Kindle 3G - Better than books!!

[Pete R]

Just bought the wifi only version for my bookworm son - he is really thrilled with it. Uses it to download from our home wifi. I am seriously considering ditching my Sony ereader which is heavier, more expensive, less reliable, slower and uses books that are more expensive than you get on Amazon downloads (I can sure recognise a bargain when I see one!).

What advantage do you get with the wifi/ 3G unit? Is it a matter of not being constrained to a wifi zone and the 3G giving the flexibility of telephone access to the bookstore? Are there other advantages? The price differential is substantial between the two units.

Grateful for any views - thanks!

There is no telephone access. The 3G allows internet access when not in wi-fi range. The browser is basic but ok.

The 3G is free and supposed to be available in 100 countries.

I am doing a delivery via France, Italy and Greece this week so will post on the reception.

 

[prv]

I'd rather have a NetBook than a Kindle

I'd rather have a car than a pushbike - but hey, I've got both, they're for different things, it's not an either/or choice.

The Kindle is a pure ebook reader. It can't do most of the things a netbook can, but that's ok since it's not trying to be a netbook. It is strictly for reading, and for that it is far better than anything else. Would you really curl up in bed with a netbook?

The kindle app is not the special part, so the fact you can run it elsewhere is irrelevant. The special part is the Kindle hardware - small, light, and a screen that's like paper instead of LCD.

Pete

 

[Pete R]

I'd rather have a car than a pushbike - but hey, I've got both, they're for different things, it's not an either/or choice.

The Kindle is a pure ebook reader. It can't do most of the things a netbook can, but that's ok since it's not trying to be a netbook. It is strictly for reading, and for that it is far better than anything else. Would you really curl up in bed with a netbook?

The kindle app is not the special part, so the fact you can run it elsewhere is irrelevant. The special part is the Kindle hardware - small, light, and a screen that's like paper instead of LCD.

Pete

I too have both and if I have to choose which one to take out to work (non boaty) then the kindle wins. It is lighter and my netbook does not have free 3G.

 

[webcraft]

I'd rather have a car than a pushbike - but hey, I've got both, they're for different things, it's not an either/or choice.

The Kindle is a pure ebook reader. It can't do most of the things a netbook can, but that's ok since it's not trying to be a netbook. It is strictly for reading, and for that it is far better than anything else. Would you really curl up in bed with a netbook?

The kindle app is not the special part, so the fact you can run it elsewhere is irrelevant. The special part is the Kindle hardware - small, light, and a screen that's like paper instead of LCD.

Pete

The Kindle is brilliant for reading on - a completely different and infinitely better experience than reading on a netbook, Ipad or similar backlit device. It's actually easier than reading a book, and now I have a waterproof case I can read it in the bath. People who say they wouldn't have one because an Ipad can do more are missing the point, and folk who won't have one because of the DRM or the Amazon marketing model are IMO cutting off their nose to spite their face.

- W

 

[macd]

From my reading in the Amazon Kindle forum you need to be careful about where you buy your Kindle. If you are mainly resident in the UK you should get a UK Kindle and register it at your UK address, otherwise you cannot buy books from the Amazon UK site, which are generally cheaper, also the 3G set up is apparently different in the US and UK versions.

I suspect that might not be altogether so. I bought my Kindle whilst in Spain, on which grounds Amazon.co.uk would not accept my order. Their site referred me to Amazon.com. Duly bought the device from them, although it was shipped (very quickly) from Germany. But because (I presume) my credit card address is IoM, the Kindle arrived 'linked' to the UK, from where I can download e-books. Crackers, but ultimately convenient.

Still suspect Kindle's position might breach EU law, though.

While I have the floor can I commend Duragadget, from whom I bought a Kindle cover via Amazon? The order was placed 28 Jan. The cover arrived in Andalucia today, 1 Feb.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Kindle ...

We bought one through amazon.co.uk and it was delivered to the U.K.

Book purchases go through amazon.com as our credit card is German. Books are more expensive from .com compared to .co.uk. Worldwide downloads certainly work well for us in U.K. and Europe.

Fantastic device and as a book reader it knocks the iPad into a cocked hat (I've used both), clear direct sunlight readable display, turn pages without waving your arms around, much lighter and smaller, amazing battery life and really easy browsing and purchase of books - read for hours comfortably and not get that horrible feeling like you've been staring at a light bulb for too long.

Doesn't feel like Amazon are ripping me off ... but only time will tell. They have retracted books and remotely deleted them from devices (obviously with a refund) - but hey, welcome to the paranoid world of DRM where everyone is a potential criminal.

I would thoroughly recommend it. Amazon got this right - big time.

 

[agurney]

Book purchases go through amazon.com as our credit card is German. Books are more expensive from .com compared to .co.uk. Worldwide downloads certainly work well for us in U.K. and Europe.

There seem to be a lot of discrepancies. Some are cheaper on amazon.com, others considerably more expensive, for example:
"The King's Speech"
from .com $3.59
from .co.uk £4.37

However, it's probably not that simple. There's no indication if books have been converted to UK or US English, and I suspect publishers have a big say in what the pricing should be for various markets.


Alisdair

 

[prv]

I suspect publishers have a big say in what the pricing should be for various markets.

I think pricing is entirely down to the publishers, and they haven't yet made up their collective minds what e-books "ought" to cost. Some are pennies, or a couple of quid, while others are £15 and more than the print version. No particular correlation with type of book (I'm only talking about mainstream in-print ones, not public domain freebies etc) so I can only assume it's different publishers' policies.

Obviously I hope "cheap" wins as the prevailing price.

Pete

 

[snowleopard]

Can the 3G ones do anything other than order books over the mobile phone network, i.e. can you access internet pages while out of wifi range?

Small observation - currently electronic books are subject to 20% VAT whereas paper books are VAT free.

 

[alant]

There seem to be a lot of discrepancies. Some are cheaper on amazon.com, others considerably more expensive, for example:
"The King's Speech"
from .com $3.59
from .co.uk £4.37

However, it's probably not that simple. There's no indication if books have been converted to UK or US English, and I suspect publishers have a big say in what the pricing should be for various markets.


Alisdair

Sure they are the same books?

US version might be shorter, hence cheaper, having had all those 'long' words taken out!

 

[macd]

Can the 3G ones do anything other than order books over the mobile phone network, i.e. can you access internet pages while out of wifi range.

Yes. There's an 'experimental' browser. It's a bit clunky but seems to work.

 

[Fantasie 19]

"I can run the Kindle app on the Netbook,"

Is this on any netbook?

If so, how do you get kindle app & can you then get books?

As long as it's running Windows is my understanding - Amazon web page says "Kindle for PC can be used on any personal computer running Windows XP with Service Pack 2+, Windows Vista, or Windows 7."

Free (I think) from here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200488000

..and yes - you can then read Kindle stuff on your laptop/netbook whatever..

 

[Fantasie 19]

I'd rather have a car than a pushbike - but hey, I've got both, they're for different things, it's not an either/or choice.

The Kindle is a pure ebook reader. It can't do most of the things a netbook can, but that's ok since it's not trying to be a netbook. It is strictly for reading, and for that it is far better than anything else. Would you really curl up in bed with a netbook?

The kindle app is not the special part, so the fact you can run it elsewhere is irrelevant. The special part is the Kindle hardware - small, light, and a screen that's like paper instead of LCD.

Pete

....but if your bike could do everything your car could would you still have a car.... horses for courses my friend, and the world is better for it

...to answer your question - yes I do read books on my Netbook, with the added advantage that I can read them in the dark thus not irritating SWMBO by having to have the light on....

 

[agurney]

Can the 3G ones do anything other than order books over the mobile phone network, i.e. can you access internet pages while out of wifi range?

Yes, I was using my kindle to browse the web last night in the middle of the USA. As mentioned earlier in the the thread I've already confirmed it works in the UK using the Vodafone network.