it will get easier the longer I play.

 

[Muffin]

I also download library books from a couple of libraries where I am a member. One doesn't need a Kindle nor a Nook nor any e-reader to do that. The Overdrive software resides on your PC and you can read it there or transfer it to an e-reader.

I've seen you post this several times and would like to ask how you do this. Do you convert the book on your PC and then put it on the Kindle?

I'm in the market for my first ereader and am leaning toward the Nook for the library feature. If I could read library books on a Kindle, I would definitly get one.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My suggestion to anyone who is buying an e-reader primarily for the ability to read library books on it find one or more libraries online and join them and load the overdrive software on your computer and explore it just as you would if you already had the e-reader. Browse, see what's available, put yourself on a few waitlists for books, try and find something you're interested in, download a few. It's great to be able to browse from home, but the selection is VERY limited. I am a member of 3 different libraries and it's still slim pickings.

I've seen you post this several times and would like to ask how you do this. Do you convert the book on your PC and then put it on the Kindle?

I'm in the market for my first ereader and am leaning toward the Nook for the library feature. If I could read library books on a Kindle, I would definitly get one.