Help - no wi-fi

[holidayreader]

Before I buy need to know if I can download without wi-fi (walls too thick!) Have broadband.

[Pomtroll]

Yes you can side load via a USB cable (which usually comes with an e-reader). I have wi-fi at home but not on my work computer.

[HarryT]

I don't know of any reader which doesn't allow you to load content via the USB connection. Did you have any particular device in mind?

[sqdancer]

From what I understand, a Kobo Vox needs to be activated via WIFI (that's why I didn't buy one) but you can then load books over USB. I don't remember if the firmware updates need to be done via WIFI.

[Bookworm_Girl]

I broke a Kindle Keyboard and therefore had to buy a new one when I was traveling and needed to activate/register it over Wi-fi as well. I just drove from the Target where I purchased it across the street to Starbucks where I enjoyed a latte and used their free Wi-fi to activate my Kindle and start reading. My NOOKcolor and my Kindle Fire both were activated by Wi-fi too.

I have a friend with a Kindle Keyboard who does not have Wi-fi. He bought directly through Amazon (rather than a walk-in store like I did) so it came pre-registered to his Amazon account. He sideloads all of his book purchases via USB.

The Sony ereaders can be activated and books sideloaded all via USB too.

Many ereaders allow you to update firmware via USB as well.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Many ereaders allow you to update firmware via USB as well.

Many? Do you know of any that don't? I can't think of one .

[ApK]

Originally Posted by holidayreader

Before I buy need to know if I can download without wi-fi (walls too thick!) Have broadband.

For convenience sake, if nothing else, you could always just plug in an inexpensive wireless access point to a wired connection in any one room. They can be had for dirt cheap, and it would give convenient access to WiFi in at least one room. Probably more unless you live in a bunker or a Faraday cage.

ApK

[Shack70]

The Nooks need wifi to activate them

[LuvReadin]

I have a Sony T1 and recently bought a Kobo Wifi as a present - no problem side-loading either of them.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Many? Do you know of any that don't? I can't think of one .

No, I can't think of any that don't, but if I said 100% do then I'm sure someone would find an example.

[susan_cassidy]

Kindles need wi-fi access initially to activate Collections, and possibly something else. After that, you can do all sideloading, if you want.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

Kindles need wi-fi access initially to activate Collections, and possibly something else.

Not if you buy your Kindle from Amazon. It will come pre-registered that way.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Not if you buy your Kindle from Amazon. It will come pre-registered that way.

That must be new. In the past you've needed to connect to WiFi once to activate that feature even though it comes pre-registered.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

That must be new. In the past you've needed to connect to WiFi once to activate that feature even though it comes pre-registered.

That's not the way that I remember it, but you are very likely right. It's a long time since I bought a pre-registered Kindle. You certainly need to connect to WiFi (or 3G) to set the Kindle's clock. Until you've done that, the "sort by most recently read" option on the home page won't work correctly.