Kindle 4 or Kindle 3 for Mom?

[Boston]

I bought a K1 for my mom 3 years ago and she loves it. She still loves her K1 but it's gone threw 2 battery replacements and needed a couple of resets in the past few months. So I'm thinking it's time to get it replaced.

Over the years, I've tried buying her other readers (including Jetbook, PRS-650, etc..) for ePub but she will try them for a month or two and always go back to her Kindle.

1) Needs to be an Amazon device...We share an account/books. I buy the books and she likes that all she has to do is turn on the wireless for them to download. Plus their customer service is excellent for step-by-step troubleshooting (she had problems with her Sony and ended up mailing it to me because their customer service had her so confused)
2) She doesn't use or need the alpha/num keyboard..she just reads books on it.
3) She has a PRS-650 which I loaded books on for her. While she uses it occasionally, she never got use to the page turns...says she goes the wrong direction and jumps pages. So I think touchscreen is out.
4) I don't think it needs to be 3G as long as I can set it up for her wireless home network and forget it. (Troubleshooting that stuff is out of the question for her)
5) Anything that has to be hooked up to a PC is out.
6) On the same vein - it needs to be very simple to navigate and problem free. She is in her late 70s and her only use of a computer is email (which still generates calls whenever there is a problem).

It seems that of the models available, my choices are a K3 or K4. Leaning towards a K4 but wondering if she would miss the side page turn keys (I think I would). New K3's seem comparably over priced and given she is an avid reader (book a day), am reluctant to buy used because the battery is not replaceable.

Looking for thoughts from K4/K3 owners especially from those who have owned both or upgraded from a K1.

[Barbara1955]

Does the K1 have keyboard? IF Yes then go with K3 she wont have to get use to much difference!

[CRussel]

Get the 3G version of whichever. Yes, it's more. But you'll never have to worry about problems with her wireless, everything will Just Work.

[Boston]

Thanks for the suggestion Katie1 and CRussel!

Admittedly, I was thinking 3G wasn't necessary as she does all her downloading at home...but 3G IS more reliable (and the only time the wireless gets used is when I visit).

I was leaning towards the K4 because I've always personally disliked the large form factor due to the keyboard...but she might not mind. Given the K4 doesn't come in a 3G version, perhaps the K3 is a better choice.

[pdurrant]

If she doesn't use the keyboard, I'd say go for the K4. It does have page turn buttons at the side. It's the K4 touch that doesn't. I suspect that the much lighter weight of the K4 (K4:6oz, K3:8.5 oz, K1:10.2oz) will be appreciated.

[Boston]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

If she doesn't use the keyboard, I'd say go for the K4. It does have page turn buttons at the side. It's the K4 touch that doesn't. I suspect that the much lighter weight of the K4 (K4:6oz, K3:8.5 oz, K1:10.2oz) will be appreciated.

I didn't see it on the pictures until you pointed it out! Thanks!

I guess the question is whether wireless is reliable enough...I was sort of swayed by the 3G argument. While I will be there to set it up, I live too far to troubleshoot...but even if there were router issues, it's not like she needs books right away. She often waits weeks between downloads and my brother, who is often over.

Still going back and forth on form factor. I much prefer smaller (why I got hooked on the Sony readers early on). However, she is always telling me that she is afraid of losing/misplacing her Kindle

Is user-interface much different between the two models?

[Boston]

Another question - is there any reason why someone would pay more not to have special offers? From what I read, they are really unobtrusive.

[booklover6]

I say get her the Kindle Keyboard 3G with special offers. I have one. Great device! I never had a K1, but from what I understand the interface is pretty close. It has a 5 way instead of a joy stick. She won't mind the keyboard! She won't mind the special offers, she can ignore them forever. If you get her the wifi only, she could be in a bind if the router goes wonky. With the 3G, that'll never be an issue!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Boston

I didn't see it on the pictures until you pointed it out! Thanks!

I guess the question is whether wireless is reliable enough...I was sort of swayed by the 3G argument. While I will be there to set it up, I live too far to troubleshoot...but even if there were router issues, it's not like she needs books right away. She often waits weeks between downloads and my brother, who is often over.

Still going back and forth on form factor. I much prefer smaller (why I got hooked on the Sony readers early on). However, she is always telling me that she is afraid of losing/misplacing her Kindle

Is user-interface much different between the two models?

Since the controls are the same except for the keyboard, the user interface is near identical. If text entry is needed, there's a clunky virtual on-screen keyboard navigated using the fourway control.

If she's worried about losing it, get a nice bright cover (e.g. red). I'm sure there must be some about by now. Ah - and there are. How about something like this, although I emphasise that this is just the first red cover I found in a google search.

[JSWolf]

Don't go for a K3/KK. It's unclear if it will ever have support for KF8. The K4 series will have support for KF8 as well as the Kindle Fire.

[jshzh]

How come the K1 went through 3 batteries? Even if it is changed twice a week, the original battery should last at least 3 years. The life span of the battery is 300-500 charges. Am I wrong?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Since the controls are the same except for the keyboard, the user interface is near identical. If text entry is needed, there's a clunky virtual on-screen keyboard navigated using the fourway control.

If she's worried about losing it, get a nice bright cover (e.g. red). I'm sure there must be some about by now. Ah - and there are. How about something like this, although I emphasise that this is just the first red cover I found in a google search.

I suggest the Gecko Luxe cover with light. I think that red cover just looks cheap.



http://www.geckocovers.com/amazon-ki...ight-p-72.html

[Higgy]

K4 is a great little reader and I do not notice the screensavers as I always
turn the device off.

I went from a Sony prs300 and the Kindle 4 is as small, but much lighter.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Higgy

K4 is a great little reader and I do not notice the screensavers as I always
turn the device off.

I went from a Sony prs300 and the Kindle 4 is as small, but much lighter.

If you went for a T1, all your eBooks for the 300 would work fine on the T1 and it's lighter then the K4.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I suggest the Gecko Luxe cover with light. I think that red cover just looks cheap.



http://www.geckocovers.com/amazon-ki...ight-p-72.html

Unfortunately, only available in black, and my reason for recommending a bright coloured cover was to make it easier to find after it's been put down somewhere.