Kindle Wifi

Illinifan · 12-13-2010, 10:56 PM

Ok. I am confused. I am seriously considering returning the 8gb iPod touch I got for my wife and getting her a Kindle instead. Lots of things factor into this decison but there's one I keep getting wrapped around the axle on.

If I get a Kindle that has 3G capability, can she use it to surf the Net when we are driving home for the holidays? I am 90% sure the answer is yes. The follow-up is this: What does it cost me? If zilch, will it ever cost me?

She wants an ereader. She wants a way to access the Internet on road trips without paying $60/month to AT&T or Verizon for an aircard. Does a Kindle meet both of these wants?

Ok. I'm an idiot. The thread title should be Kindle 3G.

desertgrandma · 12-13-2010, 11:16 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, Illinifan

It will cost you nothing, but it is slow and clunky.

Its a book reader, first and foremost, and you can't use it like a computer........

TheKindleWorm · 12-13-2010, 11:37 PM

You can certainly use email ok with the experimental Kindle web browser and it works well fine with websites which are simple and mostly text-based.But it's greyscale and it can be slow to use. It's not as nice as using the web browser on an iPod touch.

It would definitely help if you could test one out first. And don't get me wrong, I love the 3G Kindle. It's very handy being able to email, read blogs or wikipedia and download new books etc where you don't have wifi availability. But it isn't as nice to use as other web browsers.

duckeedoug · 12-14-2010, 12:04 AM

I have both a iTouch and K3. The K3 is not a replacement for immersive surfing of web content. It is great for text based sites such as email wiki, news, etc. It doesn't cost anything to surf and is good in a pinch as was stated earlier the K3 is first and foremost a e-reader and as long as you understand that you and your wife should be fine. The iTouch is primarily a content consumption device (although it doesn't support flash) it can still be great for surfing the web plus you can get access via Starbucks, Barns & Noble, Mcdonalds, etc without paying a dime.

OtterBooks · 12-14-2010, 01:25 AM

She can technically surf the web on it, but she won't want to after about 5 minutes of doing so. Only purchase the Kindle if she wants it for reading books imo. It does that wonderfully, but it's such a different product that it doesn't qualify for an either/or decision. It's like exchanging a Swiss Army knife for a chainsaw. Sure, you can technically also open cans with it, but it's not gonna be pleasant.

emellaich · 12-14-2010, 03:05 AM

My opinion is more in line with OtterBooks here. If you only expect to be able to read books with it, then you will be pleasantly surprised that in a real pinch you will be able to get onto a few web sites. I've used mine like that in the past.

However, if buy it expecting to use it to get on the web, my opinion is that you will be really disappointed.

How long ago has it been since you have upgraded your cell phone? About 18 months ago the carriers came out with new price plans that are really attractive. Most people find that they can get a cell phone with unlimited data for about what they were paying for their old cell phone. My recommendation would be to get an android or iphone for browsing the web/email and a Kindle for reading. If money is tighter, you can get some basic smartphones (Android) for free. Or, you an get an iphone instead of that ipod touch if you have a few hundred dollars.

HarryT · 12-14-2010, 03:10 AM

To add to what others have said, if you've used an iPhone or an iPod Touch for web browsing, the Kindle will be a huge disappointment. It works reasonably well for text-only sites, but anything complex will not work at all well. It's also extremely slow.

Buy a Kindle as a book reader, not for web browsing.

12-13-2010, 10:56 PM	#1
Illinifan Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 210032 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dayton, OH Device: iPad 4, iPhone 4, iPod touch, Sony PRS 300	Kindle Wifi Ok. I am confused. I am seriously considering returning the 8gb iPod touch I got for my wife and getting her a Kindle instead. Lots of things factor into this decison but there's one I keep getting wrapped around the axle on. If I get a Kindle that has 3G capability, can she use it to surf the Net when we are driving home for the holidays? I am 90% sure the answer is yes. The follow-up is this: What does it cost me? If zilch, will it ever cost me? She wants an ereader. She wants a way to access the Internet on road trips without paying $60/month to AT&T or Verizon for an aircard. Does a Kindle meet both of these wants? Ok. I'm an idiot. The thread title should be Kindle 3G.

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12-13-2010, 11:16 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, Illinifan It will cost you nothing, but it is slow and clunky. Its a book reader, first and foremost, and you can't use it like a computer........

12-13-2010, 11:37 PM	#3
TheKindleWorm Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 177868 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Anglia UK Device: Kindle 3G, iPhone 3G, iPod 4G, PB 360, Sony 600 sold, Kindle 2i sold	You can certainly use email ok with the experimental Kindle web browser and it works well fine with websites which are simple and mostly text-based.But it's greyscale and it can be slow to use. It's not as nice as using the web browser on an iPod touch. It would definitely help if you could test one out first. And don't get me wrong, I love the 3G Kindle. It's very handy being able to email, read blogs or wikipedia and download new books etc where you don't have wifi availability. But it isn't as nice to use as other web browsers.

12-14-2010, 12:04 AM	#4
duckeedoug Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 160 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Sony PRS 505	I have both a iTouch and K3. The K3 is not a replacement for immersive surfing of web content. It is great for text based sites such as email wiki, news, etc. It doesn't cost anything to surf and is good in a pinch as was stated earlier the K3 is first and foremost a e-reader and as long as you understand that you and your wife should be fine. The iTouch is primarily a content consumption device (although it doesn't support flash) it can still be great for surfing the web plus you can get access via Starbucks, Barns & Noble, Mcdonalds, etc without paying a dime.

12-14-2010, 01:25 AM	#5
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	She can technically surf the web on it, but she won't want to after about 5 minutes of doing so. Only purchase the Kindle if she wants it for reading books imo. It does that wonderfully, but it's such a different product that it doesn't qualify for an either/or decision. It's like exchanging a Swiss Army knife for a chainsaw. Sure, you can technically also open cans with it, but it's not gonna be pleasant.

12-14-2010, 03:05 AM	#6
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	My opinion is more in line with OtterBooks here. If you only expect to be able to read books with it, then you will be pleasantly surprised that in a real pinch you will be able to get onto a few web sites. I've used mine like that in the past. However, if buy it expecting to use it to get on the web, my opinion is that you will be really disappointed. How long ago has it been since you have upgraded your cell phone? About 18 months ago the carriers came out with new price plans that are really attractive. Most people find that they can get a cell phone with unlimited data for about what they were paying for their old cell phone. My recommendation would be to get an android or iphone for browsing the web/email and a Kindle for reading. If money is tighter, you can get some basic smartphones (Android) for free. Or, you an get an iphone instead of that ipod touch if you have a few hundred dollars.

12-14-2010, 03:10 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	To add to what others have said, if you've used an iPhone or an iPod Touch for web browsing, the Kindle will be a huge disappointment. It works reasonably well for text-only sites, but anything complex will not work at all well. It's also extremely slow. Buy a Kindle as a book reader, not for web browsing.

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