MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - engadget: August Kindle is Shasta, with WiFi

SensualPoet · 05-31-2010, 10:28 PM

Removing 3G isn't such a great idea ... unless adding WiFi to the 3G line-up can be done without "adding cost" to the Kindle 2.

I can see a place for a WiFi-only Kindle, and a souped up 3G+WiFi Kindle. If removing 3G and adding WiFi makes it possible to offer a $149 Kindle ... that's pretty interesting. It has no long-term liability in 3G charges for surfing the web at AT&T/Amazon's expense ... but it loses the "3G anywhere" capability which sets the Kindle apart from every other e-reader including the iPad.

What about a Kindle 3 with a few more features: all the 2.5 stuff, a sans serif font, WiFi, the latest higher contrast screen technology, perhaps an improved keyboard ... all for $259.

Then punt the current Kindle 2 technology, screen capacity, keyboard and WiFi instead of 3G with the 2.5 release ... at $149ish? Although WiFi is nice, 3G -- as Amazon and AT&T have implemented it -- is seamless. Turn it on: it works. WiFi ain't that str8-forward. But then again, typically, it's free.

05-31-2010, 10:28 PM	#6
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Removing 3G isn't such a great idea ... unless adding WiFi to the 3G line-up can be done without "adding cost" to the Kindle 2. I can see a place for a WiFi-only Kindle, and a souped up 3G+WiFi Kindle. If removing 3G and adding WiFi makes it possible to offer a $149 Kindle ... that's pretty interesting. It has no long-term liability in 3G charges for surfing the web at AT&T/Amazon's expense ... but it loses the "3G anywhere" capability which sets the Kindle apart from every other e-reader including the iPad. What about a Kindle 3 with a few more features: all the 2.5 stuff, a sans serif font, WiFi, the latest higher contrast screen technology, perhaps an improved keyboard ... all for $259. Then punt the current Kindle 2 technology, screen capacity, keyboard and WiFi instead of 3G with the 2.5 release ... at $149ish? Although WiFi is nice, 3G -- as Amazon and AT&T have implemented it -- is seamless. Turn it on: it works. WiFi ain't that str8-forward. But then again, typically, it's free.