<p>So, a newer, smaller, lighter Kindle to be released in Aug?</p>
<p>With 3G and WiFi for $189</p>
<p>or the wi fi one for only $139???</p>
<p>Wow- and I STILL am happy with the $249 Santa paid for mine last December!
Have gotten WORLDS of happiness from it already.</p>
<p>And so, what does the 3G do that the WiFi does not???
Considering buying DH one for this Christmas…but don’t know which one.</p>
<p>I, obviously, use MY Kindle to read books only!!!</p>
<p>I must say, I’d go for the iPad if at all possible. For some it’s not worth it. I understand. It depends on what you read, and how you read. I get all my news online. My eyes were shot from three years of reading news on the iPhone. I’d use it at home even with the computer 10ft away. Now it’s what I’m used it. H considered the Kindle for me for several years but we held off for a number of reasons. The iPad was a no-brainer for us.</p>
<p>I am also interested in the new Kindle for my daughter. I was wondering what would be missing by having wifi only without 3G.</p>
<p>A concern I have for my daughter is that she works a 9-11 hour day in front of a computer screen and complains about her eyes at the end of the day. She is a huge reader when the times allows; is she going to hate adding more electronic time on her eyes, or does the Kindle not affect your eyes like that?</p>
<p>1.) If I’m not mistaken, WiFi is internet capability in areas broadcasting compatible wireless internet connections. 3G is broadcast like cell phone service, so you don’t need to be in a WiFi hotspot.</p>
<p>2.) Kindle, Nook, and various other such products use a digital ink display screen, making the words resemble the printed word, so there is no strain to your eyes from staring at a computer screen. This is a significant reason for their popularity, and it is one thing that the iPad does not have.</p>
<p>I ordered the new Kindle with WiFi only, plus a spiffy cover that has a fold-out reading lamp. I’m tired of sharing my husband’s Kindle (and so is he). I would love an iPad, but won’t get one for the vision reasons described above. I stare at a computer screen enough. For me, I don’t see the benefits of 3G. I can’t wait until the end of August!</p>
<p>During the school year my son subscribes to the NY Times on his Kindle, and it’s well worth the expense.</p>
<p>Stupid question; if you get the newer wifi only version, can you still read what you downloaded if you are not in a location with wifi? I assume so like a computer, but I wanted to make sure.</p>
<p>Thanks, BillyMc for the wifi/3G answer. </p>
<p>Yes, the ease on the eyes is superb on Kindle with the digital ink.
Once a book is downloaded to the Kindle, you don’t have to have wifi available to read.
I only put the wifi on to actually download a book.</p>
<p>Thanks musicmom, that was I figured, but I haven’t paid much attention to the Kindles in the past. I can’t decide if I should order the new Kindle now and put it away for Hanukkah, or wait awhile to get it. I always have this fear it will be out of stock, so early might be a good idea. Of course, the price could drop and then I will be mad I paid more!</p>
<p>I can’t wait! I’ve already informed Santa – and in not too subtle detail – that I have a birthday and Christmas coming up and I request the New Kindle. I have a 1st generation one, which I bought like two months before the 2nd generation came out, of course. So … I’m ready to upgrade. As I solely want an e-reader and I can read my kindle for hours w/o eye strain (and in the sun), and it’s been a life saver when we lost our computer last year for getting email, etc. (don’t do smart phones because we won’t pay a monthly fee), I am a HUGE fan. </p>
<p>Getting giddy just thinking about it. </p>
<p>If santa knows what’s good for him, he’ll not wait too long to order one. </p>
<p>zebes, who can “do naughty … so nice. :)” hehehee</p>
<p>I would go with the 3G version. $50 for a lifetime of access wherever you are is a bargain. It can be a pain finding a hotspot in some places. And there is a simple web browser on the Kindle.</p>
<p>
I really think the kindle and similar low cost ebook readers and the iPad are in completely different categories. The iPad is almost 4 times the cost of the kindle, weighs twice as much, has a much shorter battery life, and many feel the display is not as easy on the eyes for book reading. The Kindle is focused primarily in one niche while the iPad is more of a general purpose device so one needs to consider how they’d really use the device and what they’re willing to pay for it to choose one over the other or maybe even consider getting both since an iPad+Kindle is only about 28% more than just an iPad. The Kindle also doesn’t have recurring monthly costs for 3G like the iPad has (if using that feature).</p>
<p>I said in the following sentence, for some it’s not worth it. It depends on what you read and how you read.</p>
<p>Will the Kindle include a web browser? The display is different than regular monitors and the web access may only be for downloading books and not for surfing the web.</p>
<p>
My point is just that the two devices aren’t even in the same ballpark due to a huge price difference between the two as well as a practical difference (each with pluses and minuses). </p>
<p>I agree with you fundamentally though and when I purchased a Kindle as a gift (I don’t have one) I also considered an iPad but with such a spread in the cost it’s difficult to even consider it unless one is also interested in all the other functionality the iPad offers which is really where the consideration should be - whether having that other functionality is worth it (especially considering that one might already have it in their laptop/desktop). As the two move further apart in cost it’ll make even less sense to consider one over the other for most people if they’re primarily considering the device for reading books.</p>
<p>I’m with uscducladad.
The (now evern MUCH cheaper) Kindle and the ipad are in different galaxies.
I wanted a VERY thin, light book reader and love the cheap, easy on the eyes Kindle.
I do not want all the other great features of the ipad at 3 to 4 times the cost.</p>
<p>It’s what you crave!</p>
<p>proudmom- the Kindle I have (new last December) does let you surf the web. BUT it is very crude and slow. It’s more like doggie paddling the web rather than surfing.
I have used it successfully to check email while reading at the town pool. Works but not fun. But there is no monthly fee, which is good cause it’s not worth much.
Don’t know if the new new version will have better surfing.</p>
<p>As I said above, MY kindle is for wirelessly downloading lots of free and low cost reading and letting me read with no eyestrain EVEN in bright sunlight…see pool above.</p>
<p>It’s heaven.</p>
<p>Sorry for the interruption then. I actually wanted a Kindle for years and would have sprung for it if it had been at the current price. The iPad was a gift from DH.</p>
<p>My iPhone is for random web surfing off the computer. My Kindle will be for reading. For us (my H has had one for a year), its major purpose is to reduce the linear feet of books in our house–more like linear miles–and to consume less paper. We do not have a good public library. Everyone I know who has a Kindle just loves it.</p>
<p>I bought the $189 Kindle less than 30 days ago. I just called Amazon to see if I qualified for a $50 credit since the $139 version just came out, but was told that wasn’t available. I remember that some people did get a credit when they had purchased the $259 Kindle less than 30 days from when the $189 Kindle came out. Has anyone gotten a credit this time around? If so, what did you do to get it?</p>
<p>From what I understand the $189 kindle you purchased has the 3g in it, which will still sell for $189 on the K3 version. The $139 kindle that’s coming out does not have the 3G, only wi-fi. So they probably won’t give you a $50 credit because you are comparing “apples and oranges,” I think. You might see if they’ll allow you to return the one you have, then you could upgrade to the similar k3, if you wanted to wait for it to come out. </p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>I have an iPad but is considering acquiring an eReader that uses eInk like the Kindle. Half of my iPad time is used in book reading. It makes more sense to do it with a Kindle. My problem with the kindle is it’s restrictive support of book formats. I have many ePUB books, some of which I formatted myself. These books can’t be read on the Kindle. So I am looking into the Sony reader. Wondering whether anyone here know of a good way to turn ePub into Kindle format. From what I have read on the topic, it is unclear to me that it could be done. I could turn them into PDFs but that would not have the advantage of eBook functions. Any expert advice would be appreciated.</p>