Unlocked Kindles???

Greg_E · 10-29-2011, 12:30 PM

So I'm looking around on ebay for a used DX, and I see several listed as unlocked... What are the potential issues with buying an unlocked device?

What I really want is a DX wifi version but they still have not made this yet. Most of my use will be PDF that I can't get into an ebook format without a large amount of work. They contain forms and several other issues that prevent a good conversion. I'm reading right now on a tablet PC but the text is not as clear as I would really like, and the tablet is about two or three times heavier than a DX and of course uses a backlit LCD so battery can be an issue even though I get about 6 hours out of the battery.

I have a couple of low ball bids on some of these unlocked devices so I'm sure there is little risk in winning one before I can get the answer to my concern.

Shack70 · 10-29-2011, 12:34 PM

Send a message to the seller and ask what unlocked means. I would assume it means jailbroken.

susan_cassidy · 10-29-2011, 02:01 PM

The 3G might be disabled on those (that might be what they mean by unlocked, but you can't put another SIM card in them).

wvcherrybomb · 10-29-2011, 02:56 PM

I don't know what unlocked means, but it sounds naughty. I wouldn't be doing any kind of tethering to surf on your laptop as I'm sure Amazon can tell who you are. I'm equally sure they wouldn't like it very much.

Greg_E · 10-29-2011, 05:11 PM

I figure that anything anyone has messed with is only worth about 1/3 the price. Since I'm looking at this mostly for things like PDF I can't see needing to buy stuff from Amazon and I can probably download the current firmware and apply it back fixing the unlocked condition.

RainingLemur · 10-30-2011, 11:58 AM

I think they're referring to the 3G (for some reason), but I'm not positive. Double check with the seller.

Greg_E · 10-30-2011, 12:15 PM

The seller turns out to be clueless, I've been outbid and I don't think I'm going to increase the bid on this item.

kennyc · 10-30-2011, 12:19 PM

http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011...Daily+Strip%29

Filark · 01-28-2012, 03:48 AM

I have the same question as the OP. About half the Kindle DXs for sale on ebay are "unlocked". This seems to pertain to the 3g connection, but I would like to know exactly what that means for someone purchasing and using a DX in the U.S. We would like to have Wi-Fi (dream on!

) but we do not want to give up the Whispersync functionality.

Has anyone bought an unlocked DX?

Can anyone give an informed answer? (I know I can ask one of the sellers, and I will if I have to.

)

Thank you!!!

kennyc, I loved that Dilbert -- so true!

HarryT · 01-28-2012, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filark

I have the same question as the OP. About half the Kindle DXs for sale on ebay are "unlocked". This seems to pertain to the 3g connection, but I would like to know exactly what that means for someone purchasing and using a DX in the U.S.

It simply means that the seller doesn't have a clue. There's no such thing as an "unlocked" Kindle DX. All current DX's will work world-wide.

Filark · 01-28-2012, 04:26 AM

Thanks Harry!

I thought maybe they had removed the connection to AT&T somehow . . .

If it's just clueless sellers there are a lot of them, and ebay gives them their own special category -- I'm not doubting you; I've seen stranger things than this!!

Haesslich · 01-28-2012, 01:23 PM

I resin all think the seller is using "unlocked" in the sale description to make clueless buyers think that particular Kindle is worth more, and thus justify jacking up the price another $50-100 dollars over someone else's Kindle DX sale.

slboyd · 07-23-2012, 01:02 PM

They seem to mean that it is not "locked" into AT&T but I don't know what that means for using the 3G without a carrier? Are other carriers available to you? Or can you not connect with the 3G? That doesn't seem to be good but they market it as a positive...

Bricorn · 07-23-2012, 04:45 PM

It means de- or un- registered. I've recently bought a second DX from eBay and checked that before bidding. Or at least it means that if the seller has a clue.

HarryT · 07-24-2012, 01:30 AM

Do you really think that the OP cares, 6 months later?

10-29-2011, 12:30 PM	#1
Greg_E Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1180 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Acer Iconia a500, XP tablet PC	Unlocked Kindles??? So I'm looking around on ebay for a used DX, and I see several listed as unlocked... What are the potential issues with buying an unlocked device? What I really want is a DX wifi version but they still have not made this yet. Most of my use will be PDF that I can't get into an ebook format without a large amount of work. They contain forms and several other issues that prevent a good conversion. I'm reading right now on a tablet PC but the text is not as clear as I would really like, and the tablet is about two or three times heavier than a DX and of course uses a backlit LCD so battery can be an issue even though I get about 6 hours out of the battery. I have a couple of low ball bids on some of these unlocked devices so I'm sure there is little risk in winning one before I can get the answer to my concern.

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10-29-2011, 12:34 PM	#2
Shack70 Guru Posts: 775 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Fire 10", Honor 8 Android Phone	Send a message to the seller and ask what unlocked means. I would assume it means jailbroken.

10-29-2011, 02:01 PM	#3
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	The 3G might be disabled on those (that might be what they mean by unlocked, but you can't put another SIM card in them).

10-29-2011, 02:56 PM	#4
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	I don't know what unlocked means, but it sounds naughty. I wouldn't be doing any kind of tethering to surf on your laptop as I'm sure Amazon can tell who you are. I'm equally sure they wouldn't like it very much.

10-29-2011, 05:11 PM	#5
Greg_E Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1180 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Acer Iconia a500, XP tablet PC	I figure that anything anyone has messed with is only worth about 1/3 the price. Since I'm looking at this mostly for things like PDF I can't see needing to buy stuff from Amazon and I can probably download the current firmware and apply it back fixing the unlocked condition.

10-30-2011, 11:58 AM	#6
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I think they're referring to the 3G (for some reason), but I'm not positive. Double check with the seller.

10-30-2011, 12:15 PM	#7
Greg_E Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1180 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Acer Iconia a500, XP tablet PC	The seller turns out to be clueless, I've been outbid and I don't think I'm going to increase the bid on this item.

10-30-2011, 12:19 PM	#8
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011...Daily+Strip%29

01-28-2012, 03:48 AM	#9
Filark Armed with a smile :) Posts: 1,421 Karma: 2463560 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California, USA Device: enTourage eDGe & Pocket eDGe, Samsung Galaxy Note II	I have the same question as the OP. About half the Kindle DXs for sale on ebay are "unlocked". This seems to pertain to the 3g connection, but I would like to know exactly what that means for someone purchasing and using a DX in the U.S. We would like to have Wi-Fi (dream on! ) but we do not want to give up the Whispersync functionality. Has anyone bought an unlocked DX? Can anyone give an informed answer? (I know I can ask one of the sellers, and I will if I have to. ) Thank you!!! kennyc, I loved that Dilbert -- so true!

01-28-2012, 04:26 AM	#11
Filark Armed with a smile :) Posts: 1,421 Karma: 2463560 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California, USA Device: enTourage eDGe & Pocket eDGe, Samsung Galaxy Note II	Thanks Harry! I thought maybe they had removed the connection to AT&T somehow . . . If it's just clueless sellers there are a lot of them, and ebay gives them their own special category -- I'm not doubting you; I've seen stranger things than this!!

01-28-2012, 01:23 PM	#12
Haesslich Fanatic Posts: 544 Karma: 1138182 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kobo Touch,Glo,Mini,Aura/HD/One,H20, Sony PRS-300/600, Kindle 3-PW	I resin all think the seller is using "unlocked" in the sale description to make clueless buyers think that particular Kindle is worth more, and thus justify jacking up the price another $50-100 dollars over someone else's Kindle DX sale.

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07-23-2012, 01:02 PM	#13
slboyd Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 188 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alabama Device: Sony PRS 505	They seem to mean that it is not "locked" into AT&T but I don't know what that means for using the 3G without a carrier? Are other carriers available to you? Or can you not connect with the 3G? That doesn't seem to be good but they market it as a positive...

07-23-2012, 04:45 PM	#14
Bricorn Addict Posts: 289 Karma: 7788748 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fun Town, Thailand Device: Kindle DXG	It means de- or un- registered. I've recently bought a second DX from eBay and checked that before bidding. Or at least it means that if the seller has a clue.

07-24-2012, 01:30 AM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Do you really think that the OP cares, 6 months later?