What Kindle should I get???

ismokedu · 04-12-2009, 11:19 AM

Hey really new to this whole mobile reading phenomenon, so I was wondering what would you recommend to a newb such as myself? I want to just get started so would you recommend the Kindle or the Kindle 2? I just want to be sure I'm getting what I pay for, so please any tips would be appreciated!

JSWolf · 04-12-2009, 11:58 AM

I'd recommend the one made by Sony.

wallcraft · 04-12-2009, 12:18 PM

Only the Kindle 2 is available new. On Amazon a used K1 is about $290 vs $359 for the K2. The K1 would have to be significantly cheaper to make it worthwhile, but you might find it cheaper in your area.

Both give you access to the Kindle store, and both read exactly the same ebooks. The K2 has more greyscales and TTS (text to speech) and many minor improvements which taken together are significant, but the K1 and K2 are in many ways interchangeable. I don't intend to upgrade from my K1 to a K2, but if I was buying today I would get a K2.

As JSWolf suggests, there are many choices other than a Kindle - see E-book Reader Matrix. Absent a particular feature you must have, a Kindle is a good choice for a new reader of ebooks in the US.

daffy4u · 04-12-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'd recommend the one made by Sony.

Sony doesn't make the Kindle. I thought you knew that.

pilotbob · 04-12-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'd recommend the one made by Sony.

Don't go away mad, just go away.

BOb

InlawBiker · 04-12-2009, 12:56 PM

I would rather have a K2 than a K1. Used K1's are going for around $200 on Craigslist. Used Sony PRS-505's are also around $200, which is strange because you can get them new for $260 or so.

ismokedu · 04-12-2009, 01:26 PM

thanks for all the help guys

dmaul1114 · 04-12-2009, 01:31 PM

I went with a K1 off Craigslist for $200 in early March. I have no regrets. The K2 doesn't offer enough more to spend the extra $200 (factoring in $30 for a case which isn't included but is needed) IMO.

I considered the Sony's too, but convenience is a huge factor for me with gadgets. So the Kindle won with the Whispernet, ability to send samples, the selection of the Amazon store, and Amazon being cheaper than the Sony Store on every book I was interested in and looked up.

The DRM issues kind of suck, but don't really affect me as I almost never re-read books, and something I love enough to want to re-read I'd just eventually by a hardcover version of anyway.

weatherman · 04-12-2009, 03:06 PM

When I was first getting in to ebook readers, I bought a used PRS-500 off craigslist just to make sure that I was going to actually use it. I spent a year with it and found that I used it so much, I would be completely justified in getting the Kindle 2. So that's what I did, and I always recommend others do the same unless they know that they are going to be much more comfortable reading books on an ereader, or if $360 is an insignificant amount of money for them.

As for Kindle 1 vs. Kindle 2 - I didn't even consider the K1. The ones on ebay are still running $250 or more, and for me the extra $100 is worth it for the warranty, for the improved screen and (especially) button placement, and not having one that someone else has dinged and dirtied.

daffy4u · 04-12-2009, 03:08 PM

Another advantage of going with the Kindle 2 is the 30 day return policy. If it doesn't work for you, you can return it and get your money back.

Sporadic · 04-12-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ismokedu

Hey really new to this whole mobile reading phenomenon, so I was wondering what would you recommend to a newb such as myself? I want to just get started so would you recommend the Kindle or the Kindle 2? I just want to be sure I'm getting what I pay for, so please any tips would be appreciated!

It depends on what you want.

If you don't want to spend that much and want to be able to change the battery out yourself, the Kindle 1 is a great option. I paid $205 for mine and it's everything I ever wanted out of an ebook reader and more.

If you have the cash and you want Text-To-Speech, 2GBs of space, better button placement, go with the Kindle 2.

Either way, you can't go wrong as long as you love to read.

Elsi · 04-12-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

The DRM issues kind of suck, but don't really affect me as I almost never re-read books, and something I love enough to want to re-read I'd just eventually by a hardcover version of anyway.

The DRM issues suck period! Whether it's a Kindle or a Sony Reader or a Cybook or whatever else. One can only hope that the book industry gets a kick in the pants the way the music industry did and figures out that DRM hurts the consumer without helping the author or publisher.

AbFabGab · 04-12-2009, 07:16 PM

I didn't see it mentioned yet but the K2 does not have an SD slot but the K1 does.

I have a Sony 505 and have not found the need for one (sd card) yet.
Some people love using their SD cards and others don't use at all.

JSWolf · 04-13-2009, 12:15 PM

K2 has 16 shades, Epson controller, 1.4gig memory for content storage, faster page turns, sleeker style, and longer battery life between charges. But it does not have an SD slot. So if that's import, get the K1. Otherwise, get the K2.

sahmad88 · 04-13-2009, 12:25 PM

I used to use my phone as an ebook reader, but I wanted something larger. I first tried a Kindle 1 that I picked up for $200 from Craigslist. I loved it. But I found a Kindle 2 for $320 a few weeks later. I had been wanting to try one, just to try it. I decided to buy that and then I would sell it. I figured I could get my $320 back for it. But after using it for a day, I was sold on it.

The Kindle 1 is good, but I found myself going crazy with the button placement. I found a way to tolerate it, but I much prefer the placement on the K2. Also, the page refresh is faster, which makes a difference for me. I prefer the larger text which means more page turns. The faster refresh makes it better. One other thing that I like, but I could live without, is the text-to-speech. I use it in the gym when I am on the treadmill for automatic page turns. I just turn the volume down, but it still turns the page as the voice is reading the text. It is easy to pause with the spacebar.

Bottom line, I was happy with the K1 until I tried the K2. Then I knew what I was missing and kept the K2.

04-12-2009, 11:19 AM	#1
ismokedu Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: kindle	What Kindle should I get??? Hey really new to this whole mobile reading phenomenon, so I was wondering what would you recommend to a newb such as myself? I want to just get started so would you recommend the Kindle or the Kindle 2? I just want to be sure I'm getting what I pay for, so please any tips would be appreciated!

04-12-2009, 03:06 PM	#9
weatherman Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 1010052 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: (previous: Kindle 2, Kindle Fire) Kindle 4 WiFi, K3K, KPW	When I was first getting in to ebook readers, I bought a used PRS-500 off craigslist just to make sure that I was going to actually use it. I spent a year with it and found that I used it so much, I would be completely justified in getting the Kindle 2. So that's what I did, and I always recommend others do the same unless they know that they are going to be much more comfortable reading books on an ereader, or if $360 is an insignificant amount of money for them. As for Kindle 1 vs. Kindle 2 - I didn't even consider the K1. The ones on ebay are still running $250 or more, and for me the extra $100 is worth it for the warranty, for the improved screen and (especially) button placement, and not having one that someone else has dinged and dirtied. Last edited by weatherman; 04-12-2009 at 03:11 PM.

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04-12-2009, 11:58 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,556 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I'd recommend the one made by Sony.

04-12-2009, 12:18 PM	#3
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Only the Kindle 2 is available new. On Amazon a used K1 is about $290 vs $359 for the K2. The K1 would have to be significantly cheaper to make it worthwhile, but you might find it cheaper in your area. Both give you access to the Kindle store, and both read exactly the same ebooks. The K2 has more greyscales and TTS (text to speech) and many minor improvements which taken together are significant, but the K1 and K2 are in many ways interchangeable. I don't intend to upgrade from my K1 to a K2, but if I was buying today I would get a K2. As JSWolf suggests, there are many choices other than a Kindle - see E-book Reader Matrix. Absent a particular feature you must have, a Kindle is a good choice for a new reader of ebooks in the US.

04-12-2009, 12:56 PM	#6
InlawBiker Connoisseur Posts: 94 Karma: 544 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle WA Device: Kindle 1.0	I would rather have a K2 than a K1. Used K1's are going for around $200 on Craigslist. Used Sony PRS-505's are also around $200, which is strange because you can get them new for $260 or so.

04-12-2009, 01:26 PM	#7
ismokedu Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: kindle	thanks for all the help guys

04-12-2009, 01:31 PM	#8
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I went with a K1 off Craigslist for $200 in early March. I have no regrets. The K2 doesn't offer enough more to spend the extra $200 (factoring in $30 for a case which isn't included but is needed) IMO. I considered the Sony's too, but convenience is a huge factor for me with gadgets. So the Kindle won with the Whispernet, ability to send samples, the selection of the Amazon store, and Amazon being cheaper than the Sony Store on every book I was interested in and looked up. The DRM issues kind of suck, but don't really affect me as I almost never re-read books, and something I love enough to want to re-read I'd just eventually by a hardcover version of anyway.

04-12-2009, 03:08 PM	#10
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Another advantage of going with the Kindle 2 is the 30 day return policy. If it doesn't work for you, you can return it and get your money back.

04-12-2009, 07:16 PM	#13
AbFabGab Gadget-Luster Posts: 330 Karma: 2157280 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NY - USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Samsung Galaxy Tab S2	I didn't see it mentioned yet but the K2 does not have an SD slot but the K1 does. I have a Sony 505 and have not found the need for one (sd card) yet. Some people love using their SD cards and others don't use at all.

04-13-2009, 12:15 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,556 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	K2 has 16 shades, Epson controller, 1.4gig memory for content storage, faster page turns, sleeker style, and longer battery life between charges. But it does not have an SD slot. So if that's import, get the K1. Otherwise, get the K2.

04-13-2009, 12:25 PM	#15
sahmad88 Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 567 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: nook color	I used to use my phone as an ebook reader, but I wanted something larger. I first tried a Kindle 1 that I picked up for $200 from Craigslist. I loved it. But I found a Kindle 2 for $320 a few weeks later. I had been wanting to try one, just to try it. I decided to buy that and then I would sell it. I figured I could get my $320 back for it. But after using it for a day, I was sold on it. The Kindle 1 is good, but I found myself going crazy with the button placement. I found a way to tolerate it, but I much prefer the placement on the K2. Also, the page refresh is faster, which makes a difference for me. I prefer the larger text which means more page turns. The faster refresh makes it better. One other thing that I like, but I could live without, is the text-to-speech. I use it in the gym when I am on the treadmill for automatic page turns. I just turn the volume down, but it still turns the page as the voice is reading the text. It is easy to pause with the spacebar. Bottom line, I was happy with the K1 until I tried the K2. Then I knew what I was missing and kept the K2.

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