Best ereader for someone with no home computer?

hannahi · 07-21-2011, 01:47 PM

My co-worker is very interested in buying an e-reader. She's looked at the various versions of the Nook at B&N. The thing is she's not very computer savvy and doesn't have a home computer, and of course various B&N staff members have given her different answers about which e-reader is best for her. I have a Kindle 3 3G/Wifi that I've shown her a few times. I suppose either this or one of the Nooks with 3G would be the best for her because she wouldn't' have to find a wireless connection. Unless she decided to buy a Kindle (which doesn't seem likely) I'd think that the classic Nook with 3G/Wifi would be the best for her. What do you think?

ucfgrad93 · 07-21-2011, 02:55 PM

Either a Kindle or first generation Nook would be the only way for her to shop for books without a computer. I would recommend a Kindle since it is newer than the older Nook.

ProfCrash · 07-21-2011, 03:11 PM

The Kindle 3G would be a good bet. She will be able to buy books through Amazon easily and she can use the web browser for checking email and text based websites. It is not the best web browser but if there is no computer in the house then it would work fine for running the basics.

boswd · 07-21-2011, 03:45 PM

yeah Kindle or the nook 1st gen with 3G are her only I options that I'm aware of

fjtorres · 07-21-2011, 05:42 PM

If she doesn't mind the power-off "screen-saver" ads, Kindle 3g with special offers is the cheapest way to go.

Anarel · 07-21-2011, 10:42 PM

Without a home computer the Kindle 3 is probably her best bet. You can download books from websites other than Amazon right from the device- I'm pretty sure the earlier versions of nook and even the current ones can't do that.

ScalyFreak · 07-21-2011, 10:47 PM

If she doesn't have a home computer, she needs a reader that can connect to any wifi network in any coffee shop anywhere, or she won't be able to get books onto it. Most who don't have a computer will not have a network in easy reach of their home, and certainly not the knowledge to leech off of their neighbors either.

Andrew H. · 07-22-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

If she doesn't have a home computer, she needs a reader that can connect to any wifi network in any coffee shop anywhere, or she won't be able to get books onto it.

Kindle 3G doesn't need wifi; that's the point of it. It was made for people without computer access.

jbcohen · 07-22-2011, 02:23 PM

I beg to differ with the crowd, I was under the impression that a Kindle worked via your home wifi enabled network, therefore if she does not have a PC at home the would be no network and no wifi for the kindle to work off. Although if she gets a tablet PC such as the Galaxy from someone like Verizon, its tied to Verizon's network not the one in her home and therefore would wouk quite well. I believe AT&T has an offering similar to the Verizon Galaxy.

ProfCrash · 07-22-2011, 02:29 PM

You are wrong. The 3G Kindle works on AT&T Cell Phone Network. The K1 and K2 were 3G only. The K3 was the first Kindle with the WiFi option. You can buy a WiFi only K3 but you can still buy the 3G/WiFi Kindle.

Arrghus · 07-22-2011, 02:53 PM

3G Kindle. No other choice really. That or wait for further announcements of the forthcoming new Kindles and Sony Readers. I'd advise waiting if at all possible. The next generation of Kindles are bound to be cheaper still than what is available now.

ScalyFreak · 07-22-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The 3G Kindle works on AT&T Cell Phone Network.

Where I live, that means it needs to be able to connect to any wifi anywhere, or you won't be able to get books on it. Not reliably anyway.

ProfCrash · 07-22-2011, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Where I live, that means it needs to be able to connect to any wifi anywhere, or you won't be able to get books on it. Not reliably anyway.

The 3G model comes with WiFi. It will connect to the WiFi first if it can. If it cannot, it connects using 3G.

jocampo · 07-22-2011, 04:21 PM

Agree with ProfCrash

The Kindle 3G/Wifi allows you to download books without the need of a computer.

I would stay away of Nook 1st gen though. The screen uses an older technology than Kindle 3, and B&N chose to not provide 3G support anymore on new Nook device; I would be scared of getting an old 3G device from the same company. Makes me think or feel, the 3G support can be dropped at anytime. Unlikely, in my opinion, for a bigger and more solid company like Amazon.

jocampo · 07-22-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lornfate

Is there a Kindle device that works on 4G?

Not that I'm aware of. Kindle 3 is 3G device.

However, for what you usually do, which is downloading books, 3G should be more than enough. 4G is more suitable for multimedia content, like media streaming, video conference, etc.

07-21-2011, 01:47 PM	#1
hannahi Addict Posts: 227 Karma: 1118154 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3, Google Nexus phone, Sony PRS-300	Best ereader for someone with no home computer? My co-worker is very interested in buying an e-reader. She's looked at the various versions of the Nook at B&N. The thing is she's not very computer savvy and doesn't have a home computer, and of course various B&N staff members have given her different answers about which e-reader is best for her. I have a Kindle 3 3G/Wifi that I've shown her a few times. I suppose either this or one of the Nooks with 3G would be the best for her because she wouldn't' have to find a wireless connection. Unless she decided to buy a Kindle (which doesn't seem likely) I'd think that the classic Nook with 3G/Wifi would be the best for her. What do you think?

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07-21-2011, 02:55 PM	#2
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,370 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	Either a Kindle or first generation Nook would be the only way for her to shop for books without a computer. I would recommend a Kindle since it is newer than the older Nook.

07-21-2011, 03:11 PM	#3
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	The Kindle 3G would be a good bet. She will be able to buy books through Amazon easily and she can use the web browser for checking email and text based websites. It is not the best web browser but if there is no computer in the house then it would work fine for running the basics.

07-21-2011, 03:45 PM	#4
boswd Banned Posts: 2,391 Karma: 1001781 Join Date: May 2010 Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X	yeah Kindle or the nook 1st gen with 3G are her only I options that I'm aware of

07-21-2011, 05:42 PM	#5
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	If she doesn't mind the power-off "screen-saver" ads, Kindle 3g with special offers is the cheapest way to go.

07-21-2011, 10:42 PM	#6
Anarel Evangelist Posts: 424 Karma: 61399 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: K1, GKDX, K3	Without a home computer the Kindle 3 is probably her best bet. You can download books from websites other than Amazon right from the device- I'm pretty sure the earlier versions of nook and even the current ones can't do that.

07-21-2011, 10:47 PM	#7
ScalyFreak Sith Wannabe Posts: 2,034 Karma: 8017430 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: I'm not sure... it's kind of dark. Device: Galaxy Note 4, Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Fire HD, Aluratek Libre	If she doesn't have a home computer, she needs a reader that can connect to any wifi network in any coffee shop anywhere, or she won't be able to get books onto it. Most who don't have a computer will not have a network in easy reach of their home, and certainly not the knowledge to leech off of their neighbors either.

07-22-2011, 02:23 PM	#9
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	I beg to differ with the crowd, I was under the impression that a Kindle worked via your home wifi enabled network, therefore if she does not have a PC at home the would be no network and no wifi for the kindle to work off. Although if she gets a tablet PC such as the Galaxy from someone like Verizon, its tied to Verizon's network not the one in her home and therefore would wouk quite well. I believe AT&T has an offering similar to the Verizon Galaxy.

07-22-2011, 02:29 PM	#10
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	You are wrong. The 3G Kindle works on AT&T Cell Phone Network. The K1 and K2 were 3G only. The K3 was the first Kindle with the WiFi option. You can buy a WiFi only K3 but you can still buy the 3G/WiFi Kindle.

07-22-2011, 02:53 PM	#11
Arrghus Zealot Posts: 143 Karma: 5002 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Llandudno, Wales Device: Kindle PW2; Nexus 5X	3G Kindle. No other choice really. That or wait for further announcements of the forthcoming new Kindles and Sony Readers. I'd advise waiting if at all possible. The next generation of Kindles are bound to be cheaper still than what is available now.

07-22-2011, 04:21 PM	#14
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Agree with ProfCrash The Kindle 3G/Wifi allows you to download books without the need of a computer. I would stay away of Nook 1st gen though. The screen uses an older technology than Kindle 3, and B&N chose to not provide 3G support anymore on new Nook device; I would be scared of getting an old 3G device from the same company. Makes me think or feel, the 3G support can be dropped at anytime. Unlikely, in my opinion, for a bigger and more solid company like Amazon.

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